The Effects of Homelessness on Mental Health

12/14/2020

By Tanisha Shelton

Mental health is a serious topic in the world these days as more Americans than ever before are suffering from mental and emotional stress (MacMillan, 2017). One population of people lacking recognition and treatment for those disorders are people experiencing homelessness – a group that is often overlooked by those with stable housing and basic necessities. Due to the trauma of homelessness, coupled with the lack of accessible mental health resources, people experiencing homelessness are at increased risk of experiencing mental health issues, thereby putting them at increased risk for suicide.

To begin with, people who make up the homeless population in the world are more at risk of hurting themselves and committing suicide than people who have a stable place to live. Patten (2017) writes about a study conducted on homelessness in Canada that “1.8% of people dying by suicide were homeless, a large number given that only about 0.2% of the Toronto population is homeless at a point in time” (p. 440). A disproportionate number of people experiencing homelessness are hurting themselves and taking their own lives due to the trauma that comes from the event of being homeless.

When a person is experiencing homelessness, not only do they have nowhere to live, often times, they also may experience food insecurity and may have to be on the lookout for danger if they are living outside on the streets. This type of trauma in turn, causes a lot of physical and emotional stress on a person who is experiencing homelessness, which can then lead to trauma and, ultimately, a mental disorder. The problem is most people experiencing homelessness don’t have access to medical treatment, mainly due to the fact that they are too busy trying to survive without having access to stable housing. Therefore, a large majority of them often go undiagnosed with mental conditions, which can increase their risk of committing suicide.

Age also has an effect on the suicide rates of people experiencing homelesssness. Patten (2017) writes that “homeless people dying by suicide were younger [and more likely to be male] than nonhomeless people dying by suicide” (p. 440). Most of the people who commit suicide due to homelessness are young people. Youth experiencing homelessness may not have a solid safety net or a good support system to turn to when they are struggling with trauma, mental health issues, or experiencing homelessness. Having astable home, friends, and other relatives they can talk to and get emotional support from helps youth to better cope with these difficulties. Experiencing homelessness is a traumatic and difficult experience for anyone, but especially for youth who are still learning, growing, and figuring out where they fit in the world.

Mental health is a big problem for a lot of people around the world. However, it is an even bigger problem for people who are experiencing homelessness. It is very important to keep in mind the negative impact that homelessness can have on a person’s mental wellbeing. There are so many factors that can trigger a person experiencing homelessness to become suicidal, so it’s really important to get them the help and treatment that they may need and deserve for their mental health. If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1 (800) 273-8255.

References
MacMillan, A. (2017, April 18). Mental illness is on the rise in the U.S. for a Frustrating Reason. Health. Mental Illness Is On the Rise in the U.S. for a Frustrating Reason | Health.com

Patten, S. B. (2017). Homelessness and mental health. The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry/La Revue Canadienne de Psychiatrie, 62(7), 440-441. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0706743717711423

5 Comments

Hailey Miller link

12/20/2021 07:00:57 pm

Thanks for pointing out that a person experiencing homelessness can also experience food insecurity. My husband and I are getting worried about the homeless children in our neighborhood. With this, we will look for a 24/7 homeless shelter on Monday where they can eat, shower, and have phone access.

Mia Evans link

1/26/2022 10:10:00 pm

I never took into account the fact that homelessness can affect the person not just regarding their shelter, but they would also have issues with what they need to eat and if there are dangers around them. I would like to know more about this aspect and read a blog about the homeless in New York City. It's to help me become open-minded about their condition and possible to my part in helping out as well, even in small ways.

Yulya Sevelova

11/4/2022 06:03:55 pm

What needs to be discussed both in the U.S. and Canada, is the lack of affordable housing for homeless and working - class people. Even workers can become and stay homeless.And in America,at least, senior citizens are the fastest growing demographic for becoming and staying homeless. Until the average homeowners themselves demand that leaders, real estate companies, developers stop this strange behavior from the 80's, and finally allow the housing get built, the unopposed status quo will keep going on and all. Resulting in ever growing dead homeless people. Working and homeless people need apartments to be built once again, on the level it was up until 1980. Lobby the GOP,Democrats to agree to the above.

