What Exactly are the Factors Contributing to Poor Mental Health among Homeless Children?
Anneka Vayaal
While the issue of youth homelessness is discussed, there is always an understanding that the concern is turning those that are unhoused into being housed. The work is not finished there, as the next question to ask is: “What can be done to recover mentally?” Although mental health can be used as a buzzword when talking about many issues, it should not be neglected as a serious issue that affects many without treatment.
At Home/Chez Soi was a five-year research project concerning homeless mental health across 5 major Canadian cities: Toronto, Montréal, Moncton, Winnipeg and Vancouver (Nelson et al, 2016). It analyzed how an approach of providing a homeless person with a house would impact their life, also known as a “housing first” approach. Those who the “housing first” approach applied had better quality of life compared to those who didn’t, showing that having housing is a major determinant of mental health and functioning. It is also noted that participants may have had more of an inclination towards poor mental health and behaviours at the start of the study, so they would return to a baseline with the progression of time (Patten, 2017).
Unfortunately, attempted suicide is estimated to occur in 20% to 42% of the overall homeless youth population, compared to 9% of children living in homes. Four main factors were identified to increase the likelihood of this occurrence. The first is sociodemographic factors, such as gender, sexuality and ethnicity. First Nations members also have a higher risk of attempts than other communities. Excessive stress from traumatic events is another factor, stemming from violence, familial concerns or even the suicide of others around them. Preexisting mental health problems also contribute to more attempts. These could be anything from psychosis or depression to substance abuse. Lastly, external factors such as social withdrawal, isolation or a poor network are a risk as well (Labelle et al, 2021).
Substance abuse can sometimes be a “bandaid” to lower the results of harsh conditions. A participant in a 2015 study on homeless youth in Accra, Ghana explained that smoking marijuana prevented stomach ulcers and the stomach aches associated with long term hunger. In reality, the marijuana was likely masking the feeling of a stomach ache due to its analgesic effects. In the same study, many participants reported measures taken to prevent sexual assault, such as weapon usage or sleeping in groups. Feelings of loneliness were very common, often due to abandonment and social stigmas held by the general public. Children do not look for help or return to often unstable families, with one participant stating that they are not viewed as “part of life, [the public] are the ones who enjoy life.” Most of the participants were accused of stealing or pickpocketing, called slurs or even beaten. Negative stereotypes of homeless children being thieves often leads to mistreatment (Asante, Meyer-Weitz & Petersen, 2016). In Canada, the most common residents of homeless shelters are homeless youths. In 2012-2013, out of 2124 stays in shelters, 1863 of these were youth under the age of 25. Ending up on the streets is a serious possibility for adolescents, with a higher chance of mental health issues than the general population, however primary care services do little to meet their needs. (Labelle et al, 2021)
A later study found that girls reported less life satisfaction than boys, while physical health was not a significant determinant. Physical assault was also not as significant as sexual assault in affecting satisfaction in life. To improve satisfaction, self-esteem, supportive networks, and coping, falling into productive and non-productive coping, were considered as factors. Support from others could include positive talking or guidance. Some examples of productive coping include physical and recreational activities and focusing on problem-solving strategies, while non-productive coping could be isolation, worrying about the future, self-blame or wishful thinking. Regression analysis showed that focusing on solving problems had the highest positive association with life satisfaction, followed by self-esteem. Worrying had the most negative association. Additionally, problem-focused coping had more of a positive effect than emotions-based coping (Gauvin et al, 2020).
In Canada, where the amount of homeless youth is rising, the actions taken to solve this problem are not done enough, likely due to a lack of understanding from the public as well as ignorance. Mental health issues in youth can lead to harm to self and others in adulthood, as well as remaining chronically homeless. The best solution to combat this is by introducing housing and support from the government and community, including counselling and guidance towards solving problems and making better decisions, as well as improving self-worth. If the public steps forward and makes small steps, the effects can be drastically reduced with time.
References
Labelle, R., Berthiaume, C., Daigle, M., Breton, J., & Houle, J. (2021) Mental Health, Suicidal Behaviour, and Primary Healthcare among Homeless Youth. Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health, 39(4), 25-38. https://doi.org/10.7870/cjcmh-2020-029
Patten, S.B. (2017) Homelessness and Mental Health. The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 62(7), 440-441. https://doi.org/10.1177/0706743717711423
Asante, K. O., Meyer-Weitz, A., & Petersen, I. (2016) Mental Health and Health Risk Behaviours of Homeless Adolescents and Youth: A Mixed Methods Study. Child Youth Care Forum, 45, 433-449. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10566-015-9335-9
Gauvin, G., Labelle, R., Daigle, M., Breton, J. J., & Houle, J. (2020). Psychological factors strengthening homeless youths’ life satisfaction. Journal of Social Distress and Homelessness, 30(2), 97–106. https://doi.org/10.1080/10530789.2020.1761099
Nelson, G., Caplan, R., MacLeod, T., Macnaughton, E., Goering, P., & Piat, M. (2016) The At Home/Chez Soi Project: Cross-Site Report on the Sustainability of Housing and Support Programs Implemented. Retrieved from https://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/wp-content/uploads/drupal/2016-11/at_home_sustainability_crosssite_report_eng.pdf