Mental Health Outcomes Among Homeless, Runaway, and Stably Housed Youth

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Runaway youth and homeless youth are at risk for adverse mental health outcomes. These 2 populations are frequently pooled together in both research and interventions yet may have unique health needs. We sought to assess differences in mental health outcomes among these populations. METHODS:We conducted a secondary data analysis of ninth-and 11th-graders in the 2016 minnesota Student Survey (n = 68 785). We categorized youth into 4 subgroups based on housing status in the previous year: (1) unaccompanied homeless youth (0.5%), (2) runaway youth (4%), (3) youth who had both run away and been homeless (0.6%), and (4) stably housed youth (95%). We performed multivariable logistic regression to compare 4 mental health outcomes (self-injury, suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and depressive symptoms) across groups, controlling for demographics and abuse history.RESULTS: Unstably housed youth had poorer mental health outcomes when compared with their stably housed peers (P , .05). For example, 11% of homeless youth, 20% of runaways, and 33% of youth who had experienced both had attempted suicide in the previous year compared with 2% of stably housed youth (adjusted odds ratios 2.4, 4.9, and 7.1, respectively). Other outcomes showed a similar pattern.CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that runaway and homeless youth represent unique populations with high levels of mental health needs who would benefit from targeted clinical and community interventions. Pediatric clinicians represent one potential point of screening and intervention.

Health and Adverse Childhood Experiences Among Homeless Youth

“…These results are consistent with a recent study of the intersection between youth who ran away from home and those who experienced homeless, showing that those who had both run away and been homeless were at greater odds of mental health problems than either group alone (those who ran away had intermediate odds). 32 Overall, our findings affirm the protective nature of caregivers and families [33][34][35][36][37] and underscore the importance of ensuring that youth who have suffered adversity (e.g., maltreatment, neglect, or family dysfunction) are protected from becoming separated from supportive family members when faced with evictions or unsafe housing, humanitarian crises, disasters, war, or refugee/immigration policies that simultaneously threaten the integrity of families and the homes that allow health to thrive.…”

Vulnerable Youth and the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…©2020 American Academy of Pediatrics Many supports to mitigate resource insecurities and increased health risks for the up to 6% of youth who runaway or experience homelessness per year have been removed due to mandates from the COVID-19 crisis. 4 Homeless and runaway youth are more likely to experience poor physical health, substance use disorders, and sexually transmitted infections. 4 They are also more likely to be engaged in high risk behaviors, including sex trafficking or survival sex.…”

“…4 Homeless and runaway youth are more likely to experience poor physical health, substance use disorders, and sexually transmitted infections. 4 They are also more likely to be engaged in high risk behaviors, including sex trafficking or survival sex. 7 Adolescents with substance use disorders may face barriers to accessing mental health support networks as well as buprenorphine or methadone.…”

Examining the Impact of COVID-19 on Parental Stress: A Study of Foster Parents

“…Prior foster care research supports that foster parents are susceptible to child-related stressors such as the negative impacts of parenting youth with behavioral problems (e.g., Goemans et al, 2015). Youth who have faced significant adversity including foster care, maltreatment, runaway experiences, or homelessness are at a higher risk than their peers for depression, self-harming behaviors, suicidal ideation, and suicide during normal times (Gewirtz O'Brien et al, 2020;Jonson-Reid et al, 2012). It is possible that the isolation or removal from positive environments or supports due to COVID-19 may impact youths' well-being (Cohen & Bosk, 2020), which can exacerbate stress for foster families and have consequences for foster parents' stress and mental health.…”