FINANCE: “MY THERAPIST IS SUICIDAL”
WORDS: SAMUEL WEAVER
Madness reveals the damning financial situations of those offering ‘life-changing’ financial advice whilst themselves facing insolvency proceedings.
I always fancied my therapist. Not physically, she was a bit old and thin for me, but her advert; 30 seconds of the dazzling interior of her home, brands I had only seen on ITV2 hanging off of her skinny frame, and an insane level of self-confidence told me one thing - I needed what she had, I needed Her. I was timid in our early meetings, the insane grin she freely gave upon opening the door, her tanned upper thigh and assortment of jackets. I didn’t know how to want to live, but I did know I wanted to be her.
‘John Lee is one of the world’s most sought-after voices on the future of business. Featured in Forbes, his best-selling book ‘Money Unlocked’ has helped thousands unlock their financial potential.’ On 18 May 2026 John Lee’s former company was placed into liquidation following insolvency proceedings. On 18-20 June 2026 John Lee will host the AI Business Growth Strategist conference. Virtual attendance is available for $2997 per ticket.
I didn’t know why my family was always so weird about her. I only went once a week - got the bus into town, quick Greggs, ten minute walk to the community centre, five minute wait with a cup of ultra cool water in the waiting room, then one hour in the beautiful room. A pile of letters always seemed to be waiting, growing, unopened on her corner desk. She had a Gucci watch, a Chanel bag, a Turkish smile, she smelt of wealth, glacial skin enveloped within clothes I could never dream of affording. I would look down at my beat up 110s, socks creeping through the soles, my muddied tan trousers that never seemed to get brighter no matter how many times Mum nuked them in the washing machine.
In 2020 the UK Government announced the Money & Pensions Service (MAPS) strategy for financial wellbeing. It encouraged increased access to credit products. This would permit people to achieve freedom from ‘using credit products for day-to-day spending and priority bills’. Since 2020, the UK government debt has risen from £1.82 trillion to £2.9 trillion.
The sessions were free. I didn’t know for how long - I had only been for 4 weeks, but I hadn’t given her any money. I think this is what they meant by free. I didn’t know what was wrong with me, but I knew she had the solution. It’s true, I did sometimes get sad, I missed my Dad, I struggled to talk to my Mum, my step-dad…I don’t feel comfortable talking about that actually. She would always listen, smiling, never checking the time, just listening to me. It took until week 4 until I noticed her arms, blood encrusting her china white shirt sleeves, small thin reservoirs. I thought that was weird. She hugged me that session, just as I walked in. It smelt different, the veneer of wealth pierced by a stench of the same vodka my step-dad would force into my mouth. Still, she was safe; she listened, and she had the solution - look at her!
Harrison Sullivan, better known by his online patronym HSTIKKYTOKKY, ran a trading platform via encrypted platforms Telegram and Signal. Membership of the group cost a minimum of £100. Membership, consisting of largely Gen-Z males, peaked at approximately 3000. The FCA published an official warning against use of his investment services in October 2024. As of 2026, Sullivan retains no trading entities with the Register of Companies. Sullivan has not refunded any members for their investments. Sullivan continues to boast of his life from Spain, Greece, Dubai. Sullivan retains over a million followers across his various social media accounts.
Week 7 rolled around - I got the bus, quick Greggs (sausage roll only today, only £3.80 left until the next UC payment on Friday. And I had to get the bus home - I couldn't wait to have what she had when this started working - I just had to listen, I would get to be her. It made sense in ways which school, work coaches, police officers, solicitors, just hadn’t before. Listen to her, and I will be her. I wouldn’t have to be me. I could retire my mum, I could have a house like hers, I could give my step-dad money for drink and calm him down. He had a really bad night last night. I hated when he had nights like that. After the Greggs, I smiled and walked towards the community centre.
In 2026 the Open University Business School published a report on the financial status of 18-year-old Brits. It revealed that one-in-seven were in debt, with two-thirds owing money to payday lenders. This group had credit card debt totalling £14.5 million. 94% believed that their situation may have not come to fruition if they had received some form of guidance and support.
I had always had nicknames. ‘Silly boy’ - my mum. ‘Pedo’ - my form at school. ‘Cunt’ - my step-dad. ‘Naive, shy, struggles to interact with others’ - Mrs Handley at parents' evening. ‘Vulnerable young man with plenty of potential if provided with the right support’ - Tiegan Smith, Adult Social Care, Milton Keynes Council. I always felt lucky, my names always seemed to get longer with age - I felt like one of the Lords on the news in the evening. One day! Five minutes up. I walked over and knocked on the door. No answer. I knocked a little harder. Maybe she was on the phone, probably onto the estate agent, the personal shopper, the garage. I knocked a third time. No answer. Okay - I pushed the door ajar. CRASH. I saw her body fall from the ceiling, as if she had just been thrown from a building, smashing down with a great weight like a bowling ball onto the wooden floor. ‘Are you okay?’ as I rushed in and knelt next to her. The ceiling had a gaping hole in it, wooden beams ripped out, a small trickle of water fell from the pipe onto her body on the floor. ‘Miss - are you okay!” There was a rope around her neck, tied neatly but now frayed and worn. Her neck was blue and red and looked like baby rash, just like my little brother, Teddy! Aw, I loved Teddy. I looked around the office as she slowly picked herself off of the floor - her neck looked sore, blood began to seep through her left thigh. ‘What were you doing up there?’ No answer. She took a second. She sat down on the stool, much further away from her desk than normal mind you. ‘Take a seat’ she smiled - her neck sores looked worse and worse, the rope around her neck still hung around her breasts, I noticed another bit of rope hanging from the beam on the ceiling. Water began to cascade onto her face as the sprinkler burst, woodchips and asbestos fell on both of us, she laughed, the blood vessels in her eyes had burst, her Chanel shirt was ripped, covered in blood and dust and sweat, her watch looked okay at least, her laughs smelt like my step-dads. ‘If you want what I have, it’s very simple. I am going to add you to a group. We all live like this. For an initial investment of £100 you can join the group. You would like that, wouldn’t you? We all have what I have, we all do what I do, we all talk like we do.’ I looked around the room. I didn’t know what was going on today. But she listened. And she had what I wanted. And that was only half of my UC. And I got my next payment in two weeks. And everything would be okay. She took my banking details, muddying my phone screen with blood and dust, and smiled again. I knew I was going to be okay. She knew what she was doing. As an alarm went off and the receptionists burst in, panicked. I smiled to myself - for an initial investment of £100 I was going to be in the group, and everything was going to be okay.
The Zero Suicide Alliance revealed in 2024 that people in problem debt are three times more likely to consider suicide than those not. Problem debt disproportionately impacts vulnerable individuals. Refuge estimates that survivors of abuse average £5,000 in debt held. The modern influencer is a person of glamour, love, life, wealth, passion, friendship and connection. The FCA reported in 2026 that 64% of financial advice provided via influencers directed individuals to unsafe and unregulated channels. The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health estimate that 10% of influencers have suicidal tendencies. Behind the exterior of modernism, they cry, they lack, and they want to die as well.
Listen to others who are with you. Do not listen to those who wish to exploit you.
*If you are struggling financially, or have recently considered financial investments or obtaining credit - please see the HELP section. Madness will connect you with others.