Mental health problems as one of the factors in the development and persistence of homelessness

The study aims to identify the presence of psychiatric disorders (and the different types) among the homeless, while also seeking a correlation between homelessness and mental health problems. The study was conducted as qualitative research at a low-threshold day treatment center in Trenčín between January 1 and October 1, 2017. The research sample consisted of twelve users of low-threshold social services, and through these participants we examined and identified not only the extent of psychiatric disorders present in them, but also the current state of treatment and the interest of the participants in addressing existing mental health problems alongside their relationship to their social environment. The results of the study demonstrated the connection between homelessness and mental health problems, as well as the consequences of the failure to treat psychological problems due to how the homeless act and their behavior toward their social environment, limiting the ability to reintegrate them into society.