More than a mess: A look into Hoarding Disorder

PLATTSBURGH | Hoarding: to amass objects to hide or store away. At some point, the definition of hoarding went from meaning a collection of objects to being associated with houses that are stuffed to the point that it is nearly impossible to walk inside them. What most people fail to understand, due to the fact that it's never talked about, is that hoarding is a lot more complicated than that, and it's a disorder. According to the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders fifth edition, between 2 percent and 6 percent of the population is estimated to have clinically significant hoarding behaviors. This equals between 1,600 and 4,800 people in Clinton County. Clinically significant means that the hoarding behaviors interfere with an important part of a person's life. Nick Dubay, a podcaster, blogger, and peer advocate for mental health and recovery, has been working in the mental health industry for 12 years. Through his work, he has helped people struggling with hoarding behaviors and seen firsthand what the stigma surrounding hoarding is like. "So I think hoarding is probably widely misunderstood. It is often categorized as folks that gather and keep things that they have no necessary use for and that the stuff in their lives, and by stuff I mean physical objects, become a hindrance on them. Hoarding is also a mental health issue that is only a problem when it's a problem," explained Dubay. Locally, there are several resources individuals can utilize if they are struggling with hoarding tendencies or other mental health problems. North Country Center for Independence, Clinton County Mental Health and Addiction Services, and Behavioral Health Services North, BHSN, are some of the local resources that are able to provide the help and resources needed. BHSN offers several support services for individuals struggling with hoarding behaviors. In addition to psychotherapy, known as talk therapy, they have a Home and Community Based Services and Community Oriented Recovery and Empowerment (HCBS/CORE) program. The HCBS/CORE program has staff, known as rehabilitative practitioners, who are able to go into a person's home and assist them not only with learning the skills they need to organize and de-clutter but also help them look at their hoarding tendencies from a mental health standpoint. "BHSN's HCBS/CORE staff take a person-centered and holistic approach when providing help. The practitioners work with the client to help them remove the items they no longer want or need; however, rather than doing the work for the client, they do it with the client. It is important fo the client to take responsibility for the items in their living space. People are often referred to the program after experiencing issues with their landlord or due to health issues resulting from items in the home," said Merrilee Bernard, the coordinator of BHSN's Adult Home and Community Based Services/Community Oriented Recovery and Empowerment program and is a New York State Certified Peer Specialist. The community is also able to help, Dubay said, "You want to help, but you don't know what to do? Donate money to the United Way, cause the United Way funnels funds. Also send a message to the United Way saying, 'Hey I think we need a support system for hoarders.'" "When working with someone with hoarding behavior, it is important to remember that although the items may not look like they are important, those items mean something to them," explained Bernard. Both Dubay and the staff at BHSN agree that the stigma associated with hoarding can make it more difficult to seek help. According to statistics from National Alliance on Mental Illness, one in five adults experiences mental illness annually. A survey conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration shows that less than half of them get help, with one-fourth of adults citing stigma as the reason why. BHSN is currently working to combat stigma in Clinton County by offering health services in area schools. This helps children normalize the idea that mental health is important. BHSN also offers telehealth services to help overcome some of the barriers stigmas can form. The HCBS/CORE program currently serves over 90 clients. A number of the individuals in the program have goals regarding hoarding within their households. "Stigma robs people of their right to life and their right to happiness and if we can talk about hoarding in a solution-focused way, but also in a supportive way where we're letting that person know that we're not going to fix their problem but we're going to help support you so that you can find solutions that work for you, that's recovery. That's a beautiful thing," Dubay said.

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More than a mess: A look into Hoarding Disorder

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