Mental Illness VS Homlessness

PERSONS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS

Persons with severe mental illness represented about 26 percent of all sheltered homeless persons (Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress, 2008). According to the Federal Task Force on Homelessness and Severe Mental Illness, only 5-7% of homeless persons with mental illness require institutionalization; most can live in the community with the appropriate supportive housing options (Federal Task Force on Homelessness and Severe Mental Illness, 1992). For more information, see our fact sheet on Mental Illness and Homelessness. The 23 cities that provided information reported that 26 percent of their homeless population suffered from a serious mental illness. By contrast, only six percent of the U.S. population suffers from a serious mental illness (U.S. Conference of Mayors 2008).

Data collected from National Homeless Coalition

Mental Illness and Homelessness

Published by the National Coalition for the Homeless, July 2009

PREVALENCE

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 20 to 25% of the homeless population in the United States suffers from some form of severe mental illness. In comparison, only 6% of Americans are severely mentally ill (National Institute of Mental Health, 2009). In a 2008 survey performed by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, 25 cities were asked for the three largest causes of homelessness in their communities.  Mental illness was the third largest cause of homelessness for single adults (mentioned by 48% of cities).  For homeless families, mental illness was mentioned by 12% of cities as one of the top 3 causes of homelessness. 

RELATIONSHIP TO HOMELESSNESS

Serious mental illnesses disrupt people’s ability to carry out essential aspects of daily life, such as self care and household management.  Mental illnesses may also prevent people from forming and maintaining stable relationships or cause people to misinterpret others’ guidance and react irrationally.  This often results in pushing away caregivers, family, and friends who may be the force keeping that person from becoming homeless.  As a result of these factors and the stresses of living with a mental disorder, people with mentally illnesses are much more likely to become homeless than the general population (Library Index, 2009).  A study of people with serious mental illnesses seen by California’s public mental health system found that 15% were homeless at least once in a one-year period (Folsom et al., 2005).  Patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder are particularly vulnerable.

Poor mental health may also affect physical health, especially for people who are homeless.  Mental illness may cause people to neglect taking the necessary precautions against disease.  When combined with inadequate hygiene due to homelessness, this may lead to physical problems such as respiratory infections, skin diseases, or exposure to tuberculosis or HIV.  In addition, half of the mentally ill homeless population in the United States also suffers from substance abuse and dependence (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration).  Minorities, especially African Americans, are over-represented in this group.  Some mentally ill people self-medicate using street drugs, which can lead not only to addictions, but also to disease transmission from injection drug use.  This combination of mental illness, substance abuse, and poor physical health makes it very difficult for people to obtain employment and residential stability.

Data Collected from National Homeless Coalition

My friend and I discussed today how expensive medications are for people who have Mental Illnesses and need them desperately. For example, the medication that makes me feel my best is also $1,000 for a one month supply (30 pills). Are you kidding me?  Seriously???? When most likely our income is less then the working average because we can't keep a job, or maintain a full time job? So, you're saying that I need to use my entire paycheck if I'm lucky I even get that much, just to be healthy in my head?..... where do I live? .... what do I eat then?.....

These are questions I've been forced to ask myself. I've actually CONSIDERED spending that $1,000 on that one monthly supply. Thats how desperate I was to feel well. I've been on countless other medications, and I even lived on samples for a long period of time with this medication, but recently the supply of samples have diminished. I couldn't count on them anymore.

So I opted for the lesser cost of the medications. I also ended up with severe muscle pain and constant muscle contraction in my face. I thought I was going to go blind at one point. I had to go to several doctors visits just to figure out why I was gagging, and why my vision was blurry and my eyes hurt so badly. Only to find out that it was a side effect of my medications. I was ready to go to a neurologist. I was ready to drop hundreds of dollars for them to take a bunch of expensive scans and tests, and then tell me it was side effects. Great, thank you United States Health Care System.

If you are wondering why my frustration with this topic is escalating, then I will tell you. My mother took me to doctors when I was younger because of my illness. I told her I needed help. So she did just that helped me. We were a very low income family. And the access we had to good doctors was nil to none in this small town I grew up. So, she took me to my GP and then she sent me to a big city Psychiatrist. His name was great!.... I will leave it out, but it was something like.. Dr. Nice. Thats not what it was, but it might as well been! He was expensive. Like every other good psychiatrist I've ever known. The average cost for just one half hour. Yes people 30 mins. is about $175. Give or take $50. So if you average the cost just to see the doctor to manage the medications, then the medications. Well, you guessed it, we should have been homeless. We should have been. My Mother, My hero went bankrupt trying to take care of my medical needs. She did everything she could. Also, please take into consideration, when a child tells you,"I feel like I want to die", and "I'm hearing voices", and "I'm having really bad anxiety that lasts 5-6 hours or more at a time."...... as a parent would you really seriously take the time to do what you could to make sure you didn't go under financially? Or would you drop everything, and take care of your child the best way you know how? Get her in to see a doctor that specialized in this sort discipline? I am so thankful for her. She did everything right by me. I thank God for her every day.  I'll also tell you one secret, she was the one thing that kept me alive in more then one circumstance. All I did was have to think of her, and think how much it would hurt her if I left her so soon. That kept me going. I could never ever hurt her like that. She never gave up on me, and I'll never give up on her.

So back to the homeless topic. When you are faced with medication or food and shelter, I could see why people choose shelter and food. But later they end up loosing their shelter because they can't seem to keep the job. Why? Because now they can't afford their medication and must try to manage their mood swings and mental illness by themselves. I feel for those who are homeless. I know that I could have been one myself. There were countless times that I considered running away. "Just disappear", I would tell myself. "Just go away for a little while", but I know that my problems would only follow myself. So why bother? I'd lose everything, even my sanity.

So now, lets recap. The 3rd larges group of homeless adults is mentally ill. Medication is outrageously priced. Also, doctors who specialize in this field are also very very expensive.

Where does that leave us? Where do we stand after all this? Our pockets will be turned inside out and our mind will be even further lost into the deep blue of this place we call Earth, and United States.

I'd not like for this topic to be dragged to much into politics, but I touched it. I couldn't help it. Another topic I'll go into is my views as a someone who is challenged by mental health, and how I see the health care system in USA.  I'll talk about my experiences "fighting" with it.

Good Night &
Good luck Chuck!