I know the situation well and it's a sad one. But you pay people back, that's what you do no matter what, otherwise trust is broken and many times is irreparable. Life truly is hard, I've had to struggle to get everything I've had and it's never been easy. But that's life. He needs to deal with his mental health issues and those are very difficult to deal with at times. I know as I have seen a family member go through them in the past. Maybe at that point he can take care of the debts he owes, but while acutely mentally ill it will never happen.