The Connection Between Homelessness And Social Issues Social Work Essay

The Connection Between Homelessness And mixer Issues Social Work EssayEssay QuestionWhat is the connection between homelessness, un us suppurate, drug use and psychological maladyes in Australian society today?Unfortunately, in Australian society today, it is assumed that all Australians have advance to a safe and secure environment, and ar able to seek and gain employment however this is not always the case for umteen Australians, with these neighborly detriments being exacerbated by intellectual health issues and alcohol and drug pace.However, in saying this not everyone that experiences one or more of these detriments necessarily experiences another. Alternatively, evidence has shown that there is an unequivocal link between each of these accessible and health detriments of health, with each intricately slide bying to another.This essay depart discuss the intricate links between homelessness, unemployment, drug use and moral illness in todays society.On any given night in Australia it is estimated that over 100,000 people are homeless and living without essential human rights. (MHCA, cc9. p.5) While the reasons for peoples homelessness are change, the demoralise of alcohol, drugs and other harmful perfumes female genitalsister exacerbate the situation and lead to further problems. The use of harmful nitty-grittys by many homeless people is ofttimes seen as functional, this gist that the use of these mental objects is helping them cope with their situation, and provide them with a sense of plumping in the Australian alley culture. While many of the homeless people may start using soft drugs , this often opens the inlet to harder summations to which they can come completely reliant upon. The prevalence of heroin use in the homeless confederation is ten times steeper(prenominal) than the general Australian commwholey. (Australian National Council on Drugs, 2008) (Johnson Chamberlin, 2008, p.347)Australias homeless tribe, exhibit higher rates of emotional and bodily health issues, anxiety, scummy nutrition and difficulties in brinytaining relationships (Lady Bowen Trust).1 in 200 Australians in todays society dont have access to adequate housing and employment. It is estimated that 75 percent of this homeless population is suffering from about kind of mental illness, (MHCA, 2009, p.5) and that at least forty three percent prosecute in substance abuse. (Johnson Chamberlin, 2008, p.347)A safe and secure environment is essential to physical and mental health. mental health symptoms can often be worsened by unstable housing and social isolation. Homelessness significantly affects a souls ability to successfully maintain employment and relationships.When referring to mental illness, generally speaking it is an illness that has some kind of influence and effect on how a person, thinks, feels and acts. (MHCA, 2009, p.10) These can include mental health issues much(prenominal) as depression, anxiety person ality disorders, schizophrenia and stress disorders. It is estimated that 1 in 5 people depart experience a mental illness of varying degrees at some point in their lives. (MHCA, 2009, p.10) Although the strike cause of many mental illnesses are unknown, along with biological factors it is believed that environmental factors, stressful and abusing situations, substance or drug abuse and negative thought patterns all contribute to a persons mental health.Domestic violence, mental health, unemployment and substance abuse are among the leading causes of homelessness in Australia, along with critical shortages of affordable housing. However it is key to note that there are many contributing factors to a person worthy homeless such(prenominal) as family breakdown, sexual assault, gambling, mental illness, financial difficulties and social isolisation and broader social processes. (Homelessness Australia, 2010)Having a mental illness reduces a persons quality of life the symptoms can harbor it difficult for exclusives to cope with the daily demands of work and home life. In some cases this can lead to people becoming socially isolated, and even losing their jobs. This loss of employment often means people are no longer able to afford housing and a overlook of social support can mean these people may become homeless. The sluggish are likewise less likely to receive medical treatment for symptoms of mental illness. If they do seek treatment of these illnesses they thusly face the problems of being able to pay for expensive prescriptions. (www.informahealthcare.com)The current economic climate has also determined additiond stress on individuals and there has been a spike in Medicare claims for mental health consultations cod to unemployment (Dragon, 2009).Studies have shown that homeless people have a higher prevalence of mental illness and substance abuse, with a Melbourne study showing 30 percent of homeless people surveyed had mental health issues and 43 percent suffered substance abuse issues. (MHCA, 2009, p.14)Substance abuse is also linked to homelessness, unemployment