Artist's animation aims to help people with hoarding disorder

A Leicester artist is making a short animated film to try to help people who are affected by hoarding disorder.

Steff Lee said she was inspired to make Of All The Things by her family's own experience of her mother's hoarding some 20 years ago,

She said she had struggled to find advice when they were trying to deal with the issue.

Ms Lee said she hoped the film would help tackle the stigma attached to the hoarding.

"I didn't know it was a problem really until I moved back from university and I realised my mum was really struggling," she said. "I wanted to help her.

"I was trying my best but at the time, because there was no advice around, maybe I was doing all the wrong things and I wasn't helping her but just making it worse."

Ms Lee, from the Leicester-based Kino Bino studio, added: "With this project it is about showing there are other ways to help, and accepting the problem is a big part of that."

She said she wanted to show how relationships were impacted by hoarding, all the emotions you go through and how you deal with that.

"Hoarding is a problem that builds up obviously, it's a slow burner and it starts maybe with you not being able to let people in your house because you're ashamed," she said.

"For me personally I have some shame about it and it was always a bit of a secret that has taken me a long time to be able to talk about.

"I believe that by speaking out about it, being honest and being visible you can help other people."

Jo Cooke, from the Hoarding Disorders UK charity said the film had dealt with the issue sympathetically and sensitively.

She said: "Hoarding is not a lifestyle choice, it's not about people who are lazy or dirty or who are failing. It's a complex mental health disorder linked with issues like trauma and bereavement."

The project is being supported by the British Film Institute (BFI), the British Psychological Society, Age UK, and Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service.

A crowdfunding campaign has been launched to help fund the film.

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