A BARRHEAD mum who set up her own cleaning firm has told how a surge in mental health problems has led to more homes becoming “unsafe” to live in.

Julie Given, managing director of MJ Cleaning Services (Scotland) Ltd, has witnessed many cases where people have been “hoarding” at home, with the problem made worse by Covid lockdowns.

She is urging local residents to look out for signs that a loved one might be struggling.

Julie told the Barrhead News: “Since Covid, we have seen an increase in calls from people with mental health problems looking for a bit of help.

“Hoarding cases have increased, with some people developing a problem during lockdown. It can start very unexpectedly and, before you know it, you have a real issue that really does require help.

“Many hoarders begin ‘collecting’ and buying things as it brings them comfort but it can make a house unsafe for many reasons – from a fire risk to trips or falls and, in some cases, piles of items can fall over and hurt someone.

“There is also a health risk with regards to what is piled up in the home, such as dead animals and old food. We have seen cases in which the homeowner can’t move from their chair as the rest of the house is too cluttered.

“Lockdown has caused a lot of these cases to go unnoticed, with people having an excuse to not let people into their homes – meaning even family members can be unaware of how bad things are.”

Julie undertook a mental health first aid course to help her understand the issues faced by people who may be struggling to cope.

She said: “We see some very distressing scenes where people are unable to look after themselves properly and are now living in unsafe, unsanitary conditions.

“We want everyone to know there is help out there and we never judge anyone.

“We can look at each case and work with the client to get the best outcome for them. We can declutter and clean and make homes safe and liveable again.”

Julie launched her business in 2016 and, since then, it has grown from a one-woman operation to a thriving firm which now employs 18 part-time staff and has around 180 recurring clients.

She is still based at home for now but is looking for commercial premises and has plans to start a training academy so she can pass on her specialist knowledge to others.

“Covid has certainly made people more aware of the importance of cleanliness,” said Julie.

For more details, visit www.mjcleaningservices.net.