THE perception of society blaming homeless people for their own predicament can worsen the mental health of those without a home, according to research.

Mental health problems are much more common among homeless people and can play a significant part in the present circumstances.

Furthermore, the problems can be exacerbated by the stress experienced – making it harder to achieve a sense of stability, which is an important step on the road to recovery.

Earlier this year, the Advertiser launched a campaign to raise awareness of mental health problems in the Wee County, and to highlight ways in which people can help each other and themselves.

More than a year ago, a Clackmannanshire homeless woman, who wished to remain anonymous, broke down in tears when she spoke about how she changed when she lost her house, job and prospects in her 50s.

She said she sees “no way out” of her situation and spoke about how she lost her friends, becoming lonely and isolated in the community.

Loneliness and isolation have been shown to alter the functioning of the brain, whereby those affected switch into “self-preservation mode”, making them more abrasive and defensive towards others.

A study has found that the stigma was associated with lower self-esteem, greater loneliness and feeling trapped.

According to statistics from Shelter Scotland, during 2014/15 there were 125 households in temporary accommodation in Clacks, including 14 children, and there were nearly 500 homeless applications.

The homeless Wee County woman, who spoke to the Advertiser, used to own a tidy house with a pristine garden that she enjoyed looking after.

While she was not sleeping rough, she stayed at accommodation provided by the council, though it never felt like home to her.

The mother-of-one, whose son was too young to support her, said she can't bear living in the accommodation and that her conditions led to her losing all motivation in life.

She said: “[My son] doesn’t know what to make of his mother any more. I am just not the mum he used to have.

“I used to work, I used to be bright, now I can’t even speak without crying, it’s horrible.

“I used to be a nice person, now I just struggle every day, really struggle.
“I worked, I was smart, had friends, cooked, gardened, watched TV. I never had very much, but what I had I worked hard for.

“I am not used to living like this, I am used to living in a house where you have a front door, back door, you have windows and you can open the curtains, you have pot plants.”

She added: “The way I’m living is not normal, I should be in a house with my family.

“I just don’t know what I’m supposed to do.”

According to studies, compiled by the charity Crisis, the prevalence of common mental health problems in the homeless population is twice as high compared to the general population.

However, the prevalence of psychosis, a mental health problem that causes people to perceive or interpret the world differently from those around them or lose complete contact with external reality, can be anywhere between four and 15 times more common among homeless people.

Furthermore, it has been estimated that those sleeping rough can be 50 or even 100 times more likely to develop a psychotic disorder.

Homelessness is not just about losing accommodation, as the lack of regular contact with people can also have damaging effects.

Many who are homeless do not sleep rough, but the uncertainty and instability of not having their own place can cause serious mental health issues.

There are also the “hidden” homeless too, those who may even have a job, but cannot afford a place of their own and may be couch surfing, drifting between the homes of family and friends every few nights.

Isolated people are more likely to smoke, eat unhealthy foods, abuse alcohol or other substances and are less likely to follow medical regimes.

And other researchers have found that lacking social connections can be as damaging to health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.