Homelessness and mental health

In a study in Western societies, homeless people have a higher prevalence of mental illness when compared to the general population. They also are more likely to suffer from alcoholism and drug dependency.[1] A 2009 US study, estimated that 20–25% of homeless people, compared with 6% of the non-homeless, have severe mental illness.[2] Others estimate that up to one-third of the homeless have a mental illness.[3] In January 2015, the most extensive survey ever undertaken found 564,708 people were homeless on a given night in the United States. Depending on the age group in question and how homelessness is defined, the consensus estimate as of 2014 was that, at minimum, 25% of the American homeless—140,000 individuals—were seriously mentally ill at any given point in time. 45% percent of the homeless—250,000 individuals—had any mental illness. More would be labeled homeless if these were annual counts rather than point-in-time counts.[4]

Being chronically homeless also means that people with mental illnesses are more likely to experience catastrophic health crises requiring medical intervention or resulting in institutionalization within the criminal justice system.[5] Majority of the homeless population do not have a mental illness. Although there is no correlation between homelessness and mental health, those who are dealing with homelessness are struggling with psychological and emotional distress. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration conducted a study and found that in 2010, 26.2 percent of sheltered homeless people had a severe mental illness.[6]

Nikes and Homeless

Studies have found that there is a correlation between homelessness and incarceration. Those with mental illness or substance abuse problems were found to be incarcerated at a higher frequency than the general population.[7] Fischer and Breakey have identified the chronically mentally ill as one of the four main subtypes of homeless persons; the others being the street people, chronic alcoholics, and the situationally distressed.[8]

The first documented case of a psychiatrist addressing the issue of homelessness and mental health was in 1906 by Karl Wilmanns.[9]

  1. ^ Fazel, S; Khosla, V; Doll, H; Geddes, J (2008). "The Prevalence of Mental Disorders among the Homeless in Western Countries: Systematic Review and Meta-Regression Analysis". PLOS Med. 5 (12 b): e225. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.0050225. PMC 2592351. PMID 19053169.
  2. ^ "Mental Illness and Homelessness" (PDF). National Coalition for the Homeless. July 2009. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
  3. ^ Kami Lloyd. "Homelessness and Mental Health". A Campaign for Mental Healthcare. Archived from the original on 2012-12-31. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  4. ^ Org, M. I. P. "Homeless Mentally Ill Facts and Figures". Mental Illness Policy Org. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  5. ^ "Mental Health And Homelessness In The Wake Of Covid-19: The Path To Supportive And Affordable Housing". UCLA Law Review. 2020-09-01. Retrieved 2021-11-27.
  6. ^ "The Complex Link Between Homelessness and Mental Health | Psychology Today". www.psychologytoday.com. Retrieved 2021-11-27.
  7. ^ Greenberg, GA; Rosenheck, RA (2008). "Jail incarceration, homelessness, and mental health: a national study". Psychiatr Serv. 59 (2): 170–177. doi:10.1176/appi.ps.59.2.170. PMID 18245159.
  8. ^ Fischer, Pamela J.; Breakey, William R. (Winter 1985–1986). "Homelessness and Mental Health: An Overview". International Journal of Mental Health. 14 (4): 10.
  9. ^ Bhugra (2007), p. 19.