Housing problems have a damaging impact on mental health, Mind says

Mind surveyed 1,780 people with mental health problems and the charity has revealed that 79% of respondents said that a problem related to housing has led to their mental health suffering.

Over two-thirds of respondents said they have experienced damp, mould, overcrowding and unstable tenancies. One in four tenants with mental health issues said they are behind on rent and are at risk of eviction.

The findings come as Mind launches a major new housing campaign which is calling on the Government and local authorities to provide good quality homes and a housing system that’s easy to understand and doesn’t discriminate against people with mental health problems.

Sophie Corlett, director of external relations at mental health charity Mind, said: ‘It is unacceptable that so many people with mental health problems are living in housing situations that are making their mental health worse.

‘Housing is more than just a roof over your head. It’s about finding somewhere safe and stable to call home. We all have the right to live somewhere that helps us focus on our families and our health or other parts of our lives. For people with mental health problems, a good home can be even more important when it comes to staying well.’

‘Too often people with mental health problems are living in cold, damp, poor quality homes or dealing with difficult landlords. Many of them will come into contact with authorities that hold outdated, stigmatising beliefs about people with mental health problems. At the best of times bad housing situations can be difficult, but for those of us with a mental health problem, it can be even harder to handle. It can make our mental health worse.

‘This needs to change.  While housing is high up the agenda at the moment, people forget that those with mental health problems are particularly at risk of being in poor housing situations. We want to see mental health embedded in all housing policy developed by the Government.’

A Mind campaigner said: ‘My experience of living in a very damp flat made me very stressed. I had depression and I lost most of my belongings to green and white mould. The bed covers were wet so I had to buy an electric blanket to dry the bed before we got in. It was a miracle that the electric blanket and the damp did not cause the flat to catch fire.

‘I had to bathe my baby in the living room until I could afford a radiator in the bathroom. My daughter was so, so cold in the bathroom so there was no way I was risking her health.

‘We then moved to a new house and life started getting better. Being in surroundings that are manageable makes me better able to deal with my depression.’