It is said that one’s mental health is just as important as their physical health. When mental health begins degrading it becomes difficult to maintain a normal lifestyle with a home and a family. On the contrary, mental illness can be thought of as a form of disability of the mind and can hinder one’s life and progress in a very debilitating way; depending on its severity and how it’s treated. Out of all 36 million Canadians, About 20% or 1 in every five people will suffer from mental illness in their lives (Reitano, 2016). The cost of mental illness in Canada sum up at around 50 billion dollars a year for treatment, services, and lost productivity. Furthermore, about 1 percent of Canadians are homeless, and a large portion of those people …show more content…
I will also discuss the regions within Canada that have the highest prevalence of mentally ill homeless people and how those numbers reflect their surrounding prison populations. Well also break down homelessness by the province. Furthermore, I’ll attempt to give a representation of what it’s like to be a homeless person with mental illness who is in the unfortunate position of being incarcerated. Finally, I will present a few possible solutions for those wrongfully sent to jail who are homeless and suffer from a mental illness including other facilitates that are better suited for the mentally ill instead of jail or prison. Within the Canadian correctional system mentally challenged homeless people are overrepresented when a more suitable place for them should be in a rehabilitation setting like a hospital or a center for addiction and mental …show more content…
The Canadian mental health association classifies three factors that lead to mental illness. “Physical factors”, for example a person’s genetic makeup can be predisposed for a mental illness due to hereditary reasons such as inheriting a certain transcript from one’s parents that can lead to an ailment. This can also be a predisposition for Bipolar disorder, a brain injury, or the misuse of substances like fentanyl which causes severe psychological and physical withdrawal systems, enough to render one unable to function normally without it. There are also “environmental factors” which could be psychological trauma from a car crash, or war or abuse of any kind especially sexual. Finally, “social factors” such as one’s community, their social network, and their workplace and whether there is harassment or abuse happening within it. Considering the many ways that mental illness can arise and the amount of people it affects nobody is really fully immune from mental illness (MHC). The Homeless Hub website published a journal with statistics for some specific mental ailments that are prevalent in the Canadian homeless population. In Toronto, Ontario 6% of 300 shelter users reported a psychotic disorder like schizophrenia. Toronto's Pathway into Homeless Project also found that 29 percent of shelter users met criteria for antisocial personality disorder usually in addition to PTSD and or depression. A majority of the homeless in
The lack of mental health services available to the mentally-ill and the deinstitutionalization of mental health hospitals have created a public health concern. These issues along with a failed continuum of care plans and a lack of community mental health services have been major contributing factors to homelessness. In addition, the strict guidelines for psychiatric hospitalization are critical when analyzing homelessness. In many cases, only the critically ill are meeting clinical criteria for hospitalization, leaving those who have significant mental health problems to fend for themselves. The link between homelessness and mental health is acknowledged but requires reform.
“The Canadian Mental Health Association estimates that 1 in 5 Canadians will develop a mental illness at some time in their lives.” Mental illness is defined as a mental pattern that causes an impaired ability to function normally in ordinary life. Mental illnesses can affect persons of any age, race, religion, or income and are not the result of personal weakness, lack of character or poor upbringing. A number of factors can contribute to whether an individual will develop a mental illness, with these factors being present individually or in multiples. A number of factors have been identified that contribute towards initiating mental illness, but no individual factor has been definitively identified as ‘the’ factor that causes a mental illness. Symptoms of mental illness can range from mild to severe and are classified into two main categories as being either organic disorders or functional disorders. Organic disorders cause a decrease in the mental function of the brain due to a medical disease; while functional disorders cause a derangement of the mind. The type and severity of the disorder determines if it will be short-term and treatable or if it will be permanent or degenerative and untreatable. There are a variety of community and medical services available to assist those who are affected by mental illness. These services are available on an in-patient or out-patient basis depending on the level of severity, with the general trend towards
Mental illness alone can be devastating to anyone who has it, but when it is also paired with being homeless, the results are catastrophic. “According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 20 to 25% of the homeless population in the United States suffers from some form of severe mental illness. In comparison, only 6% of Americans are severely mentally ill” (“Mental Illness and Homelessness”). If the early symptoms of a mental illness are discovered quick enough, the effects can drastically be minimized and controlled through medication, therapy, and knowledge of the illness. Since most Americans are fortunate to already have this outlet of medical services readily available at their disposal, their mental illness
Homelessness is a condition of people who lack regular access to adequate housing. As this condition becomes a growing problem in Canada people are forced to deal with the issues. Who are the homeless? They range from children to adults and even in some cases, families. Why are they homeless? Poverty, lack of jobs or well paying jobs, decline in Social Services, domestic violence, mental illness, and chemical dependency contribute to the majority of the homeless within our society. What effects does being homeless have on members of the family? It contributes to many physical and mental health problems for both parents and their children. Homelessness is a world-wide issue, yet zeroing in on Canada, the majority of the homeless live on the
