Merlyn Holkar

Senior Research Officer

Merlyn joined Money and Mental Health from Contact a Family, where he worked in the Policy and Campaigns department. At Contact a Family, Merlyn’s role involved research, policy analysis and supporter engagement, particularly focusing on tax credit regulations, childcare and respite care. Merlyn holds a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from Warwick University, his research interests include: mental health and free will, behavioural nudges in personal finances and the impact of devolution on mental health services and health and social care integration. @ItsMerlyn

Policy notes and publications

• Access essentials July 3, 2018 -
• Informal borrowing and mental health problems May 10, 2018 -
• Where the heart is April 16, 2018 -
• Levelling the playing field December 13, 2017 -

• Improving outcomes for consumers who self-disconnect and self-ration October 9, 2019 - Merlyn Holkar, Senior Research Officer, Money and Mental Health 20 September 2019 Ofgem Consultation: Proposals […]
• Signposting to travel insurance for consumers with medical conditions September 26, 2019 - Merlyn Holkar, Senior Research Officer and Katie Alpin, Head of Research and Policy, Money and […]
• Our response to Ofgem’s Draft Consumer Vulnerability Strategy 2025 August 16, 2019 - Katie Alpin, Head of Research and Policy, and Merlyn Holkar, Senior Research Officer, Money and […]
• Debt and mental health March 25, 2019 - Merlyn Holkar, Senior Research Officer, Money and Mental Health Debt and mental health: A statistical […]

Recent blogs

• The FCA calls on firms to improve support for vulnerable customers July 23, 2019 -
• Insuring a fair deal for people with mental health problems June 4, 2019 -
• Money and mental health March 29, 2019 -
• Financial difficulties and suicide: taking a closer look at the numbers February 6, 2019 -