Homelessness and Mental Illness: Using Participatory Action Research to Inform Mental Health Counseling

Abstract

Homelessness and mental illness frequently occur together. Individuals who have a mental illness and are homeless may experience a range of challenges and are often underserved by behavioral health professionals. This study used Participatory Action Research to form a working group (n=6), which met at a homeless shelter located in a small city in the United States (U.S) mid-Atlantic region, to generate insights and responses to the challenges they had encountered. The authors posed several research questions in the context of lived experiences of individuals who experience homelessness and mental illness. The researchers used Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis to interpret the data in light of these questions. We generated four key themes: the trauma of homelessness and mental illness, the power of personal connection, personal agency, and achievement, and meaning through action. For mental health counselors, suggestions include incorporating a trauma-informed framework, minimal turnover in counselor coverage, and a client-centered approach.

Keywords

• homelessness
• mental illness
• participatory action research
• counselling
• counsellors