A third of UK households using foodbanks contain people living with depression.

Evidence was gathered by Oxford University researchers commissioned by poverty charity the Trussell Trust.

35 percent of households have at least one person living with depression and 16 percent contain individuals affected by anxiety.

Benefits and support

The study challenges the “adequacy of benefits and support for people with long-term health conditions that make getting into work, or staying in work, difficult or impossible.”

The Trust runs a network of over 420 foodbanks across the UK.

It provided over 11,000 tonnes of food to people in crisis over the last year.

Dying from inequality

The Trust’s report follows another, ‘Dying from Inequality’, published by The Samaritans.

The authors of the latter called for “social and employment protection for the most vulnerable in society, to reduce suicidal behaviour.”

The Samaritans can be contacted 24 hours a day by calling: 116 123.