As Homelessness Week, 1-7 August, comes to an end, the Mental Health Community Coalition urges Canberrans to remember the link between homelessness and mental health conditions.
Acting CEO of the Mental Health Community Coalition, Corinne Dobson said, “Each can result in and exacerbate the other and both have suffered from significant underfunding and chronic inaction from all levels of government.
“Stable, safe and quality housing is a foundation for mental health.
“It is no surprise that many people experiencing homelessness or uncertain housing in the ACT are also living with mental health conditions.
“People living with a mental health condition are at an increased risk of homelessness, as some can find it challenging to earn a stable income, and they are more likely to be socially isolated.”
On the flip side, the psychological distress of being without a home increases the risk of mental health conditions and can exacerbate existing conditions.
“The mental health and homelessness systems are failing people with complex needs. We know the solutions, yet there has been insufficient action, leading to yet more people suffering,” said Ms Dobson.
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Wellbeing (AIHW), more than half of the people who present to ACT specialist homelessness services (SHS) have a current mental health issue.
In the past decade, the proportion of people presenting to homelessness services who have mental health issues has nearly doubled.
“The rate of people with a current mental health issue seeking homelessness services in the ACT is well above the national average,” said Ms Dobson.
Latest AIHW data shows that there were 492 SHS clients with a current mental health issue per 100,000 population in the ACT in the year of 2020.
This is up from a low of 415.2 per 100,000 population in the year of 2018 and is significantly higher than the national average of 391.7 per 100,000 population.
“The best, proven method to help people with mental health conditions who are experiencing homelessness is to provide safe, stable housing,” Ms Dobson reminds Canberrans.
“We need more preventive programs designed to support a person to sustain a private rental property when they experience a mental health episode and prevent them from experiencing homelessness.
“We also need more permanent supported housing for people who have experienced long-term homelessness and may have a range of mental health challenges.”
The Mental Health Community Coalition says this model, which integrates housing and mental health support, is proven to help keep people with mental health issues out of the homelessness cycle and provide them with the support they need to recover.
Get the latest Canberra news, sport, entertainment, lifestyle, competitions and more delivered straight to your inbox with the Canberra Daily Daily Newsletter. Sign up here.
