Saturday Magazine

10 Aug 2025

Saturday 9th, August, 2025: Nicholas Procter, Financial Stress and Mental Health Issues on the Rise. Professor and Chair: Mental Health Nursing, University South Australia

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Saturday 9th, August, 2025: Nicholas Procter, Financial Stress and Mental Health Issues on the Rise. Professor and Chair: Mental Health Nursing, University South Australia

Macca and Madeleine talk to Nicholas Procter,

Professor Nicholas Procter is Chair: Mental Health Nursing and Leader of UniSA’s Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Research and Education Group. He has previously held senior independent advisory roles, including to the Office of the Prime Minister’s National Suicide Prevention Taskforce, National Mental Health Commission, Commonwealth Ombudsman, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare and to the Ministers Council for Asylum Seekers and Detention.

He is committed to lifelong learning and have completed advanced education in Trauma Informed Practice with the United States Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and as a Psychological Autopsy Investigator with the American Association of Suicidology.

He is author of more than 300 academic outputs. Many are listed on his ORCID Profile. His latest book ‘Mental Health: A Person-centred Approach’ (published in its 3rd edition by Cambridge University Press in 2022), is a standard textbook in Australia and is well known internationally. A 4th edition is currently in preparation. Professor Procter currently serves as Australia’s national representative to the International Association for Suicide Prevention.

https://theconversation.com/financial-stress-is-on-the-rise-in-australia-heres-what-to-do-if-money-worries-are-affecting-your-mental-health-262441

“broader social factors can also influence our mental health, including access to housing, income, unemployment and food insecurity. These are known as social determinants of health.

These are the things that often feel out of our control – and therefore can make us feel helpless. The report card also found people who experience a high sense of control over their lives declined slightly between 2019 and 2023.

Being able to save and pay off debt is linked to significantly better mental health.

In contrast, having to forgo meals or medicine, or struggling with bills and rent or mortgage payments, is stressful and over time can affect our physical and mental health.”