Anna Maria College, Social Work, 50 Sunset Ln, Paxton, MA, 01612, USA.
Alliance University School of Social Work, 2 Washington St, New York, NY, 10004, USA.
Community Ment Health J. 2024 Nov;60(8):1596-1605. doi: 10.1007/s10597-024-01314-2. Epub 2024 Jul 16.
Homeless seniors confront distinct challenges regarding their mental health needs and service access. This study aims to illuminate the mental health landscape of homeless seniors by examining the prevalence of mental illness, utilization of mental health services, and perceived need for mental health care. The study comprises 177 homeless seniors in New York, NY. Findings indicate 10.2% experiencing depression, 10.2% schizophrenia, and 5.7% bipolar disorder. Despite high prevalence, there is a significant gap between diagnosed mental health conditions and service utilization, with only 50% of those with depression seeking care. Perceived need for mental health services emerges as a critical aspect of the study, with over half of those suffering from depression (61.1%; n = 11), PTSD (75%; n = 3), schizophrenia (77.8%; n = 14), and other mental illnesses (100%; n = 1) expressing a need for mental health care. Also, mental health conditions, loneliness, and levels of social support play significant roles in a need for mental health services.
无家可归的老年人在心理健康需求和服务获取方面面临着独特的挑战。本研究旨在通过调查精神疾病的患病率、精神卫生服务的利用情况以及对精神卫生保健的需求来阐明无家可归的老年人的心理健康状况。该研究包括纽约市的 177 名无家可归的老年人。研究结果表明，10.2%的人患有抑郁症，10.2%的人患有精神分裂症，5.7%的人患有双相情感障碍。尽管患病率很高，但精神健康状况的诊断与服务的利用之间存在显著差距，只有 50%的抑郁症患者寻求治疗。对精神卫生服务的需求是研究的一个关键方面，超过一半患有抑郁症的人（61.1%；n=11）、创伤后应激障碍（75%；n=3）、精神分裂症（77.8%；n=14）和其他精神疾病（100%；n=1）都表示需要精神卫生保健。此外，心理健康状况、孤独感和社会支持水平在对精神卫生服务的需求中起着重要作用。
