With Debt Awareness Week 2025 due to be held between 24 to 30 March 2025, Samantha Dane of StepChange explains the importance of starting conversations about debt.

What is Debt Awareness Week?

As debt advisors, we’ve seen firsthand the emotional toll that financial struggles take on individuals and families. Over the years, StepChange have provided free debt advice to people from all walks of life, each facing unique challenges but sharing a common thread – stigma and shame that prevent them from seeking the help they need.

Held between 24 to 30 March 2025, Debt Awareness Week is an opportunity to challenge these misconceptions and ensure that no one suffers in silence, which is why we’ve chosen to focus on shame and stigma for our 2025 campaign.

Where does debt stigma come from?

Most people believe debt is a result of poor financial decisions, but the day-to-day reality is so much more complex. Unemployment, unexpected expenses, and the cost-of-living crisis can all lead to unmanageable debt. Despite these struggles, fear of societal judgement often discourages people from opening up about their struggles.

From our experience as debt advisors, we’ve found that debt stigma often manifests in silence. People often delay seeking help or try to manage alone whilst taking on more credit to cover existing debt, deepening the problem. Research by StepChange found that half of those struggling financially cited stigma as a key reason for not reaching out sooner.

Normalising discussions around debt is how we can start to break the stigma associated with it. After all, debt happens, and it can happen to anyone.

If we can talk about mental or physical health, why not financial health? Education and awareness are crucial in shifting that judgment, helping people understand that debt is not a personal failing, but rather a circumstance that can be managed with the right support.

Starting conversations about debt

Admitting that they need help is often one of the hardest things for clients to admit. Many have strong feelings of shame. They feel scared, fearing rejection if they were to discuss their financial situation with friends or loved ones. However, one of the most crucial steps in the debt advice session is having an open and honest conversation. It often leads to clients no longer feeling alone and giving them a sense of relief and resolution.

By helping clients talk freely and without judgment, we can remove the isolation that being in debt often brings, whilst encouraging early intervention before debt spirals any further.

Taking steps to deal with debt

Here are some tips to help you take the first steps towards dealing with problem debt:

• Realise there is a hurdle to address: the first step is recognising the debt related stress and seeking support from reputable organisations like StepChange, National Debtline, or Citizens Advice.
• Reach out for free debt advice: no one should have to pay for debt advice when they’re already dealing with money worries. Always make sure you’re getting debt advice from a reputable source by following our Check it, Trust it five-step checklist.
• Explore available solutions: there are many debt solutions available, but it’s important to know which one suits your individual circumstances best. Additionally, when you go through free debt advice with StepChange, we can help you apply for Breathing Space, a government scheme which gives you a break from interest, fees, and court action for up to 60 days. This can provide you with some much-needed time to consider your options.

Moving towards a worry-free, debt free life

Debt Awareness Week is an annual reminder that no one should feel ashamed for seeking help. As debt advisors, we know financial difficulties can hit us at any time in our lives, but the most important step is reaching out before the issue escalates.

By challenging the stigma, encouraging open discussions, and advising clients to seek help early, we can make a real difference in breaking the barriers clients face on their way to financial freedom. 

If you or someone you know is struggling with debt, StepChange is here to help with free expert debt advice. No judgment, just practical steps toward financial recovery.

Debt happens, let’s deal with it.

About the author

Samantha Dane is a debt advisor at StepChange, a charity dedicated to making debt support available for anyone who needs it.

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Find out more

Falling behind to keep up: the credit safety net and problem debt [PDF] (StepChange)

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Publication date

17 March 2025

Any opinion expressed in this article is that of the author and the author alone, and does not necessarily represent that of The Gazette.