People receiving support for their mental health should be able to “walk down the corridor” and get money advice too, consumer champion Martin Lewis has urged. The MoneySavingExpert.com founder said swift action is needed to ensure people struggling with their mental health and finances receive the support they need. He made the call as the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute said there is an urgent need for more joined-up mental health and debt support. Mr Lewis, who is also founder and chair of the institute, said: “The cost-of-living crisis shows no sign of abating, and even if it does the fallout will last years. “Financial problems and mental health issues are locked together, it’s about time treatments were linked too. “We’d urge the Government and NHS to take swift action to ensure those struggling with their mental health and finances get the support they need – and cut costs for the state at the same time.” The institute argued that the reforms could save money for the public purse, by reducing demand on health services and helping more people with mental health problems to move into employment. It commissioned YouGov to survey more than 2,000 people across the UK in June about their experiences of money and mental health during the cost-of-living crisis. Nearly one in five (19%) people with mental health problems in the past two years are behind with one key bill, the survey indicated. This is around three times the 6% of people who have never experienced mental health problems who said they are behind with at least one major bill. Six in 10 (60%) people with recent mental health problems said they have felt unable to cope due to rising costs, yet only 9% have received money or debt advice since the start of the cost-of-living crisis, the survey found. The charity is calling for the Government and NHS England to provide money advice alongside NHS talking therapies – an initiative which can help people with common mental health problems. This isn't about big changes, it's a case of ensuring that when someone goes for support for their mental health, they can walk down the corridor and get money advice too Martin Lewis The charity said everyone receiving support from NHS talking therapies should be asked about their financial situation when they are initially assessed for the programme and money advice services should be located on the same site as talking therapies services. Co-locating both support services could make money advice much more accessible for people who are struggling with everyday tasks due to their mental health, it argued. Where co-location is not possible, or where people prefer telephone or online advice, professionals working in talking therapies services should actively book appointments on behalf of people, the institute said. Mr Lewis added: “For many years, therapists, mental health nurses and social workers have told us they often spend substantial, valuable clinical time helping people with their finances. It makes more sense to leave debt help professionals to do that and take some pressure off the NHS, letting clinicians focus on helping people get better. “This isn’t about big changes, it’s a case of ensuring that when someone goes for support for their mental health, they can walk down the corridor and get money advice too. Or if they’d prefer to get money advice online or via telephone, removing the stress of having to book appointments. That would make a huge difference in helping people to deal with mental health and debt issues, and to get on with their lives. “And when you throw in the potential economic gains of helping more people with mental health problems back into work, these reforms are a no-brainer.” A Government spokesperson said: “Our network of employment advisers provide money guidance to clients with depression and anxiety already receiving treatment from NHS talking therapies services. We’re working with the Money and Pensions Service to integrate further signposted sources of financial advice. “We’re investing £2.3 billion of extra funding a year by March 2024 to expand and transform mental health services in England, to treat an additional two million patients. We’ve also helped nearly two million people out of absolute poverty since 2010, and provided a £94 billion support package – worth around £3,300 per household – to help those most in need.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Why does my washing machine smell so bad? Self Esteem: The journey of self-belief is never over Holiday childcare costs up with fewer places available, survey finds

