Francesca Smith

Senior Research Officer

Francesca is a Senior Research Officer at the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute, supporting the research team in exploring the connections between financial difficulties and mental health problems. She is particularly passionate about eliminating the stigma surrounding mental health problems in underrepresented groups. Prior to joining the team, Francesca worked in research and financial planning at a business consultancy firm. Outside of work, Francesca enjoys travelling, hiking, and spending time with friends and family. (she/her)

Policy notes and publications

Fairer finances July 31, 2025 - Improving financial services for people with mental health problems from minoritised ethnic groups.
Nothing personal July 17, 2025 - Exploring the psychological harm of national government debt collection.
Reforming the Mental Health Act October 23, 2024 - Time to tackle the links between financial difficulty and acute mental illness.
In the public interest? September 9, 2024 - The psychological toll of local and national government debt collection practices.

Money and Mental Health respond to the consultation on improving the administration and enforcement of Council Tax in Wales July 23, 2025 - Money and Mental Health respond to the consultation on improving the administration and enforcement of Council Tax in Wales
Money and Mental Health respond to the Ministry of Justice’s consultation on the regulation of the debt enforcement sector July 18, 2025 - Money and Mental Health respond to the Ministry of Justice's consultation on the regulation of the debt enforcement sector
Money and Mental Health respond to the Health and Social Care Committee’s call for evidence on Community Mental Health Services February 4, 2025 - Money and Mental Health respond to the Health and Social Care Committee's call for evidence on Community Mental Health Services
Money and Mental Health’s submission to the Department for Health and Social Care’s ‘Change NHS: help build a health service fit for the future’’ consultation December 2, 2024 - Money and Mental Health outline why financial wellbeing must be at the core of the government's 10-year plan for a health service fit for the future, and detail steps the government can take to ensure that a reformed NHS works to break the toxic cycle between money and mental health problems.

Recent blogs

Recap: our workshop on ethnicity, money, mental health and experiences of discrimination in financial services March 6, 2025
What’s going wrong with public sector debt collection? The findings of our new research September 10, 2024
Why getting older doesn’t always mean escaping the burden of mortgage debt when you have a mental health problem August 8, 2024
Public sector debt collection and psychological harm: our upcoming research July 15, 2024
No place like home: our new research on mortgages and mental health January 25, 2024