Why is it that homeless people are more likely to be schizophrenic?

Answer 1

Because the mentally ill are the most likely to become homeless. That includes illnesses like chronic depression and bi-polar disorder, PTSD, singular and multiple dissassociative disorder, active or acute psychotics and schizophrenics. If you've never suffered from a non-fuctioning form of one of these illnesses, you can't imagine what a struggle it is sometimes just to get out of bed in the morning, let alone hold a job, pay bills, perform tasks like laundry or housekeeping, or other activities society deems "normal".
And no, it doesn't help to say "just snap out of it" or "you need to get out more" or one of the platitudes that family and friends ignorant of mental illness often offer. Mental illnesses are diseases much like diabetes and cancer; if left untreated, they can lead to death.

Answer 2

It's more like, "Why are schizophrenic more likely to become homeless?" Schizophrenics, if they are not properly medicated, are difficult to employ.

The one schizophrenic I knew took off on several occasions with no warning. She ended up going from Iowa to Alabama to Colorado once. Another time, she went from Iowa to Florida. She just up and went. She left her 7 year old son in Alabama once, then disappeared.

She was on meds, but she got tired of taking them (one of the voices she heard in her head told her to stop taking them).

She hasn't held a job in at least 30 years. She does have social security though, and a family that tries to take care of her, so she didn't end up homeless. But if she didn't have that family, I can see how it would have happened.

Answer 3

It's actually the other way around: more schizophrenic people tend to be homeless. It's probably one of the bigger factors in homelessness.

Answer 4

They are homeless because they are schizophrenic and they do not trust anyone. As a person who has lived on the streets, It is strange to see the kind of people who are otu there. Some actually pretend to be insane so they are not raped as much. I learned how to get past their lies and learn about them better.

Answer 5

14% of the homeless population have schizophrenia, medication for this illness is INCREDIBLY expensive, affording it can be a very straining thing, the illness makes it harder for people to hold jobs, their concentration levels drop they withdraw socially and it is often hard for the to think or their speech becomes disorganized.
Many of them do not see them selves as sick with schizophrenia, everything seems real to them so they refuse treatment get worse and worse cannot hold a job cannot afford rent and are out on the streets also schizophrenia also often makes the person move around a lot, often moving from place to place never staying still they just disappear and will reappear at various times.

The illness is very hard to deal with and changes the person rapidly and makes it hard for them to function in society let alone holding a job.

Answer 6

Many homeless people are mentally ill. If they were not already emotionally or mentally ill, they would not be homeless. It is not being homeless that makes them this way. They are homeless because they are this way to begin with.

Answer 7

its the opposite......people who are mentally ill with schizophrenia are more likely to be homeless because they do not have the stability to have a home and/or do not always have a caring family....sometimes it is not like this though and many get help and contribute so much to society......watch the movie "A Beautiful Mind"....beautiful true story!

Answer 8

because schizophrenics tend to have difficulties with substance abuse, getting help, and holding a job.
this, amongst other things, leads to homelessness

Answer 9

its the other way around... people with poor mental health cant hold a job, or help themselves really, sometimes are shunned and have no where to go. also reagen cut all the spendign to mental health places so sent them all to the street.

Answer 10

the rest of us act strange behind locked doors