Learning About Homelessness and Mental Health

Follow me on this journey of learning as I critically analyze and illustrate various aspects of homelessness and how issues with mental health is a major contributing factor to the complications, stigmatization, and isolation that is experienced.

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“Everyone's ashamed of the youth cause the truth looks strange”

Source: www.youtube.com/2PacVEVO

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The latest Tweets from Street Voices (@StreetVoicesTO). Street Voices is a print/online magazine that empowers marginalized voices. Toronto

Here is the direct Twitter link to Street Voices Toronto. 

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The latest Tweets from Joel Zola (@TheJoelZola). Founder of @streetvoicesto http://t.co/NYqEeDJJaP. Toronto

In case you found that Toronto Star article insightful and wanted to know more, here is the Twitter page of Joel Zola; one of the youth documented in the article and founder of the amazing movement Street Voices Toronto.

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Faces of Toronto’s homeless youth | Toronto Star

Hundreds of young people call Toronto’s streets home every night, and while the paths that lead them there may differ, their stories share common themes: broken homes, addict parents and struggles with mental health. The Star brings you some of their stories.

Hey guys! I came across this amazing article in The Star. I advise you to check it out, it consist of some amazing stories and movements being created by some of Toronto’s most innovative Youth. It really highlights that with access to adequate services and programs, marginalized youth are given the opportunity to really soar.

Source: http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/10/19/faces-of-torontos-homeless-youth.html

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Hey everyone for this post I would like to discuss...*lets photo speak for itself*. The correlation between between mental health and youth may be puzzling to some but in fact it is a growing problem that has proven to lead to/be the cause of homelessness among youth. In many cases a healthy home environment creates healthy kids who in turn grow into healthy young adults. For many children and young adults unfortunately this is not their reality. Abuse and mistreatment within households with children has an immense impact on psychological growth. Abuse includes that of  physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, psychological abuse, verbal abuse, and witnessing familial abuse (Bender et al 2015). This experienced of abuse in many of cases causes children and young adults to flee the troubles of their homes thus making them vulnerable targets of victimization again but on the streets. Life as a  youth living on the streets is difficult especially when suffering from mental health. Many youth who experience homeless and mental health issues are in a constant battle between shelter and safety. Many homes for homeless youth are exclusive or simply unsafe. Bender et al (2014) demonstrates that service agencies for homeless youth, without a more nuanced understanding of victimization profiles, may fail to address victimization or, at best, provide trauma-informed services generally. Here an importance of knowledge on causal factors of victimization is a key component to battle issues of homelessness, mental health and youth. I find youth to be a particularly interesting group because there is so much potential in getting these individuals to a better place. In Toronto, The Yonge Street Evergreen Centre acknowledges such potentials through providing services and programs for street youth struggling with issues of housing, jobs, mental health etc. The need for more services like The Yonge Street Evergreen is needed in providing the right help and guidance to those young individuals who are seeking it and need it most. 

References

Bender, K., Ferguson, K., Thompson, S., & Langenderfer, L. (2014). Mental health correlates of victimization classes among homeless youth. Child Abuse & Neglect, 38(10), 1628-1635. doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2014.03.001 

Photo source: https://www.ysm.ca/

Photo source: http://ontario.cmha.ca/news/understanding-systemic-pathways-youth-homelessness/#.VlYQZnarTIV

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A song that really captures the issue of difference.

“In God’s eyes we’re all the same, some day we’ll all have perfect wings”

Source: www.youtube.com/MarkWillsVEVO

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Here is a short video on The 519 and more on what they are about spoken by their executive director.

I hope you enjoy!

Source: www.youtube.com/The519Toronto

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HOLY SHIT, IT WAS THE ORIGINAL ONE

MAKE A WISH

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the first post ever on tumblr

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I WAS EXPECTING IT TO BE A REMAKE OF SOME SORT HOLY FUCK

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WHO THE FUCK KEEPS BRINGING THIS BACK

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reblog this because it shows up every blue moon

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I FOUND IT ✊

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I WAS SO SCARED IT WOULDNT BE THE ORIGINAL

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Who first posted this?

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Homelessness and Mental Health: LGBT

Hey what’s up everyone!

In this post I will cover homelessness and mental health within the LGBT community. If you were wondering or simply unsure as for what LGBT means allow me to break it down for ya.