and mental illness, as substance abuse can take hold and damage a persons quality of life. Substance abuse begins to interject with a individuals work and social life and this commonly leads to the ending of relationships and loss of employment. Rather than this slide from positive relationships and employment being instant, many people tend to slide into homelessness as a result of their substance abuse. As they begin to come more dependent on these substances the transition becomes more rapid. ((Johnson Chamberlin, 2008, p.348)Having a mental illness can increase a persons likelihood of abusing drugs, which may in the short term make the symptoms of their mental illness feel better, while other peoples drug use can trigger the symptoms of mental illness. (MHCA, 2009, p.22) The link can also be made in terms of unemployment and homelessness, if a person is u nemployed they can experience financial difficulties that can result in being homeless, alternatively if a person is homeless it becomes difficult to gain employment and break the circle.The relationship between homelessness and substance abuse is surface researched and documented there is debate however on the direction of this relationship, and whether substance abuse is the cause or consequence of an individual becoming homeless.The focus of substance abuse as a consequence of homelessness is the social adaption model. Entering into homelessness often exposes individuals to a subculture where substance abuse is accepted and common place. This model also identifies that many people start to abuse substances as a method of coping with their situation, which can often be very stressful, uncertain and traumatic. (Johnson Chamberlin, 2008, p.343)Johnson and Chamberlain (2008, p.350) report that thirty four percent of individuals have engaged in substance abuse before becoming homel ess, while sixty six percent first start abusing substances later on becoming homeless.es as they struggle to pay for their addiction. Loss of employment then leads individuals looking for alternative income which can often lead to bad loans and illegal behaviours. (Johnson Chamberlin, 2008, p.p347-350)The social selection mount focuses on substance abuse as a cause of homelessness rather than a consequence. Substance abuse can be a leading factor into homelessness, as when a person becomes addicted to harmful substances they tend to start ego damaging behaviours which affect social and work relationships. As their substance abuse increases, this often leads to financial difficulties and destruction of social networks.Psychological trauma and post traumatic stress disorder have been found to be contributing factors for many of the homeless population.There is no specific way in which each of these social detriments of health contributes to each other. For example, mental health issues may contribute or lead to people becoming homeless, while for others their mental health issues may be a result of being homeless or compounded by it. (MHCA, 2009, p.22)The homeless population can face discrimination when trying to find and go through for housing, especially when they have experienced a mental illness. (DHA, 2005) Many landlords are something about having people with a mental illness in their accommodation, due to the negative bulls eye that is attached with mental illness.Having a mental illness or bygone substance abuse problem can also follow a person and impact upon their lives even after they have overcome these issues. As in todays society many jobs and housing applications require police, credit and background checks. (MHCA, 2009, p.18)Webster (2007) reports that drug abusers with mental illnesses are likely to experience high rates of employment difficulties. Stating that individuals with mental illnesses have fewer work-related skills, scummy int erpersonal skills, impulse control and poor time management, therefore having less success in the workforce than individuals without mental illness and substance abuse issues. (Webster et al., 2007)Webster (2007) also reports that employment is a key factor in breaking the cycle of drug abuse, as employment occupies time, increases self esteem, promotes a sense of belonging and responsibility and provides structure. (Webster et al., 2007)In Australian society a quarter of the homeless population are children aged between 12 and 18, as these children age and rise they are at a higher risk of unemployment and being stuck in a vicious cycle of homelessness, unemployment, substance abuse and mental illness. (Graham, 2010, p.24)Children are more likely to face unemployment if they are from low socioeconomic status, left school early leading to low literacy and numeracy skills, are indigenous, live with one or more unemployed person, or live in remote areas. (Graham, 2010, p.20)A longitu dinal study of Australian callowness with mental health issues found that they did not suffer from mental health issues prior to unemployment. This shows the importance of employment and the effect that unemployment can have. (Graham, 2010, p.23)In 1991, Fischer