Mental health and homelessness

Healthwatch Wandsworth identified mental health and homelessness as a research priority for 2023-2024. As Wandsworth having the tenth highest rate of homelessness in London, and mental health a major concern for people experiencing homelessness, accessible mental health support is a key concern for this community. Healthwatch attended five events held by SPEAR, a local charity that supports people who are homeless. They spoke to 46 people in total.

Over half of the participants identified themselves as having a disability or long term condition. 

The majority of participants in this study noted that they had a mental health diagnosis or struggled with their mental health. 

There were a variety of factors that contributed to homelessness including: family turmoil, financial turmoil, and mental health struggles. 

There was a high level of variance in the pathways to access emotional health support participants described, indicating that the ways people who are homeless can access emotional health support may not be clear and/or easily accessible. 

The participants shared a variety of issues in addressing mental health and homelessness, including having access to housing and mental health support prior to the point of crisis to avoid being homeless, as well as needing holistic support once homeless. Mental health and homelessness were overwhelmingly identified as the most important issues to discuss moving forward.