Impact of homelessness on the health?

Answer 1

There are all kinds of homelessness but I assume you're talking about sleeping rough on the street.

Lack of sleep is a major issue causing emotional and mental instability and depression. Many homeless people are targeted by criminals and thugs as easy pickings either for evil minded fun or profit. The profit may only be his shoes, but having half decent shoes will readily make a homeless person a victim of violent robbery.

Physical injuries, mental and emotional torment driving you insane, bad diet, accumulating coldness, hygiene issues due to lack of facilities and the opportunity or means to change clothes.

Health? What health?

Answer 2

Since nutrition is a huge part of good health, I would say that homelessness is hazardous to one's health. Proper nutrition can't be easily achieved if one is homeless.

Sleep deprivation/irregularity is another cause of poor health. Studies have shown a link between a lack of sleep and the onset of diabetes.

Usually, people who are homeless, don't have access to services which could help them because they don't have an address. You need an address to collect any sort of aid. Without aid, a homeless person will not have the opportunity to be seen by a doctor, dentist or therapist.

Answer 3

Depends on the time of year. In the winter it can be deadly. It also depends on the age of the homeless person. The very young and the aged are very fragile.

Answer 4

The homeless man who never get enough to eat has a lower level of cholesterol than the average fat society.

Answer 5

Homeless people are 40 times more likely not to be registered with a GP than the general public – based on interviews with 100 hidden homeless people in London,
• 55 per cent had no contact with a GP in the previous year
• Compared to the general population, people in hostels and B&Bs are twice and rough sleepers three times, as likely to have chronic chest and breathing problems
Addictions
• 81% of homeless people are addicted to either drugs or drink. Heroin comes top of the league, followed by alcohol
• 2/3 of homeless people cite drug or alcohol us as a reason for first becoming homeless.
• Four in five have started using at least one new drug while homeless
• People who are dependent on drugs or alcohol are almost twice as likely as non-dependent users to be banned from homelessness services
Mental health
• Women have a higher percentage of mental health problems than men
• Mental health problems are up to eight times more common in the homeless population.
• 9% of households accepted as unintentionally homeless and in priority need by localauthorities in 2004 are in priority need due to mental illness
• Mental health problems are nearly four times as common among hostel residents as in the general population. At least one in five homeless people have severe mental health problems; these problems are likely to have played a significant part in the circumstances which have caused that person to become homeless.
• 30-50% of rough sleepers had mental problems

Victimisation and crime
• Compared to the general public homeless people are 13 times more likely to have experienced violence and 47 times more likely to be victims of theft
• The general public are responsible for 32% of violent acts, 33% of threats, 24% of the incidents of theft, and 3% of sexual assaults against people who are homeless.
Mortality
• People who sleep rough are 35 times more likely to commit suicide than the general population
• Rough sleepers have an average life expectancy of 42 years, compared with the national average of 74 for men and 79 for women