Gender, Racial, and Age Variations among Homeless Persons

Background: Homelessness among people with mental illness has grown to become a common phenomenon in many developed and developing countries. Just like in any other country, the living conditions of homeless people with mental illness in Ghana are unwholesome. Despite the increased population of these vulnerable individuals on the streets, not much is known about the perspectives of the general public towards this phenomenon in Ghana. Aim: This research was conducted to explore the perspectives of community members on homeless people with mental illness. The main study objectives were (a) to find out the impacts of the presence of persons with mental illness on the streets and (b) to ascertain the reasons accounting for homelessness among persons with mental illness. Method: Utilizing a qualitative research design, twenty community members were sampled from selected suburbs in Nsawam and interviewed with the use of a semi-structured interview guide. The audio data gathered from the interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically. Results: Majority of the participants asserted that homeless people with mental illness had no access to good food, shelter, and health care. They further stated that some homeless people with mental illness perpetrated physical and sexual violence against the residents. Moreover, the participants believed that persons with mental illness remained on the streets due to neglect by their family members, and limited access to psychiatric services. Conclusion: This paper concludes by recommending to government to make mental health services accessible and affordable to homeless persons with mental illness nationwide.

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Hepatitis A seroprevalence in homeless persons, in Marseille, France

Clinics and Research in Hepatology and Gastroenterology ◽

10.1016/j.clinre.2020.11.003 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 101571

Author(s):

Tran Duc Anh Ly ◽

Van Thuan Hoang ◽

Thi Loi Dao ◽

Sekene Badiaga ◽

Herve Tissot-Dupont ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hepatitis A ◽

Homeless Persons

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Creating a Medical Home for Homeless Persons With Serious Mental Illness

Psychiatric Services ◽

10.1176/ps.62.5.pss6205_0561 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 62 (5) ◽

pp. 561-562 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Benjamin F. Henwood ◽

Lara Carson Weinstein ◽

Sam Tsemberis

Keyword(s):

Mental Illness ◽

Serious Mental Illness ◽

Medical Home ◽

Homeless Persons

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Age Variations in Perceived COVID-19 Threats, Negative Impacts, and Associations with Well-Being

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.3420 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 933-933

Author(s):

Tara Gruenewald ◽

Anthony Ong ◽

Danielle Zahn

Keyword(s):

Sleep Quality ◽

Disease Severity ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Well Being ◽

Poor Sleep ◽

Older Individuals ◽

Poor Sleep Quality ◽

Age Variations ◽

Age Variation ◽

Negative Impacts

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic represents an unprecedented threat to individual and public health, psychosocial, and economic well-being, although COVID-19 threats and impacts may vary by age and other demographic characteristics. Although greater age is a risk factor for greater COVID-19 disease severity, we know little about the association between age and perceived and experienced COVID-19 threats and their association to well-being. These associations were examined in an ongoing 3-wave investigation of over 1,700 U.S. adults (age 18-89; 53.1% female). Wave 1 analyses indicate no significant age variation in perceived threat of COVID-19 infection, with older and younger individuals reporting similar levels of COVID-19 infection threat. However, greater age was associated with lower perceived negative impact on financial and needed resources (r=-.10**), lower perceptions of COVID-19 induced harm to mental well-being (r=-.17**), and more favorable well-being profiles. Greater perceived COVID-19 threat and negative impact on resources and well-being were linked to greater feelings of stress (β’s=.45 to .68***), loneliness (β’s=.24 to .49***), social well-being (β’s=-.19 to -.36***), and poor sleep quality (β’s=.34 to .51***). These associations did not vary with age with the exception that older individuals showed stronger links between COVID-19 threat and impacts and poorer sleep quality. Ongoing analyses are examining whether these associations persist over time. Despite older adults’ greater risk of COVID-19 disease severity and mortality, older age did not appear to be linked to greater perceived COVID-19 threat or impacts, nor linkages to ill-being, with the possible exception of potential greater vulnerability to poor sleep quality.

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