PRESS RELEASE

SAMARITANS SURVEY: EAST OF ENGLAND LESS WORRIED ABOUT MONEY THAN ANYWHERE IN UK

Friday 14December 2012

- UNDER EMBARGO UNTIL 00.01 hours Thursday 20 DECEMBER –

People in the East of England are less concerned about money and debt than anywhere else in the country according to Samaritans’ annual worries survey 2012.

An exclusive YouGov survey for Samaritans shows that only 41 per cent placed financial concerns in their top five. This compares with a regional figure of 54 per cent last year. The 2012 national figure was 49 per cent, with 66 per cent of people in Northern Ireland most worried about money.

Those in the East of England are also far less worried about losing their jobs than any other part of the UK. Only 13 per cent were most worried about this, down from 23 per cent in 2011, compared with 32 per cent in the North East and Yorkshire regions for 2012.

This reduction ties in with the number of calls received by Samaritans’ helpline about financial stress, which have fallen from one in five calls in 2011 to one in six calls this year*.

This lessening of those most worried about money was further confirmed as 21per cent of respondents thought that 2012 was a good year or the best year ever, compared with only 14 per cent who thought the same thing in 2011.

However, years of worry over money and debt previously seems to have taken a toll on the region’s concerns about problems with families, friends and relationships. Those most worried about this area have risen from 35 per cent in 2011 to 37 per cent today. There has also been a rise in expressed concerns over physical health, up from 37 per cent a year ago to 39 per cent now, the highest in England.

A new question, asking how people deal with their concerns, found that 35 per cent of those who had worries in 2012would choose to talk about their problems, and 31 per cent preferred just to “grin and bear it. A further 22 per cent would have a social drink, this wasthe lowest figure in the UK except for the West Midlands which was one per cent lower.

Prescription drugs were the choice of 15 per cent, the same figure as the East Midlands, and higher than anywhere else in the UK except for Northern Ireland (21 per cent).

Catherine Johnstone, Samaritans Chief Executive said:

“Theconsiderable reduction in worries about money is positive, however, it’s clear thatpeople in the East of England are becoming more concerned about family issues. As the nation’s listening ear, we’d like to remind people struggling to cope, that Samaritans will continue to be there for anybody who needs someone to listen to them.”

-ENDS-

For further information about the survey or to set up interviews please contact Guy Roberts in Samaritans’ press office, on 020 8394 8348 or email

For a further breakdown of results of the Samaritans worries survey 2012, please click here

Notes to editors:

*These figures are based on a survey of calls to six Samaritans’ branches received during a week from 5th November – 11th November 2012. This survey has been done annually since 2008.

  • All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2162 adults of whom 201 were from the East of England. Fieldwork was undertaken between 28th and 30th November 2012. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+).
  • A similar survey was also conducted in 2011. Total sample size was 2146 adults, of whom 197 wee from the East of England. Fieldwork was undertaken between 29th November and 1st December 2011. The survey was carried out online. The figures were weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+). Similar surveys took place in 2009 and 2010.
  • Samaritans is part of Call to Action, a network of 50 organisations dedicated to preventing suicide: Call to Action
  • Samaritans’ vision is that fewer people die by suicide. People contact Samaritans when they are struggling to cope and need someone to talk to. More than 20,000 Samaritans’ volunteers are available round the clock, every day of the year. The helpline provides a safe place to talk and all conversations are private.
  • To contact Samaritans call 08457 90 90 90, email , or visit to find your nearest branch.