Mental health and support

We understand that life has its ups and downs. When times are tough, money worries and your mental health can be closely linked.

Ask yourself the following questions:

• do you ever feel like you're not in control of your money?
• do you avoid opening bills, letters or emails from your bank?
• do you feel anxious about reading bank statements or checking your balance?
• is your sleep being impacted by money worries?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may have a relationship with money that is affecting your mental health.

Missing a payment, or even just the thought of missing a payment, can understandably cause panic. If you've missed a bill or payment, or think you might, it's important to let us know as soon as possible. Our Financial Support Team can offer you support and help you better manage your money so you can get back on track.

Some of our customers might need a little extra help with managing their money.

There are a number of situations, including physical or mental health problems, which might mean a loved one needs you, or a trusted professional, to get more involved in managing their finances. If this is the case, first direct can help.

Depending on your situation, we can provide you with limited access to  manage everyday bills and payments. Or, in some cases, we can grant full access to manage someone else's account on their behalf. 

Whatever we do, we will ensure that protections are in place to keep our customers and their money safe.