Soaring energy bills will lead to 'mental health crisis', NHS leaders say

The Independent's Morning Headlines email [View online]( August 25, 2022 [Morning Headlines]( 1 / Exclusive: [Skyrocketing energy bills will create a ‘huge mental health crisis’ this winter, NHS leaders warn]( Soaring energy and food bills will create a “huge mental health crisis” this winter putting further strain on services and risking “people’s life chances”, NHS leaders have warned. As household bills dramatically increase, Saffron Cordery, the interim chief executive of NHS Providers which represents NHS trusts across England, said there was a direct link between deprivation and a surge in demand for care. The need for mental health services has already skyrocketed over the last year with referrals for adults hitting a monthly record of 425,000 in March and 1.2 million adults also waiting for community mental health care.   2 / [Olivia Pratt-Korbel’s family warn killer her smiling face will ‘haunt you for the rest of your days’]( Relatives vow to ‘get justice’ for girl shot dead in her own home in Liverpool 3 / [Thunderstorm warning as downpours set to disrupt unusually dry August]( Yellow warning issued for parts of England 4 / [‘Active agent of Tory party’ shaping BBC news coverage, says Emily Maitlis]( Former Newsnight presenter says broadcaster ‘sought to pacify’ No 10 5 / [Owami Davies: Police watchdog will take no action over officers’ handling of missing person case]( Metropolitan Police and Essex Police will review its investigations     The Big Question What is the UK minimum wage and when will it increase? With the British economy in dire straits thanks to inflation soaring to 10.1 per cent and driving up the price of consumer goods while salaries stagnate and a winter of extortionate energy bills awaits, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has called for the minimum wage to be raised “as soon as possible”. “Every worker should be able to afford a decent standard of living,” said TUC general-secretary Frances O’Grady. “But millions of low-paid workers live wage packet to wage packet, struggling to get by – and they are now being pushed to the brink by eye-watering bills and soaring prices.” So what is the rate now, when might it next rise and what are the arguments surrounding the extent of future increases? [For the full story click here >](   Watch/ [Sanna Marin: Finland PM apologises for party photo at government residence](   NUMBER OF THE DAY £110bn – The total cost of the rise in energy bills over the next year, according to the Institute for Government think-tank.   QUOTE OF THE DAY “It’s clear to me, and I think to many people, that people ought to be paid the rate for the job, regardless of the age they are. If they’re working as hard doing the same job, why should they be discriminated against simply because they’re under 23?” – Frances O’Grady, general-secretary of the Trades Union Congress, calls for the national minimum wage to be standardised and not discriminate against younger people.       Other stories you might like   [Biden announces student debt relief for millions of borrowers](   [Go-karting event for prisoners was a mistake, French governor admits](   [Liz Truss plan to divert NHS billions to social care like ‘robbing Peter to pay Paul’](       Articles available exclusively to subscribers James Moore, The Independent - [Cineworld is facing the opposite of a Hollywood happy ending](   Other newsletters you might like [The Race Report] The Race Report Fortnightly, 7am (UK time) Written by Nadine White [Sign up]( [Inside Politics] Inside Politics Weekdays, 8am (UK time) Written by Matt Mathers [Sign up](   If you can spare a minute we’d love your [feedback]( on our newsletters. [The Independent]( Join the conversation or follow us [Facebook]( [Twitter]( Please do not reply directly to this email You are currently registered to receive The Independent's Morning Headlines newsletter. Add us to your safe list of senders. If you do not want to receive The Independent's Morning Headlines newsletter, please [unsubscribe](list_name=IND_Headlines_Masterlist_CDP). If you no longer wish to receive any newsletters or promotional emails from The Independent, you can unsubscribe [here](. This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5HF. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345. Read our [privacy notice]( and [cookie policy](.