Going Hand in Hand: Homelessness and Trauma
The subject of trauma is one that can have a significant impact on an individual no matter what point or chapter they are at in their life. Whether a person is living their best life in a LA penthouse, traveling the world and visiting Europe, or sitting on the corner of a street begging for spare change or a bottle of water- we all experience trauma on a daily basis. Homelessness is defined under several factors of having no place to call home- thus resulting in being on the streets seeking assistance from others. Many people feel trapped once they are out on the streets, as it is considered a chronic stressor that cannot be escaped due to a lack of motivation and assistance (Rousseau, 2023). There is a negative stigma brought along with this, as many individuals think that homelessness is a result from drug abuse, not searching hard enough to find a job, overwhelming financial burdens, or simply doing it to themselves and not caring about their future. This is in fact not accurate for every individual, as we see this with veterans struggling to find an income when back from war, a traumatic event that left them in a state of shock, losing or getting fired from a job, and much more. Being homeless in itself is more than traumatizing, and advocating for more awareness and opportunities to reduce the rate of people sleeping on streets under cardboard boxes is something that should be prioritized.
The first step of implementing more programs and resources starts with individuals grouping together and brainstorming ideas in which we would see a positive difference in the percentage of homeless people. Homeless shelters are a great place to bring in additional help from volunteers, psychiatrists, and therapists. There tends to be a common variable of PTSD in homeless people- in which this goes along with anxiety and depression from how impactful their trauma was (Rousseau, 2023). We see an example of this with a case study spotlighting “Ms. Harris”, a “middle-aged woman with a history of PTSD and alcohol use disorders who is currently receiving substance use treatment at a local homeless shelter” (Williams, 2022). With an extremely challenging time growing up, along with a rough adulthood and getting divorced, which resulted in a big loss of financial savings, she had nowhere to turn to besides a medical unit for treatment because she was not helping herself in any shape or form. Like herself, “some studies show the prevalence of alcohol dependence of homeless patients to be upwards of 55%, and similar rates of drug dependency” (Williams, 2022). She had gotten prescribed for PTSD and her alcohol use disorder, and as time goes on there has been a remarkable change in her life due to having all these resources at the shelter. Psychiatrists who have the opportunity to be that one person for these struggling individuals is not only rewarding for both of them, but allows outsiders in society to see that these programs are worth it and are beneficial to whoever utilizes them.
Ways in which there has been improvement in the mental health and trauma concentration for homeless people can be shown throughout multiple examples in society. Focusing on trauma and how an individual can perform their daily routine while coping with it is important, especially when trying to get back on your feet and find a place to work/live. The Treatment for Individuals Experiencing Homelessness helps those who are homeless and struggling with mental and substance abuse disorders, as the “goal of the program is to increase access to evidence-based treatment services, peer support, services that support recovery, and connections to permanent housing” (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2023). The program excelled so much in helping individuals that the SAMHSA announced 31 awards with the total contributions adding up to $15.8 million dollars (SAMHSA, 2023). Another rewarding program was the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, founded in 2001 with a “network of more than 150 centers nationwide” (Van der Kolk, 2014). The different projects were placed in shelters, group housing units, juvenile justice systems, correctional facilities, and any place where an individual might be fighting trauma on a daily basis on top of the hardships stemming from homelessness. The constant use and dedication of these two programs alone has made such an impact on homeless people and their constant trauma, making for a brighter future and a place to call home.
References:
Rousseau, D. (2023). Trauma and Crisis Intervention. Module 1. Introduction to Trauma. Metropolitan College Boston University.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2023, December 5). Homelessness Programs and Resources. SAMHSA. https://www.samhsa.gov/homelessness-programs-resources
Van Der Kolk, B. A. (2014). The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind and Body in the Healing of Trauma. Viking.
Williams, J. (2022, September 1). “I have no one”: Understanding homelessness and trauma. Psychiatric Times. https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/i-have-no-one-understanding-homelessness-and-trauma