Housing and mental health are often linked. Living in stable, good quality, safe housing is a protective factor for good mental health and wellbeing - but poor mental health can make it harder to cope with housing problems, and being homeless or having problems where you live can make your mental health worse.
Homelessness, rough sleeping and poor living conditions can also make people feel more isolated and more likely to experience stigma and poorer health.
A World Homeless Day stall will be in Queen Square from 10am today supported by Wolverhampton BID on behalf of Alternative Giving CIO, P3, Changing Lives, Wolverhampton Homes, Good Shepherd Ministry, The Haven, SUIT and others.
John Denley, Wolverhampton's Director of Public Health, said: “Around a quarter of people in England are likely to experience a mental health problem but, among people experiencing homelessness, and those at risk of homelessness, that number is much higher.
“As a city, we are committed to supporting people who are homeless, who may risk losing their home, or are otherwise suffering from mental health issues, and – this World Mental Health Day and World Homeless Day – I would encourage people to seek the support they, or their loved ones, may need.”
Following the Wolverhampton Homeless Health Needs Audit, recognising the barriers that people experiencing homelessness may face in accessing mental health support, homelessness and mental health has been recognised as a key priority for 2024/2025 by the One Wolverhampton Adult Mental Health Strategic Working Group.
Chair Laura Brookes said: "Poor mental health is both a cause and consequence of homelessness. Drawing on people’s lived experiences to develop a peer support model for mental health and wellbeing in Wolverhampton will enable people experiencing homelessness to access tailored support to build their social and recovery capital."
Tom Hayden, Chief Executive Officer of the Good Shepherd Wolverhampton, added: “At the Good Shepherd, we offer a range of services to support people experiencing many complex issues including homelessness and mental health, and, so often, those two will be linked.
"For example, we run a Breakfast Club where we provide food and drink, a shower and a change of clothes to those who have been rough sleeping, but from there we have been able to help people into accommodation, or to access some of the support groups that we deliver on a weekly basis.
"These include specific groups to discuss experiences and emotions, meaningful activities including walking, cooking classes and fishing, and our LEAP project, which offers people with lived experience structured volunteering opportunities alongside studying for a diploma.”
If you are experiencing difficulties with your mental health, housing problems or homelessness, or are worried about the cost of living, please know that you are not alone - and there is a range of support to help you:
- If you need urgent help with your mental health or you are struggling to cope, call NHS 111 and select option 2 (mental health option) to be connected to your local mental health support team, or text 07860 025 281
- Your doctor or GP is there to help you with your mental health as well as your physical health
- Wolverhampton Sanctuary Hub offers out of hours support - book a face to face appointment for by calling freephone 0808 802 2288, texting 07860 065 168 or emailing wolverhamptonsanctuaryhub@rethink.org.
- Wolverhampton NHS Talking Therapies offers psychological therapy for people experiencing common mental health problems including anxiety, depression, stress and low mood
- Visit Hub of Hope to find local support that’s right for you.
If you need someone to talk to, contact:
- SANE - call 0300 304 7000 (4.30pm to 10.30pm)
- Samaritans – call 116 123
- Rethink Mental Illness – call 0300 5000 927 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4pm)
- Mind – call 0300 123 3393.
For housing and homelessness advice, visit Homelessness. If you are homeless, or are at risk of becoming homeless very soon, contact Homeless Services on 01902 556789 (option 2) or via homeless.services@wolverhamptonhomes.org.uk.
Seen someone sleeping rough? Connect them with support by making a referral through StreetLink.
For information about support services for homeless people see Street Support Wolverhampton.
Good Shepherd Wolverhampton and P3 offer support programmes for those in crisis and people experiencing homelessness, including help with accessing accommodation.
Tailored advice for landlords and tenants in the private sector can be found at Rent With Confidence.
Support with the cost of living support is available through the council at Cost of Living Support and further information can be found on the Government's Help for Households website.
If you would like to take action to help, Alternative Giving gathers donations online or through its 16 donation points and two ‘tap to donate’ points around the city centre. 100% of these donations are then directed to organisations and charities that work to provide long term support for the city's vulnerable and homeless people. Find out more at Wolverhampton Change.
