In their own words: Trauma and substance abuse in the lives of formerly homeless women with serious mental illness.

Abstract

In-depth interviews were conducted with 13 formerly homeless mentally ill women to capture their individual life trajectories of mental illness, substance abuse, and trauma in their own words. Cross-case analyses produced 5 themes: (a) betrayals of trust, (b) graphic or gratuitous nature of traumatic events, (c) anxiety about leaving their immediate surroundings (including attending group treatment programs), (d) desire for one's own space, and (e) gender-related status loss and stigmatization. Findings suggest formerly homeless mentally ill women need (and want) autonomy, protection from further victimization, and assistance in restoring status and devalued identity. Avenues for intervention include enhanced provider training, addressing experiences of betrayal and trauma, and more focused attention to current symptoms rather than previous diagnoses.

Exploring opportunities for healthy aging among older persons with a history of homelessness in Toronto, Canada

“…The participants were living in a stable housing environment for a time period ranging from six months to 25 years. To date, most researchers have explored experiences among formerly homeless persons within the first 12e48 months of being housed (Bebout et al, 1997;Busch-Geertsema, 2005;Crane and Warnes, 2007;Goldfinger et al, 1999;Kyle and Dunn, 2008;Padgett et al, 2006aPadgett et al, , 2006bYanos et al, 2007). Most studies also focus on the effectiveness of specific housing models in helping homeless persons to remain housed, often in the context of those with serious mental illness and addictions (Bebout et al, 1997;Kyle and Dunn, 2008).…”

Transitioning from Homelessness: A “Fresh-Start” Event

“…Rather than focusing on this downward descent, or the well-documented trauma and violence that homeless persons inevitably experience (Hopper, Bassuk, & Olivet, 2009;Padgett, Hawkins, Abrams, & Davis, 2006), more recent attention has been given to the processes or events that lead to an "upward spiral" out of homelessness (Thompson, Pollio, Eyrich, Bradbury, & North, 2004). These changing priorities have coincided with, and are partially explained by, a relatively new approach to homeless services for individuals experiencing chronic homelessness, namely Housing First (HF).…”

Understanding the Role of Individual Consumer–Provider Relationships Within Assertive Community Treatment

“…Communication across the team can be difficult for consumers, partly because it can be uneven, and also because of the discomfort of sharing personal issues with multiple people. With people that have experienced high levels of trauma, the perception of confidentiality and trust is vital (Padgett et al 2006). Case managers also seek to have unique relationships with their consumers and they find it rewarding when a consumer expresses a preference for working with them in particular, as it signals that trust has been established (Angell and Mahoney 2007).…”