MIAMI.- 67% of people in the United States who live homeless currently suffer from some type of mental illness, reveals a new study carried out by a group of scientists from the University of Calgary in Canada.
According to the analysis, the most common mental disorders included substance use disorders, asocial personality disorders, major depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and general mood disorders.
Rates of bipolar disorder among homeless people were eight times higher than those among people in general, at 8% versus 0.7%.
The study was published in the journal JAMA Psychiatryand also revealed that 77% of the people who remained on the streets or in shelters due to not having a place to live had experienced a mental illness at some point in their lives.
Greater incidence in women
Although the rates were high for both genders compared to the general population, the researchers also found that homeless men are more likely to face these mental pathologies than women.
The rates of current mental illnesses were 67% higher among men, compared to 57% among women.
According to the report, these figures represent a greater increase than the rates of mental illness seen in the general population. The latest data determine that between 13% and 15% of people currently suffer from some type of psychiatric illness.
“There are signs that rates of mental illness may be increasing among homeless populations, especially in the United States and Canada,” the researchers said.
The team led by Rebecca Barry, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Calgary, examined 85 studies selected from thousands of studies published around the world on homelessness and mental illness.
They evaluated, using standard psychiatric tests, the mental health data of more than 48,000 homeless people, most of whom resided in wealthy countries such as the United States, Canada and Germany.
The scientists highlighted that people with mental health disorders “are increasingly likely to become homeless due to factors such as housing unaffordability, limited access to mental health care.”
They added that low income, social stress or challenges reintegrating into society after mental health treatment could be other factors that are forcing people with mental illness to remain on the streets.
They considered that these factors could be contributing to the fact that North America “has the highest prevalence of mental health disorders among homeless people.”
Solutions
Among the solutions offered by the study’s authors, they point to “housing first” initiatives aimed at finding permanent homes for people. However, they believe “assertive community treatment” programs, where people in need receive comprehensive mental health services, are also important.
“They stated that these programs have demonstrated effectiveness in reducing the severity of mental health disorders and homelessness among people with persistent and difficult-to-treat mental health disorders.”
@Lydr05
Source: With information from the journal JAMA Psychiatry and Health Day
