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5 September 2006

Homeless struggle to cope with mental illness

Psychology graduate studies street vendors

MOST homeless people suffer psychological symptoms, half are depressed and nearly one in five have an eating disorder.

Yet just one in five are being prescribed medication or receiving psychological or emotional support, according to a study by Katy Silverman who completed the research for her Psychology degree from MMU.

As part of her course at the School of Health, Psychology and Social Care, Silverman interviewed 72 Big Issue vendors in Leeds and Manchester about any psychological symptoms they suffer. Of the 72:

- 57% said they had used drugs or alcohol in the past month
- 53% experience significant psychological problems.
- 56% suffered from bouts of anxiety
- 50% had depressive symptoms

A further 49% had moods swings, 10% hallucinations, and 17% had an eating disorder.

"This is way above figures for the non-homeless," says Silverman who asserts the study underlines how people battling to cope with mental health problems on top of drink or drug addictions find it doubly hard to get help.

Drug dependence

"The extent of vendors’ dependence on drugs and how often they take them is strongly linked to the severity of psychological problems," says Silverman, who found vendors addicted to heroin, crack cocaine and alcohol – in that order.

The majority of interviewees had been homeless for between one and three years, many struggling to cope with personal trauma.

Silverman found a majority had sought help with their problems. "I saw a great deal of desire to get help, which indicates quite strong motivation to change their lives," she observed.

Big Issue vendors are supplied with a Big Life Plan, a bespoke package of support covering help with drugs, alcohol, health services, education and counselling.

For more about Psychology at MMU, go to www.did.stu.mmu.ac.uk/hpscschool or for Research in Psychology go to www.rihsc.mmu.ac.uk