"It's futile to try to treat a mental health problem if the patient doesn't have a decent place to live," he [Dr. Nicholson] said.
"Similarly, it's very hard for that patient to sustain a tenancy if they have a florid mental health problem or alcohol and drug problem, so the answer has to be a much more integrated response from our service provision."
The Treatment Advocacy Center (www.treatmentadvocacycenter.org) is a national nonprofit dedicated to eliminating barriers to the timely and effective treatment of severe mental illnesses. TAC promotes laws, policies, and practices for the delivery of psychiatric care and supports the development of innovative treatments for and research into the causes of severe and persistent psychiatric illnesses, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Friday, March 07, 2008
Housing for the homeless, and treatment too
In Australia an effort is underway to house many of the chronically homeless. Experts involved are working to stem the underlying causes of homelessness by providing not just housing, but treatment too.