Abstract

Mental health and financial stability are deeply intertwined in cyclical and bidirectional ways. Symptoms such as impulsivity and risky decision-making can compromise financial stability. Financial strain, on the other hand, can exacerbate symptoms and diminishes quality of life for individuals and their care partners. Despite its importance, this relationship between mental health and financial stability has remained difficult to characterize, as prior research has relied largely on self-reported measures of financial status and behavior. Recent advances in open banking and financial technology (fintech) now provide access to objective, granular financial data. This creates an unprecedented opportunity to assess and intervene on the interplay between money and mental health. At the same time, financial and mental health represent two highly sensitive domains, raising critical methodological, ethical, and equity challenges. In this talk, I'll highlight how financial data can advance mental health research and care. I will also discuss the open questions and safeguards necessary for responsibly harnessing fintech for psychiatric services.

Bio

Saeed Abdullah is an Associate Professor in the College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST) at Penn State, where he leads the Wellbeing & Health Innovation (WHI) lab. His research focuses on the intersection of digital health and human-computer interaction. He designs and develops human-centered and data-driven technologies to improve health equity and access. He is currently working on creating supportive financial technologies for marginalized communities, including individuals with bipolar disorder and dementia. He is also leveraging generative AI for health intervention design and clinician training. His research has been recognized with a Best Paper Award at MobileHCI, an Honorable Mention at CHI, and the IST Junior Faculty Excellence Award in Research. His projects have been supported by multiple grants from the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health.