Homelessness and Mental Health [Paperback]

A valuable and international evidence-based resource offering practical suggestions for optimizing mental health care of the homeless.Homelessness is an increasing global problem which poses particular challenges with respect to appropriate mental health care, assessment, and service delivery. Bringing together international experience of mental health care teams, this book provides a valuable and practical resource for all those working with the homeless on a day-to-day basis.Homelessness is an increasing global problem which poses particular challenges with respect to appropriate mental health care, assessment, and service delivery. Bringing together international experience of mental health care teams, this book provides a valuable and practical resource for all those working with the homeless on a day-to-day basis.As homelessness becomes an increasingly serious issue, the mental health of homeless people is beginning to appear on the agendas of politicians and policy makers, as well as health care workers. In contrast to the popular Skid Row stereotype that the word homeless tends to trigger, many are in fact families and young single people. The health needs of these different kinds of people are, of course, varied. This volume brings together the experiences of mental health teams from around the world in addressing the problems of mental illness in the homeless. The difficulties in assessment and treatment are discussed at length with an emphasis on the application of existing knowledge in health care. By addressing social policy implications and clinical management as well as providing models and definitions of homelessness in different cultures, this book will offer practical support for all those who work with the homeless.List of contributors; Preface; Part I. Introduction and Special Groups: 1. Introduction Dinesh Bhugra; 2. Homelessness and mental illness: a brief history Philip Timms; 3. Models of homelessness Alan McNaught and Dinesh Bhugra; lcG