Supporting people with hoarding behaviour: a health promotion perspective

Hoarding disorder is a complex mental health condition that is increasingly recognised as both a health concern for the individual and a wider public health issue. Supporting individuals with hoarding disorder requires multi-agency intervention, involving collaboration between local authority environmental health teams, fire safety experts, mental health specialists and health and social care professionals, including community nurses. This article examines hoarding behaviour through a health promotion lens, with a focus on the role of the nurse. The author discusses potential underlying causes and consequences of hoarding behaviour and emphasises the importance of a health promotion approach to initiating and supporting behaviour change. The author also provides guidance for nurses on starting conversations about hoarding behaviour with individuals, assessing the severity of the issue and initiating and supporting behaviour change.