People with problem debt are likely to be depressed. My own study in 2001 found that of those people who reached out for help 39.71% were clinically depressed and another 9.56% identified themselves as moderately depressed. Women tended to be more likely to show symptoms of depression than men. You can read more about this study at Survey Finds Debt ... Read More »

“Dear Steve, Took out student loans at 8.5 % interest rate in middle 90’s to enable me to get Bachelors degree to be a teacher, have been making payments off and on since depending upon if I could afford them or not. Have used up all forbearances, etc…options, and am currently in about month 6 of a year long income ... Read More »

“Dear Steve, I have seen that there are others who have posted that they have contemplated suicide in order to get out of student loan debt and I can tell you that they aren’t alone. I was laid off twice since I graduated and I can’t afford to pay my loans back. I couldn’t even if I found a job. ... Read More »

“Dear Steve, My boyfriend was living with me and about 1 week before it was to be our one year, he committed suicide. He survived for two years in a vegative state. He passed away 2 years ago and I am stuck paying his debt that he racked up on my credit card, by buying tools and then pawning them ... Read More »

“Dear Steve, 37 years old, 2 kids 11 and 10. I served in Iraq. Suffering now with severe mental issues. I grew up abused and joined the Army at 21. I have gone to Iraq. Moments after leaving home my wife moved my kids across the country and filed for divorce. While serving in a combat zone I was going ... Read More »

“Dear Steve, I’m in deep trouble and the only option left for me is Suicide. I just can’t think of anything to overcome the hassle I created by myself. Im so stupid that I trusted someone wholeheartedly broke me into pieces. I came to USA in 2009 on a F1 student visa , borrowed money from my family members for ... Read More »

“Dear Jim, I’m dealing with a situation where I was married for 11 years. It was a very abusive marriage. To make a long story short, he committed suicide, since then the IRS has been hounding me, garnishing my wages and threatening holds on my bank account as they have made me liable for all of his back taxes, which ... Read More »

I spend so much time thinking and living in the world of debt that I’ve realized it is equally important to talk about life after debt. When you are in debt it is an intense and immediate feeling. Some say they feel as if they are drowning. Some say they feel like they are covered by a dark cold veil. ... Read More »

“Dear Jon, Student – Due to illness will be commiting suicide early January If a student with pretty much no estate other than a tv and an xbox was to give said “tv and xbox” away as christmas presents. Then, took out £500-£10,000+ from these various payday loan companies at the maximum amount and time period to pay back (So ... Read More »

“Dear Steve, I guess it all started after I got out of the military. I knew I needed to go to school in some capacity to hold a decent paying job. I decided life as an automotive technician would be great, I knew lots of relatives that had a modest life with such a career, which is all I wanted. ... Read More »

From This is Staffordshire: A mother killed herself on the day she thought bailiffs were coming to repossess her home, an inquest heard. Tina Bennett, aged 40, was found by her son Anthony, and husband Michael, at the family home in Kidbrooke Place, Blurton, on May 11 this year. She had hanged herself using the cord from two dressing gowns, ... Read More »

It seems more people are contacting me these days who look at suicide as a way out of primarily private student loan debt. I’m sure you have the same visceral reaction as I do and feel everyone needs to be talked off the ledge. But in the hard light of day, considering suicide as a way to deal with student ... Read More »

“Dear Steve, Student loan debt. Suicide as the option to get out. Do not want to work the rest of life thinking about this debt. If I cannot be free, I would prefer to be dead. I am going to die anyway. What possible difference can it make? I am also in debt on student loans, and have considered suicide. ... Read More »

“Dear Steve, This debt I’m faced with was accumulated over a period of time, and did not come primarily as an affect from an uncontrolled, frivolous spending lifestyle. Rather, a turn of events that has removed my wife’s income and has left me as the sole provider. During the time that this debt was accumulating, both my wife and I ... Read More »

“Dear Steve, I need help. I graduated college in 2010 from a good school with a multidisciplinary BA. I was able to find a job within 4 months of graduating, before the student loan grace period ended. I have a federal loan of $122.44/month for 10 years. I also have 2 private loans that are killing me. My Sallie Mae ... Read More »