MENTAL ILLNESS

AND ITS EFFECTS ON HOMELESSNESS

HOMELESSNESS IN MENTAL ILLNESS AND

AMERICA SUBSTANCE ABUSE
It is estimated that nearly 600,000 According to the National Coalition
people in the US are classified as for the Homeless 20-25% of the
homeless on any given night. It is difficult homeless population suffers from
to determine an accurate number due to some form of mental illness (up from
the continuous change and lack of 6% in the general public). An
reporting. 2017 saw the first rise in  estimated 48-64% abuse alcohol or
numbers of homeless in nearly a decade. other drugs.
Mental Illness and
Substance Abuse in the
Homeless Population
Homeless Pop. by Year

700000
600000
500000
Population

400000
300000
200000
100000 2-6% 25% 50%
0
2010 2017
Of US Pop. Suffer from Have substance
Year is Homelessmental illness abuse issues

THE UNDERLYING ISSUE

In many countries people do not have access to basic mental health
care and treatment they require. In others, the absence of community
based mental health care means the only care available is in
psychiatric institutions which are associated with gross human rights
violations including inhuman and degrading treatment and living
conditions

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Raise awareness and advocate for change!
Violations often occur behind closed doors and go unreported - unless
people know that they are going on, action cannot be taken to stop them.
The WHO works to raise awareness and advocate for the rights of people
with mental disabilities and collaborates with international organizations
to disseminate international human rights standards.
Develop mental health policies and laws that promote human rights.
Mental health policies and laws are absent or inadequate in most countries
of the world and yet they are critical to improving conditions for people
with mental disabilities.