Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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Mental health and housing
- Author:
- NATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH DEVELOPMENT UNIT
- Publisher:
- National Mental Health Development Unit
- Publication year:
- 2010
- Pagination:
- 2p.
- Place of publication:
- London
This factsheet presents facts and selected statistics on the connection between mental health problems, to housing issues and homelessness.
Still left out?: the rough sleepers '205' initiative one year on
- Author:
- TEIXEIRA Ligia
- Publisher:
- Crisis
- Publication year:
- 2010
- Pagination:
- 31p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- London
The Rough Sleepers initiative was created in May 2009 by the Mayor’s London Delivery Board as part of the work being done to end rough sleeping in the capital by the end of 2012. This report begins with an overview the initiative. It examines the characteristics and experiences of the 45 individuals in the list who were still sleeping out in April. The next section looks at some of the barriers that these long term rough sleepers face to accessing and maintaining accommodation. The final section begins with an outline of the strengths of recent efforts to tackle entrenched rough sleeping and it then goes on to identify some of the weaknesses and gaps in current provision for clients. Recommendations include working with rough sleepers to build a sustainable relationship of trust. Opportunities for tiered or staged involvement at residential projects, such as taster visits or stays in different schemes, should be widely available for clients. All frontline staff engaging with clients need to be trained and supported to recognise and work with this group’s emotional and behavioural issues. Reflective practice should also become widely available to frontline staff working with rough sleeping clients.
Developing therapeutic communities for the 21st century: bringing traditions together through borrowing and adaptation
- Author:
- YOUNG Michael G.
- Journal article citation:
- Therapeutic Communities: the International Journal of Therapeutic Communities, 31(1), Spring 2010, pp.48-61.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
A substantial body of research shows that Modified Therapeutic Communities (MTC) can be effective in dealing with addiction. MTCs have evolved to deal with clients who are considered quatra-diagnostic. These individuals suffer from co-occurring disorders including homelessness, substance abuse, mental health problems and criminal behaviour. However, the diverse nature of these problems, and the complex makeup of the populations involved, adds to the challenge of simultaneously dealing with them in one therapeutic context. This paper explores a therapeutic community (TC), Woodwynn Farms in Western Canada, developed with the purpose of serving quatra-diagnosed clients starting with the least challenging of these problems, homelessness, followed with the expansion of services to other clients. Woodwynn Farms utilises a common TC structure, which includes an extended period of attendance in the community of approximately 3 years. Residents participate in regular meetings, educational classes, and therapy groups. This paper identifies the fourth moment of TCs as a new direction in MTC development, which includes an emphasis on combining TC models and evaluation research in the provision of services to growing and diverse populations.
Medical-social divide hindering homeless people
- Author:
- JOHNSON Robin
- Journal article citation:
- Community Care, 12.8.10, 2010, p.28.
- Publisher:
- Reed Business Information
The need for homelessness services to develop a greater understanding of the emotional needs of homeless people is highlighted. The author draws on the new guidance 'Meeting the psychological and emotional needs of people who are homeless' issued by the Department for Communities and Local Government and the government's National Mental Health Development Unit.
Improving homeless Londoners' mental health
- Author:
- HOMELESS LINK
- Publisher:
- Homeless Link
- Publication year:
- 2010
- Pagination:
- 10p.
- Place of publication:
- London
Homeless Link undertook qualitative research to inform a project to support 6 homelessness agencies to improve their responses to clients' mental health problems. The study involved interviews with staff and clients from 3 hostels: a generic project for women, a drug and alcohol specific project for young people, and a specific mental health hostel. This report, based on the research, aims to illustrate the issues that both the homeless and mental health sectors need to consider to create effective care pathways for homeless clients. It identifies 4 key challenges: improving communication and specialist knowledge, ensuring statutory support for the full range of clients' mental health needs, creating partnerships which will make homeless hostels places of well-being, and working successfully with GPs. It discusses the findings in each area, with illustrations from the interviews, and presents some suggested solutions.
Beyond bricks and mortar
- Author:
- SYMINGTON Jim
- Journal article citation:
- Mental Health Today, October 2010, pp.14-15.
- Publisher:
- Pavilion
- Place of publication:
- Hove
A brief description is given of a guide, ‘Meeting the psychological and emotional needs of people who are homeless’ which is available on the web. It was produced by the Communities and Local Government Department with support from the housing and mental health sectors. The guide sets out effective ways of recognising and meeting the psychological and emotional needs of people who have experienced homelessness. It contains numerous examples from local networks and research evidence, some of which are outlined in this article. The guide gives examples of treatment models for common psychological problems associated with complex trauma and homelessness. It is intended to support key workers and managers working in supported accommodation or day services, and health and social care staff working in this field but is also relevant for others working in this area. Key messages in the guide include the need to establish a trusting relationship with clients; the need to be positive; the critical importance of communication within the team, between services and with other agencies; the need to respect confidentiality; and a need for a non-judgmental, open attitude.
