Council creates new group to tackle increasing problem of hoarding.

Challenge: The problem of hoarding has been described as an “increasing challenge”

A group has been set up to tackle hoarding, which Perth and Kinross Council has described as an “increasing challenge.”

It consists of team leaders from a number of council departments, including housing, social work and community mental health along with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

Tomorrow, members of the council’s housing and health committee will hear details of the hoarding working group and councillors will be asked to approve a new “hoarding protocol”.

The subject was highlighted by TV presenter Jasmine Harman, who broadcast a programme about her mother suffering from a hoarding disorder.

Bill Atkinson, acting executive director of housing and community safety for Perth and Kinross Council, has drawn up a document stating housing staff have identified hoarding as an area that is presenting increasing challenges to their employees.

“Compulsive hoarding is challenging to treat because many people who hoard do not consider it to be an issue and often have little awareness of their disorder and how it impacts on their life and on others,” he said.

Another document, Perth and Kinross Hoarding Protocol, suggests the problem is now being recognised as a “distinct mental health difficulty.”

“Hoarding can have a huge impact on a person’s ability to function independently and can carry a high level of risk for themselves and others,” it says.

“Rent and bills can be left unpaid as mail remains unopened and the home becomes increasingly unmanageable.”

This report states that hoarding is the “excessive collection and retention of materials” that affects “day-to-day living.”

“Hoarding is a specific type of behaviour characterised by acquiring and failing to throw out a large number of items such as newspapers, clothes and notes, severe cluttering of the person’s home and is also shown by significant distress or impairment of social life,” the report says.

“Hoarding is now being recognised as a distinct mental health difficulty of its own and it can have a huge impact on a person’s ability to function independently and can carry a high level of risk.

“It can cause high levels of distress for those sharing a home and can cause difficulties for communities working with people who hoard.”

The report goes on to state that hoarders are characterised by “excessive attachment to possessions”, tend to be socially isolated and may neglect their own self care.

“The main difference between a person with hoarding difficulties and a collector is that a hoarder has strong emotional attachments to their objects – well in excess of their real value,” it states.

Compulsive hoarding is challenging to treat because many people who hoard wo not consider it to be an issue anw often have little awareness of their disorder and how it impacts on their life and on others. Biii Atkinson

Picture: BBC. A Place In The Sun presenter Jasmine Harman investigates whether hoarding should be considered a mental illness as she tries to help her mother kick the habit.