Calgary study suggests mental health disorders and homelessness closely linked
New research out of the University of Calgary shows an extremely prominent link between mental health disorders and people experiencing homelessness.
According to the paper, up to 75 per cent of adults who are currently living rough have an underlying mental health condition.
The lifetime prevalence is even higher: 86 per cent of males have struggled with a disorder, and 69 per cent of females.
Clinician-researcher and senior author of the paper, Dr. Dallas Seitz, calls the numbers "eye-opening."
"I would say it's not surprising, but it's probably still shocking to see," he told CTV News.
"We all kind of intuitively know (there’s a connection). I think what was really surprising to me is the extent of it (and) how consistent it was across the world."
Seitz says the researchers reviewed studies from 1980 to 2021 focused on things like antisocial personality disorder, major depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
"Those serious mental health conditions are much higher amongst people experiencing homelessness when compared to the general population," Seitz said. "About eight times higher."
Darren Houle was without a permanent home for almost two years.
He says he’s suffered from mental health concerns for much of his life, and they were exacerbated being out on the street.
"It’s hard to have everything — a big, beautiful home, a family, a job, your livelihood on your hands — to have it taken away so fast," he said.
Those problems were compounded by drug and alcohol use.
Houle was able to escape the cycle and his addictions with the help of his family and the Calgary Mustard Seed.
He says therapy and counselling went a long way.
"It made me figure out who I was, my problems and how to address them," he said. "It paved the way for me to better myself."
He’s been sober for two years and now lives in an affordable housing unit, looking for construction work.
"Because I wanted to be a better role model for my son," Houle said. "That’s the most important thing for me."
"When we are able to support people and give them appropriate treatments, we see their functioning improves," Seitz said. "They're better able to get into the workforce and get grounded."
The findings are published in JAMA Psychiatry.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'My family doctor just fired me': Ontario patients frustrated with de-rostering
Dozens of Ontarians are expressing frustration in the province’s health-care system after their family doctors either dropped them as patients or threatened to after they sought urgent care elsewhere.
Man ticketed after allegedly trespassing again at Drake's Bridle Path mansion to get his bike
A man who tried to access Drake’s Bridle Path mansion earlier this week returned to the property Saturday and was apprehended again for allegedly trespassing, Toronto police say.
'I am angry': Alberta farmers will continue fight over world class motorsport resort
The rolling hills leading to the hamlet of Rosebud are dotted with sprawling farms and cattle pastures -- and a sign sporting a simple message: No Race Track.
Potentially toxic chemicals hide in our drinking water and countless household objects, and they're not going anywhere
For decades, North Bay, Ontario's water supply has harboured chemicals associated with liver and developmental issues, cancer and complications with pregnancy. It's far from the only city with that problem.
Crews prepare for controlled demolition as cleanup continues at Baltimore bridge collapse site
After weeks of preparation, crews are scheduled to conduct a controlled demolition Sunday evening to break down the largest remaining span of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Maryland, which came crashing down under the impact of a massive container ship on March 26.
Israel pushes deeper into Rafah and battles a regrouping Hamas in northern Gaza
Israeli forces pushed deeper into Gaza's southern city of Rafah on Sunday and battled Hamas in parts of the devastated north that the military said it had cleared months ago but where militants have regrouped.
An apartment block collapses in a Russian border city after heavy shelling, killing at least 2
An apartment block partially collapsed in the Russian border city of Belgorod on Sunday, leaving at least two dead and 20 injured. Officials blamed Ukrainian shelling for the building's destruction.
'It was violent': Police tear down U of A pro-Palestinian encampment Saturday morning
Multiple people at the protest camp torn down at the University of Alberta campus Saturday say police's actions against protesters were "violent" and "disproportionate."
Election deniers: West Virginia voters must pick from GOP candidates who still dispute 2020 election
When West Virginia Republicans vote in Tuesday's primary, they will have a hard time finding a major candidate on the ballot in any statewide race who openly acknowledges that U.S. President Joe Biden won the 2020 election.