Practising what we preach: reflections from my first fortnight at Money and Mental Health

My Master’s in Psychology taught me about how different mental health problems manifest and how they can impact people’s lives. This ignited a passion in me to drive change, but at the time, I wasn’t quite sure how to bridge the gap between theory and real-world impact.

That changed during my eight years at Alzheimer’s Society where I worked across different sectors of industry and with regulators to improve accessibility and inclusion for people living with dementia and their carers. Seeing and hearing first-hand from people with lived experience about how a small change in a service or regulation could transform their daily life was incredibly rewarding. It taught me a vital lesson: systemic change is possible, but it needs to be rooted in empathy.

Now, as I’m settling into my new role as Head of Strategic Partnerships at the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute, I’ve been thinking a lot about the importance of practising what you preach. As a credible voice advising businesses and policymakers on how to support people, we must ensure our own organisation is a gold standard for psychological and financial safety.

A few weeks into my new role, here are some ways I’ve felt like we’re doing just that.

One of the most striking benefits for new starters here is the ‘Money Makeover’ day. Within a new starter’s first two months, we are encouraged to take a full day of work time to focus entirely on our personal finances –– whether that’s switching energy providers, auditing subscriptions, or organising savings.

We know from our research that the ‘admin’ of life can be  a massive cognitive load. By giving us the time and resources to get into good financial health, the organisation isn’t just boosting productivity; it’s actively reducing the anxiety that leads to burnout. It also builds empathy –– reminding us all how laborious these tasks are, and how much trickier they are if you are struggling with your mental health at the same time.

Most corporate health insurance plans offer mental health support or physiotherapy, but they often operate on a ‘pay-and-reclaim’ basis. For someone experiencing financial problems, having to find £60-£100 upfront for a session, even if you get it back later, can be a barrier to seeking the help you need.

Our employee health plan handles the logistics and payments directly. If you need physiotherapy for example, it is organised and paid for by the provider rather than you having to foot the bill and wait for reimbursement. This ensures that a temporary dip in cash flow doesn’t become a reason to avoid seeking care.

We also have access to a free, 24/7 helpline through Mindful Employer, where we can get support with mental health and everyday challenges like debt, family care, and legal worries.

We talk a lot about the ‘Right to disconnect’ but seeing it implemented is different. In my first two weeks, my inbox/Slack has been remarkably quiet outside of standard working hours. Where I have received messages, they have clearly been from colleagues using our flexible working policy for their own specific life reasons, with no expectation of an immediate reply.

This ensures that ‘flexible work’ remains a tool for balance, rather than an excuse for ‘working all the time’. By respecting these boundaries, the organisation protects our personal time, allowing us to recharge so we can show up fully for the people we serve.

These are just my first impressions, but they bode well. To be a credible partner to the organisations we work with, we must continue to hold ourselves to account and drive continuous improvement. We shouldn’t just be an organisation that talks about money and mental health; we should be a place where people can thrive because of how we work.

I’m excited to keep learning, to keep an eye on how we can improve, and to ensure that as we push for change to benefit the millions of people facing money and mental health problems across the UK, we are taking care of our own team with that same level of rigour and heart.