Mental health needs of homeless and recently housed individuals in Canada: A meta-ethnography.

Abstract

Homeless individuals are disproportionately likely to experience mental health conditions, and typically face many systemic barriers to access mental health services. This study sought to determine the mental health needs of homeless and recently housed individuals in Canada. A meta-ethnography was conducted to synthesise existing qualitative data and translate themes across a broader context. Thirty-five studies on the experiences of 1511 individuals with a history of homelessness were included. Themes were interpreted by comparing and contrasting findings across multiple contexts. Distinct, yet highly interrelated, unmet mental health needs were revealed through personal narratives of trauma, stigmatisation, victimisation, and a lack of basic necessities. Six themes that characterised this population's mental health needs were ontological security, autonomy, hope and purpose, empowerment, social connection and belonging, and access to services. This study revealed homeless individuals' unmet mental health needs to inform social and policy change and improve psychological well-being.