ABSTRACT
The numbers of obviously disturbed, homeless people in the cities of the western world, especially in the United States, have increased. Concern about this has prompted several studies of mental disorder among homeless persons, and consideration of ways to provide appropriate services. In Australia, there has been limited study of mental disorder in homeless people. The findings suggest a strikingly high prevalence of severe mental disorders in the target population compared to the general population – as reported, for example, from the American Epidemiologic Catchment Area study. Individuals marginally accommodated in Melbourne appear to have problems of mental disorder on a scale similar to those of truly homeless people. The use of primary-care services by homeless, mentally ill people has received little attention, perhaps because in the United States the contribution of this service sector is relatively small.
