Our Mission
My Brain Bankers is on a mission to empower individuals with Bipolar Disorder to reduce impulsive spending.
Our app combines the principles of fintech with psychology and behavioural science to provide a support service to safeguard you during manic episodes.
Using data, games and science we will automatically detect manic episodes...
...then the My Brain Bankers team will leap into action
to give advice and practical suggestions on how to:
- successfully surf your impulses
- minimise impulsive spending
- avoid damaging debt and bankruptcy
8 million
...people with Bipolar in the UK, US, Canada and Australia
over 80%
...report impulsive spending in a manic episode
22%...
...will go bankrupt in their lifetime
What our friends say...
Simon Kitchen
- CEO Bipolar UK
We know from our community that impulsive spending is a serious challenge for many people living with bipolar.
During episodes of mania or hypomania, the urge to spend can be overwhelming, and the ease of online shopping can make it hard to resist.
Many people find themselves facing financial difficulties and debt as a result.
Dr Andrea Vassilev - Clinical Psychologist
- Living with & advocating for Bipolar
Impulsive spending is a pervasive problem in bipolar.
One-click, online shopping makes it easy to spend without thinking, and once the money is gone, regret (and debt) take a toll of their own.
A tool that empowers people to manage impulsive spending would make a real difference.
Impulsive spending is so common among people with bipolar disorder that it forms part of the diagnostic criteria for the condition.
One individual reported: "Anything I saw that was pink I bought it. I then gave what little money or credit I had left to a start up company I had never seen before because their logo was pink. I don't even like pink. Then after coming down a week later I had literally no money left."
(Written evidence submitted to UK Parliamentary Committee, Holkar, M., 2016)
The UK Parliament agrees...
As reported in the recent Parliamentary Briefing Document:
Consumer Debt and Mental Health
Some illnesses (such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia) present additional challenges, as impulsive behaviour can increase risks of gambling and compulsive spending. (p.8)
Technological advancements (such as contactless payments) can make it easier for people to spend money and/or access credit. This can increase risks for people who compulsively spend due to a mental illness, such as bipolar disorder. (p.17)
UK Parliament POSTnote 732 (Lally, C., Oct 2024, p.176)
This is why the
My Brain Bankers team
is here to help...
Prof Powell the Scientist
Prof Powell uses the latest science and data from your phone to detect if you are becoming unwell and discuss this with you...
Larry the Banker
Larry will help you manage your spending behaviours and provide budgeting and money management advice...
Liz the Therapist
Liz provides exercises for relaxation and mindfulness to help you successfully surf those impulsive spending urges...
Riley the Gamer
Riley will remind you to play in-app games that help us recognise if you are becoming unwell...
Alex the Guard
Alex will provide you with
advice on how to protect your
money by making impulsive
spending less easy...
If you have bipolar, we kindly ask for your help...
To help us develop the app that you want, we would like ask you about impulsive spending, what you have done to try and work on this, and your preferences for the app.
It will take around 10 minutes and is anonymous... thank you!
...Find out more
Connect with us:
E-mail: connect@mybrainbankers.com
Address:
15 Rockstone Place, Southampton, SO15 2EP, Hampshire, United Kingdom
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