The recent economic slowdown in the UK and the financial strain of the current recession is having a dramatic impact on the population of the UK in many ways.

A large number of individuals who have managed their finances perfectly well in the past are now starting to worry about managing their monthly bills and in particularly their regular personal loan repayments and other debts, where they have never previously had concerns. Loss of income and the threat of rising unemployment is also causing additional worry, which is leading to an ever increasing number of stress cases amongst the community.

A recent survey, which has been conducted by Pru Health, has revealed that somewhere in the region of 40 per cent of the adult population of the UK is under considerable stress and this figure has risen by two per cent in the last six months alone. When interviewed, 41 per cent said that their stress levels were caused as a direct result of them worrying over keeping up with the repayments on their personal loans, credit and store cards and other debts.

This can of course, lead to other more serious health issues and the survey shows that people’s personal loans and debt levels are having a negative impact on the health of the nation.

As money is becoming tight for many individuals at the present time, people are looking for ways to reduce their monthly expenditure and a large number of individuals are either cancelling their protection policies for life cover and loan repayments amongst other policies, or they are simply not bothering to take them out in the first place, on the grounds that they cannot afford them.

If the figures from this latest survey show us anything, it proves that the last thing which should be cancelled are the very policies which will ensure we can cope financially in the event of ill health or unemployment.