Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
Results 1 - 1 of 1
Making it better: improving the health of young homeless people
- Author:
- ASTRA ZENECA, DEPAUL UK
- Publisher:
- Depaul UK
- Publication year:
- 2012
- Pagination:
- 61p.
- Place of publication:
- London
An estimated 80,000 young people experience homelessness in the UK each year. In addition, there is a growing number of hidden homeless living in poor quality hostels or on a friend’s sofa. The aim of this research was to explore the health issues of these young people. More than 380 young people aged 16-25 years participated in the study. Multiple methods were used including: a health questionnaire completed by 130 homeless young people from Depaul UK services and by a control group of 200 young people; 4 focus groups and 26 individual interviews with young people; and peer research using a group of young homeless people trained in research skills. The findings show that young homeless people have difficult and overlapping needs with mental health, substance abuse and physical health issues. They access certain health services more (such as admission to hospital) and report higher levels of health needs (such as depression and drug use) than their peers. However, young homeless people do not consider health and health-related issues to be priority for them; other issues such as the need for housing and employment are more pressing. The barriers to quality health care for these young people are discussed. Recommendations are made for policy makers, Health and Wellbeing Boards, commissioners, and for the work of the Depaul/AstraZeneca charity partnership.