Mental Health and Homelessness: Australian Support Services

This report addresses the critical issue of homelessness in Australia and its profound impact on mental health. It highlights the challenges faced by individuals experiencing homelessness, including the increased risk of developing mental illnesses. The report details various support services ...Read More

Support service
Who to contact
Government service Counselling service Service in the city of Sydney
Alcohol and Other Drugs
Treatment Services (AODTS)
and Specialist Homelessness
Services (SHS):
 These are two main support
service provided by the
Australian government.
 The services are available
for the people that are
homeless or at risk of being
homeless and people
suffering from mental
illness due to homelessness.
 In addition the services also
keep record for such people.
National Partnership Agreement on
Homelessness (NPAH):
 It is established by the Council of
Australian Government (COAG)
in 2009.
 The government of Australia
renew it in every two years.
 It is currently funding 180
programs and provides service to
80000 people per year.
Link2home:
 It is launched by NSW and
focuses on providing counselling
of the people that are homeless or
at risk of homeless.
 It provides adequate information,
conduct essential assessments and
provide referrals to the
responsible authorities across
NSW.
 Aboriginal housing
company
 NSW family and
community service:
 Innari housing:
 St Vincent’s Homeless
Health.
Emergency service
1800 152 152
 Contact number of Link2home.
Available 24/7.

Homelessness and mental health issue fact sheet
For family and carer
Definition of mental illness:
Mental illness is considered as the huge range of mental health condition which includes behaviour and disorders that affect the
mood of individual.
As an example of mental health issue or mental illness depression, eating disorder, anxiety, addictive behaviour and schizophrenia
could be considered, however, there are various mental illnesses that affect both the physical and mental health of individual,
thus create difficulties in living life meaningfully.
Issues of homesteads and their mental illness:
 Relationship between the homelessness and development of mental health issue gas been observed by various public health
workers, agencies that provide service and social justice bodies.
 It has been found that the condition of homelessness influence the development of mental illness at a higher rate as compare
to other population. It has been estimated that the incidence of mental illness among the homeless people ranges from 2 to 90
%.
 A study in Sydney has identified that 75% people that are homeless suffer from at least one mental disorder where as the
prevalence is 20% in other population.
 As the diagnosis of mental illness become more advance the diversity of disorders are become clear and effective approaches
for recovery have been developed to cope up with the situation.
Support for family members:
 The family members could be educated regarding
the management of people with mental illness in
order to enhance the community knowledge.
 It would help to create awareness. It is required to
ensure the access to adequate mental health service
and support for the family and carers.
 Improve the resilience and well-being.
Tips for looking after them:
 The major approach for providing effective care to such people is the
psychosocial approach.
 Association between the substance abuse and mental illness has been found
in case of homeless people.
 Study has identified that psychosocial intervention such as motivational
interview, cognitive behavioural therapy, strategies for preventing relapse
and interpersonal and supportive therapies.
 In addition, trauma informed therapy is also effective as it helps to recover
from the traumatic events that influence the symptoms of mental illness.
 Furthermore, housing is another important requirement of homeless people,
thus it is important to provide safe place with the opportunity to communicate
with others to recover them from isolation.

References
AIHW. 2018. Exploring drug treatment and homelessness in Australia: 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2014 [Online]. Available:
https://www.aihw.gov.au/getmedia/088123dd-a9f2-40f8-b92e-1386f965ed9a/19940.pdf.aspx?inline=true [Accessed October 13.
2018].
Australia, H. 2018. Are you experiencing homelessness? [Online]. Available: https://www.homelessnessaustralia.org.au/are-you-
experiencing-homelessness [Accessed October 13. 2018].
Drake, R.E. and Whitley, R., 2014. Recovery and severe mental illness: description and analysis. The Canadian Journal of
Psychiatry, 59(5), pp.236-242.
Henwood, B.F., Derejko, K.S., Couture, J. and Padgett, D.K., 2015. Maslow and mental health recovery: A comparative study of
homeless programs for adults with serious mental illness. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services
Research, 42(2), pp.220-228.
Homelessnessnsw.org.au. (2018). Mental illness and homelessness | Homelessness NSW Inc.. [online] Available at:
https://www.homelessnessnsw.org.au/resources/mental-illness-and-homelessness [Accessed 13 Oct. 2018].
Kirst, M., Zerger, S., Misir, V., Hwang, S. and Stergiopoulos, V., 2015. The impact of a Housing First randomized controlled trial
on substance use problems among homeless individuals with mental illness. Drug and alcohol dependence, 146, pp.24-29.
Petros, R., Solomon, P., Linz, S., DeCesaris, M. and Hanrahan, N.P., 2016. Autovideography: The lived experience of recovery for
adults with serious mental illness. Psychiatric Quarterly, 87(3), pp.417-426.
Sydney, T. C. O. 2018. Homelessness [Online]. Available: https://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/community/community-
support/homelessness [Accessed October 13. 2018].
Vigo, D., Thornicroft, G. and Atun, R., 2016. Estimating the true global burden of mental illness. The Lancet Psychiatry, 3(2),
pp.171-178.
Yfoundations. (2018). Link2home - Yfoundations. [online] Available at: http://yfoundations.org.au/need-help/yconnect/ [Accessed
13 Oct. 2018].