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Making the link between mental health and youth homelessness: a pan-London study
- Author:
- VASILIOU Christina
- Publisher:
- Mental Health Foundation
- Publication year:
- 2006
- Pagination:
- 48p.
- Place of publication:
- London
The increasing numbers of young homeless people with mental health problems are not getting adequate support because services rarely work together to provide the necessary help. The report reveals inadequate mental health services. Over two thirds (69%) of the young homeless people aged 16-25 surveyed for the report have mental health problems. Half (50%) experience regular feelings of anxiety and depression as a result of being homeless, and a fifth (19%) had received a psychiatric diagnosis for schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder or clinical depression prior to becoming homeless. Of those, half (10%) were forced to leave the family home because of their mental health problem. The report claims that despite these figures staff working within housing and youth homelessness services lack the necessary skills to deal with mental health issues and need specialist training. They also struggle to access appropriate support for young people experiencing mental distress. Mental health assessment waiting times are long and this lack of early intervention leaves young people vulnerable to developing more entrenched mental health problems. As a result young people often reach crisis point before being seen by a mental health team. The report highlights that some voluntary sector housing and homelessness support services encounter barriers when trying to refer young people to the statutory sector. This is because mental health services are under resourced and some statutory services are reluctant to accept referrals from the voluntary sector. The research also found that young people with both mental health and drug and alcohol problems often do not get the help they need because services rarely work together making it difficult to provide complete care packages.
The mental health of children exposed to maternal mental illness and homelessness
- Authors:
- HARPAZ-ROTEM Ilan, ROSENHECK Robert A.
- Journal article citation:
- Community Mental Health Journal, 42(5), October 2006, pp.437-448.
- Publisher:
- Springer
Using a sample of 195 mothers who were veterans of the US armed forces this study assessed the association of maternal homelessness and clinical status, with measures of children’s mental health, school enrolment and attendance. Although maternal homelessness had no significant association with children’s reported emotional problems it had a profound effect on school enrolment and attendance. Mothers’ mental health status, history of incarceration and cumulative history of trauma, as well as children’s exposure to trauma and their self-esteem were the factors most strongly associated with measures of children’s emotional problems. The study suggests that preventive interventions are needed to minimize the effects of exposure to trauma, both in the community and at home, as well as family interventions to address both the mother’s and child’s emotional and physical needs.
War wounds
- Author:
- PHILPOT Terry
- Journal article citation:
- Community Care, 12.10.06, 2006, pp.36-37.
- Publisher:
- Reed Business Information
Military service often leaves people unable to cope on their return to civilian life. Involvement in conflict, currently experienced by UK personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan, serves only to exacerbate these mental health problems. The author looks at some of the problems personnel face when they leave the services and the help available to then.
Why a ‘roof’ is not enough: the characteristics of young homeless people referred to a designated mental health service
- Authors:
- TAYLOR Helen, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Mental Health, 14(4), August 2006, pp.491-501.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- London
Mental health is a growing concern for organizations offering temporary accommodation to young homeless people. The aim was to establish the characteristics of homeless young people referred to a mental health service provided by the non-statutory sector, to determine the appropriateness of referral. The service was provided by five mental health practitioners to 18 Foyers in five regions. Data was collected on 150 consecutively referred young people aged 16 – 25 years on their psychosocial history, mental health problems and risk factors. Young people reported multiple needs such as use of illicit drugs, experience of physical or sexual abuse, and self-harm. They presented with lengthy and recurrent mental health problems from childhood, with intermittent and usually fragmented contact with services. Young people presented with a range of mental complaints, predominantly depressive, anxiety and post-traumatic stress symptoms, as well as different risk factors. The young homeless people referred to the mental health service reported a range of complex mental health needs, the majority of which could not be met by statutory specialist services. Young people's lower to medium level mental health needs could be met by services operating on the interface with specialist services, if these are jointly planned and co-coordinated.
A comparison study of homeless and non-homeless HIV-positive persons enrolled in mental health care
- Authors:
- SMITH Bryce D., DeWEAVER Kevin L., REECE Michael
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of HIV/AIDS and Social Services, 5(1), 2006, pp.5-20.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Homelessness and HIV are significant social problems that exacerbate one another. While the literature contains a number of descriptive studies on the persons who struggle with these issues, there is a dearth of comparative studies to help social workers better understand the differences between individuals who are HIV-positive and homeless and those who are HIV-positive and domiciled. This study examined the differences in psychological distress, medical illness, care, insurance, and social service acquisition and the impact on service delivery that these differences imply. This American study employed a correlational design to examine a sample of 528 HIV-positive persons, 193 homeless and 335 domiciled, who had self-enrolled into care at an HIV-focused mental health clinic. The findings suggest that there are more similarities between homeless and non-homeless HIV-positive persons than were expected. HIV-positive homeless persons were also more likely to access social services such as transportation, housing, and substance abuse treatment. The implications for social workers involved in treatment planning and service delivery are discussed. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580).
