Mental Illness & Homelessness
Mental Illness and homelessness go hand and hand. To address the homeless issues, we first must address the mental illness. Most of the homeless does not want to be on the street, but the mental illness takes over and they do not have any other place to go, nor do they have anyone to turn to. Below are some links to help you understand mental illness.
Centers For Disease Control and Provention
What is mental health?
Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices.1 Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.
Although the terms are often used interchangeably, poor mental health and mental illness are not the same. A person can experience poor mental health and not be diagnosed with a mental illness. Likewise, a person diagnosed with a mental illness can experience periods of physical, mental, and social well-being.
World Health Organization
Concepts in mental health
Mental health is a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community. It is an integral component of health and well-being that underpins our individual and collective abilities to make decisions, build relationships and shape the world we live in. Mental health is a basic human right. And it is crucial to personal, community and socio-economic development.
To learn more, please visit the World Health Organization’s website by clicking here.
National Institute of Mental Health
Chronic Illness and Mental Health: Recognizing and Treating Depression
Chronic illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, or diabetes may make you more likely to have or develop a mental health condition.
It is common to feel sad or discouraged after having a heart attack, receiving a cancer diagnosis, or when trying to manage a chronic condition such as pain. You may be facing new limits on what you can do and may feel stressed or concerned about treatment outcomes and the future. It may be hard to adapt to a new reality and to cope with the changes and ongoing treatment that come with the diagnosis. Favorite activities, such as hiking or gardening, may be harder to do.
To learn more, please visit the National Institute of Mental Health’s website by clicking here.
Mental Illness & Homelessness
You are not alone… Our goal is to help as many people in need as possible!