The news this week that people in their forties are most likely to be depressed comes as no surprise to Michael Lilley, managing director of My Time Ltd, and his colleagues, who see 200 people from Birmingham and the wider West Midlands each week, many of whom are depressed due to financial difficulties and relationship break up. 

“Seventy per cent of our clients are aged between 38 and 52, and what is often referred to as a mid-life crisis is triggered by numerous pressures,” says Michael, speaking at My Times’ Small Heath offices. “Factors include risk of divorce, large mortgages meaning that splitting of houses can leave people in poverty, rising cost of living, low wages, job loss, having children later in life and so on.

“Ten years ago a single parent mother could go to college and university on a grant, retrain and build a new career with employment prospects, whereas today she would have to take out a loan. Of those people we see, who are employed in roles ranging from senior managers to supermarket check out operators, many are clinging on to jobs where they are unhappy, tolerating bullying and harassment.” 

My Time Ltd offers counselling to a broad spectrum of organisations and individuals, from the emergency services to farmers in Staffordshire and black and minority ethnic communities in inner city locations.  It has developed a delivery style which offers support via a mix of group practical activities and one-to-one counselling. Its clients come from over 20 countries of origin.

“We have seen an increase in the number of men whose relationships have ended and they are living in virtually one room as most of their income is allocated to maintenance, their job prospects are limited and they are feeling suicidal,” continues Michael.  “The other side of the coin is the increasing number of women who are trying to raise a family alone while working long hours.

“These middle aged men and women are exhausted, depressed and can see no future. Until recently their efforts focused upon keeping their heads above water but now more are drowning in financial storms.”

According to Michael, the turning of the financial screw also means many of the people he sees are using all their savings to survive now, when they would have preferred to build up or supplement their pensions. 

“A mid-life crisis traditionally was a means of responding, and hopefully adapting, to age and the next phase in life, a period of change and reflection,” continues Michael.  “Now the feedback from clients is that it’s a time for people to increase their debt to survive.”

My Time is increasingly deploying its programmes of pragmatic action to support its clients.  “It is important for us to talk to our clients to get to the root causes of their anxiety,” explains Michael. “But we are not a talking shop. Having identified the catalysts for depression we work out programs of activity for clients to deal with the issues. This can range from liaising with banks to agree repayment schedules to finding child-minding facilities so that a parent can go to work. 

“People used to say that life began at forty. There are too many out there who are on the verge of ending their lives at forty and something needs to be done about it.  I would strongly urge anyone who is finding life hard to cope with to seek expert help.  Problems must be tackled rather than hidden from, which only makes them worse.”