Almost half of Hong Kong’s homeless people experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) but lack the necessary support to manage the mental health condition, a study has found.
Eighty-nine people experiencing homelessness, aged 21 to 78, were interviewed for the seven-month study conducted by NGO ImpactHK and The Counselling and Psychology Department of the Hong Kong Shue Yan University. According to the findings, which were released during a press conference on Wednesday, nearly 60 per cent reported having experienced physical, emotional or sexual abuse, known triggers of PTSD.
Researchers also found that 44.9 per cent of interviewees exhibited PTSD symptoms. The condition is characterised by intense reactions to trauma, which often continue long after the incident, and it can have a negative impact on an individual’s mental health and quality of life.
“The results are more serious than our earlier assumptions,” Deep Ng, ImpactHK’s senior programme manager, said in a statement.
“The government should take the issues of homelessness more seriously by showing more genuine understanding and care, and formulating relevant policy to support this community,” he added. “Respect is the key to addressing mental and psychological health issues.”
Assistant professor at Hong Kong Shue Yan University, Bess Lam, said that mental health issues could be worsened by homelessness, calling it a “vicious cycle.”
“The stress of living alone on the streets exacerbates the patient’s mental health, while the symptoms of PTSD further impede their ability to escape homelessness,” Lam said.
A strong social support network was considered an effective way to help people experiencing mental health disorders, such as PTSD, manage their condition. However, the researchers said that such a network within the homeless community was often very weak, with only 39.3 per cent of those interviewed for the study saying they were able to seek support from family, friends or NGOs.
The government was urged to provide comprehensive mental health support for Hong Kong’s homeless, including access to counselling and treatment to help patients build or strengthen their psychological resilience.
“The current support system for the homeless in Hong Kong is highly fragmented and lacking in cohesive top-down services leadership,” the NGO and university department said in the statement.
They called for the implementation of a “homelessness-friendly policy” which would help the community feel better supported, and increased public awareness and education regarding the issues faced by those experiencing homelessness.
Rising homeless population
Last month, the Society for Community Organization (SoCO) joined five homeless individuals to petition the government after barricades were used to block a number of sites where they often slept.
“Barricades are an invisible killer for the homeless,” said Yuk Kuen, who was homeless, adding that they not only drive homeless people away but also send a signal that it is acceptable to discriminate against street sleepers.
The Home Affairs Department said the “pedestrian facilities” had been blocked after receiving complaints about an “accumulation of articles.”
The number of homeless people in Hong Kong has more than doubled over the past 10 years. There were 595 street sleepers in 2013 according to the Social Welfare Department. By 2022, the number had risen to 1,582.
However, the number of places in NGO-run homeless shelters has failed to keep pace, rising from 202 in 2013 to 228 this year.
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