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IDENTIFYING MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH CORRELATES OF HOMELESSNESS AMONG FIRST‐TIME AND CHRONICALLY HOMELESS VETERANS
Author(s) -
Creech Suzannah K.,
Johnson Erin,
Borgia Matthew,
Bourgault Claire,
Redihan Stephen,
O'Toole Thomas P.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of community psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.585
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1520-6629
pISSN - 0090-4392
DOI - 10.1002/jcop.21707
Subject(s) - mental health , psychological intervention , psychiatry , substance abuse , psychology , clinical psychology , physical health , gerontology , medicine
This study examined four categories of self‐reported health and mental health factors and their association with recurrent or chronic homelessness in a sample of homeless Veterans presenting for care for the first time. These factors and their relationship to housing status were examined in a cross‐sectional analysis comparing first‐time or single episode homeless Veterans to chronic or repeat emergency sheltered or unsheltered homeless Veterans. Results revealed that while Veterans with a history of chronic or recurrent homelessness were more likely to self‐report diagnoses of substance abuse problems, any mental health problems, and bipolar disorder, those who were homeless for the first time in their adult life were more likely to report a variety of physical health conditions, economic causes of homelessness, and some other mental health problem. These findings suggest that further work should be undertaken to determine how clinical interventions for Veteran homelessness address different risk profiles and treatment needs based on lifetime homeless history.