PTSD, Social Issues, Veterans / 02.12.2024

Veterans returning from service often carry the invisible burdens of their experiences, making the transition to civilian life a challenging journey. Mental health issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety can make it difficult for many veterans to reintegrate, often leading to unemployment, relationship struggles, and, for far too many, homelessness. While the causes of veteran homelessness are complex, a major factor is untreated or inadequately treated mental health issues. Addressing these mental health needs through timely and effective support is essential in reducing homelessness among veterans.

The Connection Between Mental Health and Homelessness

Research has shown that veterans are at a significantly higher risk of homelessness than the general population. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), veterans make up a sizable portion of the homeless population, with mental health challenges being one of the primary contributors. Conditions like PTSD and depression often stem from experiences in combat zones, which can include exposure to violence, the loss of fellow soldiers, and extended periods of high stress. These mental health conditions not only create emotional and psychological distress but can also disrupt a veteran’s ability to secure stable employment, form supportive relationships, and engage with their community. For instance, untreated PTSD can lead to symptoms such as hypervigilance, sleep disorders, and emotional numbness, all of which can interfere with daily life. Without treatment, veterans may find themselves isolated, unable to hold a steady job, and financially insecure—factors that often lead to homelessness. (more…)
Author Interviews, Brigham & Women's - Harvard, Social Issues / 05.12.2018

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Dr. Rishi Wadhera, MD  Cardiology Fellow Brigham and Women's Hospital Harvard Medical School. MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?  Response: In the United States, an estimated half a million people are homeless on any given night. In recent years, policy efforts to improve the health of homeless individuals have intensified, but there is little large-scale, contemporary data on how these efforts have impacted patterns of acute illness in this vulnerable population. In this study, we examined trends, causes, and outcomes of hospitalizations among homeless individuals in three states – Massachusetts, Florida, and California – from 2007 to 2013. We found that hospitalization rates among homeless adults increased over this period of time. Strikingly, over one-half of these hospitalizations were for mental illness and substance use disorder. More broadly, homeless adults were hospitalized for a very different set of reasons compared with demographically similar non-homeless adults. In addition, homeless individuals had longer lengths of hospitalization but lower total costs per hospitalization. (more…)
AHRQ, Author Interviews, Emergency Care / 03.11.2017

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Ruirui Sun, Ph.D. AHRQ MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Homeless people are more likely than the members of the general public to use emergency department (ED) services, and it is usually at teaching hospitals when they seek medical care (Kushel et al., 2001; Bowdler and Barrell, 1987). This Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Statistical Brief studies patient characteristics, insurance coverage and clinical profile of the ED visits among homeless individuals by hospital teaching status, during 2014 from eight States (AZ, FL, GA, MA, MD, MO, NY, and WI). (more…)
Author Interviews, Brain Injury, CMAJ / 26.04.2014

Jane Topolovec-Vranic, PhD Clinical Researcher, Trauma and Neurosurgery Program Associate Scientist, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute Assistant Professor, Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto Associate Member, Graduate Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Toronto MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Jane Topolovec-Vranic, PhD Clinical Researcher, Trauma and Neurosurgery Program Assistant Professor, Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto Associate Member, Graduate Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Toronto MedicalResearch.com What are the main findings of the study? Answer: In our study we found that almost half of the men interviewed in a homeless shelter in Toronto had experienced a traumatic brain injury in their past, and that most of them had experienced their first brain injury prior to becoming homeless, usually in the early teenage years. (more…)