Distress signal: Self-storage facilities as sentinel spaces for community stress and mental health

Mental health-related morbidity and mortality continue to increase in the US. Life disruptions (e.g., divorce, eviction, financial problems) are negative life events positively associated with poor mental health outcomes, but finding people experiencing these disruptions can be difficult due to stigma. One place that individuals experiencing these life disruptions may be found (and potentially reached with resources for help) could be self-storage facilities, where people seek to store belongings due to life disruptions. This exploratory study aimed to describe the demographics of US adults who utilize self-storage, and, among those using storage, the prevalence of life disruptions. Data were gathered from the Understanding America Study (UAS), an online survey administered to a probability-based sample of US adults (n = 9991). Participants indicated if they used self-storage in the past year, and if so whether any life disruptions precipitated that use (i.e., relationship problems; death of a loved one; housing instability; legal problems; unemployment; or financial problems). About 1 in 12 (8.2%) indicated using self-storage in the past 12 months, and among individuals using self-storage, 26.5% endorsed at least one life disruption. The most prevalent life disruptions were housing loss (10.5%) and relationship problems (7.2%). This first study into adults' use of self-storage facilities indicated that more than a quarter were using storage for a serious life disruption, such as divorce or eviction. The self-storage industry may be a strategic partner in public mental health outreach and promotion, given the industry occupying a unique place where individuals with stressful life circumstances coalesce.