Rethink: Soaring repossessions could damage mental health of nearly half of us

Rethink logo for press releases

Tuesday, 07, Oct 2008 12:00

Rising repossessions could damage the mental health of almost half the country, a new survey for mental health charity Rethink reveals (1).

The survey over almost 2000 people, commissioned by Rethink for World Mental Health Day (2), sought to discover which stressful event poses the greatest threat to mental health. It showed home repossession is people’s top concern right now with 46% fearing it could damage their mental health, more than;

· Being Made Redundant

· A Young Relative Carrying a Knife

· Finding out they can’t have children

As recession looms, this could mean mental health damage for many, and for the one in six Brits already affected by a mental health problem the credit crunch could exacerbate their mental health problem. Society’s most vulnerable are likely to be out of work and living on low incomes; lacking any safety net to catch them if the worst happens.

RETHINK’S Director of Public Affairs, Paul Corry said:

"I wouldn't be surprised if we see a rise in the number of people going to their doctor’s because of mental health problems over the coming months. Many mental health conditions are linked to genetic or chemical factors, but stressful life events like losing your home can trigger mental illness, or make things worse in people who are already vulnerable".

“Even for people lucky enough to hang on to their home, the stress and worry of arrears building up can be enough to harm your mental health; this survey shows it worries millions of us. So just think what the risks are for someone already affected by mental illness. People with mental health problems are already treated less well by lenders and there aren’t enough safety nets to protect them. There’s an urgent need to do something to prevent a mental health disaster. It isn’t just bricks and mortar that are at stake here, it’s people’s lives”.

James Clubley, 26 from Essex knows the risks only too well:

“Losing my home was really traumatic. At the time, I started to feel really anxious and then got really low. I didn’t want to go out anywhere. I was so moody and just not my usual self. I felt angry that I had put so much effort into something and then to have it all taken away, just like that.

“After 2 – 3 months of this I realised this wasn’t just feeling generally low or “having a bad day”, it was more serious. I went to my GP and explained the situation. He put me on anti-depressants and eventually referred me to a psychiatrist. The whole thing just had a really bad affect on my mental health. After I lost my flat I moved around a lot. I stayed with friends, always temporarily, and then I ended up on the streets, homeless. I’d lost my ‘base’ and the illness got the better of me – I couldn’t cope with things. I got into a temporary homeless shelter and, luckily, got moved on to Rethink Arnhem Road Supported Housing from there. They really helped me. Now, a year and a half on I feel ready to move out and have my own place again.”

Spokespeople available for interview. FOR MORE INFO CONTACT:

Hilary Caprani, Acting Media Manager on 020 7840 3144 or hilary.caprani@rethink.org, or

Vicky Trimikliniotis, Snr Media Officer on 020 7840 3146 or vicky.trimikliniotis@rethink.org

Is Your Lifestyle Mentally Friendly? Find out by taking Rethink’s new quiz at: http://www.rethink.org/world_mental_health_day_quiz/

NOTES TO EDITORS

1) Rethink commissioned a YouGov survey. In response to the question: “Which of the following things would damage your mental health the most?” 46% said ‘having my home repossessed’. (All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 1969 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 1st - 4th August 2008. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).

2) World Mental Health Day was observed for the first time in 1992. It was started as an annual activity of the World Federation for Mental Health. The day is officially commemorated every year on October 10th, with the week preceding it ‘world mental health week’.

About Rethink

Rethink, the leading national mental health membership charity, works to help everyone affected by severe mental illness recover a better quality of life. We aim to provide hope and empowerment through effective services and support to all those who need us and campaign for change through greater awareness and understanding.

For further information on the charity and its work, visit: www.rethink.org or call 0845 456 0455.

The Mental Health Shop was created by two leading mental health charities, Rethink and Mental Health Media, and features an array of books, leaflets, DVD's and videos on a range of mental health topics including recovery, treatment and discrimination. This unprecedented collaboration now allows for a ‘one stop shop’ combining a range of mental health publications and products.Visit www.mentalhealthshop.org