Understanding Mental Illness And Homelessness
PITTSBURGH (NewsRadio1020 KDKA) - Chris Moore had on psychiatrist, Dr. Robert Okin to talk about his book, "Silent Voices: People with Mental Disorders on the Street." He joined us on the phone to help us better empathize with homeless people living with mental disorders.
Mental illness has been linked to soldiers coming back from war who are suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, but this is nothing new. It has been happening and documented since the Civil War times. Dr. Okin said that care for mental illness was more about respect and compassion, but after the war, the number of admissions increased dramatically and patient to caregivers was too uneven.
For those who are not veterans, mental illness can spur from a bad childhood. Dr. Okin said that, "a large number of these people were really dealt a bad hand first -- were often, but not always, brought up in families who were very poor, neglectful and abusive." He says this often leads to drug use and self medicating.
Okin also addressed the link between much of the homeless population and mental illness.
"The stresses of life on the street are incredibly severe and they can plunge people into depression or PTSD and are always vulnerable to being victimized," Dr. Okin said.
Dr. Okin wanted to stress that homeless people are still human beings who deserve compassion.