Mrs. Wilson

12/15/2022 01:47:20 am

I’m a 69 year old woman whose husband developed “sudden onset dementia” Within a week he was in a diaper and couldn’t walk. Naturally he was not able to counsel couples (we did marriage intensives) and so his income suddenly vanished.
After going thru our savings, we fell behind in our rent and we’re given an eviction notice. We had 10 days to pay up or the sherif would come and deadbolt the front door of our apartment.
My husband went into the hospital and I went … nowhere. I had no friends or family. When you are home bound with an auto immune disease you don’t make many friends in your living room 😢
I suddenly found myself and my little dog, homeless.
It was during winter and the temperatures were in the low 40’s and mid 30’s.
I tried to sit in large hotel lobbies, even hospital lobby’s. I had been taken (with little dog in tow) to the ER for sharp chest pains 3 times.
The hospital lobby security officer told me that I had to leave the hospital waiting room. I didn’t have any where to go. At least inside the hospital waiting room, lil’ dog and I were warm and safe.
The security officer came over to me and said I had to leave NOW!
I piled up my 3 tote bags on top of my wheeled walker and pulled along my 2 large suitcases. At 3am the guard walked me out to the sidewalk with a stern warning to NOT COME BACK!
So I started walking, and crying, carrying my lil’ dog, she was shivering from the cold. I started pushing the 3 tote bags that were piled up on my rolator and pulled along my 2 large suitcases.
I physically couldn’t go on anymore. I had to leave my 2 suitcases there on the sidewalk, and kept walking. It was 3 in the morning and I received some cat-calls from some rowdy men who were probably inebriated. I was scared. I tried to pick up my pace but I was so exhausted I could barely manage a snails pace.
I called a pastor and his wife (the pastor had a seminary background) and worked for our marriage counseling practice. He, the D-man, came and put us up in an efficiency room motel. He paid for us for a week. I had no food money and it was the fourth day in a row that I had not eaten any food. I was getting pretty weak.
This ‘saga’ still hasn’t ended. After losing my husband (to advanced stage dementia) my home, most of my belongings, my children, my grandchildren, my work (I was a crisis marriage counselor), my money, and my car. I totaled our little car and suffered a head injury, my short term memory, and my overall health, I just kept trembling and also heard things, etc.,
So I lost my mental health to a degree.
Pastor D wanted to put me in a long term solution. So we started looking for Assisted Living in the town where he and his wife and children lived.
While being in this “independent senior living” community, I have lost 24 pounds in 3 weeks. I have a severe loss of appetite and can only eat 3-4 bites at any given meal they serve. When I have forced my desire to stop eating (tough love to myself) to eating more food - I promptly throw up.
I wish I could offer any senior out there some really helpful advice in order to *prevent* homeless-ness ever happening to them! But I think there are unforeseen circumstances (a spouse coming down to dementia) that we can’t possibly foresee. Yes, having as much money in savings as you can, would be helpful. But unless you find a senior living community ahead of time, life can unravel mighty fast!
Thank you for reading this very lengthy post. I would love to hear from anyone on the topic of homeless-ness. I had no idea the amount of shame one feels. When I have shared with a couple of people about myself being homeless, they definitely started treating me differently, stopped receiving phone calls, texts were unrealized to, rejection just poured salt in the wound.
Be well and safe friends. The doctor said I had ptsd - in spades. I know I need to be more proactive in terms of healing ❤️‍🩹
I offer support to anyone facing home-less-ness.
Love and Blessings,
Mrs. Wilson

P.s. sorry for any type-os. It’s 4:45 in the morning, and I have not slept a wink. I have fainted 5 times while living in this senior community.

Perhotelan link

1/12/2023 06:45:38 am

Why is the rate of homelessness increasing, Is there a solution to tackle homelessness?

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