Donate
Find Help Now

Hoarding

Disclaimer:

This publication is based on a Mind UK publication and the original version may be found here: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/a-z-mental-health/

Thank you to Mind UK for sharing their valuable content with us. Content included in Mental Health A-Z is made available free of charge and does not form part of any commercial activity. The adaptation has been done independently by Mind HK and is intended for general information purposes only.

How can other people help? 

This section is for friends or family who wish to support someone who is hoarding. 

You may feel very worried if you think someone you care about is hoarding. It may feel difficult to know how to talk to them about it, especially if they disagree with you about whether they are hoarding. 

You might have already tried to offer support, but found that the person you’re worried about is unwilling or unable to accept help. This can be really difficult, worrying or frustrating. 

In fact there are lots of helpful things you can do. This section has some suggestions for ways you can support them while also looking after your own wellbeing. 

  • Let them know you are there. One of the most important things you can do is let the person you’re worried about know that you care and can help them find support when they are ready. 
  • Respect their decisions. Most people have some attachment to things they own. You might not understand why your loved one keeps particular things, but try to remember that the items they hoard feel important to them (even if they don’t seem valuable to you). For example, try to avoid describing them as junk or  rubbish. 
  • Don’t take over. It’s understandable to want to help them improve things. But if you try to take charge, they might shut you out and not accept any help at all. For example, don’t touch or move things without their permission. 

“I would like some help in working out how to store things to make more room, and in sorting out what to get rid of but past bad experiences put me off asking friends or family for help.” 

  • Be gentle – you can’t force someone to change their behaviour. Trying hard to persuade, trick or force someone into clearing up or throwing things away is unlikely to help them change in the long-term and could make them withdraw from you. 
  • Think carefully about gifts, as it may be unhelpful to introduce new items into their home. If you want to give them a gift, it could help to think of alternatives like going  for a meal or day out. Try to be understanding if they get rid of something you’ve given them, even if this feels hurtful, as it might be part of them making progress. 
  • Help them to seek treatment and support. For example, you could encourage them to use the Clutter Image Rating to help them talk to their doctor.
  • Don’t pressure them to let you into their home. They might feel really anxious about having visitors, so it’s important not to take it personally if they don’t want you to  come in. If you’d like to spend time together, it might help to consider other places you could meet instead. 

“I stopped asking people round as I was ashamed and it caused me a lot of guilt that I was not hosting family meals. My family wanted to “help” by turning up with bin bags but this caused more upset.” 

  • If you live together, it might help to give them time alone to sort things out. Some  people find it easier to do this without someone else there. 
  • Try to be patient. Once someone seeks help with hoarding, it can still take a long  time before they are ready to make changes. 
  • Help them celebrate successes, such as clearing a small area. They might feel  very anxious about what’s left to do, so it could help if you encourage them to notice their achievements. You could also remind them to take things one step at a time. 

“I feel that my mum is at risk in the event of a fire or if she has a medical emergency. The simple daily tasks that we all take for granted (getting into bed, cooking a meal, going up the stairs) are all made more difficult (and dangerous) by the amount of stuff in her home, and her attachment to it.” 

  • Set limits for yourself. It can be really difficult if you’re supporting someone who doesn’t feel they are hoarding, or doesn’t want to seek help. It’s important to consider what help you feel able to offer and set limits.
  • Try peer support. Some people find it really helpful to connect with others who are also supporting someone with hoarding. To find peer support, you could access Mind HK’s Community Directory to see what support there is or try online peer support such as OCD & Anxiety HK. 
  • Look after yourself. Supporting someone else can sometimes be difficult and stressful. It’s important to remember that your mental health is important too. You can find out more in our pages on coping when supporting someone else, managing stress and maintaining your wellbeing, and our hoarding useful contacts are there to support you too. 

“I am not able to stay with her and care for her or keep her company in the way I wish I could and want to. She is isolated, at risk and lonely and all I can do is visit (but not sit down anywhere) and watch as she becomes more vulnerable. I wish, more than  anything, that I could do more.” 

About forced clear-ups 

If you’re supporting someone who is hoarding, it’s understandable to want to help them clear up and to believe you might be doing them a favour if you clean and tidy things for them. But this is very unlikely to help in the long term and it could make things worse. 

Family members and carers sometimes believe they might be helping if they turn up without advance warning and without permission, or pay someone to tidy or declutter behind the person’s back. However, professionals who understand hoarding should never agree to make surprise visits, and should know that it’s unhelpful to tidy up against someone’s wishes.

