Mental Illness and the Homeless

Jessica Radcliff, KINE 1304-011, Fall 2014

Mental Illness

As defined by the Mayo Clinic:

Mental illness refers to a wide range of mental health conditions — disorders that affect your mood, thinking and behavior. Examples of mental illness include depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, eating disorders and

Homelessness

As defined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:

A homeless individual is defined in section 330(h)(5)(A) as “an individual who lacks housing (without regard to whether the individual is a member of a family), including an individual whose primary residence during the night is a supervised public or private facility (e.g., shelters) that provides temporary living accommodations, and an individual who is a resident in transitional housing.” A homeless person is an individual without permanent housing who may live on the streets; stay in a shelter, mission, single room occupancy facilities, abandoned

The Unfortunate Reality

Bexar County Statistics From Haven for Hope

▪ In 2012:

▪ 3,100-4,500 experience homelessness each night. This equals around 25,000 per year.

▪ 30% are veterans

▪ 37% are in family units

▪ 25% are under 18, half of the 25% are under 5

▪ Of these people, 60% experience mental illness and/or addiction.

In the United States it is estimated that 20-25% of Homeless adults suffer from a form of mental illness.

(Statistics from 2010 HUD Point in Time Count at National Alliance to End Homelessness)

Which illnesses are more prevalent?

And in San Antonio’s Homeless Population?

1. Psychotic Disorder: Schizophrenia is the most prevalent

2. Mood Disorder: Major Depressive Disorder and Bipolar Disorder

3. Anxiety Disorder: Generalize Anxiety Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

So what mental illnesses are more prevalent in America?

So why are there so many homeless with mental illness?

Unfortunately it can become a vicious cycle.

1. Diagnosed with mental illness.

2. Cannot afford the medication for mental illness

3. Lose job because of non medicated illness

4. End up Homeless.

5. Go to shelter and get medication, apply for jobs and get hired while staying at shelter.

6. Find housing and get back on feet

7. Feel better tell the free clinic they will come back for medication and check ups.

8. Do not come back for check ups

9. Lose job and housing

10. Back on the streets once again

Yes, You did see jail in the cycle…

What happened to change that in San Antonio? The Crisis Intervention Training.

One of San Antonio’s Solutions

About a year and a half ago I was fortunate enough to go through San Antonio Police Department’s Crisis Intervention Training because of a friend in the Mental Health Unit. Not only did I learn a lot about our city, but it also peaked my interest about this topic. The next slide shows a glimpse of what I went

▪Slide about the Mental Health

Unit Training and How it began

Kens 5 News on Crisis Intervention Training

What is an ED or Emergency Detention and when to use it?

An Emergency Detention as defined by the San Antonio Police Department and Mental Safety Code Chapter 573:

§ 573.001. APPREHENSION BY PEACH OFFICER WITHOUT WARRANT

(a) A peace officer, without a warrant, may take a person into custody if the officer:(1) has reason to believe and does believe that:

(A) the person is mentally ill; and(B) because of that mental illness there is a substantial risk of serious harm to the person or to others

unless the person is immediately restrained; and

(2) believes that there is not sufficient time to obtain a warrant before taking the person into custody.(b) A substation risk of serious harm to the person or others under Subsection (a)(1)(B) may be demonstrated

by:(1) the person’s behavior; or(2) evidence of severe emotional distress and deterioration in the person’s mental condition to the

extent that the person cannot remain atliberty.*

(c) The peace officer may form the believe that the person meets the criteria for an apprehension:(1) from a representation of a credible person; or(2) on the basis of the conduct of their apprehended person or the circumstances under which their

apprehended person is found.(d) A peace officer who takes a person into custody under Subsection (a) shall immediately transport the

apprehended person to:(1) the nearest appropriate inpatient mental health facility; or(2) a mental health facility deemed suitable by the local mental health authority, if an appropriate

Emergency Detention Form and Example

One ofSan

Antonio’s Solutions

About Haven for Hope, Their Brochure

(www.havenforhope.org)

What is Haven for Hope?Haven for Hope is a place of hope and new beginnings for people in Bexar County experiencing homelessness. It is made up of two major programs: Prospects Courtyard and the Transformational Campus. Both are on the Haven for Hope property and require a visit to the Intake Department to get started. Prospects Courtyard is a low-barrier safe sleeping program that offers shelter and basic

One man’s experience from living at

Haven for Hope

Joe Anthony Mercado, 24, found himself spiraling into a deep depression after his divorce, a darkness that caused him to drink, use drugs and lose his job. He would “definitely” use the new mental health services, he said.“I missed appointments” at another clinic, he said. “It's hard to get bus tickets. Having it right here will help. A lot of people (on the courtyard) want these services.”

Services currently offered in San Antonio

• Haven for Hope• Seton Home Safe Shelter• Crisis Care Center• Laurel Ridge• YMCA of San Antonio• BCFS• Nix Specialty Health Center • University Hospital• SAPD Mental Health Unit• NAMI• Center for Health Care Services• La Paz• SASH (San Antonio State Hospital)Click on links to access these service’s websites

ConclusionAs you can see, there are still a lot of homeless even with shelters around and available for them. Mental illness is unfortunately going untreated in many people and should not be taken lightly. Thankfully we have services like Haven for Hope and the SAPD Mental Health unit to try and help these individuals.

This video found online sums up what I have covered

“Homelessness & Mental Illness;/”

By YouTube user p1nkg1rl143

Citation Page• Fletcher Stoeltje, Melissa. "Reaching out to the Mentally Ill Homeless." San Antonio Express-

News. 12 Sept. 2011. Web. 7 Dec. 2014. http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Reaching-out-to-the-mentally-ill-homeless-2165847.php#photo-1592832.

• Gold, Jenny. "Mental Health Cops Help Reweave Social Safety Net In San Antonio." NPR. NPR, 19 Aug. 2014. Web. 7 Dec. 2014. http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2014/08/19/338895262/mental-health-cops-help-reweave-social-safety-net-in-san-antonio

• "What Is the Official Definition of Homelessness?" National Health Care for the Homeless Council. Web. 7 Dec. 2014. http://www.nhchc.org/faq/official-definition-homelessness/

• "Google Images." Google Images. Web. 7 Dec. 2014. http://images.google.com/• "Haven for Hope - Transforming and Saving Lives." Haven for Hope - Transforming and Saving

Lives. Web. 7 Dec. 2014. http://www.havenforhope.org• "Crisis Intervention Programs Bexar County, Texas." Crisis Intervention Programs Bexar

County, Texas. Web. 7 Dec. 2014. http://bexar.tx.networkofcare.org/mh/services/subcategory.aspx?tax=RP-1500

• "Homelessness & Mental Illness :/." YouTube. YouTube, 10 June 2007. Web. 7 Dec. 2014. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DFazcKuZDM

• "Crisis Intervention Training Arms SAPD to Cope with Homeless, Mentally Ill." Crisis Intervention Training Arms SAPD to Cope with Homeless, Mentally Ill. Web. 7 Dec. 2014.