The Mental Health Stigma and How It Creates Unnecessary Hardship

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The stigma around mental health in the United States has only served to harm individuals who should be met with compassion and care. Homeless populations in particular are met with this harsh treatment all too often. This harmful and pervasive attitude only makes things more difficult for lives that are already ostracized and excluded. These difficulties include both social and structural barriers in accessing the help they need. 

A recent survey commissioned by The Oregonian/OregonLive, indicated roughly 63 percent of Portland’s homeless population suffers from mental health and substance abuse struggles. Mental health challenges only further the vulnerability of homeless individuals and limits their ability to seek help. Untreated mental health-related issues can lead to devastating consequences including difficulty maintaining employment, isolating behavior from friends and family, as well as impaired judgement and decision making. These difficulties combined with the risks and hardships associated with homelessness only further isolate and cause harm to struggling people who need access to assistance and care. This in turn increases the risk of substance abuse, complicating matters even further. These are struggling individuals only facing further struggle without proper social safety nets in place. 


There are ways to get involved and help. It takes community action to combat both the stigma around mental health and homelessness. Donating and volunteering to homeless non-profit organizations such as Outside In, can make a huge difference in changing lives and helping the cause. Outside In, a health clinic based in Portland, provides resources for homeless individuals including primary health care, syringe exchanges, access to basic needs, behavioral health services as well as several programs to assist people in transitioning out of homelessness and on the way to stability and happiness. People deserve to live with dignity and compassion. By supporting and advocating for causes that can make positive changes for the community, we show empathy and compassion for people who deserve a chance to thrive. 


https://outsidein.org/behavioral-health-services/


Sources:


https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2022/06/63-of-homeless-portlanders-report-suffering-from-mental-health-issues-and-say-they-need-more-help-false-promises-survey.html


https://homelesshub.ca/collection/homelessness-101/mental-health/


https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/stigma-and-discrimination


https://www.nami.org/education/9-ways-to-fight-mental-health-stigma/

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