• Noreen Moloney, Patrick O'Donnell, Musaab Elzain, Ahmad Bashir, Colum P Dunne, Brendan D Kelly, and Gautam Gulati.
• Department of Psychiatry, Mid-West Mental Health Service, University Hospital Limerick, Limerick, Ireland. noreen.moloney1@hse.ie.
• Ir J Med Sci. 2022 Feb 1; 191 (1): 321326321-326.

BackgroundThis cross-sectional study sought to establish the prevalence of homelessness amongst inpatients in two psychiatric units in Ireland and explore the perceived relationship between psychiatric illness and homelessness.MethodsThe study employed a semi-structured interview format utilising a specifically designed questionnaire which received ethical approval from the Limerick University Hospitals Group ethics committee.ResultsFifty psychiatric inpatients were interviewed. Fifteen were either "currently" homeless (n = 8) or had experienced "past" homelessness (n = 7). Those who had experienced homelessness were more likely to have a psychotic illness. A majority of those who had experienced homelessness believed that psychiatric illness contributed to their homelessness. Involuntary admission rates were more than double for patients in the homeless group. A number of participants also reported that a lack of accommodation was preventing their discharge.ConclusionHomelessness affects a significant number of psychiatric patients and can be both a contributory factor to, and consequence of, mental illness. With homelessness at unprecedented levels, there is a need for the development of tailored programmes aimed at supporting these vulnerable groups.© 2021. Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland.

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