Poor mental health is both a cause and a consequence of homelessness, so mental health support is an integral part of our offer at the Catching Lives Day Centre in Canterbury.

 

Many people who come to us have experienced trauma. Homelessness is itself a source of stress that can impact on our clients’ mental health, and we also support people who are homeless with a mental health diagnosis.

 

Our Mental Health Specialist, Karen Baxter, offers support to people who use the Day Centre drop-in. Karen's support is tailored to each individual, meeting needs in a flexible way and on a case-by-case basis. This works well for people whose lives are too unsettled to access appointment-based or online services, but who still want extra support with their mental health. Sometimes a client just needs somebody to talk to, and being able to drop by and speak to Karen has an immediate positive impact. For people who are at risk or looking to reconnect with mental health services, Karen helps people to access and navigate external agencies. She also helps people to develop their own skills around emotional regulation, coping strategies and self-care.

 

Self-care is crucial for mental health, but hard to maintain during periods of homelessness. Karen helps people to develop effective approaches based on their individual situation. A good sleep routine, nutritious diet, exercise and spending time in nature are all valuable for people’s mental health, but homelessness and insecure housing make it much harder to achieve these things. Sleep is broken due to bad weather while sleeping rough, the discomfort of sleeping on the floor or in a car, or the noise and disruption of a hostel – all take their toll. Poor sleep is often combined with poor nutrition because there has been no opportunity for someone’s body to rest and digest, while a healthy diet can be inaccessible and expensive for people experiencing homelessness. The benefits of time spent in nature can turn into stress when someone is bedding down outside and carrying their belongings in a heavy backpack in all weather.

 

Karen’s work on self-care is supported by the wider service at Catching Lives, for example we serve home-cooked fresh food every day; offer a range of activities such as art and yoga that provide connection and creativity; and our lovely garden is a place for people to relax in nature. 

 

Most importantly, we hear from clients about the difference our Mental Health Specialist has made to them, such as the person who described Karen’s support as “the best approach I’ve met so far within the mental health services.”