Dr Sreekissoon said the stress caused by the debt people faced was compounded by issues relating to their family situations.
“At this time of year you will see people juggling three or four jobs, also after caring for elderly relatives, parents, [they’re] stressed out and unfortunately struggling with their mental health,” said Dr Sreekissoon.
He said the debt his patients described was not caused by buying unnecessary things, but by simply struggling to make ends meet.
“It’s more the basics,” he said. “I see people taking on working long hours, doing two or three jobs, and just being kind of stretched out, not being able to see their kids, and that just burns people out which is really sad to see”.