Drug Counseling for the Homeless

Asylum on the Streets: Homelessness and Mental Illness

Introduction

Homelessness and mental illness are often interconnected. Mental illness is a broad term that covers a wide range of conditions, from anxiety and depression to schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Nonetheless, any of these types of mental illness can lead to homelessness, and homelessness can exacerbate all forms of mental illness. A study by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (2020) found that nearly one-third of people experiencing homelessness also suffer from a severe mental illness. This is not surprising, as a lack of stable housing can trigger or worsen mental health conditions. People who are homeless often face extreme stress, which can lead to anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. They may also struggle with substance abuse, as they try to self-medicate in an effort to cope with their symptoms. In addition, people experiencing homelessness often have difficulty accessing mental health care (Martinez & Burt, 2006). Without treatment, their symptoms can become more severe, making it even harder for them to find and maintain housing. As a result, addressing mental illness is essential to preventing and ending homelessness. Those with mental illness need real asylum where they can receive proper mental health care—not the kind of asylum that the streets give, where drug abuse, prostitution, and violence tend to proliferate and exacerbate the problems this population already faces.

How It Begins

Homelessness is a complex and often interrelated issue, and one of the most significant challenges facing people who are homeless is stress. Extreme stress can lead to a host of mental health problems (Elwell-Sutton et al., 2016). These problems can then upset a person’s ability to function in daily life: it can lead to job loss, or to being kicked out of a home by a family or loved one, or to the abuse of alcohol or drugs, or to violence against others or oneself. All of this can build to a point where a person has no place to go. The person suffering from mental illness may not even know he or she has this problem. If there is rent to pay or a home loan that is due, the person who can no longer function because of undiagnosed and untreated mental illness will inevitably be left without shelter.

Homelessness itself can be a traumatic experience, and the added stress of living on the streets can exacerbate existing mental health conditions. In addition, people who are homeless often face other challenges, such as lack of access to food and shelter, which can also contribute to stress levels. While there is no easy solution to the problem of homelessness, helping people to reduce stress levels is an important step in addressing the issue.

Other Factors

Drug abuse is another big factor that can stem from and also cause mental illness (Dawson-Rose et al., 2020). Individuals with mental illness may turn to drugs as a way to self-medicate, while drug use can also trigger or exacerbate psychiatric symptoms. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, nearly one-third of individuals with a mental illness also struggle with substance abuse. This high rate of co-occurrence is believed to be due to a number of factors, including genetic vulnerability, early exposure to trauma or stress, and social isolation. Treatment for mental illness must therefore take into account any concurrent substance abuse issues. By addressing both conditions simultaneously, individuals have a much higher chance of achieving long-term recovery and finding adequate shelter in the process.

The problem of a lack of access to care is another issue that causes people with mental illness to end up taking asylum on the streets (Elwell-Sutton et al., 2016). In many cases, people with mental illness do not have insurance or the financial resources to pay for care. As a result, they often go without treatment. Studies have shown that the majority of people with serious mental illness do not receive any treatment at all (Elwell-Sutton et al., 2016). In addition, even those who do receive treatment often do not receive adequate care. They may see a mental health provider only a few times per year, and they may not have access to other services such as housing or case management. As a result, they are at risk for their condition to worsen and for their symptoms to become more severe. Without access to care, people with mental illness are more likely to end up on the streets.

The Self-Reinforcing Negative Feedback Loop of Mental Illness and Homelessness

Homelessness and mental illness are typically intertwined, with one problem exacerbating the other, because individuals who suffer from mental illness are more likely to become homeless, and the stress of homelessness can trigger or worsen mental health problems (Dawson-Rose et al., 2020). A lack of stable housing makes it difficult to establish a consistent routine, get proper nutrition, and receive necessary medical care. This can lead to a decline in physical and mental health, making it even harder to find and keep housing. As this cycle continues, it becomes increasingly difficult for individuals to break free from the grip of homelessness and mental illness.

However, there are programs and resources available that can provide essential support (Gerber, 2013). With access to these services, individuals can begin to address the underlying causes of their homelessness and take steps towards stability and recovery. One key is to train nurses to recognize homelessness among patients and to support interventions that will ensure that these patients get the help they need. Another key is to take health care to the streets and promote policies that provide permanent housing for the homeless.

Conclusion: Ending the Vicious Cycle

Clearly mental illness and homelessness can lead to a vicious cycle, in which people with mental illness are more likely to become homeless, and homelessness makes it more difficult to recover from mental illness. Ways to break this cycle can be found, however. They typically focus on housing and supportive services.

Housing and care are two of the most important needs for people with mental illness, as they provide a stable environment in which to recover and ensure that mental health is addressed. Housing is widely recognized as one of the most important needs for people with mental illness (Martinez & Burt, 2006). A stable and safe living environment is essential for recovery, and many people with mental illness are unable to maintain their housing due to the symptoms of their illness. Housing instability is associated with worse mental health outcomes, and people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness are more likely to experience psychiatric hospitalization, violence, and victimization. Access to treatment and support services is also essential. Mental health care should be treated like any other medical care, and people should have access to the resources they need to get well. This should include drug counseling services. Drug counseling services can play an important role in helping the homeless population. These services can help individuals to overcome their addiction and get back on their feet.