Mental disorders leading cause of homeless hospital visits

ANNE-MARIE TOBIN
Canadian Press
August 30, 2007 at 8:23 PM EDT

TORONTO — More than half of hospital stays by homeless Canadians are a direct result of mental disorders, suggests a study of mental health and homelessness released Thursday.

The report by the Canadian Institute for Health Information describes homelessness as a "harsh reality" for more than 10,000 people staying in shelters on any given night in Canada, and provides an overview of research and interventions for people living on the street and in shelters.

In particular, it pulls together hospital data on admissions in 2005-06, and the reasons behind them.

"This is the first time we're tracking this kind of information," Elizabeth Votta, an author of the report, said from Ottawa.

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