Identifying marginal housing for people with a mental illness living in rural and regional areas

Authors: Grigg, Margaret; Judd, Fiona; Ryan, Lisa; Komiti, Angela

Source: Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, Volume 39, Numbers 11-12, November 2005 , pp. 995-1000(6)

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Abstract:

Objective: Homelessness among people with a mental illness is a serious issue.

Objective: The study aimed to identify the types of housing available for people with a mental illness in the region; to develop an audit tool to assess the housing of patients of the mental health service; and to pilot this audit tool.

Method: Key informants were interviewed to obtain information about the type of housing options available in the Loddon Campaspe Southern Mallee Region. This information was used to develop a survey to audit the housing status of existing patients of the area mental health service. A pilot study using the survey was completed by case managers for 81 patients who were being case managed by the area mental health service.

Results: There were a wide variety of housing options in the region, but housing availability was not evenly distributed. Although most patients lived in owned or rented accommodation, a substantial proportion of patients had difficulties with accessing the required services, the affordability of their housing, uncertainty of tenure or were at risk of violence within their housing.

Conclusions: A substantial proportion of patients treated by a rural area mental health service had lived in impoverished housing.

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 2005; 39:995–1000

Keywords: homelessness; mental illness; rural

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1614.2005.01703.x

Publication date: 2005-11-01