National Housing Strategy for People with a Disability 2011 - 2016

(e) Raising Awareness of Mental Health Disabilities9.38 It is accepted that some statutory and voluntary agency personnel, and indeed thewider community, can lack an adequate understanding and awareness of the specific natureof the housing needs of people with a mental health disability. Local authority personnel donot, in general, systematically receive formal training on the specifics and complexity ofmental health related housing needs. Such training would assist housing authoritypersonnel in understanding and dealing more effectively with vulnerable people. This wouldalso assist in promoting better understanding and appreciation of the important role thathousing plays in the recovery process. HSE mental health staff and service userrepresentatives of non-statutory mental health organisations could be considered asproviders of this training.9.39 It may be necessary to recognise and endeavour to address fears, perceptions andprejudices which can exist in communities in relation to people with a mental healthdisability and the effect such attitudes may have as regards provision of housing. This couldbe assisted by including staff in housing authorities and approved housing bodies who dealwith estate management / tenant liaison issues in the training referred to above. Guidelinesissued by the Centre for Housing Research (now part of the Housing and SustainableCommunities Agency) in 2006 recognise “the importance of social and community structuresranging from families to residents’ associations to community organisation in generating andmaintaining the social and economic infrastructure of an estate.” 889.40 The National Economic & Social Forum Report on Mental Health and Social Inclusion(2007) recognised that community activities can enhance positive mental health and mentalhealth recovery. The report recommended, inter alia, that community support services suchas volunteering, befriending and mentoring programmes should be supported in localcommunities, in tandem with the community and voluntary sector and official bodies.9.41 General awareness raising campaigns, such as that carried out by the HSE and theNational Disability Authority in 2009 to raise awareness of mental health disabilities mayhelp to reduce concerns and prejudices amongst the general population. A national stigmareduction campaign, See Change 89 was launched by the Minister for Disability and MentalHealth in 2010. The aim of the campaign is to positively change social attitudes andbehaviour, to inspire people to challenge their beliefs about mental health disabilities, to bemore open in their attitudes and behaviour and to encourage people in distress to seek help.A network of national and local organisations across the country are carrying the anti-stigma88Good Practice in Housing Management: Guidelines for local authorities, Regenerating Estates, RebuildingVibrant Communities, 2006, (Centre for Housing Research).89See website www.seechange.ie for more information on the campaign.117