Sociodemographic and Clinical Features of Homeless Persons with Mental Illness Residing in Welfare Homes in Kerala, Indi
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BRIEF REPORT
Sociodemographic and Clinical Features of Homeless Persons with Mental Illness Residing in Welfare Homes in Kerala, India Rajith K. Ravindren
. Jose Kurian
Received: 14 June 2020 / Accepted: 3 October 2020 Ó Springer Nature India Private Limited 2020
Abstract Homeless persons with mental illness (HMI) pose a significant challenge to mental health services throughout the world. In India, data regarding HMI are scarce. This study aims to identify the sociodemographic characteristics, clinical and disability profile of homeless persons with mental illness residing in three welfare homes in Kerala. It is a descriptive study of the patients admitted in 3 government run homes for HMI to identify the sociodemographic and clinical profile of the inmates. Disability among inmates was assessed using IDEAS. The home for male HMI had 30 inmates while 71 inmates were residing in the homes for female HMI. Forty-one percent of the inmates were below 40 years of age. Ninety-four percent of the inmates were suffering from schizophrenia. Half of the females were from states outside Kerala. Moderate levels of disability were found in 71% of the study population. Among the inmates, 39% were married, while 24% owned property. Seventy-one percent were educated till high school or above. Schizophrenia was the most common mental illness among the HMI. Illiteracy and comorbid substance abuse were rare among them. About half of them were married. The majority of the R. K. Ravindren (&) J. Kurian Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Kozhikode, Kerala, India e-mail: [email protected]
HMI had moderate levels of disability. Reducing the treatment gap and providing community rehabilitation facilities are necessary to reduce homelessness among persons with severe mental illness. Keywords Mental illness Welfare homes Treatment gap Homelessness
Introduction Homelessness among people with mental illness is a serious public health concern. Studies in the Western population have shown that the prevalence of homelessness among those with serious mental illness is 15% [5]. Alcohol and drug dependence were the most common mental disorders among homeless persons with mental illness (HMI) in the Western population [4]. Psychosis, depression, anaemia, malnutrition and infectious diseases were also common among them [4]. Besides, HMI are having a higher risk of physical or sexual assault [9]. According to the National Mental health Survey 2016, 1% of those with mental illness in India is considered to be homeless [7]. Most of the HMI in India are single males from a poor economic background [13]. Schizophrenia is the most common mental illness among the HMI in India [6].
J. Kurian e-mail: [email protected]
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J. Psychosoc. Rehabil. Ment. Health
The relationship between homelessness and mental illness is complex. It has been argued that mental illnesses do not form a pathway to homelessness in the Western population; persistent poverty and lack of housing facilities result in homelessness [12]. In contrast, in I
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