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Lewis Hamilton criticised Formula One’s stewards after he was penalised for colliding with Sergio Perez in Saturday’s rain-hit sprint race in Belgium. Max Verstappen overcame Oscar Piastri’s impressive challenge to land another win ahead of Sunday’s main event in Spa-Francorchamps. Piastri finished runner-up with Alpine’s Pierre Gasly a surprise third. Hamilton crossed the line in fourth, but was demoted to seventh after he was dealt a five-second penalty for making contact with Perez as they diced for position through Stavelot. Perez sustained race-ending damage in the accident – with Red Bull team principal Christian Horner accusing Hamilton of putting a big hole in the side of his driver’s machine. But Hamilton, drawing on a famous quote from his childhood hero Ayrton Senna, said: “As Ayrton said, if you no longer go for a gap that exists, then you are no longer a racing driver. “That is what I did. And when I watched it back it feels like a racing incident to me. “The conditions were tricky out there. We are doing our best and it wasn’t intentional. He was slow and I went up the inside and I was more than half-a-car length alongside. “I feel like we should not be deterred from racing. It would have been nice to finish fourth but I don’t really care about finishing fourth, I want to win.” The four FIA stewards here – including former British grand prix driver Derek Warwick – also punished Hamilton with two points on his licence. Surmising the lap-six flashpoint, the quartet determined: “Hamilton was attempting to pass Perez on the inside at Turn 15. “While Perez was giving little room on the inside for Hamilton, Hamilton drove onto the kerb and subsequently understeered into Perez. The stewards consider that Hamilton was predominantly at fault for causing a collision.” However, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff backed his superstar driver, adding: “It was absolutely a racing incident. This is a sprint race. We want to see them racing. “The argument about the damage isn’t valid because he (Perez) was going backwards before then. Massively backwards. And then when you look at that corner, they were side-by-side, and it takes two to tango. It’s a racing incident. For me that’s really clear.” The start to Saturday’s dash around Spa-Francorchamps was delayed just six minutes before it was due to begin after the heavens opened. A 30-minute postponement ensued. One formation lap behind the safety car became five in a bid to make the track safe enough to race with visibility caused by spray a major concern ahead of this weekend’s event. Only four weeks ago, Dutch 18-year-old Dilano Van ‘t Hoff lost his life after a crash during a rain-hit Formula Regional European Championship race. The approach from race director Niels Wittich resulted in Saturday’s round being reduced to just 11 laps. But Wolff added: “You can absolutely understand that everyone wants to play it safe. “We have had terrible accidents here – the last one under similar conditions in the race where drivers couldn’t see because of the spray. So the approach needed to be on the super-safe side and that was right thing to do.” By the time the safety car peeled in, the track was good enough for the intermediate tyres. And Piastri benefited from being among 10 of the 20-strong field to change from the full wets before a proper racing lap had even taken place. Verstappen switched to inters at the end of the first lap round allowing Piastri to lead an F1 race for the first time in his career. But on the sixth lap – following a safety-car period to deal with Fernando Alonso crashing out – Piastri’s defence lasted only a handful of corners. Verstappen tracked Piastri through the fearsome Eau Rouge-Raidillon section and then blasted by on the Kemmel Straight to claim another win and extend his championship lead from 110 points to 118. Asked if it was a mistake not to stop for inters at the very start of the race, Verstappen said: “No, it was just a safer call. “I could have come in first and be blocked by other cars in the pits. We lost one position but we knew we were quick and when we put the inter tyres on we were flying.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Max Verstappen beats Oscar Piastri to sprint race pole in Belgium How Max Verstappen and record-breaking Red Bull compare to Formula One greats I held my breath – Lewis Hamilton enjoys ‘extraordinary’ run to pole in Budapest

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A bumper summer of female sporting events has inspired millions of women to get back into sports after years of fear and judgement. Encouraged by competitions such as the FIFA Women’s World Cup, the Women’s Ashes and Wimbledon, 59 per cent of women have started training with an old sports team again. A poll of 2,000 females aged 18-65 found 46 per cent feel motivated to try sport after seeing the empowerment and determination showed by these professional female sporting stars. It also emerged 31 per cent of women over 45 played sports when they were younger but dropped out as a teenager, with being ‘too sweaty’ and not feeling ‘good enough’ to take part among the top reasons. But now, many are dusting off their boots, digging out their racquets and getting back to action. Sure UK, a supporter of women’s sports, commissioned the research after launching the Breaking Limits: Girls Can Football Series, which aims to provide funding and training to give young people access to sport coaches, communities and safe spaces. Former Lionesses goalkeeper Carly Telford, who is partnering on the campaign, said: “Too many women have missed out on years of enjoyment, fitness and socialising due to feeling unable to continue with team sports and it’s about time they feel inspired to get back into the sports they enjoy without fear. “There’s still a long way to go and so much more that we need to do to promote women’s sport in all corners of the world. “To normalise women succeeding on pitches, courts and fields should be everyone’s goal, and both consumers and organisations have roles to play to make this a reality.” The study found there is more to do though, with 77 per cent of women believing that society needs to promote female sporting role models. While 36 per cent worried about being treated differently to men if they were to participate in sports, leaving 64 per cent put off trying sports altogether as a result. But putting worries aside, the future of women in sport looks bright, with the most popular sports they’d like to be involved in named as football (37 per cent), netball (21 per cent) and athletics (15 per cent). A quarter voted netball as the most inclusive sport for women, followed by athletics (15 per cent), and football (15 per cent). And half believe women’s football will eventually be as popular as men’s football – if not more. For 74 per cent, playing as part of a team has worked wonders for their mental health, while 51 per cent said sports has had a positive influence on their life overall. As 46 per cent of those polled, via OnePoll, feel motivated to try a sport after seeing the empowerment and determination showed by the sporting stars. ‘Movement has the power to transform lives’ Alice Duffill, from Sure UK&I, said: “Movement has the power to transform lives. “Everyone should be able to experience all the incredible physical, mental and social benefits movement bring - whoever you are, however you move. “But in our increasingly unequal societies, social, economic, and physical barriers stand in the way. “Inspiring women and girls to play sport through promoting and raising awareness professional athletes who look like them is key in breaking down some of those barriers. “That’s why we’re committed to growing women’s sports as we know the importance of shining a light on professional women athletes to help inspire today’s and tomorrow’s girls”. Read More Study links ultra-processed food and drink to risk of depression in women Study finds women only give themselves 30 minutes of self-care a week Women respond to viral TikTok prompt asking about ‘female version’ of male Roman Empire obsession The cure for smelly garlic breath? Turns out, it’s simpler than you think Teenager’s death after drinking too much water was ‘preventable’ Could bats hold the secret to beating Covid and cancer?

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