CSPE Book Interior - Focus Ireland

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Lesson 2 · Factsheet 4
Health and homelessness
People who are homeless often have
great difficulty accessing health services.
A previous report by the National
Advisory Committee On Drugs
found that 90% of people
experiencing homelessness had a
physical health complaint and that
48% reported concerns regarding
their psychiatric health.
Many people who are homeless are at a
higher risk of becoming addicted to
drugs and/or alcohol as they attempt to
escape their problems.
The average age of death of
someone sleeping rough is 42 years.
The average age of death for the
Irish male is 78 years.
Mental health problems are a major
cause of homelessness.
Lesson 2 · Define ‘homelessness’
13