Abstract
Homelessness, life without a permanent shelter affects mainly individuals with health or social handicap. In this paper we present results of mental health screening of homeless people that was conducted in 2002/2003 in Prague.
A total of 257 persons (38 women, 12.5%) completed the Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ) developed by the World Health Organization. 22.6% of the sample reported they were treated in mental hospital, 13.2% underwent a treatment for alcohol dependency. Mental problems were more frequent in women: intensive symptoms of depression and anxiety were found in 37.5% of women and 21.3% of men; psychotic symptoms in 18.8% of women and 7.1% of men.
Mental problems were related to lower education, longer time period of homelessness and previous hospitalization for mental disorder.