Rethinking homelessness
- Author:
- ANDERSON Paul
- Journal article citation:
- Connect, 39, Spring 2010, pp.10-11.
- Publisher:
- Homeless Link
Mental health problems are common among the homeless; the recent St Mungo’s Client Needs Survey found that 69% of their hostel clients who were former rough sleepers had some form of mental health problem. This article reports on a project, funded by The City Bridge Trust, which aims to look at and improve access to mental health services for individuals in hostels. The first stage of the project was to conduct interviews with clients and workers to discuss the obstacles they face in getting mental health support when they need it. The key themes that emerged from the interviews were: difficulties accessing mental health services; services unwilling to work with clients with dual diagnosis; and hostels feeling unqualified to work with extremely vulnerable people. The next stage of the City Bridge Project will be to work with some of the hostels that took part in the research to help them develop the way they support clients with mental health problems. The aim is to produce an ‘Influencing Paper’ detailing how mental health services for hostel clients can be improved, and a web portal to share learning with the wider homelessness community.
Towards a shared future: a commissioning guide
- Author:
- REVOLVING DOORS AGENCY
- Publisher:
- Revolving Doors Agency
- Publication year:
- 2010
- Pagination:
- 48p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- London
Defining young adults with multiple needs as 16-24 year olds who experience a number of vulnerabilities such as mental health problems, drug and/or alcohol misuse, homelessness, lack of legitimate income, contact with the criminal justice system and legal problems, this document is intended as a guide for commissioners, service providers and others working in the health, criminal justice, local government and voluntary sector. It outlines the challenges faced by young adults with multiple needs, including case examples, and explores 3 approaches to improving commissioning services for them: commissioning across age transitions, where services continue to engage with young adults through the transition years of 16-24, commissioning across a range of needs, where resources are pooled across a range of service areas to facilitate support, and commissioning across criminal justice settings to provide continuity of support. It concludes that young adults with multiple needs are a distinct group facing particular challenges, and that commissioners working together to commission across service boundaries has the potential to transform the lives of young people, improve communities and deliver savings.
What are the barriers and facilitators to running an employment scheme for offenders?
- Author:
- KEIL Joanna
- Journal article citation:
- Prison Service Journal, 189, May 2010, pp.15-20.
- Publisher:
- Her Majesty's Prison Service of England and Wales
This article looks at the Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health’s study on employment opportunities for offenders with mental health problems, and identifies barriers and facilitators observed during 32 visits to 8 prisons, 4 probation areas, 10 voluntary agencies, 2 forensic services, 1 police-led scheme and 1 employer. Support was diverse and dependent on where an offender was within the criminal justice system. Some prisons have departments offering NVQ training in catering skills (e.g. HMP Durham, Newcastle College and Marriot Hotels), invite voluntary organisations (e.g. Thames Reach) to provide ‘through the gate’ support, use release on temporary licence (ROTL) to allow work experience (e.g. HMP Dartmoor and the Forestry Commission), and have individual placement schemes. The probation service plays a role in some, geographical areas. Some schemes observed were specifically for ex-offenders, people with mental health problems or the homeless. Barriers included lack of awareness/support of mental health problems by schemes and employers, ROTL, schemes too focused on training while in prison, poor continuity on release and poor outcomes. Facilitators included support once employed, payment of ex-offenders, involvement of employers within prisons, and motivated and enthusiastic professionals. There was evidence of the social exclusion of mentally disordered offenders from some schemes, and poor support, when accepted onto employment training. Good practice, by some employers was seen and often yielded successful employment outcomes for those with mental health problems.
Personal and political?: exploring the feminization of the American homeless population
- Authors:
- RICHARDS Tara N., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Poverty, 14(1), January 2010, pp.97-115.
- Publisher:
- Routledge
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Women and children are said to be disproportionately affected by the root causes of homelessness. The authors examined self-reported differences between male and female homelessness from a feminist perspective. A convenience sample of homeless individuals in a mid-size southern city of the US was interviewed (n=105, 50.5% female, mean age 41.61 years). The data suggest that while some root causes of homelessness, such as poverty, lack of affordable housing, cut backs in the welfare system, mental illness, drug dependency, and lack of state support, are seen throughout the homeless population, domestic violence and sexual abuse disproportionately impacts women. The interviews reveal that women may be less likely to become homeless than their men but when they do they are more likely to report family and economic-related reasons for becoming homeless. Recent national statistics indicate that, of the 3.5 million people who are homeless, 17% are women and 39% are children. In the current research 60% of the women had at east one child under 18. The authors propose that it is the dual nature of victimisation (personal and political) that has resulted in the steadily increasing female homeless population.