Schizophrenia originated from a combination of the Greek words “schizo,” which refers to split, and “phrenia,” which means mind. The disease was discovered by Dr. Emile Kraepelin in 1987 as a mental illness. Written documents on schizophrenia can be traced to the old Pharaonic Egypt. It was used to describe the fragmented thinking of people with the disorder. The disease is a biologically-based disease of the brain. Over the past two decades, schizophrenia has accumulated rapidly. Homelessness, on the other hand, refers to a state where one lacks shelter or is lacking stable and safe housing. This can be revealed by people living on the streets, seeking refuge from friends and family, and being refugees in other countries. Schizophrenia and homelessness connection is multifaceted and involves economic, social, and health factors, whereby there is a need for comprehensive approaches that address the biological aspects of schizophrenia and social and economic factors promoting homelessness.
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder in which people interpret facts abnormally (Lavretsky and Helen 3-13). This disorder is characterized by signs and symptoms such as extreme thinking disorder, delusions, social withdrawal, hallucinations, neglect of personal hygiene, behaviors and emotions that impair one’s daily functioning, suicidal thoughts, and negative symptoms like lack of motivation. The leading cause of the disease has not been discovered, but it’s assumed that a combination of several factors, such as environmental, genetic, and certain brain abnormalities, brings it about. The disease majorly occurs in teenagers between the ages of 21 and 30. Teenage symptoms are equivalent to adult symptoms; however, they are rarely recognized in teenagers. One should encourage a person who has schizophrenia to seek professional help. The disease requires ongoing management for its treatment. However, there are possibilities of recurring or even causing disability despite continuous treatment.
Several factors cause homelessness, and homeless people should not be regarded as schizophrenic. Nigeria has the highest population of homeless people in the world, with a total population of around 24.4 million homeless people. Some of the causes of one being homeless include one escaping from violence, lack of affordable housing due to unemployment, systemic factors such as racism and discrimination, health issues interrupting housing stability, trauma and family conflicts which result in rejection by family members, substance abuse and mental illness (Zhao 1-5). The essay’s focus will be on schizophrenia and disregarding all other factors leading to homelessness. It has also been proven that homelessness can lead to or worsen schizophrenia. Homelessness creates a stressful environment for these individuals, which exposes them to stress, reduces their capability to access medication, and increases their vulnerability to substance abuse. A combination of these factors leads to the development or worsening of schizophrenia symptoms.
Over the years, homelessness of individuals who have schizophrenia has been on the rise. According to the 2019 UHD report, California, Florida, and New York are the states that had the majority of homeless people. The primary cause of this is financial constraints. Most people who have schizophrenia cannot work, leading to them being unemployed. Those who struggle to work can only manage sporadic employment due to their situation (Foste et al. 717-734). This results in financial difficulties, making it challenging to visit the doctor and purchase their medication, access basic needs, getting into debt whereby people end up in substance abuse to reduce their stress, making their situation worse. It also results in an inability to afford stable housing since the cost of housing in most countries is high, which, in the long run, results in homelessness.
Stigma and discrimination against individuals living with mental illnesses, including schizophrenia, are some of the things these individuals face in a daily routine. The majority of people isolate and discriminate against such individuals due to misconceptions they believe about people with schizophrenia (González et al., 14-23). Such misconceptions include that individuals with schizophrenia are violent and dangerous, the illness is genetic, schizophrenic individuals have similar signs and symptoms, there is no effective treatment for the illness, and such individuals cannot maintain a job. The population of people living with the disorder is rising, and yet people do not wish to be associated with or support them. In the United States, approximately 1% are suffering from schizophrenia, according to the National Institute of Mental Health Disorder. This discrimination results in these individuals being reluctant to seek help. Lack of social support from society, family, and friends deprives them of a robust support system when they are facing crises or hardships, increasing their exposure to homelessness.
Lack of treatment and access to mental health services. Schizophrenia is a chronic mental illness that requires continuous treatment. However, the majority of individuals face barriers to accessing mental health services and therapy, which are essential services for their recovery. This is mainly caused by inadequate funding of mental health programs, lack of trust, and fear of mental health facilities due to concerns about their safety, communication barriers, lack of consistency in adhering to treatment plans, and limited availability of specialized care. When they lack timely treatments, the symptoms worsen, increasing their risk of homelessness.
Substance abuse has been proven to cause schizophrenia patients to end up homeless. Most individuals opt for drugs or alcohol as a form of self-medication, escape from reality, and cope with stress. This causes strains in their relationships, resulting in isolation, impairs judgment and decision-making, exacerbates the illness symptoms, and causes financial instability, which makes it challenging to maintain stable housing. Other factors that cause individuals suffering from schizophrenia to end up homeless include incarceration, trauma, and discharge from institutions.
Homeless individuals who have schizophrenia often endure several challenges that make their lives disconducive. They are discriminated against and stigmatized, which results in them being lonely. At times, you even find them talking to themselves due to loneliness. If they are not supported and embraced by the community, they often fall into depression, which causes them to have suicidal thoughts. According to the Bill of Rights, every citizen has a right to access food, fresh air, clothing, and shelter. The homeless lack access to basic needs such as proper clothing, fresh air as they live in garbage pits, which are primarily suffocated, and shelter. At times, they also face exposure to violence, victimization, and exploitation as they are living on the streets. Also, due to their thinking dimension, they may face threats to physical safety from other homeless individuals. Due to such challenges, there is a need to come up with solutions to try to help homeless individuals who have schizophrenia to have homes and live in a favorable environment.
