Speech of Fact: Thesis Statement: Untreated mental illness is a root

cause of homelessness.

II. Main Point (effect): When untreated mental illness results in

homelessness, it begins a cycle of prolonging the effects of the disorder and
causes irreparable harm that makes it almost impossible to put their lives
back together.

Listener Relevance Link: The faster we address the root causes of

homelessness, the more success we will have in helping people break out of
the cycles that tear apart their lives and the lives of their families.

A. Supporting Claim 1: Becoming homeless results in the loss of family

and relationships and furthers mental disorders due to lack of support and
isolation.

1. Evidence: (Oral Citation): As mentally ill people's disabilities worsen,

their ability to cope with their surroundingsor the ability of those around
them to cope with their behaviorbecomes severely strained. In the absence
of appropriate therapeutic interventions and supportive alternative housing
arrangements, many wind up on the streets (Health Problems of Homeless
People, 1988).

2. Interpretation of evidence: Many family members and friends cannot

deal with the stress of continually helping a mentally ill family member, thus
resulting in being isolated from any type of support system.

B. Supporting Claim 2: Mental illness leads to a cycle of stigmatization

that can keep people from seeking treatment.

1. Evidence: (Oral Citation): displays of discrimination can become

internalized, leading to the development of self-stigma: People with mental
illness may begin to believe the negative thoughts expressed by others and,
in turn, think of themselves as unable to recover, undeserving of care,
dangerous, or responsible for their illnesses. This can lead them to feel
shame, low self-esteem, and inability to accomplish their goals. Self-stigma
can also lead to the development of the why try effect, whereby people
believe that they are unable to recover and live normally so why try? To
avoid being discriminated against, some people may also try to avoid being
labeled as mentally ill by denying or hiding their problems and refusing to
seek out care (PATRICK W. CORRIGAN, 2014).

2. Interpretation of evidence: Many people with a mental health issue

blame themselves or feel too embarrassed to get help. As their life spirals
downward, it makes it even harder to feel like they have a reason to keep
trying.
C. Supporting Claim 3: Homeless people with untreated mental illness
often face victimization.

1. Evidence: (Oral Citation): When your brain undermines your ability to

react, feel happy, or think clearly, you're more vulnerable to victimization.
This can set off a chain reaction of victimization, followed by PTSD, followed
by unusual behavior that leads to even more victimization. People with
mental illnesses are significantly more likely to be victimized than those in
the general population (M.D., 2015).

2. Interpretation of evidence: Because of untreated mental illness, many

people put themselves in risky and dangerous situations that lead to
victimization. This can further the mental illness as it may bring on PTSD,
depression, and anxiety.

D. Supporting Claim 4: Untreated mental illness often leads to suicide.

1. Evidence: (Oral Citation): Life with mental illness is hard, and for
some, it's unbearable. More than 90% of suicides are directly attributable to
untreated mental illness (M.D., 2015).

2. Interpretation of evidence: Suicide is a huge threat to people with

untreated mental illness, which is why it is more important than ever to deal
with the root causes of homelessness and help people get the mental health
treatment they need.
References
Health Problems of Homeless People. (1988). In C. o. People, Homelessness, Health,

and Human Needs (pp. 39-75). Washington D.C.: National Academies Press.

M.D., J. L. (2015, December 30). Untreated Mental Illness. Retrieved from

Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/when-your-adult-

child-breaks-your-heart/201512/untreated-mental-illness

PATRICK W. CORRIGAN, B. G. (2014, August 1). The Impact of Mental Illness Stigma

on Seeking and Participating in Mental Health Care. Retrieved from

Association for Psychological Science:

http://www.psychologicalscience.org/publications/mental-illness-

stigma.html#.WKJdNfkrLIV