The extent of mental ill health in people who are homeless
•
The most quoted and most authoritative source on the extent of mental
ill health in the adult population in the UK suggests that the prevalence of
common mental health problems is over twice as high and of psychosis 4-15
times as high amongst the homeless population compared to the general
population.
•
This is worse among street homeless people, who may be 50-100 times more
likely to have a psychotic disorder than the general population.
•
Serious mental illness is often accompanied by alcohol and/or substance
misuse problems. Most studies suggest that around 10-20% of the homeless
population would fulfil the criteria for dual diagnosis.
•
Homeless people, in particular those with mental ill health, have higher
mortality rates than the general population. They are up to nearly 5 times more
likely to die than the equivalent age group of the general population.
•
Rates of reported personality disorder are also high. In a recent survey of
homeless services in England, staff estimated two thirds of their clients
presented with characteristics consistent with personality disorder, many of
whom were thought to be undiagnosed.
•
Among people who are in touch with psychiatric services there is a significant
minority that is homeless. A recent European study found that just under a
third of the British sample of patients with schizophrenia had experienced
homelessness in their lifetime, with over a tenth having experienced
“rooflessness.”
Soooooooooooo normal
