Youth Homelessness and Mental Health

Youth are those under the age of 25. They do not have a proper, stable, or safe place to reside in or have resources to help them survive daily. Because they lack a home, they are forced to live out on the streets.

Homelessness is a significant issue within Toronto. Many people our age experience homelessness. Due to this, they develop significant mental health issues, affecting their overall health and life. 

In 2017, the statistics relating to homeless youth and mental health were high. 85.4% of homeless youth have experienced mental health problems. 42% of youth have attempted to commit suicide at least once. 35.2% of youth have faced hospitalization for overdosing on drugs at least once. 63.1% of teenagers become homeless overnight due to unstable homes, such as experiencing abuse or having childhood trauma. 

Young people are still in the process of developing their brains. When they no longer have a home, they are more likely to have mental issues. When this happens, youth face many conditions: depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It gets challenging for youth to have access to proper housing and high-quality health care. Due to their homelessness and their mental health, teenagers are likely to be discriminated against while attempting to find housing. There are many mental health programs. However, the programs are unavailable for the homeless youth. The LGBTQ+ community has experienced mental health issues to a greater extent. They are scared to access resources due to discrimination and violence. The lack of services and help could lead to young people losing their lives. Suicide and drug overdose are the most prominent causes of death. 

The services are designed to help youth with proper support systems. They lack transportation services and are unable to access services tailored to their specific mental health needs. Before becoming homeless, some youth have reportedly experienced traumatizing events, such as sexual abuse, physical abuse, neglect, previous experiences of homelessness, abusive partners, and more. This, too, affects a youth’s overall mental health. It creates stress and could be an important factor in the overall quality of life. 

Giving youth the resources they need will help them. Making resources available to everyone, no matter their background or support system will improve their mental health. By lending them support, they will feel hopeful, that their situation will improve.  

References:

1. https://www.homelesshub.ca/blog/mental-health-care-homeless-youth-demand-action-and-equity 

2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7697732/ 

3. https://www.evas.ca/about-us/facts-about-youth-homelessness/ 

Researcher: Lindsay

Editor: Elini

Date published: December 4, 2023