Mission Australia finds young Tasmanians with mental illness three times more likely to be homeless

The Mission Australia report, launched on Thursday, found there was a strong link between young people living with a probable serious mental illness and nights spent away from home. 

This included nights spent couch surfing, which was a known risk for future homelessness, according to the report. 

Of the more than 700 Tasmanians aged between 15 and 19 who responded to the survey, 33.7 per cent with a probable serious mental illness said they had spent time away from home.

This compared to 10.9 per cent of young Tasmanians without a probable serious mental illness, similar to the national average. 

The report made clear the link between homelessness and mental illness, with people experiencing mental illness at increased risk of homelessness.

At the same time, homeless young people were at increased risk of developing serious mental illness.

Most young people spent between one day and one week away from home, with about 7 per cent of respondents spending more than six months away. 

Mission Australia chief executive Catherine Yeomans went on to make a series of recommendations, calling for an all-of-government approach to halving youth homelessness by 2020.

The report also recommended further funding and expansion of early identification and intervention programs and investment into social housing that is appropriate for young people. 

Mission Australia state director Noel Mundy said young people at risk were often unnoticed and did not receive the help they need. 

“We need to actively build strong family relationships, ensure schools are equipped to identify students who may be in need of support, as well as provide targeted support and early intervention when it’s needed,” Mr Mundy said. 

“When a young person has a safe and secure home, this provides a firm foundation from which they can grow and thrive.

“For many young people who feel they can’t go back home because of family conflict, violence or for other reasons, what starts as sporadic couch surfing can unfortunately turn into more entrenched homelessness.”

Across Australia, of the young people who had spent time away from home, 45 per cent of those with a probable serious mental illness had done so more than six times. 

Depression, coping with stress, body image, and school problems were the major concerns of those with a serious mental illness. 

Young people with no probable serious mental illness had similar concerns, but at lower rates.