Introduction
Introduction
BACKGROUND
The term “ homeless ” and / or “ homelessness ” is applicable to a varying number of personal circumstances . The phrase branches out as a means of describing the condition of a community that may be without a home , placed in temporary accommodation , or having been given a timescale to which they are being compelled to move out of their current accommodation and are unable to provide themselves with a new arrangement of housing ( Gov . UK ., 2020 ). The definition provided in this text is both accepted and ubiquitous globally with an estimated one billion people lacking adequate housing or accommodation ( STWR , 2020 ).
According to the Government Statutory Homelessness report of 2020 , during the months from January to March , around 78,890 homelessness assessments were conducted within the United Kingdom ( UK ), to which 95.2 % were reported as homeless or threatened with homelessness or statutory homelessness ( having received a notice stating the occupants have within 56 days to move out ) ( Gov . UK , 2020 ). Moreover , 4,590 homelessness assessment referrals were made during this time , under the duty to refer act 2019 ( the duty of local public authorities to identify and refer a service user who is homeless or may be threatened with homelessness ), to which 96 % were acknowledged as an acceptable response to a ‘ circumstance of homelessness ’ ( Gov . UK , 2020 ).
Being classified as ‘ homeless ’ not only denotes a form of social depravity but also puts individuals at a higher risk of contracting many health-related conditions as compared to the general population . Homeless link ( 2014 ) reports that chronic physical health conditions are prevalent in 41 % of those homeless , a staggering 13 % higher when compared to the general population . Additionally , The Mental Health Foundation ( 2015 ) states that at least 32 % of the homeless community experiences some form of mental health disorder . The Mental Health Foundation ( 2015 ) also reports the prevalence of depression to be at least ten times higher within the homeless community , when compared to the general population . From the information available it seems clear that both the physical and mental health of this community is compromised .
Globally , Cohen et al ., ( 2021 ) reported that more than 30 % of the population suffers from an element of physical chronic pain . This report also suggests that chronic pain be considered a disease as opposed to a physical ailment due to its substantial prevalence and nature . If chronic pain was to be treated as a disease , then it can be rationally proposed that homeless individuals have a 2 in 5 chance of ‘ contracting ’ chronic pain and are 10 % more likely to ‘ contract ’ chronic pain as compared to the global population .
With current research demonstrating a disparity in health between the homeless and general population , it is expected that as a result homeless individuals are more likely to depend on and access the National Health Service ( NHS ). NHS England ( 2019 ) has reported that compared to the general population the homeless community is attending accident and emergency six times more often , are being admitted to hospital four times more often , and are staying in hospital three times longer . Furthermore , this frequency of homeless attendances , admissions , and treatments are all contributing to a greater expenditure for the NHS , costing services like accident and emergency eight times that of the general population ( Standard for Integrated Care , 2018 ). From health inequality to a lack of appropriate education , this accumulation of deprivation produces a low life expectancy for those part of the homeless community . To date , the average age of death for a member of the homeless community within the UK is 43 for women and 47 for men ( Standard for integrated care , 2018 ).
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The objective of this article is to offer insight into the severity of chronic pain and mental health within the homeless population of North Staffordshire . The article contributes to efforts to expedite the issue of health within the homeless community and emphasises its relevance to the current circumstances of a post covid society . This article adds to the current evidence around homelessness and health in order to help facilitate the identification of patterns around chronic pain and mental health for this community , further contributing to the
Paper # 2 27