Thank you to Michael D. McGee, MD, President, WellMind, Inc; MedCentral Editor-at-Large for Clinical Excellence & Physician Wellbeing who published the article Perspective: Touching the Trauma of Homelessness, from which this series is shared.
Trauma is almost universal among homeless people – not only does trauma increase the risk of homelessness but homelessness increases the risk of trauma. In one study of homeless individuals, 100% of the women and over 90% of the men reported experiencing at least one traumatic event. More than 50% had witnessed someone being badly injured or killed; 50% of the women and 10% of the men had been raped.
Homeless people have 3 to 6 times higher rates of physical illness as well. In one study, 50% of unsheltered people suffered from the trimorbidity of physical health condition, a mental health issue, and a substance use disorder (SUD).
Given the statistics, it is not surprising that the average age of death of homeless persons is about 50 years as compared to 78 years for non-homeless Americans. The low life expectancy is often because homeless people die from illnesses that often could have been treated or prevented.
