The Analysis Comment
A sharp edge
The Debt & Mental Health Evidence Form version four has been published
Anthony Sharp Proprietor, Anthony Sharp Associates
asa.associates@
virgin.net
The Debt & Mental Health Evidence Form version four was officially launched on 1 October this year, following a review conducted by the Department of Health and Social Care, along with the British Medical Association (BMA), Money and Mental Health Policy Institute, Money Advice Trust, UK Finance, the Credit Services Association, and other key stakeholders. As one of the authors of the first three
versions, naturally this development both interests and pleases me and I would like to use this short article to emphasise two points relating to the form.
How Firstly, the original form created in 2008 by The Money Advice Liaison Group (MALG) immediately followed the first set of Good Practice Guidelines on Helping Consumers with Mental Health Conditions and Debt. MALG no longer undertakes work relating to mental health and debt and The Money Advice Trust now hosts this form. Those of us creating these first three
versions were always aware of one apparently insoluble problem, which was whether the medical world would charge for the completion of this form. The world of psychiatry general did not,
agreement whereby no charging would be made provided the form was revised to make it simpler to complete. Version four is the result of these discussions.
The Debt and Mental Health Evidence Form (DMHEF) is a form that only health and social care professionals can complete and the main questions from the other versions remain. The DMHEF cannot be completed without the consent and help of the person with the mental health problem (or someone formally authorised to act on their behalf).
The world of psychiatry general did not, but general practitioners (GP) very often did (anything from £25 to £150). Thanks to lobbying by the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute, Theresa May, the then prime minister, saw the unfairness of this charging and ordered an end to it
but general practitioners (GP) very often did (anything from £25 to £150). Thanks to lobbying by the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute, Theresa May, the then prime minister, saw the unfairness of this charging and ordered an end to it. As a result, the BMA and Department of Health and Social Care, together with the other bodies mentioned above, came to an
November 2019
When The second point is when this form should be used. It is a detailed form and involves busy GPs being asked to undertake more work for their patients, so care should be taken before immediately seeking its completion. The CSA has given some useful guidance
about this for their members and perhaps it should be the final rather than the first option when faced with an individual whose mental health issues are seriously affecting his or her ability to manage money. What must be remembered is that the
completed form received by a creditor is to be used for one purpose only and that is for the creditor to make a sensible decision as to what action to take regarding the debt. It is not an automatic demand for the ‘writing off’
of the debt. Considerable care and flexibility needs to be taken over this stage of the proceedings. This has not changed since version one was created. I hope the new version continues the success and help the other versions have created; perhaps the guiding motto should always be think carefully first before using it. CCR
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