Homelessness and Mental Health

Homelessness and mental health often go hand in hand and many people unfortunately suffer the loss of accommodation as a result of their mental health problems. 

When a mental health problem becomes beyond a person’s control so too does the ability to sustain an ordinary life. This is when the important things such as employment, relationships and finances become increasingly difficult to maintain, usually resulting in eviction.

For somebody who is already suffering with their mental health, homelessness can have an even more catastrophic consequence. Studies suggest that homeless people are over 9 times more likely to commit suicide than the general population.
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Studies have also highlighted that the average age of death of a homeless male is just 47 years old and even lower for homeless women at just 43, compared to 77 for the general population.

Many homeless people turn to substance abuse as a way of coping with the harsh realities that homelessness brings which can be detrimental to a person’s already very fragile mental health state.  

It is a stark fact that drugs and alcohol are major causes of death amongst homeless people. 

The links between drug and alcohol abuse and homelessness are well established and Four out of five people start using at least one new drug since becoming homeless.

Unfortunately, the majority of Homeless people who suffer with mental health problems find it incredibly difficult to access mental health services and are usually placed on lengthy waiting lists for nothing more than over the phone talking therapies. 

The following video link “Not Just Homeless” gives an insight into life on the streets and the difficulties people face when they find themselves in that situation.

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At BYHP we provide a range of services from Family Mediation to help families resolve their conflicts to prevent a young person being made homeless, to Housing Advice to help young people in vulnerable housing situations and Counselling to help a young person address their issues with the aid of a trained professional.

BYHP Services

If you feel that you or someone you know could benefit from the support of a Family Mediator, a Counsellor or some Housing Advice please contact us for more information or to book an appointment:

01295 259 442
2 Chandos Close, Banbury, Oxfordshire, OX16 4TL
enquiries@byhp.org.uk

Justin Donavan - Project Worker