Does Debt Cause Mental Illness?

Editor’s note: This is National Suicide Prevention Week. Two frequent causes of suicide are depression and debt. Combine the two, and they’re even more lethal. Here’s a closer look — what you can do if this combination affects you or someone you love.

Two years ago, Kelsey Bell had a panic attack in her car somewhere on Interstate 55 outside of Chicago.

She stopped her 2012 Chevy Sonic underneath an overpass. She doesn’t recall exactly where she was, but she does remember staring at the toy snake she keeps on her dashboard.