Engagement with health and social care services: perceptions of homeless young people with mental health problems

Abstract

The present qualitative study describes and discusses the perspectives and experiences of young homeless people with mental health problems in relation to their interactions with health and social care services. Working in partnership with Streetlink, a supported accommodation assistance programme in Adelaide, Australia, the authors interviewed 10 homeless young people, aged from 16 to 24 years of age, who had experienced mental health problems. In-depth interviews elicited accounts of the best and worst of the participants' experiences of health and social care services. Access to services was not identified as being a significant problem in comparison with the participants' concerns regarding the quality of the services encountered. The central findings stress the importance of a respectful and supportive climate in relation to the qualities of service provision that the young people identified as valuable for their continuing treatment or consultation.

Factors Influencing Service Use Among Homeless Youths With Co-Occurring Disorders

“…The therapeutic relationship has been identified as an important factor influencing help seeking (6,8). Its importance to homeless youths may reflect the lack of adult support structures in their lives, an idea explored in the qualitative literature (7).…”

“…Although peer-led education strategies are effective among homeless youths (10), surprisingly little has been written about the importance of informal peer support in facilitating service use in this population. Provider and peer support may also offset stigma, a welldocumented barrier for youths with mental health problems and specifically for homeless youths (8). However, peer-based interventions are susceptible to iatrogenic peer-group influences thought to increase substance use and other problem behavior and must be planned carefully (11).…”

“…Facilitators of service use identified in interviews of substance-using homeless youths include the availability of youth-specific agencies, outreach services, social supports, peer mentoring (6), and perceived empathic care (7), whereas barriers include embarrassment, concerns about the service, and a negative perception of providers (6). Among homeless youths with mental health problems, the therapeutic relationship has been found to enhance engagement (8).…”

Gaining a Foothold: How Housing and Belonging Support Youth-at-Risk in Getting a Grip on Adulthood

“…Simon [17] underscored a necessity for housing-support professionals to offer services for developing independent living skills. Darbyshire et al [43] found that young people saliently valued respectful treatment by professionals. Thompson et al [44] stressed a need for service providers to be supportive, accommodating and caring.…”

Hubungan di antara Kesihatan Mental dengan Minat Kerjaya dalam kalangan Gelandangan di Kem Desa Bina Diri, Malaysia

“…Ini kerana golongan belia dilihat lebih rentan berbanding golongan lain kerana krisis perumahan, penderaan dan kegagalan hubungan kekeluargaan. Faktor-faktor lain seperti kemiskinan, ketidaksamarataan sosial dan tidak mempunyai pekerjaan atau menganggur turut mempengaruhi golongan belia menjadi gelandangan (Dang et al 2011;Darbyshire et al 2006). Kebanyakkan mereka yang menjadi gelandangan bersedia melakukan apa jua aktiviti yang dapat memberikan pendapatan kepada mereka seperti mencuci kasut, mengemis, mengutip sampah dan ada juga antara mereka yang terjebak dengan aktiviti dadah (Kementerian Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat 2010).…”