Homeless and the mentally ill

October 28, 10:29 PMAtlanta Homelessness ExaminerKatherine Bailey

Previous Next

Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Atlanta Homelessness Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

homeless man sleeping

kbailey

Hands stretched out, she quickly strolls across the busy intersection. Ignoring the blowing horns and breaking cars.  Indiscriminately she goes from one car to another, begging for money.  She is oblivious to the angry stares and the green light signaling drivers to go. One shoe on, and only a sock on the other. She stands at 5'4, and is 120 pounds. Her clothes is ill fitting, soiled and stained. Mental illness comes to the mind of many drivers. This is a familiar scenario to many that live in the city.  

Deinstitutionalization of mental health facilities occurred over 40 years ago, yet the promise of community-based programs and outpatient services has not been kept  (2). These agencies are often too under funded to keep up with the high demands of this population. Manage care arrangements and policies are also a contributor to the mentally ill among the homeless population. They are often not stable enough to take their medication even if they do have insurance coverage.  

Mental illness  prevent individuals from carrying out normal aspects of life. They stay homeless longer and have less contact with family and friends. Many of the mentally ill are afraid and delusional when care takers try to help them. They act irrational because of their condition. This pushes away family and friends and other caregivers leading to homelessness.

The mentally ill homeless population face more barriers to employment, more contact with the law and are in poor physical health. They require a full range of services in treatment and rehabilitation that will lessen the disruption and impairment produced by their condition. Most people with mental disorders do not need hospitalization and even fewer require long term care.

According to the 2003 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Report, most homeless persons with mental illness do not need to be institutionalized but can live in the community with the appropriate supportive housing options (4).  Unfortunately there are not enough affordable housing or community-based resources to accommodate the number of people with mental disorders in the US. Studies have found that a supported housing treatment program would be more effective than other methods of treatment for the homeless mentally ill (3).

Political support and finances to support effective programs for the mentally ill has been minimal (1).  Many homeless people who are mentally ill need supportive housing. Studies reveal that persons with mental disorders have treatment needs that include case management, housing options and long term follow up and support services (1).

The combination of supportive services, meaningful daily activity in the community, employment opportunities, access to therapy and appropriate housing can provide the framework necessary to end homelessness for many individuals.

1. National Resource and Training Center on Homelessness and Mentally Ill, 2003.

2 .Mental Illness, Chronic Homelessness: An American Disgrace, 2000. 

3. Rosenheck, R., W. Kasprow., L. Frisman, & W. Liu Mares. Cost-effectiveness of Supported Housing for Homeless Personswith Mental Illness, ArchGen Psychiatry, Vol 60, Sep 2003

4. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2003.