A charity which helps homeless people throughout west London is urging people to snooze in bed this weekend for a good cause.
St Mungo’s, which has shelters in Shepherd’s Bush and other parts of west London , is asking people to sleep in an extra hour on Sunday (May 15) to raise awareness of mental health and rough sleeping.
They hope the extra hour in bed will highlight the importance of getting a good night sleep and to reflect on what it calls “the scandal of people with mental health problems stuck sleeping rough”.
St Mungo’s research shows the number of people rough sleeping with a mental health problem is rising and that 61% of staff working in homelessness services say rough sleepers cannot access the mental health services they need.
Four in ten people rough sleeping have a mental health problem, rising to over half of rough sleepers from the UK. In addition, rough sleepers with a mental health problem end up on the streets for longer.
Jennean Alkadiri, St Mungo’s campaigns manager, said: “We’re having a Sleep In on Sunday to help stop the scandal of people with mental health problems being stuck on the streets.
“Having somewhere to sleep, rest and recuperate is vital for our physical and mental wellbeing.”
Campaigners are encouraged to share their experience and ‘sleep in’ selfies at #stopthescandal.
