HELP is now at hand for compulsive hoarders and their carers living in Mole Valley.
Leatherhead mental health charity The Mary Frances Trust and Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS have teamed up to launch a new self-help group.
This is the first time that specific support will be available for people in Surrey to talk about their experiences with hoarding.
The group will be co-facilitated by Westcott resident Andy Honey, who became interested in the subject after helping his neighbour Richard Wallace battle his compulsion to keep apparently useless objects.
Together, the pair have made great progress clearing Mr Wallace's Furlong Road home and garden after years of hoarding everything from milk cartons and newspapers, including the Advertiser, to cars.
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Former landscape gardener Mr Honey's emerging role as a carer was featured in two Channel Four documentaries, which also followed Mr Wallace's treatment under consultant clinical psychologist Sophie Holmes of the Mole Valley mental health team.
Mr Honey said: "I know from experience that people do benefit from meeting others in the same situation.
"I'm very excited as we've got a really good balance of psychological, practical, and Mary Frances Trust support to run the group.
"This will be so beneficial as we will be able to cover all aspects for people who hoard, and their relatives, carers and friends."
Ms Holmes added: "Hoarding can be very debilitating but people can avoid seeking help out of embarrassment and a fear of being judged or simply because they feel overwhelmed.
"Coming to terms with having a mental health problem is never easy so we've set up this self-help support group to show people that support is out there and that they're not alone."
The Mary Frances Trust is able to run the group thanks to a grant from Surrey County Council and the county's GP Clinical Commissioning Groups.
(BLOB) The Hoarding Self Help Support group meets for the first time on Thursday May 9 between 7 and 9pm at the Leatherhead Clubhouse at 23 The Crescent, Leatherhead.
The group will then meet there at the same time on the second Thursday of each month.
For further details, call the Mary Frances Trust on 01372 375400 or e-mail info@maryfrancestrust.org.uk
