Depaul, a British charity organisation, has highlighted the severity of mental health issues among many individuals seeking its housing services. In their recently published Impact Report of 2023, entitled ‘A Voice for Change’, the charity urged for a reevaluation of mental health services as well as strategised planning and funding to provide long-term housing solutions for their clients.
In conjunction with the report’s release, Depaul advocated for the enforcement of the Mental Health Bill 2024, backed by a hefty €120 million financial assistance package from the government. The charity underscores the deep-seated mental health problem among those who depend on temporary housing solutions, highlighting that each night, at least 100 out of its 700 service beneficiaries report struggles with mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, and tendencies of self-harm.
The report further showed that in 2023, Depaul workers attended to 276 cases of suicidal tendencies and 140 incidences of self-harm. It is concerning, as shared by the report, that one in every seven service clients displayed requirements linked to severe mental health disorders including, but not limited to, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and profound anxiety and depression.
Depaul’s Director of Services and Development, Dermot Murphy, emphasised the diverse and intricate requirements of many service users, constituting physical health issues, mental health disorders, and addiction. Mr. Murphy emphasises that temporary accommodation is merely a superficial solution, which may inadvertently exacerbate their mental health conditions. It underlines the necessity for more directed capital inflows to build long-lasting housing solutions and deliver immediate as well as sustained mental health assistance.
‘Mr. Murphy believes that temporary accommodation is merely “a Band-Aid that often aggravates their mental health.” To combat this, he insists on the need for more specific funding to establish lasting housing and provide mental health services that are both immediate and sustainable.
The Impact Report of 2023 shows a marked increase in the number of individuals supported by Depaul that year – total of 8,445 adults and 2,491 children across North and South of the country, marking a 46% increase from 2022. Furthermore, Depaul was able to assist 1,415 families in 2023, witnessing a significant 85% increment from the previous year. The report also stated that 18 babies were born to parents receiving services from the charity.
The charity reported a positive stride in 2023 when 726 households successfully transitioned from homelessness to long-term suitable residences. The head of the charity Depaul, David Carroll has highlighted the urgent need to address the increasingly complicated matters relating to homelessness and mental health. Carroll stressed that the relationship between homelessness and mental health has never been as severe, with over 1,299 individuals accessing services and reporting mental health conditions in 2023. Accordingly, he believes that temporary dwellings are unsuitable for many of these people.
He pointed out that such environments can intensify issues such as depression and anxiety. Hence, the emphasis should be on providing stable, housing-led solutions that offer thorough support.
Expanding his thought, Carroll stated that these individuals need more than just shelter. They require expert care, professional support and permanent, suitable housing, which provides a sense of security.