May is Mental Health Awareness Month. 

There is a clear link between psychiatric disorders and homelessness, but it’s hard to say if one causes the other. People who are experiencing homelessness generally have a history marked by poverty and social disadvantage, including childhood poverty and lower levels of education, and they are more likely to belong to an ethnic minority. 

Many studies show that homelessness can be a traumatic experience that influences symptoms of mental illness. Mental illness can also be a cause for someone to ultimately face homelessness. 

One thing we do know is that it’s common to experience mental illness and homelessness together, and many aren’t getting the help they need. About 25% of people experiencing homelessness have a mental illness. 

People experiencing homelessness suffer from anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and substance abuse. Left untreated, these issues can lead to things like addiction, overdose, and suicide. 

COVID’s Impact on Mental Health 

In the two years since the country first went on lockdown for COVID-19, we’ve seen a correlation between the rise in homelessness and the increase in alcohol and drug addiction, overdose, and suicide. 

A few numbers:

• CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics estimated 100,306 drug overdose deaths in the United States during the 12-month period ending in April 2021 – the largest number of drug overdoses ever recorded in a year
• Currently, only 10% of people with substance abuse disorders receive comprehensive treatment
• In January 2021, 41% of adults reported symptoms of anxiety and/or depressive disorder

The pandemic has exacerbated the mental health issues our community faces. 55% of women experiencing homelessness presented with moderate to severe depression.

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the homeless population in many ways. However, hope has prevailed despite job loss, evictions, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

How We Help

Getting help means more than just shelter and a warm meal. It also means getting access to the medicine and mental health treatment our clients need.

For many who are experiencing homelessness, they don’t have the tools they need to gain control of their mental illness.

Atlanta Mission has counselors on staff to help those who come through our doors and address the immediate needs they have, including any mental illnesses.

We then triage each client and assess the need for next steps so we can point them in the direction of providers who can give them the help they need.

For those experiencing homelessness and struggling with mental illness, there is hope. Through Christ, their lives can be transformed, and clients can become healthier mentally and spiritually.