Housing trajectories and the risk of homelessness among new mental health service users: Protocol for the AMONT study

Abstract

Aims High rates of mental illness among individuals experiencing homelessness, as well as documented contacts with psychiatric services prior to episodes of homelessness, indicate that early intervention could play a key role in homelessness prevention. Decision‐makers and clinical teams need longitudinal data on housing trajectories following initial contact with psychiatric services, as well as on predictors of risk of housing instability and homelessness. This paper describes the AMONT study, a mixed‐methods naturalistic longitudinal cohort study of individuals identified as new psychiatric service users in seven clinical sites across the province of Québec (Canada). Methods The goal of AMONT is to examine the housing situations of individuals over 36 months after their initial contact with psychiatric services, and to identify environmental and individual correlates and predictors of housing outcomes. Participants complete a broad battery of instruments at baseline and follow‐up assessments after 24 and 36 months. We explore housing stability following an initial episode of psychiatric service use from the perspective of service users, family members, and service providers, through qualitative interviews. Results and Conclusions The findings from the AMONT study will yield a better understanding of the residential pathways of individuals with mental illness, from their first contact with psychiatric services and for 3 years subsequently. This will inform service providers, decision‐makers and managers on the specific housing concerns and issues that affect first‐time mental health service users. This in turn can lead to the development and implementation of evidence‐informed practices and policies that aim to prevent instability and homelessness.

Risk factors for homelessness and housing instability in the first episode of mental illness: Initial findings from the AMONT study

“…A comprehensive description of the overall study methodology and methods can be found in the published protocol (Roy et al, 2022).…”

Impact of gaming disorder on first episode psychosis patients' evolution: Protocol for a multicentered prospective study

“…They occur during a critical period of life, specifically in late adolescence and early adulthood (Birchwood, 2014). Their consequences include an increased rate of suicide and acts of violence (Fu et al, 2021; Sicotte et al, 2021; Whiting et al, 2021), low employment rates (Plana‐Ripoll et al, 2023), reduced life expectancy by 15 years (Laursen et al, 2014; Romain et al, 2021), as well as homelessness and experiences of stigmatization (Deschênes et al, 2021; Roy et al, 2022). In Canada, the economic burden of these conditions was estimated to be $7 billion in 2004 while the global estimates indicate a range between 0.02% and 1.65% of the gross domestic product in 2016 (Chong et al, 2016; Goeree et al, 2005).…”

Impact of Gaming Disorder on First Episode Psychosis Patients’ Evolution: Protocol for a Multicentered Prospective Study

“…They occur during a critical period of life, specifically in late adolescence and early adulthood [2]. Their consequences include an increased rate of suicide and acts of violence [3][4][5], low employment rates [6], reduced life expectancy by 15 years [7,8], as well as homelessness and experiences of stigmatization [9,10]. In Canada, the economic burden of these conditions was estimated to be $7 billion in 2004 while the global estimates indicate a range between 0.02% and 1.65% of the gross domestic product in 2016 [11,12].…”