Breakey developed three pathways into homelessness. The first being social selection which involves a breakdown in the capacity for living independently due to mental illness. The second pathway expatiate socioeconomic adversity in which a person experiences unemployment, low levels of education and declining income. The third pathway draw involves the inability to develop socially normative roles and support systems. (Kim Ford, 2010, p.40)The sociological imagination uses a sociological approach to analysing issues such as homelessness, substance abuse, unemployment and mental illness. This approach analyses associations of public issues and personal problems by looking at the Historical, structural, critical and cult ural factors which contribute to a person experiencing issues such as homelessness. A better taking into custody of the causes can be found and thus leading to a better understanding of how to return to standard societal function and reducing the risk of relapse into past behaviours. . (Germov, 2009, p.7).The add together of structure and agency an individual holds in situations of homelessness, drug abuse, unemployment and mental illness is also important to note. The structure agency debate explores the amount of control a individual has over their behaviour and how much influence the social structure to which they belong plays. (Germov, 2009, p.7). Children that have grown up in an environment which is socioeconomically disadvantaged, high levels of drug abuse and unemployment, and poor work ethic, are more likely to follow in this pattern than children that have been brought up in higher socioeconomic conditions and have been instilled with a strong work ethic.Sue is 17 years of age and has been living away from home for two years, having left her family home due to conflict and violence with parents and physical assault between siblings. In the past two years Sue has lived a typically evanescent lifestyle, residing in crisis accommodation, various boarding arrangements and in an accommodation program to assist young people who are homeless and in need of specialist support. Sue has lived independently in a small unit as well as with a number of friends in their accommodation and in squats.Over the past two years Sue has engaged in self-harming behaviour and been violent and aggressive towards peers, herself and family, which has on procedure resulted in cautions from the legal system. Sue has also engaged in petty theft, auto-theft and break and enters, all resulting in legal cautions. Sue uses alcohol, marijuana and amphetamines and has been diagnosed with depression resulting in anti-depressants being prescribed(Mission Australia, 2005).In December 2008, the Australian presidency released a White Paper on Homelessness The Road Home A National draw up to Reducing Homelessness. This paper recognises that maintaining the current approach to homelessness will see the homeless population of Australia significantly increase in the coming years. The paper takes a holistic view and aims to find solutions in address the varying needs of the homeless population, for example employment needs, education and training, health and social support. This report has three main initiative areas. They are to ensure that services intervene early to stop people becoming homeless, qualification services more connected and responsive across a range of areas not limited to housing, such as health and economic and social participation and strategies to assist people who become homeless to move quickly through the crisis system to stable housing, and providing the support they need so that they do not re-enter homelessness. Through the implementatio n on many straggles under these initiatives and 1.2 billion dollars in funding the Australian Government aims to have a fifty percent reduction in homelessness by 2020. (MHCA, 2009, pp.12-13)Todays society has negative stigma and labelling associated with homelessness. Due to this attributes, the skills they poses, their personality, past achievements are often disregarded and overrun by the fact they are homeless. (Mission Australia, 2005)As homelessness is not a social norm, it can be seen is deviant behaviour. With the rise of the medical model of health, importance is placed on the individual receiving treatment in order to restore health and conformity. (Roach Anleu, 2010, pp.242-260)Under the healing(predicate) model deviant individuals which can include the homeless, mentally ill, drug and alcohol abusers and those experiencing adjustment problems require psychiatric intervention, with little emphasis in the social and environmental conditions that contribute to these issues . (Roach Anleu, 2010, pp.242-260)Homelessness, unemployment, drug use and mental illness are all intricately connected in todays society. These social determinants of health all coexist and can each weigh largely upon another. These linkages can lead to a viscous cycle which can be hard to break.ConclusionWhat was discussedReaffirm argumenthttp//www.health.qld.gov.au/research_information/social_determinants.asp