We are thrilled that our Chair & Founder
@MartinSLewis
has been shortlisted for Celebrity Charity Champion at todayβs
#ThirdSectorAwards
π₯³
Best of luck to all nominees!
Big news on our Stop the
#DebtThreats
campaign: the government have agreed to end distressing default letters! Watch our chair and founder
@MartinSLewis
explain why this is such an important win & find our more:
BREAKING: We're delighted to announce a big victory for our
#StopTheCharge
campaign today as
@TheBMA
commits to ending the practice of GPs charging people with
#mentalhealth
problems for the form they need to get
#debt
support: 1/3
Today
@Barclays
announced that it will become the UK's first high street bank to allow customers to block
#gambling
transactions using their debit cards. Read our Chair
@MartinSLewis
's response here:
This
#WorldMentalHealthDay
millions of us are struggling with our mental health & finances.
Our research, published in June, found the
#CostOfLivingCrisis
is having a devastating impact on our
#MentalHealth
- with 1 in 5 UK adults saying they felt βunable to copeβ.
On the eve of tomorrow's
#RecoverySpace
debate in parliament, we just delivered our 10,000 letters to the Chancellor. People in
#mentalhealth
crisis deserve space to recover, without being hounded by creditors. Thank you to everyone who signed.
100,000 people in problem
#debt
attempt suicide each year in England. One factor that can leave someone feeling like there's no way out is the threatening letters they receive from lenders. This
#WSPD
help us stop these
#DebtThreats
- sign our petition:
Watch our Chair and Founder
@MartinSLewis
explain why itβs so important that the government takes action to stop the
#DebtThreats
- and lend your support by signing our petition here:
A very happy birthday to our Founder & Chair
@MartinSLewis
, whose passion for helping people with
#mentalhealth
problems navigate their finances is why we exist! πππ
Watch our founder
@MartinSLewis
explain why he's backing our campaign to Stop the
#DebtThreats
. Join Martin, and add your voice to our campaign by signing the petition:
BREAKING: Today we're launching our new
#MentalHealthAccessible
standards for essential services firms like banks & energy providers. Watch
@MartinSLewis
explain how this could make these services easier to use for people with
#mentalhealth
problems:
The
@OnlineSafetyCom
has backed our call to include scam ads in the Online Safety Bill - now we need government to act.
Read our Chair & Founder
@MartinSLewis
's full statement here:
Weβd like to say a huge thank you to the 10,500 people, 80+ MPs & 23 national organisations who backed our
#RecoverySpace
campaign & made todayβs victory possible. We couldnβt have done it without you
Good to hear our Chair & Founder
@MartinSLewis
talking about the link between mental health problems & financial difficulty on
@BBCRadio4
last week. Catch up here from 31.45:
Weβre urging the Money and Pensions Service to pause its plans for recommissioning debt advice to ensure people with mental health problems can access the support they need. Read
@MartinSLewis
' full statement in our press release:
BREAKING: Tonight weβre launching a new campaign to bring an end to intimidating
#DebtThreats
letters, which are putting people in problem debt at risk of becoming suicidal. Sign our petition calling on the government to change the rules on these letters:
*GREAT NEWS* In a victory for our campaign with
@MartinSLewis
& a cross-sector coalition of organisations - the government has announced its new Online Safety Bill will give social media platforms & search engines a legal duty to stop scammers advertising on their platform!
People with
#MentalHealth
problems are x3 more likely to have been a victim of an online scam. The government has a chance to protect people in its upcoming Online Safety Bill. Read our Chair & Founder
@MartinSLewis
β comments in our press release:
BREAKING: Today we're publishing our
#GE2019
manifesto, setting out 5 ways the next government can break the link between
#mentalhealth
problems & financial difficulty. We're calling on all political parties to commit to making this a priority:
"Two years ago, I was in the fortunate position to be able to found
@mmhpi
... Iβm incredibly proud of the work the team there is doing..." -
@MartinSLewis
blogs on why he set us up & looks back at our most recent year to choose his highlights
Today, on World Suicide Prevention Day, we are launching a call for input for our new project looking at the links between financial difficulty & suicide. If you have experience of these issues, we'd like to hear from you:
#WSPD2018
#mentalhealth
We know that the outbreak of
#COVID
γΌ19 will have left many people feeling anxious about their mental and financial wellbeing - but there is help available. Weβve put together a list of sources of support which might be of use over the coming months:
Important new campaign from
@MoneySavingExp
π They're calling on the Treasury & the FCA to
#BringBackTypicalAPRs
- so more people get the interest rates actually advertised on loans (currently only 51% of people must get the rates advertised & others can be offered higher rates).