What is LGBT?: LGBT or GLBT is an abbreviation that stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual and Transgender. Beginning in the mid-to-late 1980′s it has been adopted in replace of the term gay/ gay community in reference to the LGBT community. Many individuals who identified outside of the hetero-normative categorization of gender and sexuality felt that the previously used term “gay community” failed to represent all of those of whom it referred to. Since then the abbreviation LGBT has become mainstreams as self-designation. It has been adopted by many gender-identity and sexuality based centers and services across North America. In 2009, Pride Toronto used the abbreviation LGBTTIQQ2SA (Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, Transgender, Transsexual, Intersex, Questions, Queer, 2-Spirited and Allies) to be inclusive to all emerging identities within the LGBT community. 

It amazes me to find out how many people are unaware and/or blatantly ignorant to the discrimination and stigma that is faced by those within the LGBT community that is causal to a disproportionate amount that end up homeless and suffering from mental health issues. Here I will attempt to outline this issue.

 Considering that there is still a large stigma attached to the LGBT community, many individuals struggle with their identity and with finding a place of belonging and acceptance. Salem et all (2015) describes that one factor which may lead to unmet physical and mental health needs is the lack of familial and social support. Those who identify within the LGBT community are often ostracized and displaced by their families and communities. For LGBT youth this is an even larger problem. This is detrimentally problematic because this then makes it seemingly difficult for these individuals to combat and address the issues that they are facing. Also without safe places to go  to and understanding people to turn to, this then makes them vulnerable targets on the streets. It is has been outlined that “ Unmet mental health needs are a critical area of concern among this vulnerable population; in one study, over one-third of LGBT persons reported a diagnosis of depression; 20.8% anxiety or panic attack; and 42.9% reported having an unmet mental health needs” (Salem et all, 2015). As previously discussed health care systems can be discriminatory towards difference. Among the LGBT community, unmet mental health and health care needs in general are often neglected in cause of discrimination and stigma. Many are often bottom listed or denied access on a whole. Rather than getting to the issue and solving it, this then perpetuates the notion of “other” rather than creating an atmosphere where everyone is given equal access to health services. 

The 519 in Toronto is a community center for the LGBT community offering programs and services that adequately and fairly address individual and community needs “ while working to promote inclusion, understanding and respect” (The 519). In high school I participated in a group project that aimed to bring light to the services in Toronto that are available for those who identify within the LGBT and are seeking assistant. At the end of the project I found that through my participation with The 519 that they were a great facility, better yet located in Toronto and that it is important to have these type of facilities especially in a city as diverse and complex and Toronto. 

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Stay tuned!

Photo source: http://www.campusmindworks.org/students/spotlight/lgbt-students.asp

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A groundbreaking study suggests giving homeless Canadians homes first saves money

It's a report that could change the way that homeless people are treated in Canada. Funded by the federal government, "At Home/Chez Soi" is the largest study of its kind, with five years of research conducted in five major cities. It's estimated that more than 150,000 people are homeless across the country, costing Canadians $1.4 billion each year....

“It’s amazing that when somebody has a roof over their head, and they feel safe, that they are more apt to participate in the services they are invited to, to help in terms of their mental illness and, often times, substance abuse as well.”

“For every $10 that we spent on them there was a savings of $22…”

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Common - The People

Source: www.youtube.com/CommonVEVO

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Hey guys!

Since I briefly touched upon it on my last content post I thought that I should make this post an elaboration on homelessness and mental health with a specific focus on racialized individuals in Toronto. Through my recent research I have found that yet again discrimination and stigma are large contributing factors to homelessness among racialized communities. Racialized young men are frequent targets of discrimination, marginalization and stigma that make it harder for them to secure a stable living space within the city. In one of the articles I was reading they discussed that “for young men of colour, not having a permanent home combines with the regional geography of the GTA to produce particular racialized and gendered experiences, which in turn produces particular social geographies of youth and race in the region” (May, 2015). Although Toronto is a Multicultural city, there seems to be a particular essence of “whiteness” that exist within its downtown core. This is evident through the types of business’, services and advertisements that are predominant. The article that I sourced that quotation from is based on a study that involved young racialized men within the city experiencing homelessness. What the study found was that these young men believed in an essence of the downtown core being post-racial. It is through this belief that they are unaware of the emergence of race that contributes to their continued marginalization; from employment, housing, education, etc.

Within many racialized communities homelessness let alone mental health is something that isn’t frequently openly discussed. This quietening of mental health issues within these communities makes it difficult for those who are suffering to seek the help that is needed. In another article that I sourced, it consisted of a study that  focused on mental health issues within Toronto’s Somali community. One of the Somali study participant illustrates that “mental health is stigmatized. Within our community, we don’t have the accommodations in the schools system, and we are still not accessing it. We have to step up and say we demand it.”(Lauren et al, The 360 Project).  Clearly the lack of inclusive services that address issues of mental health within racialized communities is another factor that contributes to the amount of those individuals who are suffering but do not feel that there are adequate services to address their particular needs. I think that when people are aware and have access to services that can benefit them there is a sense of trust and comfort that is developed in knowing that there is help and that people understand their individual circumstances.

