The Effects Of Homeless Conditions, Drug Abuse, And Mental Illness

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.

Crisis. 2009. Mental Ill Health in the Adult Single Homeless Population: a review of literature. London

​Homelessness and substance abuse are often two problems that continue to be linked together. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (2011), research conducted in the past five years indicates that about 50% of those who are homeless have co-occurring substance abuse problems. Along with co-occurring substance abuse problems, there continues to be other problems such as treatment access to those who are homeless. In this paper we will explore research on the homeless population in relation to substance abuse, and effective interventions on an individual level.

Health ←and→ mental health troubles reflected an extensive range of concerns centered on chronic health problems, substance abuse, psychosocial, clinically diagnosed problems, self-esteem problems. Substance abuse was noticed as a major obstacle to conquering homelessness addictive behaviors in the same way as alcoholism, drug abuse were frequently identified in

According to the American Journal of Public Health (AJPH), disease was prevalent in the newly homeless. This population accessed health care services at high rates in the year before becoming homeless. Significant improvements in health status were seen over the study period as well as a significant increase in the number who were insured (American Journal of Public Health, 2012). The homeless in Overtown face a variety of risks and barriers to their health. Firstly, a good number of the population suffers from mental illness, they suffer from a range of mental health problems from depression, personality disorders, schizophrenia and many more. Most are unable to treat their mental

Canton et. al. (2005) used a longitudinal study to determine the risk factors of homelessness. This study included four hundred and forty-four men and women (18-65 years old) who volunteered to be a part of the interview study. The participants were interviewed every six months for a total of eighteen months. During this time psychiatric assessments were performed, as well as analysis of coping skills, family and social history. Two methods, the Cox Regression and Kaplan–Meier survival analysis were used to examine homelessness duration and baseline

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.

“Depression is a disease that controls an individual’s outlook on life and their ability to deal with circumstances.” Depression is characterized with low self-esteem as well as “a loss of interest in activities… [which] has an incapacitating [effect] on the individual’s ability to relate to others.” Depression can cause homelessness or vice versa. “One of the strongest sources of depression among the homeless community [is] their feelings of isolation and loneliness. Feelings of isolation and separation from others” can lead to “rooflessness, such as parental neglect.” (Philipps, 2012)

Of the homeless, 33% are due to domestic violence and family issues, such assaults, family breakdowns, or just for time away from the family. Whereas, only 3% are homeless due to mental illness or substance abuse. There is a common myth that all of the homless people on our streets are ‘druggos’, but this is not true. Over half of all homeless people are men. Younger homeless men are less likely to seek assistance while they are homeless compared to evquivalent homeless females of whom tend to seek assistance on a higher rate. Homelessness can have massivley serious effecs on mental health, physical health and wellbeeing which can lead to mental and physical illness. There have been studies to prove that men whom have become homless due to abusing drugs or from mental illness are more likley to be homeless foe a longer period of time, compared to those who become homeless from other causes. There is also proof that suggests that males aged 25 and over will more than likely develop substance abuse issues due to being homeless, some have taken this as their way to cope and adapt with their new

The pathways to homelessness model attempted to determine if mental illness was a component for becoming homeless (Sullivan, Burnam, & Koegel, 2000). The study of this model examined the childhood of

The information I gathered from the research was that the major factors that contribute to homelessness are mental illness, drug and alcohol abuse. I also learned that many individuals need to develop skills and seek treatment to learn how to break the patterns which lead to cyclical or generational homelessness (Morris, 1997).

Homelessness can be caused by drug abuse and drug abuse can also be an implication of homelessness. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, “A survey by the United States Conference of Mayors found that 68 percent of cities reported that substance abuse was the largest cause of homelessness for single adults. Substance abuse was also reported as one of the top three causes of family homelessness by 12 percent of cities” (Opioid Abuse). One study showed that drug addiction and overdose put veterans at the highest risk for homelessness and another study showed that twenty five percent of the homeless people surveyed said that using and abusing drugs was the main reason they were homeless (Opioid Abuse).

Homelessness is the state of having no home. Some background information that is necessary is where they come from and what their life was like before they became homeless. It is important to understand this issue because when you're homeless you don’t know where you're going to sleep or what you're going to eat. You’re just sitting or standing there waiting for someone to notice you. They walk past not even looking at you. What you were hungry like Maurice from “A simple act”? People will allow you just to sit there and starve.

There are a lot reasons why people are homeless. I will include three causes. Poverty is

Homelessness tends to be a huge problem in America. Many people continue to live in the streets and reasons for their homelessness varies. This can also lead to other issues in their lives. For instance, diseases, drug abuse, mental illness, and even death. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness in 2014 there was an overall 600,00 homeless population and of that number, there were an estimated 85,000 individuals experiencing chronic homelessness.