{"title":"Exploring Mental Health Challenges and Risk Factors in the South India Homeless Population: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study.","authors":"Subahani Shaik, Dinesh Panati, Ganesh Kumar Mallaram, Saikiran Pasupula, K Uday Kumar","doi":"10.1177/00207640251368029","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Homelessness is a growing public health concern, particularly in developing countries, where individuals face severe physical and psychological challenges. Mental health among the homeless is often neglected due to stigma, limited access to care, and competing survival needs.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To assess the prevalence of psychiatric morbidity and identify associated risk factors among the homeless population in urban slums.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from March to June 2023 in the urban slums of Nellore, Andhra Pradesh. A total of 192 homeless individuals aged over 18 years were enrolled after obtaining informed consent. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire, including socio-demographic details and standardised psychiatric tools: the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I), International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A). Data were analysed using SPSS version 22.0.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The mean age of participants was 36.4 ± 12 years, with 58.9% being male. Most were illiterate (43.2%) and unemployed (39.6%). Tobacco and alcohol use were reported by 73% and 48.5%, respectively. The overall prevalence of psychiatric morbidity was 46.4%, with depression (24.5%) and post-traumatic stress disorder (16.7%) being the most common. Psychiatric morbidity was significantly associated with unemployment, substance use, and living alone.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The high prevalence of psychiatric disorders among the homeless underscores the urgent need for integrated mental health services and social support systems tailored to this vulnerable population.</p>","PeriodicalId":14304,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Social Psychiatry","volume":" ","pages":"207640251368029"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7000,"publicationDate":"2025-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"International Journal of Social Psychiatry","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00207640251368029","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"PSYCHIATRY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: Homelessness is a growing public health concern, particularly in developing countries, where individuals face severe physical and psychological challenges. Mental health among the homeless is often neglected due to stigma, limited access to care, and competing survival needs.
Objectives: To assess the prevalence of psychiatric morbidity and identify associated risk factors among the homeless population in urban slums.
Materials and methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from March to June 2023 in the urban slums of Nellore, Andhra Pradesh. A total of 192 homeless individuals aged over 18 years were enrolled after obtaining informed consent. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire, including socio-demographic details and standardised psychiatric tools: the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I), International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A). Data were analysed using SPSS version 22.0.
Results: The mean age of participants was 36.4 ± 12 years, with 58.9% being male. Most were illiterate (43.2%) and unemployed (39.6%). Tobacco and alcohol use were reported by 73% and 48.5%, respectively. The overall prevalence of psychiatric morbidity was 46.4%, with depression (24.5%) and post-traumatic stress disorder (16.7%) being the most common. Psychiatric morbidity was significantly associated with unemployment, substance use, and living alone.
Conclusion: The high prevalence of psychiatric disorders among the homeless underscores the urgent need for integrated mental health services and social support systems tailored to this vulnerable population.
期刊介绍：
The International Journal of Social Psychiatry, established in 1954, is a leading publication dedicated to the field of social psychiatry. It serves as a platform for the exchange of research findings and discussions on the influence of social, environmental, and cultural factors on mental health and well-being. The journal is particularly relevant to psychiatrists and multidisciplinary professionals globally who are interested in understanding the broader context of psychiatric disorders and their impact on individuals and communities.
Social psychiatry, as a discipline, focuses on the origins and outcomes of mental health issues within a social framework, recognizing the interplay between societal structures and individual mental health. The journal draws connections with related fields such as social anthropology, cultural psychiatry, and sociology, and is influenced by the latest developments in these areas.
The journal also places a special emphasis on fast-track publication for brief communications, ensuring that timely and significant research can be disseminated quickly. Additionally, it strives to reflect its international readership by publishing state-of-the-art reviews from various regions around the world, showcasing the diverse practices and perspectives within the psychiatric disciplines. This approach not only contributes to the scientific understanding of social psychiatry but also supports the global exchange of knowledge and best practices in mental health care.
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