References

Lauren Daniel, MA, Research Assistant, Diversity Institute, Ryerson UniversityWendy Cukier, MA, MBA, PhD, DU (Hon), MSC, Founder, Diversity Institute; Vice-President, Research and Innovation, Ryerson University. The 360 Project.

May, J. (2015). Racial vibrations, masculine performances: Experiences of homelessness among young men of colour in the greater toronto area. Gender, Place & Culture, 22(3), 405-421. doi:10.1080/0966369X.2013.81797

Photo: http://tambian.deviantart.com/art/Skin-Color-Chart-553664216

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MUST WATCH!!!

Ideas, thoughts, opinions????

Source: www.youtube.com/fouseytube

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A short clip on The Access Point if you were interested. 

Source : www.youtube.com/UnitedWayToronto&YorkRegion

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Homelessness and Mental Health: Discrimination and Housing

Hey everyone!

I know it isn’t Monday...and I said that I would be back to post something new but I’ve been so busy with finals, so please pardon me! Anyhow I hope that you’ve enjoyed my last few post as I thought that they would be an interesting little touch in between my regular posts.

Today I have chosen to discuss the issue of discrimination and housing in correlation to homelessness and mental health. First I must address that affordable housing in Toronto is a major issue. From my awareness, closet sized rooms within the city are ranging from $800-$1500. Personally I don’t find this too surprising considering the massive infrastructural shift going on the city but what I do find surprising is the amount of individuals and families who are unable to afford and maintain a stable place to live. When I think about this issue I think about  inequalities such as discrimination and income disparities that contribute to the unequal access to resources within the city. Hulchanski et all (2009) demonstrates that  people often are dehoused due to disability, chronic illness, or a sudden health crisis, because income, housing, and support services are insufficient to protect people in these situations. Health conditions that greatly increase the risk of loss of housing include severe mental illness, substance abuse, and medical illness. It is obvious here that those who suffer addiction, disabilities and especially mental health issues are undermined in the dominant governmental system in relation to that of housing and assistance. While there are services that provide assistance to those with disabilities such as The Access Point in Toronto I think that the underlying problem here is discrimination. Individuals suffering from mental health issues specifically are frequently bottom listed, whether that is in the health care system (as previous discussed) or within the housing system. This is due to the fact that there is often the formulation of biases that highlight in-capabilities rather than tackling the source of the problem which is discrimination and stigma. This highlights the need for the implementation of a system with a degree of knowledge surrounding mental health that provides adequate assistance, services and understanding to those in this predicament. With saying this I think that it is important to elucidate that it is not only those suffering from mental health issues and disabilities that are undermined within the housing system. Stergiopoulos et all (2015) illustrates that the City of Toronto has recognized that both racialized and immigrant groups are at high risk of homelessness. Recent studies have confirmed that racialized homeless adults living in Toronto face multiple levels of discrimination and stigma. I find it interesting that the city of Toronto has recognized a problem but...is rather delayed in addressing and combating the issue. This is the government’s issue again again...ignoring the underlying implications of discrimination and inequality. 

I highly recommend checking out The Access Point Link! Its a great service and in the midst of all exclusion and inequalities its illustrates a service that hasn’t forgotten about those who have been marginalized.

References

J. David Hulchanski, Philippa Campsie, Shirley B.Y. Chau, Stephen W. Hwang, Emily Paradis. Homelessness: What’s in a Word? In: Hulchanski, J. David; Campsie, Philippa; Chau, Shirley; Hwang, Stephen; Paradis, Emily (eds.) Finding Home: Policy Options for Addressing Homelessness in Canada (e-book), Introduction. Toronto: Cities Centre, University of Toronto. www.homelesshub.ca/FindingHome 

Stergiopoulos, V., Gozdzik, A., Misir, V., Skosireva, A., Connelly, J., Sarang, A., & ... McKenzie, K. (2015). Effectiveness of Housing First with Intensive Case Management in an Ethnically Diverse Sample of Homeless Adults with Mental Illness: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Plos ONE, 10(7), 1-21. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0130281 

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Here’s a video that my professor has shared with the class online so I am sharing it with you all as it further elaborates on harm reduction. Its about an hour long but totally worth it!