Paper
Friday, 21 July 2006
This presentation is part of : Psychiatric/Mental Health Issues and Strategies
Diversity and Homelessness: Minorities and Psychiatric Survivors
Cheryl Forchuk, RN, PhD, School of Nursing, University of Western Ontario/Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON, Canada, Elsabeth Jensen, RN, PhD, School of Nursing, York University/Lawson Health Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada, Helene Berman, RN, PhD, School of Nursing, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada, Rick Csiernik, MSW, PhD, RSW, School of Social Work, Kings College, London, ON, Canada, Carolyne Gorlick, PhD, School of Social Work, King's College, London, ON, Canada, Pamela McKane, BA, MA, Margaret's Haven Non-Profit Housing, London, ON, Canada, and Libbey Joplin, BA, MTS, CAPE, London, ON, Canada.
Learning Objective #1: identify the ways in which mental health consumers who are also part of a visible/cultural minority group experience barriers to adequate housing
Learning Objective #2: identify ways in which the present data may influence policy change in relation to the population being studied
This study explores the intersecting vulnerabilities among individuals who are homeless and have psychiatric challenges. Psychiatric survivors are often perceived as a homogenous group with similar needs. However, survivors with minority status are likely to have additional concerns that may not be met by the current systems of care. People further marginalized by visible minority/cultural minority group status, sexual orientation, and/or disabilities are being studied. While belonging to any of these groups can increase the risk for poverty and homelessness, interaction among these vulnerabilities is poorly understood, particularly in relation to housing and homelessness.  Secondary analysis of was data collected through the Housing and Mental Health CURA. These data were provided by 320 people.
 

Results: Data related to race/ethnicity, disabilities, and sexual orientation were explored to learn more about how these characteristics relate to use of health care services, housing, quality of life, status of personal support networks, severity of illness, and level of functioning. Caucasians are more likely to be housed than non-Caucasians, while aboriginal people are over-represented in the shelter group (Χ2 =10.202, p=.037). There was no difference between groups on the basis of current housing or visible minority group membership in the use of hospital services in the month prior to the interview. In the preceding 2 years, people of aboriginal or mixed culture/ethnicity showed a trend towards significantly more housing changes (f=2.605, df=3,249, p=.05), as did homelessness at the time of the interview (f=73.888, df=2, 251, p=.000). 
Conclusions: Results will inform policy and care models to better meet the needs of people with minority group characteristics.

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