Mental Illnesses in the Homeless Population

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Mental illness is a common issue among the homeless population, and it is one of the major causes to homelessness. Due to these reasons, I am interested in learning about the relationship between mental illnesses and homelessness. According to article, 20-25% of the homeless population suffer from some kind of mental illnesses. Mental illnesses prevent homeless people from building normal relationship, expressing themselves correctly, and making right decisions. Also, mental illnesses affect a homeless person's physical health and increase their risk of physical diseases: HIV, skin diseases, and respiratory infections. In the article, the solution proposed by many mayors would be to increase the mental health services. The services would include housing, employment opportunities, peer support, and health services. Through these services, the homeless population would be cared for and get them back on track

Homeless people are similar compared to the Dali's of India like what we're learning in class. Homeless people and Dalis are both the lower class of the society, and they are treated poorly and ignored by the higher class people. They represent the population that needs the most help but often times rejected by the society.

Homelessness would affect our nation because the major cause to the problem is mental illness. If we can provide better and more mental health services, we can decrease the population of homeless people in America. On the other hand, we would be improve one of the major social problems that exists in America.

After reading this article, I want to learn more about these questions:
1) Where should we provide mental health service help to the homeless population? Shelters? Government?
2) How much money would it cost to support this program?
3) What if the homeless people are not committed? Would we be wasting our money?
4) Since mental illness is not the only cause, how can we attack all the causes to decrease homelessness?

Reference: http://www.nationalhomeless.org/factsheets/Mental_Illness.html

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