The spiral phenomenon of homelessness and mental ill-health are major growing epidemic in both developed and developing countries. Viewing from a socio-economic-political dimension, homelessness and mental ill-health cause detrimental effects on the individuals' lives as well as the nation-building process. The condition of women seems to be complex, as the gender perspectives are often described in terms of patriarchy and powerlessness. The bi-directionality of mental illness and homelessness creates a vicious cycle, and many women seem to end up in shelter care homes. The scenario of homeless women with chronic mental illness reflects the lack of community-based rehabilitation efforts and gender-sensitive policy level initiatives.
Background:
Family abandonment and rejection resulting in homelessness are detrimental to women diagnosed with mental illness in India. A majority of the literature related to homelessness holds a western background, and women's homelessness in relation to mental illness is relatively unexplored in the Indian context. This review was conducted to understand the sociocultural factors influencing family rejection and to synthesize the living situation of institutionalized women with mental illness in India.
Methods:
Literature search in electronic databases (PubMed, Google Scholar), carried out using appropriate keywords, and a manual search in the library catalog.
Results:
As per the selection criteria, 19 reports, including original research articles and conceptual papers, were included and reviewed.
Conclusion:
There is a shortage of methodologically sound research in understanding the connection of mental illness–women homelessness–and the institutionalization scenario. This review highlights the necessity of shifting focus from institutionalization to innovative psychiatric rehabilitation strategies using the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017.
Background:
The prevalent explanations of gender and mental illness in the Indian social structure often highlighted in terms of traditions and gender-colored norms which is confirmed with the patriarchal framework. The combination of women and diagnosis of mental illness disturbs the prescribed gender expectations which accelerate the family abandonment, and many women lead their life in shelter care homes after psychiatric hospitalization. The aim of the study is to assess the sociodemographic characteristics of the residents admitted in shelter care homes and understand the co-relational aspects of changing sociocultural scenario.
Subjects and Methods:
Recruited 50 women residents living in 14 centers both the governmental and nongovernmental shelter care homes in Bengaluru, Karnataka. Utilized sociodemographic datasheet to assess the sociodemographic variables and retrospective file review to elicit commonalities among the sample.
Results:
The current study reveals that majority (74%) belongs to the nuclear family, lived in a rented house before institutionalization (46%). The reason for stay in shelter care home reported to be family abandonment and rejection (72%) and majority of the residents experiencing chronic homelessness (92%) are unmarried/separated (82%) and majority revealed none of the family members ever visited them in shelter care homes (66%).
Conclusion:
It is imperative to understand the connection between sociodemographic details of the women admitted in shelter care homes and the rapid changes occurring in the sociocultural structure for comprehensive understanding of mental illness-homelessness-institutionalization nexus.
Bengaluru a tertiary care hospital. HPMI were admitted under Section 89 of the Mental Healthcare Act 2017, 7,8 with each admission reviewed "by the Institute Mental Health Review Committee due to the lack of implementation of Mental Health Review Board (MHRB) by the State Government." With case illustrations, this article draws attention to how the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown affected the HPMI and the challenges in providing care and protection and in reintegrating them back to the community. The article also provides certain guidelines for providing care and protection to HPMI during the pandemic.
Case 1Mr M, a 35-year-old male, was brought by police as he was found wandering in the street. On observation, he was not interacting and was found muttering to himself. Immediately after admission to the observation ward, an RT-PCR test was done for COVID-19 screening, and he tested positive. He was shifted to the
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