Serious Mental Illness Among Young People Who Inject Drugs: An Assessment of Injection Risks and Healthcare Use

Abstract Background Data on behavioral correlates of mental illness among young people who inject drugs (PWID) are limited. We examine injection risks and healthcare use among young PWID with probable serious mental illness (PSMI). Methods People who inject drugs were recruited and interviewed in 20 US cities for 2015 National HIV Behavioral Surveillance. Probable serious mental illness was assessed using the Kessler-6 screening scale. Bivariate analyses using log-linked Poisson regression with generalized estimating equations adjusted for design covariates were conducted to examine associations between PSMI and behaviors among PWID ages 18–29 years. Results Of 1769 young PWID, 45% had PSMI. Compared to those without PSMI, PWID with PSMI were more likely to report injecting more than once a day, receptive syringe sharing, sharing of other injection equipment, and unmet needs for medical care and substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. Those with PSMI were less likely to use syringe services programs than those without PSMI. Conclusions Approximately half of young PWID had PSMI. People who inject drugs with PSMI engaged in high-risk injection behaviors and encountered barriers to healthcare. Human immunodeficiency virus prevention programs such as Syringe Services Programs (SSPs) could benefit from screening for mental illness among young PWID and strong linkage to healthcare, including mental health and SUD treatment.

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Is serious mental illness associated with earlier death among persons with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)? A ten year follow up in Maryland Medicaid recipients

Journal of AIDS and HIV Research ◽

10.5897/jahr12.026 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 4 (8) ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Geetanjali Chander

Keyword(s):

Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

Mental Illness ◽

Serious Mental Illness ◽

Immunodeficiency Virus

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A Review of HIV/AIDS Education Programs for People with Serious Mental Illness

Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling ◽

10.1891/0047-2220.28.4.20 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 28 (4) ◽

pp. 20-25

Author(s):

Stephanie G. Taylor ◽

Brandon Hunt

Keyword(s):

Mental Illness ◽

Risk Behaviors ◽

Serious Mental Illness ◽

Aids Education ◽

Intervention Programs ◽

Rehabilitation Counselors ◽

Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

Acquired Immunodeficiency ◽

Immunodeficiency Syndrome ◽

Hiv Aids

Rehabilitation literature indicates that people with serious mental illness (SMI) exhibit many of the risk factors associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the precipitant of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), placing this population at high risk for acquiring and transmitting HIV. One way to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS is for rehabilitation counselors to focus on reducing risk behaviors and increasing knowledge through education efforts which address the unique needs and circumstances of people with SMI. Specific risk behaviors and educational intervention programs for people with SMI are described in this paper.

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Prevalence and Correlates of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Testing and Posttest Counseling Among Outpatients With Serious Mental Illness

The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease ◽

10.1097/nmd.0b013e31814514ad ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 195 (9) ◽

pp. 776-780 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Mayur M. Desai ◽

Robert A. Rosenheck ◽

Rani A. Desai

Keyword(s):

Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

Mental Illness ◽

Serious Mental Illness ◽

Human Immunodeficiency Virus Testing ◽

Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

Virus Testing

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The social inclusion of young people with serious mental illness: A narrative review of the literature and suggested future directions

Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1177/0004867418804065 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 53 (1) ◽

pp. 15-26 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Andrew Gardner ◽

Kate Filia ◽

Eóin Killackey ◽

Sue Cotton

Keyword(s):

Mental Illness ◽

Young People ◽

Serious Mental Illness ◽

Social Inclusion ◽

Narrative Review ◽

Mental Wellbeing ◽

Empirical Literature ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Subjective Indicators ◽

The Social

Background: Social inclusion involves objective participatory (e.g. education/employment) and subjective (e.g. sense of belonging/acceptance) elements across multiple domains. It has been associated with enhanced physical and mental wellbeing yet is a novel construct in the empirical literature (i.e. measures have not been sufficiently developed). Aims: Young people with serious mental illness are reported to be socially excluded. It is unclear whether this is reflected in the social inclusion/exclusion literature. The aim of this narrative review is to determine whether such literature permits a comprehensive (i.e. multi-dimensional, objective and subjective) understanding of social inclusion among young people with serious mental illness. Methods: Searches to identify studies related to the social inclusion and/or exclusion of young people with serious mental illness were conducted on 16 February 2016, 24 August 2016, 16 February 2017, 24 August 2017 and 16 February 2018 in PsycINFO, MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, SCOPUS, Open Grey, Web of Science, Google and Google Scholar. Results: There is a paucity of research in the explicit social inclusion literature involving young people either with or without serious mental illness as participants. Literatures exist in related independent areas of research (e.g. employment, social networks), but such studies employ heterogeneous methodologies. Conclusion: Multi-dimensional measures of social inclusion incorporating objective and subjective indicators must be developed for young people with and without serious mental illness. This will enable the generation of normative and clinical data. Existing evidence for the social exclusion of young people with serious mental illness comes from objective indicators in isolated domains (e.g. unemployment). Subjective indicators continue to be under-researched. The above-described measures must be employed to further understanding of the apparent discrepancies between young people with serious mental illness and those without serious mental illness. This will elucidate the relationships between objective and subjective elements of social inclusion and the relationships between these elements and the psychological distress that young people with serious mental illness often experience. This has implications for intervention.

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