Statement from
@SimonCrine
: 'I am delighted to say that the brilliant
@helen_undy
will be my successor as Director of Money and Mental Health. She will lead a very talented team. It's great news both for
@mmhpi
& for people with
#mentalhealth
& debt issues
The event was hosted by our Chair and Founder
@MartinSLewis
, who began by underlining the importance of getting debt collection practices right for the millions of people who have fallen behind on payments during the cost of living crisis. 2/11
2.5m people with
#mentalhealth
problems who fell into debt during the pandemic considered suicide. While many factors which can contribute to suicidal feelings, the link between mental health problems & debt is unignorable. Learn more in our press release:
π£Watch
@MartinSLewis
explain why you should take 30 seconds to sign the petition in support of our new
#SetUpToFail
campaignπ£
Join us & ask government to act now to make it easier for people to get help from loved ones with Universal Credit. Sign here:
βAction Fraud is a flaccid organisation that does very little and is totally under-resourcedβ
Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis says UKβs national agency to fight cyber-crime has βvirtually no resourcesβ to stop scammers running fake websites
#PoliticsLive
This week we began our new research project looking at the links between financial difficulty & suicide. If you have experience of these issues & want to support our work, you can take part in our survey here:
#mentalhealth
#debt
#WSPD
WATCH: our founder
@MartinSLewis
on
#politicslive
today on the link between money and
#mentalhealth
. Our research shows that one potential trigger for suicidal thoughts is the aggressive letters people in debt receive - help us Stop the
#DebtThreats
:
Our founder
@MartinSLewis
says: βNew rules are needed to make the language in lenderβs letters easier to understand, and to signpost people to help, not hassle.β Join Martin, by signing our petition to Stop the
#DebtThreats
here:
We did it! Thanks to everyone who supported our
#RecoverySpace
campaign, people using NHS
#mentalhealth
crisis services will now get a break from fees, charges & collections activity on their
#debts
while they focus on recovery.
@MartinSLewis
Thanks, Martin! π
Weβre committed to breaking the link between money &
#MentalHealth
problems. If anyone would like to learn more about what we do, or join our lived experience Research Community & help us bring about change, you can find out more here π
Today we're delighted to see a coalition of cross-party MPs & Peers backing our Stop the
#DebtThreats
campaign in a joint letter to
@hmtreasury
. This is a valuable show of political support - find out more & get the latest update on the campaign here:
For too long the bailiff industry has gone unregulated & been allowed to cause real psychological harm. We're campaigning with a group of charities for independent
#bailiff
regulation. You can help:
#bailiffreform
#KilledByMyDebt
#TakingControl
Tomorrow our Chair
@MartinSLewis
will present our brand new research on the links between
#mentalhealth
problems and
#debt
, as he delivers this year's Sir Naim Dangoor lecture at the
@RoySocMed
. Find details of the event here:
Common symptoms of mental health problems can make it more difficult to manage Universal Credit, leaving many relying on support from family & friends. But, our research shows that the mechanisms for arranging support are too complex & unclear. Learn more:
βProper regulation of Buy Now Pay Later is long overdue and much needed, and we urge the FCA to act on the Reviewβs recommendations." Our chief executive
@helen_undy
responds to the Woolard Review published today - read our full response here:
PUBLISHED: Read our new report looking at the challenges people with
#mentalhealth
problems face when navigating the
#benefits
system - and the practical changes that could make a big difference:
#UniversalCredit
#PIP
This week, we were in Westminster launching new research on the psychological impact of debt collection practices.
We were delighted to share the research and hear from some fantastic speakers who shared their insight and reflections on our recommendations. 1/11
We conducted a mystery shopping exercise for our report on
#insurance
.
We found that someone with severe depression could be charged 3 times more for travel insurance than a person with no medical conditions. This jumps to 11 times more for someone with severe bipolar. 1/3
Our vision is of a world in which the link between financial difficulty &
#mentalhealth
problems is broken. In their joint blog, our Founder
@MartinSLewis
& Chief Exec
@helen_undy
set out how we'll be working to achieve this over the coming years:
*CAMPAIGN WIN* Today weβre delighted to announce a big win in our Stop the
#DebtThreats
campaign!
The government has agreed to change the most distressing debt collection letters β to make them more supportive & less intimidating. Find out more here:
Online scams can be devastating for people with mental health problems - who are 3x more likely to have fallen victim. We've joined with
@WhichUK
& others to call on the government to act. Watch this video where our Chair
@MartinSLewis
explains why tackling scam ads is so vitalπ
Scam ads are costing UK victims billions each year. But tech giants have continually failed to
#StopOnlineScams
.
It's time for the government to step in.
We urge
@NadineDorries
to protect all UK consumers online by including scam ads in the Online Safety Bill.
We're excited to announce the appointment of four new trustees to our board - a big welcome to
@clareefrancis
,
@pnashconnect
, Chris Pond and Jo Hill. Read our Chair
@MartinSLewis
's full statement here:
What have these 70 MPs got in common? They all back our
#RecoverySpace
amendments to give people in
#mentalhealth
crisis a break from escalating
#debts
. We now have until after Easter recess to get more MPs on board - find out how you can help:
"I have massive
#anxiety
about talking to strangers on the phone" - Regulators must improve the accessibility of essential services for people with
#mentalhealth
problems & promote the use of alternative communication channels
85% of people with
#mentalhealth
problems we surveyed said that they feel itβs impossible to avoid seeing online gambling adverts. Weβre calling on gambling firms to stop advertising during the pandemic to help people stay in control. Find out more:
From Tuesday GPs in England will no longer charge people with
#mentalhealth
problems for the paperwork they need to get
#debt
support. This is a huge victory for our
#StopTheCharge
campaign - read our blog to find out how we got here & what comes next:
Difficulties dealing with essential services firms can leave people with mental health problems experiencing financial & psychological difficulties.
