Early identification of tenants experiencing mental health disorders.
Property managers and housing workers, in both social housing and the private rental sector, are often among the first people to observe that their tenants are experiencing a mental health disorder. However, managers may not recognise tenants’ behaviours as originating from a mental health disorder, and instead may impose sanctions such as evicting the tenant.
A very practical policy solution would be to develop education programs for social housing and private rental sector property managers so they can recognise mental health disorders in tenants at an earlier stage and know what support services they can steer tenants towards. In particular, such programs could help connect social housing providers with mental health services so that state and territory housing anti-social behaviour policies (such as eviction) are not inappropriately applied to tenants suffering from mental ill health.
Research into anti-social behaviour in public housing identifies that anti-social behaviour is often an indicator that a tenant who suffers from mental health problems person is unwell or that their support programs have ceased. If housing policies enforce eviction it can mean individuals move to private rental in the same community or to another government or community supplied dwelling elsewhere where the anti-social behaviour may continue, or in a worst case the individual may become homeless.
While there are no examples of education programs specifically targeted for property sector workers, as part of a previous 'Taking action to tackle suicide' program, the Commonwealth Government provided funding for ‘mental health first aid training for frontline community workers in the financial and legal sectors, relationship counsellors and healthcare workers. These sectors interact with people who may be in financial, legal or relationship crisis where the risk of suicide is increased.’ Such education programs could be expanded to cover real estate professionals (in both social housing and the private rental market).
