Introducing: Sarah Richardson

Money affects all of our lives. It is an unavoidable necessity – but for so many of us it can feel like a weight around our necks. 

One of the biggest intersections of money and mental health that stands out to me is the silence. The shame and stigma that still surrounds these conversations. Be it the discomfort of talking about finances, the anxiety of sharing mental health problems or the fear of repercussions after opening up. There is still so much complication and nervousness that pushes those of us struggling further away from receiving help.

Silence and shame are pervasive. They are not just built on large sweeping statements but daily interactions that build up until suddenly you are stuck with your back against the wall and no idea where to turn.

Unfortunately more and more of us are finding ourselves in these situations. The cost of living crisis has pushed more people into financial insecurity with millions experiencing mental health problems as a result. 

Anxiety twists in the pit of a stomach as someone chooses between food and heating. Hearts pound while opening bills. Minds swirl with panic as housing and employment situations fall apart. 

And what happens next? Where do you turn? Who do you speak to? Who is waiting and willing to help? 

So often this is where our policy and systems fall short. It is not just the duty of one person but all of us, collectively and systematically, to break down the stigma, speak loudly into the silence and offer the support needed to help people with money and mental health problems.

This is what drew me to Money and Mental Health. Placing lived experience at the heart of their work with the Research Community, Money and Mental Health are leading the charge to break down harmful processes, improve services and create lasting change for people experiencing money and mental health problems. 

From research and campaigning through to delivery, Money and Mental Health are making sure that their work isn’t being done in isolation. Working in partnerships with finance and essential services providers as well as influencing policy makers, Money and Mental Health are working towards a bigger picture. A world where the vicious cycle of money and mental health problems is broken. And they are making sure that the government, financial firms and service providers are making the necessary changes to see this vision come to life.

I have worked as a fundraiser in both the charity sector and the arts for over five years. My experience has spanned many forms of fundraising, building relationships with foundations, corporations and individuals to achieve our shared goals of making meaningful change. I am hugely passionate about delivering work that tackles the most pressing issues facing society and building a better future for everyone. 

I am extremely excited to have joined the team at Money and Mental Health. Having only been here for a few weeks, I am already blown away by everyone’s passion and commitment to making real world change. Although the need for our work isn’t going away, one thing is very clear: the dedication of the team at Money and Mental Health isn’t going away either. It is a privilege to be a part of the systematic and social change they are making. 

Every research paper, every campaign win and every service improvement, brings us one step closer to providing people experiencing money and mental health problems with the answers to my earlier questions: what happens next? Where do you turn? Who do you speak to? Who is waiting and willing to help?