Finding light at the end of a dark tunnel: mental health and its impact on Restore residents.
This blog carries a trigger warning for issues around mental health struggles.
Photo by micheile henderson on Unsplash [1]
I hope that first sentence didn’t put you off. If you’re still here: thank you. Reading about people having problems with their mental health isn’t exactly the happy, three minute read you want whilst you scroll through your phone over a cup of tea and a biscuit. Nevertheless, we know that there is a link between homelessness and mental health concerns, and that provision of stable and secure accommodation can lead to improved mental health outcomes for many people experiencing homelessness. As such, although what follows might not be an easy read, hopefully it will be an enlightening one: for those fortunate enough to have never experienced these struggles, it will give you some insight into the minds of those who do. For those who have personal experience of this particular dark tunnel, I hope these words will remind you that you are far from alone in your journey and help and support is out there.
The U.K. perspective
According to the U.K. Mental Health Foundation,[2] around one in five people aged 16-64 now have a diagnosed mental health condition. A quarter of adults report experiencing suicidal thoughts at some point in their life, with one in twelve having attempted suicide. Debt and deprivation increase the risk of an individual being impacted by these issues; those classified as living in deprived groups are 64% more likely to experience problems with their mental health than those outside this parameter, whilst those in debt are over three times more likely to have attempted to end their own life.
These figures become even more stark once we consider people with experience of homelessness. A report from 2014 suggested that eight out of ten people identifying as homeless reported experiencing mental health issues, with almost half having some form of official mental health diagnosis.[3]
Of course, mental health concerns can be both cause and effect for someone who is experiencing - or at risk of - homelessness. Poor mental health can impact on an individual’s ability to maintain relationships, hold down employment, or access wider support. These factors may in turn affect that person’s chances of affording to make payments for accommodation or associated essential bills, or they may lead someone to seek refuge in risky behaviours, such as increased dependence on alcohol or illegal drugs. On the other hand, even if somebody has not reported issues with their mental health before becoming homeless, the circumstances of losing their accommodation, being placed in temporary housing and the uncertainty of what the future may hold for them understandably leads to increased levels of anxiety and depression.
The picture among Restore residents
Mental health struggles are a common tale among Restore’s resident population. One of the first things our residents do when they meet their allocated Support Worker is complete an outcomes star, which assesses a range of areas in their life where they feel they may need help and direction. Mental health is one area on the outcomes star; in their initial assessment, residents consistently mark themselves as in need of some level of support in this area.
There are a number of ways we try to support residents who are struggling mentally. First and foremost, we encourage them to engage with mental health practitioners and medical professionals who can provide them with the expert intervention they require, whether that be prescription medication, a referral for counselling or a course of specialised therapy. We continue to explore ways in which we can provide better access to mental health support for our residents.
Secondly, we promote the benefit of peer support among our resident community: two groups comprised of residents past and present are facilitated by trained volunteers (who are former residents themselves). These groups enable participants to advise and encourage one another on areas that only someone who has experienced the journey out of homelessness can possibly understand. There is power in empathy; in sharing concerns and worries with other people, knowing that you are not alone, but rather supported, cared for and appreciated. As one of our peer supporters recently explained in his resident story (available to read in full here):
I’d encourage people to trust the process and engage with the support on offer, because I know from my own experience, it really helps.
Every area of the support at Restore is designed to offer residents the opportunity to feel connected and to embrace the new start on offer with hope and positivity. Whether it be through the one-to-one meetings with their support worker, or the peer-support groups, or attendance at one or more of our weekly community hub groups, or simply spending time socialising with their housemates in our shared accommodation, the importance of community and a strong support network is crucial to the way we work. It is our wish that every resident leaves Restore feeling better about themselves and their situation than they did when they moved in.
The biblical viewpoint
It is a common misconception that low mood and depression are things Christians do not (or should not) experience. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth! The Bible is littered with examples of people used by God, but who struggled with low mood and negative thoughts. From Moses’ anxiety over his inability to speak on God’s behalf before Pharoah (Exodus 6), to Hannah’s deep anguish over her childlessness (1 Samuel 1) to the many Psalms that tackle feelings of anguish and despair (not to mention a whole book of the Old Testament actually called ‘Lamentations’!), the Bible’s position is clear: that God longs to hear the honest laments of His people and to draw close to them in their suffering. Just as when the Israelites were fleeing from captivity in Egypt God did not remove the Red Sea, but made a way through it, so He wants us to be assured that throughout every situation in life – good or bad – He is present, and He cares. Whilst He may not remove the negative situation we face, He will provide a way through it and be with us as we walk that path.
I read a quote recently (I can’t remember where I saw it, so my apologies to the original author!) that said “sometimes God brings you to rock bottom to help you realise that He is the Rock at the bottom.” I know from conversations with our residents who have discovered faith during their time at Restore that they recognise this as true in their own experiences. As we continue to share the love of God in and through the work we do, we hope and pray that more may come to realise the value in acknowledging and welcoming the presence of God in their lives. Whilst being a Christian does not cure or prevent mental health suffering, it provides an eternal perspective that what we face in this life is temporary, and that one day God will show us eternal life in all its fullness, the way He always intended it to be.
Give hope to our residents
If reading this has encouraged you to support the work of Restore and bring a renewed sense hope into the lives of our residents, then please use the link at the bottom to support us financially. Thank you.
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[1] Photo by micheile henderson on Unsplash
[2] https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/about-us/news/our-initial-views-new-nhs-data-mental-health-england
[3] https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/statistics/homelessness-statistics