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The debt and mental health evidence form (DMHEF) helps your creditors understand any mental health issues you are going through.
It gives your consent for them to get information from your doctor or health professional.
It may make them more sensitive to your needs.
Download a DMHEF here (PDF)
Give this blank form to a health or social-care professional to fill in.
Your creditor must make appropriate adjustments to their collections process when they receive your form.
- They must take your specific case into account
- They can help more with a detailed and well-written DMHEF
Complete and sign a consent form before giving it to your health or social-care professional.
- The DMHEF and consent form are approved by the Information Commissioner’s Office
- Both carry the Plain English Campaign’s Crystal Mark
- It is also recognised by the FCA, the organisation that regulates the credit industry
We can help if you are struggling with your mental health and debt.
Get free, expert advice online or over the phone.
How to complete a debt and mental health evidence form
1. Complete and sign a consent form
This form says they can share medical information with the people you owe.
Download a consent form here (PDF)
2. Give your consent form and a blank DMHEF to your GP or other professional
This must be someone who can give detailed advice on your mental health problems.
It could be a:
- Nurse
- Psychologist
- Psychiatrist
- GP
- Social worker
3. Ask them to complete the DMHEF in full and return it to you
- The DMHEF must be stamped by the professional
- Otherwise it cannot be used
4. All the questions on the form must be completed
Question 4 is particularly important:
- Q4. Does the person have a mental health problem that affects their ability to manage their money?
- This question should be answered ‘yes’
- There should be details of how your condition makes it harder to manage money
Will a debt and mental health evidence form write off my debt?
It is rare that creditors write off debt just because of a DMHEF.
But they may write off part of it.
Find out more about asking creditors to write off your debt.
Do I have to pay for a DMHEF?
In England
No. This would go against a GP's contract with the NHS trust.
In Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland
A GP can ask for payment. But this is rare.
Getting free debt help if you have a mental health problem
We give free, impartial debt help to people who are struggling every day.
We can:
- Give you advice on whether you need a DMHEF
- Send a copy of the form to you by email, or by post if necessary
- Guide you through what you need to complete the form
When you contact us, the more you can tell us about both your mental health problems and your difficulties with debt, the better we’ll be able to help you.
We also have online resources for dealing with debt and stress.
"I was suffering from anxiety because I felt like I had no control over my finances." Lucy, London
Related links
- Debt and your health
- The effect of debt on mental health
- Debt stress and mental health
- How creditors must treat customers
- Dealing with the debts of a vulnerable person
Frequently asked questions
How does debt affect mental health?
Debt often causes stress and anxiety.
Many of our clients say they have sleeping problems before getting debt help.
Signs of debt stress include feeling:
- Overwhelmed
- Frustrated
- Exhausted
Our six-step guide can help anyone feeling feels weighed down by money worries.
How do you sort out debt problems?
The first step is asking for help.
Debt charities like StepChange offer free advice you can trust.
We help you by:
- Building a budget to get a clear picture of your finances
- Recommending solutions based on your situation
- Supporting you for as long as you need
Find out more about how we help with debt problems.
Can you really get debt written off?
The people you owe might write off a debt if they do not think you can ever pay it.
This could be because you have a long-term condition.
They always ask for proof, like details from a doctor or social worker.
Find out more about debt write off.
