It is well established that youth experiencing homelessness face many challenges with their mental health. For example, a literature review of the topic found that 30%–40% of youth who are homeless experience major depression, bipolar disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, and substance use (Kidd, 2013). A small number also experience psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia, although this incidence is believed to be larger than that found in the general population (Kidd, 2013). Moreover, an alarming number of youth face some form of emotional distress regardless of whether they have a formal diagnosis. Our administrative data at Covenant House Toronto, Canada’s largest youth-serving agency, show that about 30% of the young people we serve in our emergency shelter have a serious mental health concern, and of a sample of 164 youth using our drop-in, shelter, and transitional housing programs, over 70% reported experiencing at least one symptom of depression, anxiety, hearing or seeing things that others could not, distress from past trauma, sleep disturbances, and/or suicidal ideation in the past three months.
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The Canadian Observatory on Homelessness is the largest national research institute devoted to homelessness in Canada. The COH is the curator of the Homeless Hub.
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About UsCanadian Observatory on Homelessness
The Canadian Observatory on Homelessness is the largest national research institute devoted to homelessness in Canada. The COH is the curator of the Homeless Hub.
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- Preface
- Foreword
- 1. Approaches & Interventions
- 1.1 Substance Use & Mental Health Interventions for Youth Who Are Homeless: The Community Reinforcement Approach & Motivational Enhancement Therapy
- 1.2 Dialectical Behaviour Therapy to Enhance Emotional Regulation & Resilience Among Street-Involved Youth
- 1.3 Mindfulness Approaches for Youth Experiencing Homelessness
- 1.4 Trauma-Informed Care for Street-Involved Youth
- 1.5 Ecologically Based Family Therapy for Adolescents Who Have Left Home
- 1.6 Crisis Response with Street-Involved Youth
- 2. Specific Groups
- 2.1 Supporting Indigenous Youth Experiencing Homelessness
- 2.2 Responding to the Needs of LGBTQ2S Youth Experiencing Homelessness
- 2.3 Engaging with Newcomer Youth Experiencing Homelessness
- 2.4 Anti-Racist Praxis with Street-Involved African Canadian Youth
- 2.5 Ecologically Based Treatment for Mothers Experiencing Homelessness Who Have Children in Their Care
- 2.6 Developing a Trauma-Informed Mental Health Group Intervention for Youth Transitioning out of Homelessness
- 3. Contexts & Considerations
- 3.1 Preventing Burnout Among Service Providers
- 3.2 Responding to mental health concerns on the front line: Building capacity at a crisis shelter for youth experiencing homelessness
- 3.3 Strengths-based outreach & advocacy for non-service-connected youth experiencing homelessness
- 3.4 The individual placement & support model of supported employment for street-involved youth with mental illness
- 3.5 Beautiful trouble: Possibilities in the arts with street-involved youth
- 3.6 Peer support work to enhance services for youth experiencing homelessness
- 3.7 The digital lives of youth who are homeless: Implications for intervention, policy, and services
- 3.8 Partnerships that support mental health intervention for street-involved youth
- 3.9 Resilience-based mental health intervention for street children in developing countries
- 4. Assessment & Evaluation
- Mental Health & Addictions Interventions for Youth Experiencing Homelessness: Practical Strategies for Front-line Providers
- 3. Contexts & Considerations
- 3.2 Responding to mental health concerns on the front line: Building capacity at a crisis shelter for youth experiencing homelessness