The Impact of Money on the Mind: Money Can't Buy Happiness, But What About "Peace of Mind"? The Foundation of Life Supporting Mental Health

"Financial Anxiety" is Also a Mental Issue—An Overlooked Connection Revealed by Consultation Scenes

Even at night, lying in bed, the calculations in my head don't stop.

Rent, food expenses, credit card deductions. How many days until the next payday? If there's an unexpected expense, where will the money come from?

The next morning, I go to work with my usual face, handling tasks, and appearing to others as someone who seems "okay." Yet, inside, the calculations to maintain my life continue.

Are we dividing this suffering too much into "household issues" and "mental issues"?

A column published on October 14, 2026, in Nigeria's economic newspaper BusinessDay urges a reevaluation of economic stability as a foundation for mental health. The title boldly states, "Wealth is a Mental Health Intervention."

When we apply this perspective to life in Japan, what emerges is not a success theory for becoming wealthy. Instead, it's the viewpoint that creating conditions for a secure life also supports mental well-being.

"Financial Issues" Highlighted in Consultation Scenes

The column introduces the activities of Nigeria's mental health support group "She Writes Woman."

Founder Hauwa Ojeifo started offering support to prevent others from feeling isolated after experiencing severe distress herself. Her initiative of making her personal phone number public for consultations evolved into a free, 24-hour accessible helpline.

According to the group's disclosure, they have handled over 25,000 support cases in ten years. However, this figure represents the number of support cases, not the exact number of individual users.

The BusinessDay writer focused on three factors highlighted as the background of consultations: family conflicts, interpersonal tensions, and, above all, economic instability.

The expression "number one" requires careful reading.

The subjects are those who sought help from the helpline. It is neither a survey of the entire Nigerian population nor a ranking of concerns in Japan. Furthermore, the original article does not provide detailed conditions of classification methods or the proportion of each factor.

Nonetheless, the fact that the helpline, meant to address mental distress, is receiving concerns about the inability to maintain a livelihood is significant.

Money Troubles the Mind, and Mental Distress Makes Money Management Difficult

Economic anxiety and mental health are not connected in just one direction.

A survey published in 2016 by the UK's Money and Mental Health Policy Institute analyzed responses from about 5,500 people who experienced mental distress. 86% reported that their mental health worsened due to their economic situation, and 72% said their economic situation worsened due to mental distress.

This does not mean that 86% of the general population is affected. Also, it is not the latest survey conducted in 2026 but a past survey collecting experiences from those affected.

Still, these two figures clearly illustrate the structure of the problem.

Anxiety intensifies when living expenses are insufficient. On the other hand, when mental health deteriorates, checking bills, negotiating payments, or even job hunting becomes challenging. As a result, financial problems worsen.

The UK's public health service, NHS, also explains that while financial anxiety affects sleep and mood, mental distress can lead to neglecting bills or delaying consultations.

From the outside, actions like "why not contact sooner?" may seem puzzling, but they can be burdensome for the individual. When considering support, it's essential to look beyond introducing systems and recognize the difficulties in connecting with those systems.

It's Not Just About "Having Money Will Cure It"

Here, it's important not to confuse economic stability with the treatment of mental illnesses.

An increase in income does not resolve all mental health issues. Even those who are economically well-off may need treatment and support. The original column also clearly states that money cannot replace medical care or support.

On the other hand, even when advised to seek treatment or rest, it is not easy for someone who can't pay rent if they take time off work to follow through.

For example, having time to rest, not losing one's home, being able to discuss necessary payments, and having a certain outlook on next month's life.

These conditions are different from treatment itself. However, they support taking time for treatment or recovery.

Before encouraging someone to "think more positively," it's sometimes necessary to first check together "what is lacking to maintain life."

What Exists on Social Media is the Pain of Ongoing Life Anxiety

Direct social media reactions to the BusinessDay column itself were not confirmed. Here, we introduce experiences posted on the overseas bulletin board-style social media "Reddit" on the same theme. The following is a summary of the posts in Japanese and does not represent the overall public opinion.

In the community "r/povertyfinance," which discusses financial difficulties and household budgets, there are posts about how poverty affects not only mental but also physical health, and the exhaustion from constantly worrying about money.

Another post describes the experience of not being able to sleep well due to anxiety about missing out on food assistance, even though there was money to buy food that day.

These voices convey that even if the balance temporarily increases, the tension up to that point does not necessarily disappear immediately.

Of course, no medical conclusions can be drawn from anonymous experiences. Third parties cannot verify the economic or health status of the individuals.

Still, they provide clues to understanding the anxiety of living. The problem is not just dissatisfaction with "not being able to buy what I want." The daily worry of "will I be able to eat next time?" or "can I continue living here?" itself is a heavy burden.

What We Want to Consider in Japan is the Assumption of "It's Okay Because I'm Working"

When bringing this issue to Japan, there is no need to directly apply overseas figures.

