Yesterday night, our CEO, Brendan Hill, took part in the Newcastle CEO Sleepout alongside over 70 other CEOs and business leaders from across the region, raising funds and awareness about homelessness in Tyneside. Brendan raised over £1,200, an excellent result!
Mental health problems affect the vast majority of homeless people; at Concern Group we regularly work with clients who are, or have been, homeless and are experiencing mental ill-health. Here are some telling statistics[1] that Brendan wanted to raise awareness of:
- 72% of homeless people have one or more mental health need
- 45% of homeless people have one or more long-term mental health need
- 35% of homeless people with a mental health need said that they would like more support with their mental health
- 60% of people in homelessness services have been affected by complex trauma or personality disorder
- 44% of homeless people with a mental health problem said they self-medicate with drugs or alcohol
- 14% of homeless people self-harm, compared with 4% of the population
- Only 10% of homeless people have additional support from mental health services
Here are his tweets from the night:
#sleepoutnewcastle folks 45% of homeless people have one or more longterm mental health needs Its why we are here. pic.twitter.com/yEuhBRL30P
— Brendan Hill (@CEOConcernGroup) 3 March 2016
Finding a pitch for the night!???? #Sleepoutnewcastle pic.twitter.com/BVjOGRtEwy — Brendan Hill (@CEOConcernGroup) 3 March 2016
Be back here on Saturday! Getting nippy out there ???? #sleepoutnewcastle pic.twitter.com/s0ffN8tS2k
— Brendan Hill (@CEOConcernGroup) 3 March 2016
60% of people in homelessness services have been affected by complex trauma or personality disorder. #sleepoutnewcastle. — Brendan Hill (@CEOConcernGroup) 3 March 2016
Doesn’t look or feel like this on match day! ???? #Sleepoutnewcastle pic.twitter.com/BOk3dINUoj
— Brendan Hill (@CEOConcernGroup) 3 March 2016
There is the hint of a snow flurry in the air. Brrrrr❄ Time for a nip of something medicinal???? #sleepoutnewcastle — Brendan Hill (@CEOConcernGroup) 3 March 2016
Night night from under my tarp???? #sleepoutnewcastle pic.twitter.com/pqBmdcIgZ0
— Brendan Hill (@CEOConcernGroup) 4 March 2016
Awake again to the drip drip of rain and random snoring.???? Off for a walk around the lower tier to warm up #Sleepoutnewcastle — Brendan Hill (@CEOConcernGroup) 4 March 2016
5 bells and its still ☔. Good natter with @johnlawlorNTW 4 last hour. 1 hour to go.????Second wind now. Reminds me of my nursing nightshifts
— Brendan Hill (@CEOConcernGroup) 4 March 2016
CEOSleepout is over. Bacon butty in hand. I get to go home to my family now. Many don’t. Lets keep fighting for them. Cheerio☺ — Brendan Hill (@CEOConcernGroup) 4 March 2016
CEOSleepout supporters. Thanks to kind folks at Cintra, Bluefin, Cargo creative, Ogilvie, PGS Law, Muckle, RSM, and Davison Blackett.
— Brendan Hill (@CEOConcernGroup) 4 March 2016
CEOSleepout complete! #cold,wet & knackered! Thanks to all our fab staff for your support and donations. @Insighthealth_@MH_Concern — Brendan Hill (@CEOConcernGroup) 4 March 2016
Brendan would like to thank his Concern Group colleagues, friends, and corporate supporters for sponsoring him. Corporate sponsors were:
- Cintra
- Bluefin
- Cargo Creative
- Ogilvie
- PGS Law
- Muckle
- RSM
- Davison Blackett
Congratulations to Brendan and everyone else who took part!
[1] Homeless Link, ‘Mental Health and Wellbeing Guide’, 2011.