The link between mental-ill health and the home

There are many day-to-day issues which can impact on a person's housing situation. One that may be less obvious to the eye is mental ill-health. Mental ill-health can affect almost every aspect of a person’s life, from their education and employment to their physical health and the quality of their relationships.

It can also have a detrimental effect on a person’s living conditions and can threaten their security in the home. The link between housing and health is complex and interwoven. A person's poor mental health can impact on their ability to manage in their home. But, conversely, poor housing conditions can also lead to a negative impact on a person's health. A good example of this is antisocial behaviour. A person who is the victim of antisocial behaviour could see their mental and physical wellbeing decrease as a direct result. But a person allegedly carrying out antisocial acts could be doing so as a result of an underlying problem with their mental health.

Mental ill-health can cause a number of housing specific issues, for example:

• problems maintaining mortgage and rental payments,
• inability to cope and manage in their home
• difficulties maintaining the property to a good standard,
• difficulties living independently,
• threatened homelessness and
• difficulty in finding alternative suitable accommodation.

Levels of mental ill-health

Over recent years mental health issues have been given more public recognition. However, despite the growing acknowledgment of its existence amongst many in the population, there can still be a stigma attached to mental ill-health which can prevent some people from seeking help. Therefore, it is likely that advisers will at some stage come across a client who they feel may have a mental health issue which is impacting on their housing, but who are not receiving medical help.

A number of research exercises have been carried out in Northern Ireland into the prevalence of mental health issues in the population. Worryingly, the figures show mental health to be a much more serious issue in Northern Ireland compared to other parts of the UK:

• 2011 Census found that 1 in 5 people reported having a mental health problem.
• Northern Ireland is reported to have a 25% higher overall prevalence of mental health problems than England.
• Cost associated with mental ill-health run at about £3.5billion (about 12% of Northern Ireland's national income).
• In the 2014/15 Northern Ireland Health Survey 19% of respondents showed signs of possible mental ill health.

Housing Rights is delivering an upcoming training course on this topic. We will be looking at:

• The legislative protections that exist for people with mental ill-health
• How mental ill-health can impact on a person’s home life
• The consequences of action being taken against a person for their behaviour
• Help that is available to people with mental ill-health problems
•  Alternative housing options.