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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.

What are the symptoms of hoarding? 

Hoarding can be different for everyone. You might recognise some of the signs and symptoms listed below, and you might also have other experiences or difficulties that aren’t included here. 

What are the symptoms of hoarding? 

Hoarding disorder is a fairly new term. Doctors or healthcare professionals might also call this compulsive hoarding. You might be given a diagnosis of hoarding if you: 

  • find it really difficult to discard or part with possessions, regardless of their value 
  • feel distressed at the thought of discarding things, and that you need to save them 
  • are unable to use parts of your home because they are very cluttered 
  • are experiencing distress due to hoarding, or it’s affecting other areas of your life 
  • aren’t hoarding because of another mental health problem, or other health condition.

How is hoarding different from collecting? 

Some people enjoy collecting and saving particular types of items they find valuable or special, for example vinyl records, stamps or sports merchandise. Items in collections tend to be chosen carefully and displayed in an ordered way, so you can easily enjoy them or show other people. 

Hoarding often involves acquiring many more items in a less selective way. You might not use or look at very many of your things once you have them, as you might be more focused on acquiring more, and they might be mixed up with other types of  items. But the main difference between collecting and hoarding is whether it causes distress or affects how you live your life. 

“I kept lots of [clean] packaging as school kept asking for stuff for junk modelling, and I  liked to do crafts with my daughter. Slowly things built up and my dining table was  completely covered, so we could not actually do the craft stuff.” 

What kinds of items might someone hoard? 

Everyone will have a different experience of hoarding and it’s possible to hoard any type of item. But here are some examples of things people commonly hoard. 

You might buy or save lots of: 

  • clothes or shoes 
  • drawings or photographs 
  • toys or childhood keepsakes 
  • books, newspapers, magazines or leaflets 
  • post (open or unopened), bills or other paperwork 
  • boxes, bags or other storage containers 
  • food, which can include rotten or out-of-date food. 

It’s particularly common to hoard items in your home, but you might use other spaces such as a car, garage or storage unit too. You might also hoard things that aren’t objects, such as digitally or online, for example keeping lots of emails. 

“I still have items at my parents which I have been finding it really hard to sort through,  my garage is full, and a spare bedroom is unusable.” 

You might save things other people see as worthless or of limited value, or have  important and unimportant things mixed up together. This might cause you distress, or it might be how you prefer to arrange your belongings.

Hoarding and animals 

If you keep more pets than you can adequately look after and don’t provide basic care for them – including food, shelter, toilet facilities and vet care – this is sometimes viewed as a type of hoarding behaviour. However, researchers don’t know if this is best understood as a form of hoarding disorder, or as another separate condition. 

You might believe very strongly that you are saving animals or fulfilling a duty to look  after them, and disagree with people who say they aren’t well cared for. This can sometimes be a type of delusion (a false belief others don’t share).

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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.

 

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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.

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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.

What are the symptoms of hoarding?

What are the symptoms of hoarding? 

Hoarding can be different for everyone. You might recognise some of the signs and symptoms listed below, and you might also have other experiences or difficulties that aren't included here. 

What are the symptoms of hoarding? 

Hoarding disorder is a fairly new term. Doctors or healthcare professionals might also call this compulsive hoarding. You might be given a diagnosis of hoarding if you: 

  • find it really difficult to discard or part with possessions, regardless of their value 
  • feel distressed at the thought of discarding things, and that you need to save them 
  • are unable to use parts of your home because they are very cluttered 
  • are experiencing distress due to hoarding, or it's affecting other areas of your life 
  • aren't hoarding because of another mental health problem, or other health condition.

How is hoarding different from collecting? 

Some people enjoy collecting and saving particular types of items they find valuable or special, for example vinyl records, stamps or sports merchandise. Items in collections tend to be chosen carefully and displayed in an ordered way, so you can easily enjoy them or show other people. 

Hoarding often involves acquiring many more items in a less selective way. You might not use or look at very many of your things once you have them, as you might be more focused on acquiring more, and they might be mixed up with other types of  items. But the main difference between collecting and hoarding is whether it causes distress or affects how you live your life. 

“I kept lots of [clean] packaging as school kept asking for stuff for junk modelling, and I  liked to do crafts with my daughter. Slowly things built up and my dining table was  completely covered, so we could not actually do the craft stuff.” 

What kinds of items might someone hoard? 

Everyone will have a different experience of hoarding and it's possible to hoard any type of item. But here are some examples of things people commonly hoard. 

You might buy or save lots of: 

  • clothes or shoes 
  • drawings or photographs 
  • toys or childhood keepsakes 
  • books, newspapers, magazines or leaflets 
  • post (open or unopened), bills or other paperwork 
  • boxes, bags or other storage containers 
  • food, which can include rotten or out-of-date food. 

It's particularly common to hoard items in your home, but you might use other spaces such as a car, garage or storage unit too. You might also hoard things that aren't objects, such as digitally or online, for example keeping lots of emails. 

“I still have items at my parents which I have been finding it really hard to sort through,  my garage is full, and a spare bedroom is unusable.” 

You might save things other people see as worthless or of limited value, or have  important and unimportant things mixed up together. This might cause you distress, or it might be how you prefer to arrange your belongings.

Hoarding and animals 

If you keep more pets than you can adequately look after and don't provide basic care for them – including food, shelter, toilet facilities and vet care – this is sometimes viewed as a type of hoarding behaviour. However, researchers don't know if this is best understood as a form of hoarding disorder, or as another separate condition. 

You might believe very strongly that you are saving animals or fulfilling a duty to look  after them, and disagree with people who say they aren't well cared for. This can sometimes be a type of delusion (a false belief others don't share).