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The very word 'homeless' suggests a simple solution for the many marginalised Indigenous Australians living in poverty today. Providing a house however, is not the only answer, according to a recent study which looked at the health and well being of this significant group of Australians.
PhD graduand from the School of Nursing at the University of Western Sydney, Ms Catherine Holmes said the common view by mainstream society saw the bricks and mortar of housing as a solution for homeless Australians, but for the chronically homeless the solution was more complicated and less concrete.
Ms Holmes completed a study into the experience and health of homeless people living rough (in the 'Long Grass') in and around Darwin, which has a homeless population of more than 2500 people.
By gaining first-hand insight into the lives of people living in the Long Grass, the study found that if people were able to construct positive aspects of home and normality, their quality of life, health and well being was improved.
Professor Esther Chang, from the UWS School of Nursing and principal supervisor of the study, said this was the first study of its kind to be conducted on homelessness in Darwin.
"This is a really important study into the lives of the homeless population in Australia because it teaches us about the experiences of homeless people, especially Indigenous Australians," Professor Chang said.
Ms Holmes said it was unhelpful to view homelessness as a problem to be solved through housing as it masked the issues that impact the health of homeless people, such as loneliness and social disconnectedness.
"Homeless people have their own positive notions of 'home' that contribute to their well being. However they are forced to negotiate this with negative experiences of homelessness such as physical injuries and managing the stigma associated with homelessness," Ms Holmes said.
The study found that participants had endured multiple and ongoing traumas and it was likely many were affected by trauma-related illnesses, such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
"Self medicating behaviour, often with alcohol, is seen as an anti-social choice rather than a coping mechanism or addiction and ensures they are excluded from mainstream society, reinforcing the stigma and having a detrimental effect on their health," Ms Holmes said.
The study also showed health seeking behaviours were significantly influenced by the way in which knowledge was shared by homeless people; and that mainstream health promotion messages had little meaning for people who live day by day.
Editor's Note: Original news release can be found here.
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