Risk of home repossession: 'greatest threat to mental health'

House repossession poses the biggest threat to people's mental health, according to a survey for mental health charity Rethink.

The survey of almost 2,000 people, commissioned by Rethink for World Mental Health Day on Friday, sought to discover which stressful event posed the greatest threat to mental health.

It showed 46% rated house repossession as the event that would most damage their mental health, placing it higher than being made redundant, a young relative carrying a knife or finding out they can't have children.

Rethink is concerned that the looming recession could harm the mental health of many and that the credit crunch could exacerbate problems in those who are already affected by mental illness.

Rethink's director of public affairs, Paul Corry said: "I wouldn't be surprised if we see a rise in the number of people going to their doctor because of mental health problems over the coming months.

"Many mental health conditions are linked to genetic or chemical factors, but stressful life events like losing your home can trigger mental illness, or make things worse in people who are already vulnerable.

"Even for people lucky enough to hang on to their home, the stress and worry of arrears building up can be enough to harm your mental health; this survey shows it worries millions of us. So just think what the risks are for someone already affected by mental illness.

"People with mental health problems are already treated less well by lenders and there aren't enough safety nets to protect them. There's an urgent need to do something to prevent a mental health disaster.

"It isn't just bricks and mortar that are at stake here, it's people's lives".

James Clubley, 26, from Essex, had his home repossessed a year and a half ago, which led to him developing mental health problems and he eventually ended up on the streets.

He said: "Losing my home was really traumatic. At the time, I started to feel really anxious and then got really low. I didn't want to go out anywhere.

"I was so moody and just not my usual self. I felt angry that I had put so much effort into something and then had it all taken away, just like that.

"After 2-3 months of this I realised this wasn't just feeling generally low or 'having a bad day', it was more serious. I went to my GP and explained the situation. He put me on anti-depressants and eventually referred me to a psychiatrist.