Some of the region's financial counsellors are seeing three or four people a day under so much money pressure they think their only option is to go bankrupt.
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Moneycare's Sandy Avis gave the striking figure as she addressed counsellor peers at a conference in Tamworth this week.
Ms Avis said she and her outreach colleagues were seeing more people unable to pay their bills, rent or mortgage; losing their jobs; and suffering mental health problems.
And it was due, in large part, to the "roll-on effect from the drought".
Ms Avis and counterparts from across the state spoke during the "around the traps" session of the Financial Counsellors Association of NSW conference at TRECC.
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She said this region's problems were similar to others', but "our biggest thing ... is the drought effect".
Ms Avis said many farmers were seeing rural-specific counsellors, but she and workmates still saw some, along with townspeople and small-business owners.
"It's that roll-on effect from the drought that is resulting in a lot more clients coming to see us, young and old - nobody's sort of immune to it," she said.
"It's causing problems in every area.
"Increased bankruptcies - it's not uncommon for me to have three or four people come in saying they want to do a bankruptcy in one day.
"It's not always the option, but that's what they think they're going to do and that it's their only recourse."
The counsellors receive about one referral a week from Tamworth's acute mental health unit, Banksia, Ms Avis said.
"There's a lot more mental health problems."
Moneycare is a free service through the Salvation Army, and Ms Avis and an outreach colleague cover areas including Tamworth, Gunnedah, Narrabri, Moree, Inverell and Tenterfield.
A spokeswoman from Financial Counselling Hunter Valley Project, which includes the Upper Hunter, said her service was "extremely busy".
There had been an increase in family violence, and 70 per cent of clients were, or had someone in their family, affected by mental illness.
"We've seen an increase in people presenting with homelessness; mortgage stress; small business and ATO debts," she said.
"[There's been] an increase in the level of debt people are presenting with ... payday lenders are still a major problem in the Hunter."