Originally Posted by
bbongobboy
Ha!
Mental health is a big reason why some people become homeless. And if you're behind the eight ball, can't afford t buy your own home, have trouble at work, get some fines, can't pay, turn to drink or drugs, get locked out of the rental market (real estate agents are some of the dumbest people with the biggest effect on daily lives that I've ever encountered).
There are estimates floating around that 50% of homeless people have serious long term psychiatric illness (I'm talking about ones needing lifelong medication, not your run of the mill 'I'm feeling poorly' so the GP prescribes Prozac), and around 30% of the prison population have some form of mental illness or substance abuse vaulting them into crime and the criminal justice system).
I would not wish poor mental health or homelessness on anyone, and if you end up with the wrong partner or born into the wrong family you're largely on your own in the neo-liberal utopia that is modern Australia.
Judging people who suffer poor mental health or economic misfortune, no matter how they've personally contributed to their situation, is callous.
I've spent a lot of time helping people with serious mental illness or substance abuse. Empathy is in short supply at the best of times. The legal system and the way it works makes life nigh on impossible for those who are vulnerable and need help.
Government support is not as easy as people may think in this country and the neoliberal view of user pays and people helping themselves doesn't really work if you're born into poverty or suffer a health crisis without the support of friends or family. And it's getting worse I assure. you.