Since our launch in spring 2016, we’ve been working tirelessly to break the link between financial difficulty and mental health problems. Here’s what we’ve achieved so far…
Following our campaign, the government agreed to make default notices – the most distressing debt collection letters – more supportive and less intimidating. With millions facing debt problems due to the pandemic, these changes will save lives.
After a two-year campaign, we secured a promise from both the British Medical Association and the government that GPs will stop charging for the forms people with mental health problems need to get support with their finances.
In 2018, we secured a promise from the government to extend its Breathing Space debt respite scheme to people in mental health crisis. Read more about our campaign, which was backed by 23 charities, 80 MPs and over 10,500 people
Problem gambling can have a devastating financial and mental toll. Since 2017 we’ve encouraged banks to give customers the option to block gambling payments. In 2018, Monzo, Starling and Barclays became the first banks to do so.
Last year the FCA announced plans to change its definition of ‘vulnerability’, which could have disadvantaged people with mental health problems. By joining with a number of other charities, we persuaded the FCA to backtrack on these proposals.
Our Other One in Four report called for local public health teams to consider financial difficulty as a key risk factor for poor mental health. We were delighted that Public Health England endorsed this approach in its 2017 Public Mental Health Concordat.
Get involved
We’re a small organisation, but achieve big things thanks to our supporters. Whether you have personal experience of mental health problems, are a professional in a related sector, or would just like to stay updated, we’d love you to get involved.
