COVID pandemic as an opportunity for improving mental health treatments of the homeless people.

Carmen Martin,Pilar Andrés,Alberto Bullón,Nieves Prieto,Berta Bote,Carlos Roncero,Javier Ignacio De La Iglesia-Larrad,José Luis Villegas

doi:10.1177/0020764020950770

Carmen Martin, Pilar Andrés + Show 6 more

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https://doi.org/10.1177/0020764020950770

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Abstract

Background:Homeless population has been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Their living conditions, comorbidity with different pathologies and a greater frequency of mental disorders, make this population vulnerable.Method:We implemented a program of serial visits in a hostel for confined homeless of the city council social services, for the monitoring and treatment of mental disorders and substance abuse problems. Accompanied by serial phone and email contacts.Results:A highly significant percentage (63%) had mental disorders or substance abuse, requiring pharmacological intervention, and 37% began follow-up in resources of the Mental Health and Addiction network of the Psychiatric Service at the end of the program. Hospital emergency service visits were drastically reduced. None of them were infected with COVID-19. An individualized Social plan was drawn up in order to reintegrate them with support in the community.Conclusions:The Results have been really positive, meeting all the objectives and opening up developing new programs in the future, in the pandemic outbreak and out of it.

Highlights

According to Global Homeless Statistics by the HWC in 2015, there are roughly 100 million homeless people (HP) in the world
Due to the state of alarm declared in Spain of March the 14th (BOE-A-2020-3692) (España, 2020), in order to managing the health care crisis situation caused by COVID 19, and which limits free circulation of people (Art. 7), HP have not been allowed to live on the street
Prior to the arrival of the pandemic, an integral assistance plan for HP had already been suggested, with the participation of the University of Salamanca Healthcare Complex (USHC) and the collaboration of the City Hall and NGOs of Salamanca, in order to bring a comprehensive assistance to this population, taking special care of the aspects related to mental health

Summary

Introduction

According to Global Homeless Statistics by the HWC in 2015, there are roughly 100 million homeless people (HP) in the world. In Spain there has not been any global policy for homeless people which coordinates all the autonomic communities so far, which is why different professionals have pointed at the need for an integral strategy to establish a general framework to carry out such policies. Spanish government included the elaboration and activation of an Integral National Strategy for homeless people among the measures to perform, which states that such a process has to be carried out by all the involved agents together, including autonomous communities, local administrations and the social action sector. Homeless population has been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic Their living conditions, comorbidity with different pathologies and a greater frequency of mental disorders, make this population vulnerable. Method: We implemented a program of serial visits in a hostel for confined homeless of the city council social services, for the monitoring and treatment of mental disorders and substance abuse problems. Conclusions: The Results have been really positive, meeting all the objectives and opening up developing new programs in the future, in the pandemic outbreak and out of it

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