Laurence Roy1,2, Anne Crocker3,4, Amal Abdel-Baki5, Eric Latimer1,2, Luigi De Benedictis6, Marc-André Roy7; 1McGill University, 2Douglas Mental Health University Institute, 3Institut Philippe Pinel de Montréal, 4Université de Montréal, 5Centre hospitalier universitaire de Montréal (CHUM), 6Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal, 7Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Québec
Rates of mental illness in the homeless population are high, ranging from 20% to 50%. Most of these individuals have received mental health services before becoming homeless, which indicates the possibility to detect and intervene early on the housing situation of mental health service users, particularly young adults. Objectives. The current study aims to: (1) examine housing characteristics and risk of homelessness among first-time mental health service users and (2) identify factors associated with increased risk of instability and homelessness in this population. Methods. A cross-sectional design was implemented in seven early intervention mental health clinics in urban and rural areas across Québec (Canada). Participants were 16 years of age or older and had received their first diagnosis of mental illness in the past six months. Demographic, housing, clinical, and community integration data were collected through face-to-face administration of questionnaires. Logistic regression models are used to investigate the effect of various factors on risk of housing instability and homelessness. Results. Preliminary analyses on the first participants (n=200, mean age 25.5) indicate that 24% are living in unstable housing situations, and 30% are at risk of homelessness or housing instability. Implications. Housing has been recognized as an important determinant of recovery and well-being for individuals with mental illness. The high rates of housing instability in a population of first-time service users calls for cross-sector action between health, social, and housing services, as well as for potential strategies to detect youth at risk of homelessness within clinical services.