Schizophrenia individuals, during the first stages of the illness, need support and medical care to avoid resulting extreme situations. During the initial stages, when the symptoms are not severe, the individual can heal quickly without major strains and complications. This can help in curbing the number of homeless people with schizophrenia. When applied to the illness, several strategies can be identified early to develop the required intervention. Such methods include education and awareness about the early signs and symptoms of schizophrenia, assessing individuals who might be at risk of developing schizophrenia, family involvement, and peer support who provide guidance and support and also promote treatment engagement by suggesting treatment strategies since they are well conversant with the schizophrenic individual, involving a multidisciplinary team which includes social workers, mental health professionals, psychiatrists and nurses who help in comprehensive assessment and planning for strategic individual treatment for the schizophrenic individuals, and initiating medication immediately after diagnosis. This strategy can help contain the illness and enable the individuals to continue their daily routine.
Rehabilitation programs are also essential for individuals with schizophrenia. It occurs after encouragement and talks on the importance of such programs where one has to convince schizophrenic individuals to voluntarily join for better outcomes. These programs help individuals regain their functional ability and improve the quality of their lives. The multifaceted programs involve several components, such as psychological skills training, whereby individuals are taught problem-solving and social interaction skills to enhance their daily routines. During this period, the individuals use antipsychotic medications, which help in the management of schizophrenia as they help in reducing severe psychotic symptoms such as delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized thinking. It is also important to involve their families and the community in these programs to reduce the lapse rate and isolation and enhance communication. These programs include supported employment, training on self-management, and community integration activities. One of the primary goals is maximizing the independence of these individuals.
To help schizophrenic individuals have stable homes and move out of the streets, there is a need to come up with housing programs. These programs not only focus on offering housing but also offering other supportive services such as substance abuse management, counseling, case management, and mental health treatment. There have been programs such as a transition housing program for people experiencing homelessness, which tries to offer short-term housing services; the Pathways Housing First model, which tries to provide permanent housing for people experiencing homelessness; Shelter Plus Care, which aims at providing supportive services, rental assistance to individuals with mental illnesses such as schizophrenia who are homeless, and it has resulted in positive outcomes for individuals with schizophrenia. These housing programs provide housing for people experiencing homelessness where they interact with their peers and also learn and reform. There should also be fairness in housing for all citizens, including individuals with schizophrenia. The Fair Housing Act in the United States prohibits discrimination in housing based on mental illnesses, including schizophrenia. There should also be affordable housing to ensure all citizens can afford stable housing, including individuals with disabilities and mental illnesses.
Community support networks are one of the best solutions to help individuals with schizophrenia. They serve as pillars of strength and offer safe environments for individuals with schizophrenia experiencing homelessness. Living with schizophrenia is associated with stigmatization and isolation; the community support networks strive to offer emotional support and counseling. They also offer safe spaces to share their experiences, fears, and feelings, connect with people undergoing the same struggles, and receive support on improving their lives. They help in the facilitation of collaborations and partnerships between several stakeholders, such as nonprofit organizations, healthcare providers, well-wishers, and government agencies who work collectively to develop holistic solutions to address and solve the needs of schizophrenic individuals. Community networks also advocate for policy changes and aim for increased funding for supportive needs. In addition, they offer practical support, such as providing resources, for example, food and clothing, healthcare providers, and referrals.
Education and awareness will help in educating society to embrace and support individuals with schizophrenia. This serves as a powerful tool for dismissing misconceptions and reducing stigma and isolation towards individuals with schizophrenia. The education programs should be designed to focus on different audiences, such as schools, workplaces, and community forums. The programs can take various forms, such as seminars, workshops, and public awareness campaigns. They help raise awareness and understanding of schizophrenia to help society have the relevant knowledge for supporting and handling individuals with schizophrenia. There should also be education and training programs for healthcare professionals for them to learn all the relevant information required in managing individuals with schizophrenia. Schizophrenic individuals should also be educated so that they can be empowered with information on the resources and support they need, which makes them make well-informed decisions on their health and well-being.
Addressing the issue of homelessness of individuals with schizophrenia is a paramount issue that should be prioritized for immediate attention. Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by hallucinations, disorganized thinking, and delusions, which pose a challenge in maintaining stable housing. The disease impairs judgment, affecting one’s daily life routine and making it difficult to maintain housing. Lack of access to mental health treatment and support from family and friends leads to symptoms worsening, making it difficult for the individuals to run their lives normally. Solutions such as public awareness and education programs, housing programs, substance abuse treatment, community support networks, rehabilitation, early identification of the disease and their interventions, and advocacy for the homeless individuals with schizophrenia to be supported and the quality of their lives improved. Schizophrenia and homelessness are multifaceted and involve several factors that require comprehensive approaches to address the issue.
Lavretsky, Helen. “History of schizophrenia as a psychiatric disorder.” Clinical handbook of schizophrenia 2008: 3-13.
Zhao, Emo. “The key factors contributing to the persistence of homelessness.” International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology 30.1 2023: 1-5.
González-Torres, Miguel Angel, et al. “Stigma and discrimination towards people with schizophrenia and their family members: A qualitative study with focus groups.” Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology 42 (2007): 14-23.
Foster, Adriana, James Gable, and John Buckley. “Homelessness in schizophrenia.” Psychiatric Clinics 35.3 (2012): 717-734.