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Housing LIN Celebrates World Mental Health Day 2024

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Mental Health Awareness Day highlights the critical connection between mental health and housing for older people, pushing for changes in housing policy and practice that can significantly improve the quality of life and mental well-being for our ageing population.

Many older adults face loneliness, anxiety and depression, often triggered or exacerbated by unsuitable housing. Raising awareness of mental health and housing can push for integrated housing and mental health policies, ensuring that older people live in environments that promote both their physical and psychological well-being.

This Mental Health Awareness Day, we draw your attention to the following resources and insights:

Unravelling the Links between Housing Quality and Mental Health: It’s in our DNA

This blog by Faye Sanders, Doctoral Researcher at the University of Bath, explores the relationship between housing quality and health, focusing on how poor housing conditions can impact mental health through biological pathways like DNA methylation. We were also delighted that Faye joined our HAPPI Hour webinar on ageing well when she dived deeper into the connections between housing quality, DNA methylation and mental health during the session.

Innovative youth mental health service opens in West London (opens new window)

Look Ahead has opened an innovative housing scheme providing specialist support to young people experiencing mental health challenges in West London. The pioneering service, Oaklands and St Kilda’s based in Ealing, is run by specialist housing association and mental health support provider Look Ahead, and offers bespoke community-based rehabilitation to young people at risk of homelessness.

For further resources with practical information about how suitable housing options and related services, and timely support interventions can respond to the needs of people with specific mental health conditions and improve their health and wellbeing, visit our Older People and Mental Health webpage.