Mental Health and Substance Abuse Indicators Among Homeless Youth in Denver, Colorado

We report the results of mental health evaluations from 182 homeless youth residing in a Denver, Colorado, shelter. The literature on homeless youth, although developing, is still somewhat limited as it relates to mental health, substance abuse, and trauma. This study was motivated by clinically obs...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Child welfare 2009-01, Vol.88 (2), p.93-110
Main Authors: Merscham, Carrie, Van Leeuwen, James M., McGuire, Megan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adolescents
Alcoholism
Child welfare
Children & youth
Colorado - epidemiology
Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry)
Drug abuse
Drugs and youth
Educational Attainment
Female
Homeless people
Homeless youth
Homeless Youth - psychology
Homeless Youth - statistics & numerical data
Homelessness
Humans
Male
Mental disorders
Mental Disorders - epidemiology
Mental Disorders - prevention & control
Mental Health
Mental health care
Mental Illness
Prevalence
Psychological aspects
Runaways
Social policy
Substance Abuse
Substance-Related Disorders - epidemiology
Substance-Related Disorders - prevention & control
Teenagers
U.S.A
Wounds and Injuries - epidemiology
Young Adult
Youth
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Summary:We report the results of mental health evaluations from 182 homeless youth residing in a Denver, Colorado, shelter. The literature on homeless youth, although developing, is still somewhat limited as it relates to mental health, substance abuse, and trauma. This study was motivated by clinically observed high rates of mental illness, trauma, dangerousness issues, and drug and alcohol abuse. Using archival data from mental health evaluations conducted over two years, variables including gender, age, ethnicity, primary diagnosis, drug of choice, trauma history, suicidal ideation, homicidal ideation, and legal history were assessed. Results discovered significantly higher than expected diagnoses of mental illness and associations between drug of choice and diagnosis, trauma history and suicidal ideation, and trauma history and diagnosis. Results suggest a strong need for co-occurring treatment, trauma-focused therapy, and attention to both mental illness and substance abuse in homeless youth.
ISSN:0009-4021