Instagram Facebook-f Linkedin
What is iACT Service?

Improving Access to Community Therapies (iACT®) is one of the services from Mind HK. Trained Wellbeing Practitioners will offer initial assessment and early intervention for people dealing with mild to moderate symptoms of depression, anxiety, or other emotional difficulties.

 

The service includes 6-8 sessions of low-intensity psychological support, the flexibility of the service allows individuals to receive free and timely support when needed.

If you’re aged between 18 – 65 and are facing some emotional challenges, we would like to invite you to take an online assessment for us to gain a better understanding of your current emotional struggle.

 

If you’re eligible, we’ll get you connected with a Wellbeing Practitioner within two weeks to sort out the next steps.

The service runs for about 3 months and includes 6-8 support sessions, tailored to your needs.

 

We encourage you to attend all sessions and actively practice the tips and exercises provided by your Wellbeing Practitioner.

We take your privacy seriously. Your chats with the Wellbeing Practitioner are confidential.

 

We won’t share any of your info unless you’ve provided consent or if there are risks detected.

This programme isn’t suitable for people facing emergencies, major setbacks, or those diagnosed with serious or complex mental health conditions.

 

If you’re having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, this programme might not meet your needs, so please seek help right away. You can check out Mind HK’s “Find Help Now” page for immediate information and services.

Most of our Wellbeing Practitioners have backgrounds in psychology or counselling and are passionate about mental health. They’ve gone through about 140 hours of intensive training and completed at least 120 hours of supervised clinical practice over 9 months to ensure the quality of service.

 

They’re trained by accredited local experts in the mental health field, including clinical psychologists, counselling psychologists, counsellors, and psychiatrists. Plus, we regularly check how effective our services are. All service outputs and performances are subject to consistent monitoring.

Who is suitable for participating in this programme?

This programme welcomes anyone between the ages of 18 and 65 who may be feeling lost or facing emotional difficulties. Please note that this programme is not suitable for individuals diagnosed with severe or complex mental health conditions.

This programme is not suitable for individuals diagnosed with severe or complex mental health conditions, but suitable for those who experience mild to severe moderate anxiety, mild to moderate depression, or other emotional challenges. If you are currently experiencing a major setback or even having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please visit the “Find Help Now” page on our Mind HK’s website for immediate information and services.

After signing up, our Wellbeing Practitioner will contact you within two weeks to schedule a convenient time for a 45-minute conversation, either via video or phone call, according to your preference. During the conversation, the Wellbeing Practitioner will understand your current situation and help you gain a better understanding of your emotional state based on the questionnaire you filled out during application. Additionally, they will provide recommendations for appropriate community resources based on your needs, helping you take an important first step in taking care of your mental health.

Although the intervention procedure is mostly standardised, Wellbeing Practitioners will work flexibly with clients to address individual presenting problems and unique characteristics.

Our Wellbeing Practitioners are trained to support people who experience mild to moderate mental health difficulties primarily. This programme is not suitable for the situations mentioned above. If you are currently experiencing a major setback or even having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please visit the “Find Help Now” page on our Mind HK’s website for immediate information and services.

Your conversations with the Wellbeing Practitioner are absolutely confidential. Any information about you will not be shared with anyone without your consent unless you or others are at immediate risk or the Wellbeing Practitioner has reason to believe that you may be in imminent danger.
Supervisors will monitor trainees’ development throughout the placement to ensure that they are meeting the required level of competency to pass the training course at the end of the placement.

Yes, it is necessary to book an appointment in advance by filling out the form. Additionally, you can select one of the five stores yourself. We will allocate clients to different Wellbeing Practitioners based on their chosen location.

Before having the conversation, we will ask you to fill out a basic questionnaire for preliminary screening assessment. This screening process aims to ensure that the training received by the Wellbeing Practitioners is sufficient to meet the needs of the individuals receiving the service. If it is determined after the screening assessment that the service is not suitable for you, Mind HK will provide alternative recommendations to ensure your safety and support.

For adults who are suitable for this service, all Wellbeing Practitioners have received training on how to identify and respond to safety and risk issues. If you have any concerns about the support process, the Wellbeing Practitioners have appropriate measures in place and will develop response plans based on the urgency of the situation. They can also access support from clinical practitioners from Mind HK or participating organisations.

What private training does Mind HK provide?

Mind HK provides 4 themes of mental health training, including: Supporting Self, Supporting Others, Family Wellbeing and DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion).

 

Check out the brochure here for more information.

Mind HK provides a wide range of standardised mental health training, which can be tailored to different circumstances. Chat with our team to explore more! 

