Mentalno zdravlje beskućnika

Abstract

About 1.6 billion people face the problem of homelessness daily.  Biological, psychosocial, and environmental factors characteristic of life in poverty are clearly linked to the increased risk of developing mental illnesses, although homelessness can also occur as a result of inadequately treated mental illness. Depression and anxiety are the most common contemporary mental health issues, and are also the most prevalent within the homeless population. Substance use disorders, as well as their comorbidity with depression and anxiety, are also common among the homeless. Excessive drug and alcohol consumption is present in two thirds of homeless people, and it acts as the third factor in the interrelation of homelessness and mental health problems. Faced with difficult circumstances, a lot of homeless individuals commit suicide, with the suicide rates ranging between 20% and 40%. Various treatment and intervention programs have focused on solving the problem of mental health issues in the homeless, by developing shelter services, offering housing, and attempting to reintegrate the homeless into society by means of socially cohesive events. It is also important to emphasize prevention programs which focus on analyzing negative social influences in order to detect individuals who are at risk. The negative societal perception of the homeless contributes to increasing the problem of homelessness and mental illness.