Cost of living report

Healthwatch Wandsworth have been asking people in Wandsworth how the cost of living crisis has been affecting them and their health since 2022. They spoke to 165 people via three surveys.

Impacts on mental health: The majority of people surveyed report their mental health has become worse due to the cost of living crisis.

Impacts on physical health: The majority of people surveyed report their physical health has become worse due to the cost of living crisis.

Impacts on lifestyle in the winter: The majority of people anticipated that their lifestyle would be affected negatively due to the cost of living crisis.

Impacts on financial status: The majority of people do not have a fair amount to put into savings or spend on leisure

Changes made as a result of the current rise in the cost of living: The financial status of the majority of respondents changed in the last 6 to 12 months, leading to changes in their day-to-day lifestyles. Over half of the respondents noted that they had to cut back on food spending, needed to cut back on heating, or were stressed about paying bills.

General themes regarding the impact of the cost of living crisis:  22% had pessimism about the future and 14% were concerned about food costs.

Overall, the report found that the cost of living crisis is impacting people’s health and wellbeing on various scales. Moreover, each of the findings above, when occurring in tandem, create a larger combined impact on the community’s ability to maintain health and wellbeing. People who were already vulnerable whether due to physical or mental illness or financial status have been the most affected by the cost of living crisis so far.

The report contains three recommendations.