Don't get your roommate off the psych unit. And don't room with anyone else with MI/MH issues. It's hard enough with your own head, you don't need someone else's emotions running amok. Get references and actually call them. If you have computer access run a legal check. At the very least, Google them. Make a rent contract (who pays what to whom, and when, and how much.) sit down ahead of time and determine who will pay what bill, or how bills will be covered. How is the food going to be handled? community fridge, or you get one side, I get the other, and you don't eat your roomie's food without permission.Write it all out so when there are conflicts you have a written document to back up up in an argument. If it's an apartments, who's name will it be in? don't let it be all yours, or you will be responsible for all the rent if your roomie moves out early. Watch out for things like phone bills, that can be run up sky high by one person who may not have the money to cover it. (my advice, get a cell phone instead of a land line.)