Homelessness and Mental Health

Life on the streets is brutally dangerous. According to the 2023 Homeless Count in Greater Vancouver, at least 385 young people under the age of 25 experience homelessness on any given night. Although, we know this number must be much higher, based on the limitations of this survey.

Many of the youth who access our programs and services, have experienced distressing life events, such as violence, poverty, abuse, and other forms of trauma, all which can negatively impact their mental and physical health, and lead to depression, anxiety, and PTSD.  

Mental health challenges can be both a cause and a symptom of homelessness. It is close to impossible to improve your mental health when your basic needs — access to shelter, food, and clothing — are unmet. The need for mental health supports among youth experiencing homelessness is significant.

Christine spent her childhood and teen years in her home country of Uganda. She was a vocal member of the 2SLGBTQAI+ community. Being a queer person in Uganda is considered a sin and punishable by law.

Fearing for her safety, Christine’s mom took the family to Canada for a “vacation.” When it was time to leave, Christine’s mom made the hard decision to leave Christine here, because her mom could not keep her safe back home.

Being left in a foreign country, not knowing anyone, and trying to navigate a new system, took its toll on Christine’s mental health.

Let’s take a closer look as to how trauma like abandonment and being part of a marginalized community can affect someone’s mental health.

Our prefrontal cortex (aka our thinking brain) manages the executive functioning skills of problem solving, organization, emotional regulation, critical thinking, and decision making. It takes in information, processes it, and provides us with a well-thought-out solution. This helps us to remain calm, grounded, and safe.

 When we experience trauma, this changes. We lose that strong connection to the thinking brain and our survival brain kicks in. This is because we perceive danger and the executive function skills would take too long to find a solution that would guarantee our safety.  Both real and perceived threats can cause our brains to go into survival mode.

Many of the youth, like Christine, who come to Covenant House are in survival mode.

It may be difficult to recognize that you are in survival mode. For adults, some indicators that you might be in survival more are:

For some young people, trauma has occurred, or began, during childhood. For children who have experienced trauma, survival brain may look a little different. They may:

You can experience trauma through:

All of these can trigger survival mode.

If we are in survival mode for too long, we will feel the effects that it has on us. Research shows that chronic stress and chronic exposure to stress hormones can even be harmful.

Being in survival mode and overexposure to stress-response hormones can take a toll on the body, on our emotional health, on our relationships, it can lead to medical issues, and increase our risk for anxiety and depression.

Christine had experienced many life-changing events in a very short period of time. During her first week at Covenant House Vancouver, she essentially remained in her room and alternated between crying and sleeping. Staff made regular wellness checks and made sure that her basic needs were being met, but respected the time that she needed to process what had happened to her.

The 2SLGBTQAI+ Community face higher risks for mental health issues because of discrimination and the social determinants of health.

There are three significant determinants of positive mental health and wellbeing: social inclusion; freedom from discrimination and violence; and access to economic resources.

2SLGBTQAI+ people experience stigma and discrimination, and are targets of sexual and physical assault, harassment, and hate crimes.

Additional factors that may impact the mental health and well-being of this community include the process of coming out, gender transition, internalized oppression, isolation and alienation, and loss of family or social support.

2SLGBTQAI+ people may experience other forms of marginalization such as racism, sexism, and poverty, which combined with homophobia or transphobia can negatively impact their mental health. This community may also face discrimination when they try to access appropriate and inclusive mental health services.

2SLGBTQAI+ people face:

2SLGBTQAI+ youth face:

There are ways to support this marginalized community that will foster positive mental health and well-being, such as:

For experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness, many of these supports are not available to them.

Youth experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness are in survival mode. If they identify as part of the 2SLGBTQAI+ community, their mental health is even more at risk.

Christine could not be her authentic self in Uganda. When she spoke up against the oppression, she was thrown in jail. That moment led to the “vacation” to Canada, where she was abandoned.

Covenant House Vancouver provides programs, services, and access to other resources to help youth exit the streets, exit survival mode, and work on their mental health and the futures that they deserve.

For vulnerable and at-risk youth, lack of phone access, staying connected without secured housing, no vehicle or funds for transit, can further complicate access to care.

Long wait times for free counselling or psychiatric care can leave youth in crisis, and navigating fragmented systems for the right care can be overwhelming, which can discourage youth from seeking help. These barriers highlight the need for accessible, youth-centred mental health services that prioritize safety, trust, and timely intervention.

CHV bridges these gaps by providing accessible, trauma-informed care. CHV offers a wide range of supports designed to address the mental and emotional well-being of youth, to remove barriers and foster resilience, and to help youth navigate their mental health journeys.

Here’s how we deliver these essential services:

One-to-One Counselling and Evidence-Based Therapies

CHV’s Registered Clinical Counsellors offer free, personalized sessions that are tailored to meet each youth’s unique needs. These sessions provide a safe space for youth to explore their emotions, develop coping strategies, and build resilience. Our counsellors use evidence-based therapies, like cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), to help youth reframe negative thoughts and manage intense emotions.

Counselling is also supported by youth workers and social workers.

Physical Health and Mental Well-Being

Recognizing the strong connection between physical and mental health, CHV offers a fully equipped gym and fitness room. Regular physical activity helps reduce anxiety, improve mood, and build self-confidence. Our staff and volunteers support youth in developing fitness routines tailored to their preferences and goals. Additionally, we offer recreational outings like hiking that may otherwise be inaccessible to youth, due to financial constraints. These activities foster peer connections and promote mental well-being.

Creative Outlets: Art and Music Therapy

Creative expression is a powerful mental health tool. CHV’s art therapy sessions allow youth to explore their emotions and express themselves in a safe environment. In the music room, youth can play instruments, write songs, and experience the healing power of music. CHV works with the VSO to offer regular musical training, as well as private tutoring.

Spiritual Care Services

Many youth who have experienced significant loss may struggle to find meaning and purpose beyond day-to-day survival. CHV’s Spiritual Care team provides inclusive support for youth of all faiths and traditions, to give youth the option to explore their spiritual, religious, and cultural identities. If desired, our team can connect youth with safe spiritual, religious, and cultural communities. The team also offers compassionate support during times of grief and loss.

Partnerships for Comprehensive Care

When specialized care is needed, CHV works closely with trusted community partners to provide seamless support. We facilitate access to psychiatric care, treatment centres, and other essential services. We advocate for youth by ensuring that they are connected to the right resources and that clear communication with our partners is maintained throughout the process. We also assist with logistical details such as getting to appointments (we will attend with youth if they desire), and by providing reminders. By working together, we create a holistic approach to mental health that addresses both immediate challenges and long-term wellness.

At Covenant House, Christine felt seen, heard, and respected. Having her basic needs met was the first step. This enabled Christine to feel safe. She then realized that she could be her authentic self, which was freeing. She began to engage in art therapy, counselling, and was connected to Qmunity. Through this support, Christine started to create her own community, worked on her mental health, and found her passion.

Christine is now thriving. If you would like to know more about her incredible journey, you can read all about it .

The transformative work that Christine did, while at Covenant House Vancouver, never would have happened without the amazing support of our community. Donors are the backbone of our organization.

Right now, when you support young people, like Christine, your gift will be doubled, thanks to the Wubs Family Foundation, who will match any gift, up to $100,000, but only until June 30^th!

Donate today and walk alongside youth as they journey towards a better future.