Behind the clutter – bringing hoarding into the open
Hidden mental health condition is focus of Cambridge Festival event at Anglia Ruskin
As part of the Cambridge Festival, experts will come together at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) to shed light on hoarding, a mental health condition that affects an estimated one in every 40 people.
The condition is characterised by excessive accumulation, difficulty discarding items and clutter that takes over living spaces, leading to impairment in functioning and quality of life.
Hoarding is a growing issue that can also impact families and social services, meaning there is an urgent need for effective solutions. However, research and treatment are hindered by the stigmatised and secretive nature of the condition, as well as its often-complex presentation commonly involving other health and mental health conditions.
The panel discussion event, Behind the clutter: perspectives on understanding hoarding, will take place at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) in Cambridge on Saturday, 22 March, and will bring together experts in psychology, social care, and individuals with lived experience to explore the complexities of hoarding.
Attendees will have the opportunity to engage directly with professionals and hear personal stories. The event will offer a holistic perspective on overcoming the challenges of hoarding and fostering positive change.
The panel event will be led by Sharon Morein, Professor of Cognition and Mental Health at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), where she also chairs the Possessions and Hoarding Collective.
Her research focuses on psychological difficulties relating to compulsivity and impulsivity, particularly in conditions such as Hoarding Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
“Hoarding is a growing issue and the disorder is a recognised mental health condition affecting 2.5% of the population. We know it is a problem that can get steadily worse with age, and with an increasingly older population, the need to find effective ways to tackle this is greater than ever.
“At ARU, the Possessions and Hoarding Collective investigates how people interact with their possessions in general as well as how hoarding affects individuals and those around them.
“This Cambridge Festival event will cover the latest scientific insights, therapeutic approaches, and practical strategies for supporting those affected by clutter and hoarding behaviours.”
Sharon Morein, Professor of Cognition and Mental Health at Anglia Ruskin UniversityJoining Professor Morein on the panel will be Dr Jane Scott of ARU, Stuart Brown of Cambridgeshire County Council and Kathy Jones of the RCE Wellbeing Hub.
Dr Jane Scott is a clinical psychologist and Senior Lecturer at ARU, who has worked clinically with people who hoard and also conducts research into the condition.
Stuart Brown is an adult social care manager at Cambridgeshire County Council. He founded the Cambridgeshire Hoarding Forum, to assist professionals who encounter clients who hoard, and leads the Declutter Together peer support group, which meets regularly to support those living with excess clutter.
Kathy Jones is a peer trainer and tutor at the RCE Wellbeing Hub in Cambridge, which is part of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust. Having experienced a lengthy period of mental health challenges, including hoarding, Kathy now teaches classes such as ‘let’s talk about decluttering’ and ‘living well with decluttering/hoarding’ at the RCE Wellbeing Hub.
The event on Saturday, 22 March is free to attend and will run from 4-5pm. To book, visit https://www.aru.ac.uk/events/cambridge-festival/behind-the-clutter-perspectives-on-understanding-hoarding