Addressing antisocial behaviour: an independent evaluation of Shelter inclusion project
- Authors:
- JONES Anwen, et al
- Publisher:
- Shelter
- Publication year:
- 2006
- Pagination:
- 85p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- London
In 2002, Shelter and Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council established a three-year pilot project, to test a new approach to addressing antisocial behaviour and social exclusion, by offering a specialist floating support service to help households identify and deal with the causes of their behaviour. Working with families, support workers and children's workers helped to address difficulties with mental health, debt, parenting, substance abuse and self-esteem. For almost four years, the project has offered tailored floating practical and emotional support, helping 84 per cent of families and individuals using the service to avoid homelessness. Many clients reported that coming into contact with Shelter Inclusion Project had been a significant turning point in their lives, improving self-esteem, helping to avoid eviction, and creating a feeling of being more in control of their lives. This report is an independent evaluation and assesses the extent to which the project represents an effective model for addressing antisocial behaviour within a community context
Engagement with health and social care services: perceptions of homeless young people with mental health problems
- Authors:
- DARBYSHIRE Philip, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Health and Social Care in the Community, 14(6), November 2006, pp.553-562.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The present qualitative study describes and discusses the perspectives and experiences of young homeless people with mental health problems in relation to their interactions with health and social care services. Working in partnership with Streetlink, a supported accommodation assistance programme in Adelaide, Australia, the authors interviewed 10 homeless young people, aged from 16 to 24 years of age, who had experienced mental health problems. In-depth interviews elicited accounts of the best and worst of the participants' experiences of health and social care services. Access to services was not identified as being a significant problem in comparison with the participants' concerns regarding the quality of the services encountered. The central findings stress the importance of a respectful and supportive climate in relation to the qualities of service provision that the young people identified as valuable for their continuing treatment or consultation.
Someone there to talk to
- Authors:
- VASILLOU Christina, RYRIE Iain
- Journal article citation:
- Mental Health Today, October 2006, pp.23-26.
- Publisher:
- Pavilion
- Place of publication:
- Hove
The Mental Health Foundation and Centrepoint recently conducted a joint study of homelessness and mental health among 16-25 year olds in London. This article reports key findings specific to the young people's emotional support needs. The study interviewed staff from 123 randomly selected services working in the field of housing and youth homelessness across all 32 London boroughs, plus the Corporation of the City of London. The majority of services felt they were not fully meeting the needs of more vulnerable clients such as lesbian, gay and bisexual groups; asylum seekers and refugees; care leavers; and drug and alcohol users. Staff also contacted their clients, and 59 young people participated in the study. The young people described problems with accessing support and welfare services at every level. Emotion support was an important need expressed by those interviewed. The article also includes a description of START, a multi-disciplinary community mental health team for single homeless people which uses assertive outreach techniques to engage homeless people aged 18 years and over who have mental health problems but are not engaged with mental health services.
Intermediate care
- Authors:
- ROSE Steve, JOHNSON Kathy, (comps.)
- Publisher:
- National Health Service. Health Management Specialist Library
- Publication year:
- 2006
- Pagination:
- 6p.
- Place of publication:
- Sheffield
Intermediate care is a core element of the Government’s programme for improving services for older people. A King’s Fund report 1 has defined intermediate care as: “Those services which will help to divert admission to an acute care setting through timely therapeutic interventions which aim to divert a physiological crisis or offer recuperative services at or near a person’s own home.” Ideally lasting no longer than a period of 6 weeks, an intermediate care episode can encompass a range of services including: rapid response, hospital at home, residential rehabilitation, supported discharge and day rehabilitation. Delivery of intermediate care has evolved and changed since its inception, for example, there is now more focus on: people with dementia and mental health problems; people who are homeless; and extra care housing - this model has an important part to play as a setting for intermediate care particularly for people with dementia. Such broadening of the intermediate care model is necessary since evidence suggests that the six week model outlined in the original guidance is insufficient in many instances, for example frail older people.
Costs and benefits of the supporting people programme: executive summary
- Author:
- WALES. Welsh Assembly Government
- Publisher:
- Wales. Welsh Assembly Government
- Publication year:
- 2006
- Pagination:
- 8p.
- Place of publication:
- Cardiff
The Supporting People programme was launched in April 2003 to help vulnerable people to gain and retain independence by remaining in their own home. Supporting People services can help prevent or defer more costly support services, such as residential or nursing home support, hospitalisation, or use of temporary accommodation. This study was commissioned by the Welsh Assembly Government to measure the costs and benefits of the Supporting People programme. The research combined desk-based literature reviews, stakeholder consultation and economic modelling. Data were collected on costs and numbers of service users in the financing year 2005-2006. The following client groups were looked at: women seeking refuge from domestic violence; people with learning disabilities; people with mental health problems; people with alcohol dependency; problem drug users; young single homeless and young people leaving care; ex-offenders; homeless or potentially homeless people; and older people. The modelled savings to the public purse were grouped into the following thematic areas: health; independent living; social care; homelessness; and crime. The total financial benefits as a result of Supporting People modelled in this study were £180,064,389. This compares to a total modelled spend of £107,091,845. It should be noted that the model adopts a cautious approach to estimating the impact of Supporting People on the public purse and the findings can be considered to be conservative.