Our Mission
My Brain Bankers is on a mission to
empower individuals with Bipolar Disorder
to reduce impulsive spending when manic.
We combine smartphone data, AI models and behavioural science
to automatically detect mania and deploy personalised nudges,
positive friction and mental well-being exercises
to help you successfully surf the urge to impulsively spend
BEFORE you hit the ‘buy’ button.
The My Brain Bankers Support Team are here
to give advice and practical suggestions on how to:
- successfully surf your impulses
- minimise impulsive spending
- avoid damaging debt and bankruptcy
In the future, we will also help people with ADHD, Borderline Personality Disorder, Dementia, Brain injury and Addictions reduce impulsive spending.
37.5 million
...people living with Bipolar globally
over 87%
...report impulsive spending when unwell
22%
...of people with Bipolar will go bankrupt in their lifetime
262 million
...people living with Bipolar, ADHD and Borderline Personality Disorder globally
93%
...of people with mental health conditions spend more when unwell
72%
...of social media users have impulsively spent after seeing a discount advertised to them online
What our friends around the world 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 & Psychotherapist, California, USA
- Living with Bipolar
- Award-winning advocate
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.
Victoria Maxwell
- Lived Experience Advisor, British Colombia Mental Health Services, Canada
- Mental health speaker, performer & playwright
Impulsive spending can wreak havoc in the lives of those of us with bipolar disorder, now more than ever.
Having an app like My Brain Bankers could help millions of people with bipolar disorder - like me - to more easily manage this incredibly detrimental aspect of the condition.
I know it could positively shift my spending behavior.
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)
Martin Lewis' Money and
Mental Health Policy Institute states...
...in written evidence submitted to UK Parliamentary Committee (Holkar, M., 2016):
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."
The My Brain Bankers
Support Team
is here to help
Prof Powell the Scientist
Prof Powell uses data from your phone and AI systems to predict whether you are becoming unwell and then discusses this with you...
Larry the Banker
Larry helps empower you to surf your spending urges by offering coping strategies and money management advice when you open apps...
Liz the Therapist
Liz provides personalised relaxation and mindfulness exercises for to help you remain calm when experiencing those impulsive spending urges...
Riley the Gamer
Riley reminds you to play our Square Pusher game and updates you on your Empowerment and Surfing points scores and rewards...
Alex the Guard
Alex protects you with the Big Red
Button for those moments where the
urge to spend is too strong, as well as
regularly checking that you consent
to our services...
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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