Money management, mental health, and psychiatric disability: a recovery-oriented model for improving financial skills.

TOPIC: Although money management skills are essential for independent functioning in the community, when viewed from the framework of psychosocial rehabilitation, there have been few systematic models for teaching money management skills to consumers with psychiatric disabilities based on a recovery orientation.
PURPOSE: For those diagnosed with psychiatric disabilities, better money management has consistently been shown to be associated with superior quality of life, fewer hospitalizations, and greater self-efficacy. Consumers frequently indicate that learning how to budget and staying out of debt are among their top goals for recovery with mental illness. The current paper reviews the issues of money management and mental health among people with psychiatric disabilities and proposes a recovery-oriented approach to increasing money management skills to increase community functioning among consumers. SOURCES USED: Published literature, clinical cases, and financial literacy resources. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Improving money management can lead to a number of benefits by helping consumers with psychiatric disabilities: 1) gain more knowledge about disability benefits, 2) improve basic financial skills, and 3) reduce vulnerability to financial exploitation. Future work on incorporating this model into psychiatric rehabilitation programs would address skills consumers can use in living, working, and social environments in a way that enhances consumer choice and promotes recovery.