Health, mental health and housing conditions making use of surveys Sally McManus

Millennium Cohort Study Understanding Society

Lacking housing necessities predicts low wellbeing Understanding Society

Millennium Cohort Study Understanding Society English Housing Survey

Health and Safety Hazards

0u6k3rrjpr/Screenshot% % png?dl=0 Cost of housing hazards to NHS Nichol et al. The cost of poor housing to the NHS. BRE EHS

Millennium Cohort Study Understanding Society English Housing Survey Health Survey for England

Health Survey for England 2010

Millennium Cohort Study Understanding Society English Housing Survey Health Survey for England Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey

APMS measures Energy efficiencyCentral heating, double glazing Housing characteristicsDwelling type, age, mould Financial circumstanceHousehold income, benefits, tenure Financial managementFuel debt, disconnection, other debt Behaviour and perception Reduced fuel use, ‘cold’ home SeasonMonth of interview (year round)

Mould in the home % Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey

Disconnected or in fuel debt in past year %

Used less fuel than needed due to cost %

Perceived the home to be cold %

But are associations between housing and mental health explained by other factors? Regression: predictors of poor mental health controlling for Non-fuel debt Housing tenure Household income Employment status Borrowing money Neighbourhood deprivation Sex, age, marital status

Living room most likely to be cold One in four reluctant to invite others home as a result Social isolation Cold homes

Mould

Social isolation Stigma Stress Lack control over environment Physiological Poor mental health Do cold and mould impact on mental health?

More likely to feel cold? More likely to report negatively? Less likely to maintain property? Poor mental health Or is direction of influence more complex?

Cold remains associated with poor mental health Income maximisation is not enough Must tackle heating and insulation efficiency Mould also independently associated with mental health So need both insulation and ventilation Tackling poor housing - recognise multiple aspects Policy implications…

For information about the next APMS

Monthly percentage variation in mortality cf. to yearly average Falagas ME, et al. (2009). Seasonality of mortality. CMAJ 181(8): 484-6

Families with children - mould Lone parent households – get into fuel debt Lone person households – use less fuel and get cold Indicators of bad housing vary by household type…