The truth about cold homes and mental health

Last week, the UK observed Mental Health Awareness Week. A recent report from Sir Michael Marmot's Institute of Health Equity found that cold homes double the risk of adults developing new mental health conditions and put 1 in 4 children at risk of multiple mental health symptoms. In this article, we look at this alarming data, and urge the government to take more assertive action when it comes to retrofitting the UK’s housing stock with suitable insulation.

Left out in the cold

Back in 2011, Friends of the Earth commissioned the Marmot Review Team at the Institute of Health Equity (IHE) to review evidence on the direct and indirect health impacts of living in fuel poverty and cold housing. The resulting report strongly advocated for improving the energy efficiency of the UK’s housing stock, which has been found to be one of the oldest and most inefficient in Europe. In February 2024, the IHE released another report, building on its findings from 2011. ‘Left Out in the Cold: The Hidden Impact of Cold Homes’ is a sobering read about the nearly 10 million UK households living in ‘cold, damp, poorly insulated homes’.

The consequences of cold homes

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended that homes are kept at a minimum of 18 degrees to preserve the health of their inhabitants. The consequences of not reaching this level of warmth can be serious and far-reaching. Many of the physical effects have been widely publicised, including the respiratory risks caused by damp and mould, which are exacerbated by cold air, and the detrimental impact on existing conditions such as arthritis. But, since the first report in 2011, evidence has continued to build around the negative effects of cold homes on mental health.

The 2024 IHE report draws on evidence showing that being unable to heat a home doubles the risk of adults developing new mental health conditions and triples the risk of existing mild mental health conditions getting worse. When it comes to children, the statistics are just as concerning. Research from Shelter shows that 28% of young people are likely to be at risk of multiple mental health symptoms due to living in a cold home, compared to 4% of children living in adequate warmth. The physical and mental health conditions caused or exacerbated by fuel poverty and cold homes have a huge societal cost, including the strain placed on the NHS as a result.

Support for energy efficiency improvements ?

While there are some grants and schemes available for improving home insulation for low-income households, at Thrift Energy we would like to see a more aggressive approach to tackling the issue, with more ambitious targets for retrofitting housing, better promotion of available funding and a greater investment in training engineers across the renewable energy sector. We are not alone. The IHE has stated that the level of investment pledged by the government to retrofitting works is insufficient. It recommends, amongst other things, a larger financial commitment to a 10-year retrofit programme, which would focus on insulation with adequate ventilation, and a broadening of the scope of some existing schemes.

Beyond Mental Health Awareness Week

As we reflect upon Mental Health Week here in the UK, we hope the government and potential future governments pay attention to the evidence showing just how detrimental fuel poverty and cold homes are to people’s wellbeing. Tackling an issue as multifaceted as mental health obviously requires action across several fronts and investment in a number of areas, but we hope that housing and heating are not overlooked. Now, more than ever, we need a more effective retrofitting programme to insulate Britain’s energy inefficient housing stock.

At Thrift Energy, we work hard to help individuals across the North East who are experiencing fuel poverty. We are part of a number of schemes that can help households access heavily reduced or free energy efficiency upgrades and installations. We have also created a free resource, the Energy Saving Expert, to help households make informed decisions about energy efficiency. To learn more, visit https://theenergysavingexpert.co.uk/

To help the Mental Health Foundation develop better ways to support good mental health, visit: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work/public-engagement/mental-health-awareness-week