According to recent research, homelessness affects between 150,000 and 300,000 Canadians a year (Cherner et al. 2017, 219; Gandermann et al. 2014, 341; Piat et al. 2015, 2367). This increase in homelessness began in the 1980’s following economic changes as well as shifts in government policy that lead to a reduction in supports for low-income families as well as a decrease in affordable housing available across Canada (Gaetz 2010, 21; Piat et al. 2015, 2367). Though proving a national problem, a concrete solution for homelessness does not exist, making it a wicked problem seemingly impossible to solve. Homelessness continues to present itself as a multifaceted
Homelessness as a result of deinstitutionalization in the US increased dramatically, tripling in 182 cities over the court of the 1980s (Bagenstos, 2012). In addition, mental health and substance abuse is a major problem in across the country because of homelessness. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration,20 to 25% of the homeless population in the United States suffers from some form of severe mental illness (DMHAS, 2014). Consequently, mental illnesses disrupt people’s ability to carry out key aspects of daily life, such as self-care and household responsibilities. As a result of these factors and the stresses of living with a mental disorder, people with mentally illnesses are much more likely to become homeless than the general population (Karger, & Stoesz, 2014). Even if homeless individuals with mental illnesses are provided with housing, they are unlikely to achieve residential stability and remain off the streets unless they have access to continued treatment and services. In Connecticut there are a number of housing options that are in place like supportive housing. Research has shown that supported housing is effective for people with mental illnesses (DMHAS, 2014). Unfortunately, in Connecticut, lack of funding is a significant barrier to the successful implementation of supported housing programs. Because of homelessness people cycle between street corner, jail cell and hospital beds, in addition the homeless who are
Homelessness has been a problem in the United States for well over a hundred years. Major economic downturns have always had a large role in effecting the homeless population. However, the deinstitutionalization of the psychiatric hospitals in America has greatly increased the size of the mentally ill homeless population, particularly in large urban areas. This increase in homelessness among people with
The mentally ill have many struggles to face. Most notable is the lack of a job. People who have mental illnesses are more likely to become homeless because their disability may make it hard for them to keep a job. Mentally ill homeless people are also more likely to be attacked or assaulted. Having a mental illness makes you susceptible to chronic homelessness, which is when an individual has “experienced homelessness for at least a year– or repeatedly – while struggling with a disabling condition such as a serious mental illness, substance use disorder, or physical disability.”(Donovan, 13) There are over 202,291 american citizens who are suffering from chronic homelessness.
Gaetz, S., Dej, E., Richter, T., & Redman, M. (2016). The state of homelessness in Canada 2016. Toronto, Canada: Canadian Observatory on Homelessness Press.
This article (originally a speech) talks about how homelessness has been an issue in Canada in the past but is also an issue Canada faces today and how the future of homelessness in its society depends on the actions taken today. Specific information given in the article includes going back as far as 1960 with specific examples of how the Canadian government has been dealing with the issue through the ages. Giving direct quotes from government documents and speeches to statistics, it is divided to into three main categories: past, present, and future (and further going into sub categories from there). Relevant issues are discussed such as how some societal issues and global affairs affect the wealth of Canada and how this can turn into poverty.
Homeless people experience financial barriers which prevents them from receiving treatments in Canada despite Canada’s universal healthcare coverage. Other forms of barriers experienced by this
The problems of homelessness and mental illness are inextricably intertwined. One way that mental illness impacts people's lives is that it oftentimes renders them unable to carry out the functions of daily life, such as keeping a job, paying their bills, and managing a household. In addition to disrupting the events of daily life, mental illness "may also prevent people from forming and maintaining stable relationships or cause people to misinterpret others' guidance and react irrationally" (National Coalition for the Homeless, 2009). What this means is that a population that is already vulnerable because of an inability to consistently manage self-care lacks the same safety net as much of the rest of society.
As Crawley, Kane & Watson (2016) explore, the homeless population within Canada ranges between 150,000- 300,000. However, the demographic identified within the untold story of hidden homeless are the millions of other Canadian’s living in inadequate, unsafe or unstable housing (Crawley, Kane & Watson, 2016). This includes Canadian’s who are living in hotels or campers and individuals who are couch surfing or living in their vehicles.
According to studies, two-hundred to three-hundred thousand people in Canada are homeless or considered homeless. Homelessness is a serious issue and involves more than those who live on the streets. Living in shelters, hotels, from friend’s house to friend’s house or in a crowded, dangerous place are all classified as homeless. Homelessness is the result of negative factors from the person and society but the majority of them being the person’s fault. Financial problems, recklessness and independence and a disruptive family life are all key factors for why people help to bring homelessness upon themselves.
Political leaders in US, Canada, policy-makers and Researchers are in agreement with “Housing First intervention as a solution to homelessness.” Therefore, addressing the homeless individual with housing and mental health challenges, primary care, psychiatry, and case-coordination. In addition, conversations” ultimate to goal to end homelessness in Canada.”