At St Mungo’s, we have long understood the link between homelessness and mental health, and that one of the most significant barriers our clients face in moving on with their lives is past and sometimes recurring trauma.
Yesterday (21 May), we ran a panel event entitled Navigating Vulnerability: Mental Health, Risk and Homelessness, chaired by the acclaimed journalist and mental health campaigner Alastair Campbell, introduced by St Mungo’s CEO, Emma Haddad and hosted by our partners at Cushman & Wakefield.
The panel included: Kathleen Dolby, Regional Head for North London and Care Services at St Mungo’s; Danny Beales, Labour MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip; Dee O’Connell, Director of Policy and Programmes, Pathway; and Chris Dzikiti, Interim Chief Inspector of Mental Health at the Care Quality Commission.
The discussion explored how mental health challenges can increase vulnerability to homelessness, and how the experience itself can intensify mental health needs. The panel also discussed where earlier action can reduce harm, and the necessity of sustained mental health support for people experiencing homelessness.
Journalist and mental health campaigner, Alastair Campbell, said:
“Right now we really do need to talk about [the connection between mental health and homelessness] because I think it’s an issue that demands attention and it’s also an issue that resists easy answers.”
St Mungo’s CEO, Emma Haddad, said:
“At St Mungo’s, we see on a daily basis the interconnection between homelessness and mental health specifically. They are mutually reinforcing and often reinforce a downward spiral when the two interconnect.”
Regional Head for North London and Care Services at St Mungo’s, Kathleen Dolby, said:
“Recognising that a trauma-informed approach and getting people off to the best start after a step back is crucial.”
Interim Chief Inspector of Mental Health at the Care Quality Commission, Chris Dzikiti, said:
“Working together as a system and integrating services, [that is when] you’ll most likely make a big difference in people’s lives.”
Director of Policy and Programmes at Pathway, Dee O’Connell, said:
“Wrapping holistic support around a person in a way that meets them where they are and makes it easy for them to access and provides everything they need in a seamless way, is the thing that we know makes a difference.”
Labour MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip, Danny Beales, said:
“What we need locally is the public, private, and the voluntary sector to work together to solve homelessness and mental health issues.”
The reality is that mental health is both a driver and a consequence of homelessness. Policy and practice must respond to this two way relationship, including where prevention and early intervention can reduce harm.
We would like to offer our sincere thanks to Alastair Campbell, Kathleen Dolby, Danny Beales MP, Dee O’Connell and Chris Dzitkiti for their insights, and to Cushman & Wakefield for welcoming us to their London offices once again.
