Tobi Cohen, THE CANADIAN PRESS

Stumble Upon

del.icio.us

Digg

Facebook

Print

Email

Speak Up

MONTREAL - As the economic meltdown deepens, some debt counsellors are reporting a rise in the number of clients threatening divorce, while mental health experts warn tough economic times often lead to higher rates of depression and family violence.

Margaret Johnson, owner of Vancouver-based Solutions Credit Counselling Service, said business has certainly grown since the fall and she expects it will continue to grow as the economic crisis deepens.

Many of her clients have recently lost their jobs and a lot of them are women who are going through a divorce and trying to get a handle on their finances.

Others are looking at taking out a second mortgage only to discover their lending institution has made that difficult for them.

"I had a call from someone the other day who said if we don't get to talk to someone in the next couple of weeks, we're going to split because the stress is just overwhelming," said Johnson, adding she's also received several calls from those in the auto sector seeking pre-emptive advice on unemployment.

"We're seeing more and more people not communicating effectively because of the debt and we're seeing the stress that it's putting on marriages and the stress it's putting on the kids."

Often just talking to a licensed debt specialist who can provide advice about budgeting, bankruptcy and mortgages can relieve the anxiety, she said.

There is speculation at least two recent alleged murder-suicides have been linked to financial troubles, one of which occurred last week north of Quebec City.

Police allege Marc Laliberte and Cathie Gauthier-Lachance made a pact to kill their three school-aged children before taking their own lives.

Gauthier-Lachance was arraigned in hospital on Monday on three charges of first-degree murder in the deaths of her children. She also faces one count of assisting in her husband's suicide.

While the motive isn't entirely clear, relatives say both had recently lost their jobs.

And last November, retired IBM worker Keith LeLong killed his wife and two grown children inside his Toronto home before fatally shooting himself.

The family had recently mortgaged their home and many questions were raised at the time about their financial solvency and the role it may have played in the slaying.

While such examples are "extreme," Alexandra Keay of the Canadian Mental Health Association said some people cope with financial stress by using drugs or alcohol and reduce expenses by cutting gym memberships and pricier health foods.

She said the current climate is "ripe for marital dysfunction" and higher rates of depression, anxiety and suicide, and that the key is to be "aware of the risk factors."

"There's certainly more of a propensity for these various sorts of crises in personal and private lives but let's get them before they get us," said Keay.

"Lets take a look and communicate and talk to people and seek help and support people so that this doesn't become sort of a self-fulfilled prophesy."

Building a solid support base of family, friends and co-workers is key, she said, adding it's also important to maintain a healthy diet and regular exercise regimen to avoid depression.

People should also consider job or financial counselling and might even look at volunteer work as a means of networking and keeping busy outside the home should they wind up unemployed.