Our trainers come from a diverse, accredited pool of clinically experienced professionals. Check out our trainers’ biographies here.

Yes, the Mental Health First Aid class of Mind HK is internationally accredited by the MHFA International. The content and certification is delivered by trainers certified from the Mental Health Association of Hong Kong. You can find out our trainers accreditation here.

We are here to support your mental health education journey! Reach out to us and chat with our team.

How can other people help?

How can other people help? 

This section is for friends or family who wish to support someone who is hoarding. 

You may feel very worried if you think someone you care about is hoarding. It may feel difficult to know how to talk to them about it, especially if they disagree with you about whether they are hoarding. 

You might have already tried to offer support, but found that the person you're worried about is unwilling or unable to accept help. This can be really difficult, worrying or frustrating. 

In fact there are lots of helpful things you can do. This section has some suggestions for ways you can support them while also looking after your own wellbeing. 

  • Let them know you are there. One of the most important things you can do is let the person you're worried about know that you care and can help them find support when they are ready. 
  • Respect their decisions. Most people have some attachment to things they own. You might not understand why your loved one keeps particular things, but try to remember that the items they hoard feel important to them (even if they don't seem valuable to you). For example, try to avoid describing them as junk or  rubbish. 
  • Don't take over. It's understandable to want to help them improve things. But if you try to take charge, they might shut you out and not accept any help at all. For example, don't touch or move things without their permission. 

“I would like some help in working out how to store things to make more room, and in sorting out what to get rid of but past bad experiences put me off asking friends or family for help.” 

  • Be gentle – you can't force someone to change their behaviour. Trying hard to persuade, trick or force someone into clearing up or throwing things away is unlikely to help them change in the long-term and could make them withdraw from you. 
  • Think carefully about gifts, as it may be unhelpful to introduce new items into their home. If you want to give them a gift, it could help to think of alternatives like going  for a meal or day out. Try to be understanding if they get rid of something you've given them, even if this feels hurtful, as it might be part of them making progress. 
  • Help them to seek treatment and support. For example, you could encourage them to use the Clutter Image Rating to help them talk to their doctor.
  • Don't pressure them to let you into their home. They might feel really anxious about having visitors, so it's important not to take it personally if they don't want you to  come in. If you'd like to spend time together, it might help to consider other places you could meet instead. 

“I stopped asking people round as I was ashamed and it caused me a lot of guilt that I was not hosting family meals. My family wanted to "help" by turning up with bin bags but this caused more upset.” 

  • If you live together, it might help to give them time alone to sort things out. Some  people find it easier to do this without someone else there. 
  • Try to be patient. Once someone seeks help with hoarding, it can still take a long  time before they are ready to make changes. 
  • Help them celebrate successes, such as clearing a small area. They might feel  very anxious about what's left to do, so it could help if you encourage them to notice their achievements. You could also remind them to take things one step at a time. 

“I feel that my mum is at risk in the event of a fire or if she has a medical emergency. The simple daily tasks that we all take for granted (getting into bed, cooking a meal, going up the stairs) are all made more difficult (and dangerous) by the amount of stuff in her home, and her attachment to it.” 

  • Set limits for yourself. It can be really difficult if you're supporting someone who doesn't feel they are hoarding, or doesn't want to seek help. It's important to consider what help you feel able to offer and set limits.
  • Try peer support. Some people find it really helpful to connect with others who are also supporting someone with hoarding. To find peer support, you could access Mind HK's Community Directory to see what support there is or try online peer support such as OCD & Anxiety HK. 
  • Look after yourself. Supporting someone else can sometimes be difficult and stressful. It's important to remember that your mental health is important too. You can find out more in our pages on coping when supporting someone else, managing stress and maintaining your wellbeing, and our hoarding useful contacts are there to support you too. 

“I am not able to stay with her and care for her or keep her company in the way I wish I could and want to. She is isolated, at risk and lonely and all I can do is visit (but not sit down anywhere) and watch as she becomes more vulnerable. I wish, more than  anything, that I could do more.” 

About forced clear-ups 

If you're supporting someone who is hoarding, it's understandable to want to help them clear up and to believe you might be doing them a favour if you clean and tidy things for them. But this is very unlikely to help in the long term and it could make things worse. 

Family members and carers sometimes believe they might be helping if they turn up without advance warning and without permission, or pay someone to tidy or declutter behind the person's back. However, professionals who understand hoarding should never agree to make surprise visits, and should know that it's unhelpful to tidy up against someone's wishes.