Brain Injury & Homelessness
Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) is the number one killer and disabler for Canadians under 40. Common ABI symptoms – memory loss, chronic pain and fatigue, mental health issues, loss of inhibition, communication issues, decreased problem-solving skills and impulsivity – increase a person’s risk of becoming homeless.
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In the fall of 2018, BIST received an Ontario Trillium Foundation Seed Grant for a Homeless Prevention Coordinator.
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Read our findings from this program, HERE.
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Check out the infographic which summarizes the findings below.
#areyouaware
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45% of homeless men have experienced a brain injury, and 87% of those injuries occurred before the individual became homeless (St Michael’s Hospital).
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A Toronto Study found that 58% of homeless men and 42% of homeless women in Toronto have a brain injury, and the average age of first brain injury was 17 years old.
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This population is at risk for experiencing seizures, mental health problems and poorer physical health.
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Living with brain injury and being homeless harms a person’s wellbeing, and as such this population is:
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5 times more likely to have visited an emergency room in the past year
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Twice as likely to have been arrested in the previous year
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Three times as likely to have been victim of a physical assault in the past year
Brain Injury & Mental Health:
53% of homeless adults with a history of mental illness have a reported history of brain injury (St Michael’s Hospital).
This population is more likely to:
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Report unmet health care needs
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Have contact with the criminal justice system
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Be suicidal or have previously attempted suicide
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Use emergency departments
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Finding housing for people with mental illness and head injuries is essential to helping these people more forward with their recovery.
