Financial Technologies in the Cycle of Poor Mental Health and Financial Hardship: Towards Financial Citizenship

It is well documented that people living with mental health con- ditions are more likely to experience fnancial difculties. When explaining this association, emphasis has often been placed on fnancial capability, i.e. the capacity of those living with poor men- tal health to manage their money. This paper challenges such capability-based explanations by reporting on a diary study and interviews with 14 people who self-identify as living with a men- tal health condition. We focused on their experiences of fnancial technology use, and explored the role technology played in their strategies to minimise the impact of mental health on their eco- nomic circumstances. Rather than lacking capability, participants’ practices revealed shortcomings of existing fnancial technologies and how they sought to work around these. We conclude by pro- viding a set of design directions for technologies that engage those living with poor mental health not as vulnerable targets for fnancial inclusion, but as full fnancial citizens.