The Library
ExplainerHousingMental health1 minute read
Housing and mental health
How a home affects wellbeing.
Where you live affects how you feel, and how you feel affects your ability to keep a home. The two are closely linked.
How housing affects mental health
- Insecurity and the threat of eviction cause constant stress
- Overcrowding, noise and damp make rest hard
- Isolation in a place far from people can deepen low mood
How mental health affects housing
- Depression can make bills and letters pile up
- Crises can lead to missed rent or hospital stays
- Some people lose tenancies during a breakdown
Support that can help
- Supported housing with staff on site
- Tenancy support workers who help with bills and paperwork
- Mental health services that can write letters to housing services
- Telling your landlord early if you are struggling, where that is safe
Plan ahead
If you have a history of crises, make a plan for who will check your post and pay rent if you become unwell.