What we want to consider is that having a job and having security in life are not the same.

For example, people with jobs where income fluctuates monthly, those with limited working hours due to childcare or caregiving, or self-employed individuals who face delays in payment despite having sales. Employment status visible from the outside doesn't reveal anxiety about payments.

Even when consulting with someone close, it takes courage to start with "I'm having financial trouble." Concerns about being thought of as unplanned, worrying family, or affecting job evaluations make it even harder to talk.

That's why the first words from the person receiving the consultation matter.

Before questioning "what did you spend it on," ask "which payment are you most worried about right now?" Before expanding into discussions about personality or responsibility, focus on clarifying specific issues.

Even when rebuilding household finances is necessary, it's possible to proceed without damaging the other person's dignity.

In Japan, There Are Entry Points for Consulting on Household and Living Together

In Japan, the self-reliance support institutions under the Livelihood Independence Support System for Needy Persons accept consultations on work, housing, and household budgets.

According to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, household improvement support handles not only organizing income and expenses but also arrears of rent and public utilities, available benefit systems, and cooperation with debt-related consultation services.

It's a system not just advising "please save money," but checking the living situation and connecting to necessary systems and support. The conditions for use and support content need to be confirmed according to each situation.

If you don't know where to consult, you can start by asking your municipality about consultation desks for living and household budgets. During consultations, you can convey both your living and mental state, such as "I'm anxious about payments and can't sleep, and I don't know where to start."

Meanwhile, if insomnia or depression continues, it's also important to consult medical institutions alongside household consultations. Just because there are economic problems in the background doesn't mean care for mental and physical health should be postponed.

In Workplace Mental Health Measures, Also Consider the Perspective of Supporting Life

There is room for companies to consider as well.

While setting up consultation desks and stress management training is meaningful, are companies prepared to connect employees with external support if they have life-related anxieties?

Communicating about salary and working hours, clearly guiding available systems during leave, and introducing life consultation desks if desired by the employee. These practical measures are conditions for working with peace of mind.

However, under the guise of support, it is not appropriate for supervisors to inquire about savings or debt amounts. It is essential to establish routes for consultation that protect personal will and privacy without fear of affecting personnel evaluations.

Do not reduce mental health to just an issue of individual stress tolerance. We want to reflect this perspective in workplace systems as well.

What is Needed is a Foundation for a Life Where the Mind Can Rest

The question posed by the BusinessDay column is how much we consider living conditions when protecting mental health.

Having someone to listen and securing tomorrow's food expenses. Receiving treatment and maintaining housing. These are not competing supports but can be simultaneously necessary.

The phrase "money isn't everything" alone cannot ease anxiety about payment deadlines. Conversely, just having a balanced household doesn't solve all mental issues.

The important thing is to consider both without separating them.

Increasing entry points where those financially struggling can say they are struggling, and those with mental health issues can connect to life support, is a concrete step towards protecting mental health.

Sources and References

1. BusinessDay:
   An article by Udo Maryanne Okonjo dated October 14, 2026, discussing the positioning of economic instability in consultation scenes and the progress of support groups. The author is treated as a person involved in support activities, leading the advisory board of the group.
   https://businessday.ng/columnist/article/wealth-is-a-mental-health-intervention-three-drivers-of-distress-money-was-number-one/

2. She Writes Woman: Official announcement on 10 years of support achievements
   Confirmation of the 24-hour free consultation service and over 25,000 support cases.She Writes Woman
   https://www.shewriteswoman.org/updates/sww-10-group-records-25000-mental-health-interventions-demands-govt-action

3. Money and Mental Health Policy Institute: Statistics and research on money and mental health
   Confirmation of the subjects and content of the 86% and 72% figures, and that the original survey report was published in 2016.moneyandmentalhealth.org
   https://www.moneyandmentalhealth.org/money-and-mental-health-facts/
   https://www.moneyandmentalhealth.org/publications/link-between-money-and-mental-health/

4. NHS: The relationship between financial anxiety and mental health
   Public health information explaining the bidirectional relationship, including impacts on anxiety and sleep, and neglect of bills or delay in consultations due to mental distress.NHS
   https://www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/lifes-challenges/money-worries-mental-health/

5. Reddit: Experiences regarding economic anxiety and mental and physical burdens
   Not a direct reaction to the original article, but related theme posts. Summarized within the range of publicly available search results, not used as a basis for diagnosis or factual confirmation.reddit.com
   https://www.reddit.com/r/povertyfinance/comments/1jf7ofs/
   https://www.reddit.com/r/povertyfinance/comments/1at5oke/

6. Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare: Livelihood Independence Support System for Needy Persons and various consultation desks
   Reference for explanations on self-reliance consultation support, household improvement support, and support related to housing and work in Japan.mhlw.go.jp
   https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/0000059425.html
   https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/newpage_08152.html