The Mortgage Industry Mental Health Survey 2024 provides employees with the opportunity to share their lived experiences so that employers can implement initiatives and support strategies which will ultimately contribute to healthier workplaces and working practices.

MIMHC was founded by Crystal Specialist Finance, Coreco, Chartwell Mortgage Services, Landbay, Brightstar, Knowledge Bank and SimplyBiz Mortgages in October 2021 and currently has 117 signatories.

The charter was established to create a culture of openness and compassion within the mortgage industry by spreading a message of support and understanding while initiating meaningful discussions.

MIMHC co-founder and director of sales at Crystal Specialist Finance, Jason Berry (pictured above), said that this year’s survey should yield invaluable insights about prominent issues within the industry — including isolation, stress, financial worries, and fears about the future — in the wake of the pandemic and ongoing cost-of-living crisis.

“The Mortgage Industry Mental Health Survey 2024 provides everyone in the financial services industry with the chance to have their voice heard,” said Jason.

“The findings will directly help promote and safeguard mental health by gauging precisely what’s happening in workplaces now with a view to determining what needs to happen.

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“I’d encourage everyone working in our sector to put a few minutes aside for the survey – it’s essential we understand fully the issues that matter most.”

Penny Desborough

Jason also recently interviewed Penny Desborough, vice president of customer compliance and culture at Habito, as part of MIMHC’s interview series, discussing her personal and professional insights into post-natal depression.

Penny hopes that sharing her experiences will inspire other professionals struggling with their own mental health as well as employers looking to provide best possible support.

In a far-reaching conversation, Penny highlights how her personal experiences illustrate the importance of adopting “a bespoke approach” within workplaces that’s tailored to enable colleagues by responding to their individual needs. 

"Prior to having poor mental health myself, I really didn't understand the issues that people go through,” explained Penny.

“Then, following the birth of my daughter in 2018, I had post-natal depression and that completely changed my perspective on mental health.

“After that, I wanted to ensure that there was somewhere that people can come to chat through any issues that are affecting them at Habito.

"As a business, I want to ensure that we’re providing colleagues with the support that they require both in times of crisis as well as those other points when it becomes necessary."

Penny subsequently discusses how the support of her family, CEO and the NHS combined with talking therapy, hypnotherapy, and exercise — specifically the camaraderie she discovered at the heart of her local netball team — helped with her postnatal depression.

MIMHC’s "keep the conversation going" series was established specifically to inspire positive change and create supportive environments where individuals feel comfortable seeking help and support.

Jason said: "These personal stories are a constant source of inspiration — and it’s equally inspirational to learn that appropriate support is now increasingly being put in place by leadership teams within our sector to help colleagues precisely when they need it most.