Mental health is an important topic that effects all of our lives. It can have a particularly negative effect if neglected.

A big negative that comes from the neglect of ones mental health is a propensity towards homelessness. The main reasons why poor mental health leads to homelessness is: poverty – because mentally ill people are less likely to be able to secure a steady source of income – disaffiliation – mentally ill tend to stay on the outskirts of groups – and personal vulnerability – it’s very hard to be vulnerable and honest with oneself when you can’t seem to trust your own mind.

As I continue my search of the overlap between homelessness and mental illness I’ve encountered some hollowing statistics.

• Approximately 33 percent of the homeless are individuals with serious mental illnesses that are untreated;
• Many of these people suffer from schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder or major depression;
• In Massachusetts and Ohio, 27 and 36 percent of people released from mental institutions became homeless within 6 months;
• Studies show that psychotic individuals are much more likely to get assaulted or threatened while homeless;

The fact of the matter is mental illness is a significant factor in causing people to become homeless. There are many other factors to take into account, specifically with finding solutions. What is the best way to find a solution for this problem.

San Fransisco, which is notorious for their homeless epidemic, has attempted many courses of action to achieve a solution. Crazy ideas from banning sitting or lying on sidewalks and aggressive panhandling to Laura’s Law, which forced hospitals to treat those self diagnosed with a mental illness.

I’m digging deeper to find an impactful and proven solution.