Find out more about the challenges customers with mental health problems face:
Why are we, along with
@MartinSLewis
, calling for joined-up
#MentalHealth
& money support?
Because it could:
π help 27,000 more people with mental health problems recover each year
π double recovery rates for people with debt & depression
π· save the government Β£144m/yr. 1/2
45 organisations have now joined
#5WeeksTooLong
. We wonβt accept the 5+ week wait for
#UniversalCredit
. It's clear our message is getting through but we mustnβt become complacent. Agree
#ThisCanChange
? Join us >
πWE WONπWe're delighted our Stop the
#DebtThreats
campaign has won
@SMKcampaigners
Best Consumer Campaign award! Thank you to all who supported the campaign - especially those in our Research Community - we couldn't have done it without you!
#SMKAwards2021
We're delighted by today's update from
@MoneyPensionsUK
on it's plans for funding debt advice - with effectively a 50% increase in funding for face-to-face advice, compared to the plans before Christmas. Read our full statement:
Congratulations to our chair and founder,
@MartinSLewis
! Very well deserved.
And thank you for your ongoing support in our fight against the toxic link between financial and
#MentalHealth
problems, during the
#CostOfLivingCrisis
and beyond.
We're delighted our Chair & Founder
@MartinSLewis
has been shortlisted for this award - recognising his massive contribution to our work this past year!π
Yesterday we launched our new strategy! Read this introduction by our Founder and Chair
@MartinSLewis
and Chief Executive @ helen_undy, to find out what we hope to achieve over the next 6 years - and how we aim to do it:
#mentalhealth
#debt
Today is
#WorldMentalHealthDay
.
Alongside our founder and chair
@MartinSLewis
, weβre committed to breaking the toxic cycle between
#MentalHealth
problems and financial difficulty.
And thereβs one important way you can help us. 1/3
Itβs hugely disappointing that the
#MentalHealthBill
was not included in the
#KingsSpeech
today.
Reform of the Mental Health Act is overdue.
Hereβs why itβs vital & what we want to see to help break the link between money & mental health problems. π
Great to see our research on the links between
#debt
and suicide featured in the
@FT
last week, and in particular the impact that
#DebtThreat
letters can have on our
#mentalhealth
: 1/2
"It's time to stop people in
#mentalhealth
crisis being hassled over
#debt
..." - If you agree with
@MartinSLewis
, join us in campaigning for people in crisis to be offered a break from spiralling debts
#RecoverySpace
Weβre campaigning to change the law governing the content of letters sent to people in debt, so they include supportive signposting rather than intimidating language. If you agree with
@MartinSLewis
please RT & sign our petition to Stop the
#DebtThreats
:
As our new report highlights, nearly half of people receiving out-of-work
#benefits
in England have a common
#mentalhealth
problem, such as depression and anxiety, which can make it harder to navigate the benefits system 1/4
PUBLISHED: Our new research provides a state of the nation insight into the mental & financial wellbeing of people across the UK during the pandemic.
It reveals the devastating impact of the pandemic for people with
#mentalhealth
problems. Find out more:
PUBLISHED: Our new report shows that millions of people with
#mentalhealth
problems are stuck in a low income trap - due to low wages, low employment prospects and long term cuts to the
#benefits
system. Find out more:
The Work Capability Assessment routinely fails to capture the extent to which mental health problems can affect peopleβs daily lives and ability to work. 1/2
NEW: Weβve published a practical guide to help energy firms support customers with mental health problems struggling with the
#EnergyCrisis
. If you work for a supplier, find the guide here:
#CostOfLivingCrisis
Our research shows that people receiving IAPT therapy while experiencing depression or anxiety are significantly less likely to recover if they are also in financial difficulty. Thatβs why we want to see
#debt
advice integrated into
#mentalhealth
care:
βImagine a policy which could save the government Β£144m a year, while at the same time making substantial numbers of people happier.β
π½οΈ Watch: a summary of our research and a great discussion between
@AndrewMarr9
and our founder
@MartinSLewis
on
@LBC
. 1/2
"An authoritative voice, making headlines, shaping policy and providing thought leadership thatβs changing lives." One of our most read blogs in July was
@MartinSLewis
on why he set up
@mmhpi
and what we've achieved together so far. Take a look β
"Extending the breathing space scheme... could genuinely save lives." - our chair
@MartinSLewis
explains how
#RecoverySpace
could help the thousands of people struggling with
#debt
during a
#mentalhealth
crisis. Find out how you can support our campaign
Great interview with
@MartinSLewis
in today's
@guardian
. Martin talks about his own mental health experiences & how they've influenced his work (including founding Money and Mental Health). Read it here:
Today weβre sad to say goodbye to our wonderful Interim Chief Executive
@katie_alpin
. In her final blog, she takes some time to reflect on her experiences at Money and Mental Health and some of her proudest moments: