Abstract
Introduction/Significance: In 2023, the number of people experiencing homelessness in the United States was 653,104. Compared to the previous year, this was a 12.1% increase. Homelessness is an important societal problem.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the phenomena of mental health and suicidal ideation among people with homelessness in Tennessee, USA.
Methods: Sixty people with homelessness were recruited in Eastern Tennessee, USA. This was a cross-sectional descriptive research design. Questionnaires were used to collect data. SPSS 28.0 was used to analyze the data. Descriptive data analysis was used.
Results: There were 42 males (70%) and 18 females (30%). The mean age was 46.08 (SD = 12.54, range = 19-71). Fifty-one (85%) had a monthly income was US$ 999 or less. Most of the diagnoses included Depression (75%), Anxiety (65%), Substance Use (46.7%), PTSD (38.3%), and Mood Disorder (36.7%). Seventeen (28.3%) indicated that they thought seriously about killing themselves. Sixteen (26.7%) stated that they tried to kill themselves in the last year. Twenty-six (43.3%) had high-level depression and should talk to a professional, but only sixteen (26.7%) received depression treatments. Most of them drank alcohol because they felt (1) nervous or scared (61.7%), (2) Sad, depressed, or discouraged (70%), and (3) anger with themselves or someone else (73.3%). Psychological Well-being Questionnaire: (1) I have not experienced many warm and trusting relationships with others (63.3%). (2) When I look at the story of my life, I am not pleased with how things have turned out (63.3%). (3) The demands of everyday life often get me down (61.7%). (4) In many ways, I feel disappointed about my achievements in life (60%). (5) Maintaining close relationships has been difficult and frustrating for me (55%). (6) People would describe me as a giving person, willing to share my time with others (73.3%). Anxiety Questionnaire: Feelings of tension (90%), worries (88.3%), irritability (88.3%), inability to relax (85%), difficulty in falling asleep (85%), pain and aches (85%), anticipation of the worst (83.3%), fatigability (83.3%), startle response (83.3%), moved to tears easily (83.3%), and feeling of restlessness (83.3%).
Conclusion: The results of this study provide evidence of the mental illnesses, alcohol use, suicidal ideation, and psychological well-being of people with homelessness for health professionals when they take care of this population.
Notes
References:
Ahmad, F. B., Cisewski, J. A., Rossen, L. M., & Sutton, P. (2024). Provisional drug overdose death counts. National Center for Health Statistics.
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/drug-overdose-data.htm
Balasuriya, L., Buelt, E., & Tsai, J. (2020). The Never-Ending Loop: Homelessness, Psychiatric Disorder, and Mortality. Psychiatric Times, 37(5), 12-14.
https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/never-ending-loop-homelessness-psychiatric-disorder-and-mortality
National Alliance to End Homelessness (2023). Who Experiences Homelessness?
https://endhomelessness.org/homelessness-in-america/who-experiences-homelessness/
Security.org Team (2023). Homelessness in America 2023: Statistics, Analysis, & Trends.
https://www.security.org/resources/homeless-statistics/2023/#:~:text=Key%20Findings%3A,experiencing%20chronic%20patterns%20of%20homelessness.
Soucy, D., Janes, M., & Hall, A. (2024). State of Homelessness: 2024 Edition. National Alliance to End Homelessness.
https://endhomelessness.org/homelessness-in-america/homelessness-statistics/state-of-homelessness/
Yeh, P. M., Moxham, L., Patterson, C., Antoniou, C., & Liou, J. (2023). The Comparisons of Psychological Well-being, Coping Strategies, and Emotional Problems between Taiwanese and Australian Nursing Students., The Journal of Nursing Research, 31(2), 1-13.
https://doi.org/10.1097/jnr.0000000000000543
Yeh, P. M. & Waters, G. (2021). Path Analysis testing the Development of Personality and Psychological Well-being Model. Western Journal of Nursing Research, 43(1), 23-35.
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0193945920932559
Sigma Membership
Epsilon Sigma at-Large
Type
Poster
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Cross-Sectional
Research Approach
Quantitative Research
Keywords:
Health Equity, Social Determinants of Health, Stress and Coping, Ethics, Homelessness, Psychological Well-being, Suicidal Ideation, Tennessee, USA
Recommended Citation
Yeh, Pi-Ming, "The Phenomena of Homeless People’s Suicidal Ideation and Mental Health" (2025). Biennial Convention (CONV). 22.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/convention/2025/posters_2025/22
Conference Name
48th Biennial Convention
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Conference Year
2025
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2025-11-19
The Phenomena of Homeless People’s Suicidal Ideation and Mental Health
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Introduction/Significance: In 2023, the number of people experiencing homelessness in the United States was 653,104. Compared to the previous year, this was a 12.1% increase. Homelessness is an important societal problem.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the phenomena of mental health and suicidal ideation among people with homelessness in Tennessee, USA.
Methods: Sixty people with homelessness were recruited in Eastern Tennessee, USA. This was a cross-sectional descriptive research design. Questionnaires were used to collect data. SPSS 28.0 was used to analyze the data. Descriptive data analysis was used.
Results: There were 42 males (70%) and 18 females (30%). The mean age was 46.08 (SD = 12.54, range = 19-71). Fifty-one (85%) had a monthly income was US$ 999 or less. Most of the diagnoses included Depression (75%), Anxiety (65%), Substance Use (46.7%), PTSD (38.3%), and Mood Disorder (36.7%). Seventeen (28.3%) indicated that they thought seriously about killing themselves. Sixteen (26.7%) stated that they tried to kill themselves in the last year. Twenty-six (43.3%) had high-level depression and should talk to a professional, but only sixteen (26.7%) received depression treatments. Most of them drank alcohol because they felt (1) nervous or scared (61.7%), (2) Sad, depressed, or discouraged (70%), and (3) anger with themselves or someone else (73.3%). Psychological Well-being Questionnaire: (1) I have not experienced many warm and trusting relationships with others (63.3%). (2) When I look at the story of my life, I am not pleased with how things have turned out (63.3%). (3) The demands of everyday life often get me down (61.7%). (4) In many ways, I feel disappointed about my achievements in life (60%). (5) Maintaining close relationships has been difficult and frustrating for me (55%). (6) People would describe me as a giving person, willing to share my time with others (73.3%). Anxiety Questionnaire: Feelings of tension (90%), worries (88.3%), irritability (88.3%), inability to relax (85%), difficulty in falling asleep (85%), pain and aches (85%), anticipation of the worst (83.3%), fatigability (83.3%), startle response (83.3%), moved to tears easily (83.3%), and feeling of restlessness (83.3%).
Conclusion: The results of this study provide evidence of the mental illnesses, alcohol use, suicidal ideation, and psychological well-being of people with homelessness for health professionals when they take care of this population.
Description
The purpose of this study was to examine the phenomena of mental health and suicidal ideation among people with homelessness in Tennessee, USA. Most of the diagnoses included Depression, Anxiety, Substance Use, PTSD, and Mood Disorder. Seventeen indicated that they thought seriously about killing themselves. Sixteen stated that they tried to kill themselves in the last year. Twenty-six should talk to a professional, but only sixteen (26.7%) received depression treatments.