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Blog 5. Health risks experienced by marginalized populations

 Part A

A goal was set in place by the United State to reduce or even better eliminate healthcare disparities by the year 2010. Marginalized populations are characterized by discrimination among groups and communities. Minnesota Psychological Association classified anyone who falls under the following category as being marginalized:

  • GLBT
  • Senior citizens
  • Racial/Cultural minorities
  • Military Combat Veterans
  • Persons of below average intelligence
  • Hearing, visually, and Physically  Challenged Persons
  • Persons with a serious and Persistent Mental Illness (SPMI)
  • Persons with Cognitive Impairments
  • Gamblers and Substance Abusers
  • Autism Spectrum Persons
  • Gifted and Talented Persons
  • Persons with disfigurements
  • Persons Living in Poverty
  • Sex Offenders
  • The Homeless
  • Felons (N.A).
Immigration Resource Center • Community Action Committee of Cape & Islands, Inc
How do Veterans, Homeless and Incarcerated populations intersect? 

Mental Illness is high among Veterans, Homeless and Incarcerated population. 

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs indicated "Incarceration as an adult male is the most powerful predictor of homelessness" (2021). 

5 Key Facts About Homeless Veterans - National Alliance to End Homelessness

According to the RAND Center for Military Research "20 percent of the vets who served in either Iraq or Afghanistan suffer from either major depression or post-traumatic stress disorder. 19.5 percent of vets in these two categories have experienced a traumatic brain injury. These three service-related disorders alone have an enormous impact on the demand for veteran mental health treatment" (2016).

An Estimated 31 Percent of Troops Returning from Iraq and Afghanistan Have a Mental Health Condition or Reported Experiencing a TBI (Tanielian et al., 2008).

According to a 2015 assessment by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, "564,708 people were homeless on a given night in the United States. At a minimum, 140,000 or 25 percent of these people were seriously mentally ill, and 250,000 or 45 percent had any mental illness" (2018).

Visualize Homelessness | National Health Care for the Homeless Council

According to American Psychological Association "about 10 percent to 25 percent of U.S. prisoners suffer from serious mental illnesses" ( 2014). 

There Are 10 Times More Mentally Ill People Behind Bars Than in State Hospitals – Mother Jones
Part B.

Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MACV)

"Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MACV) is a Veteran-focused nonprofit organization providing services and support to end Veteran homelessness in Minnesota. We envision a future where every Veteran and their family has access to sustainable housing.

We understand the reasons for Veteran homelessness and how these factors impact the people we serve. As Minnesota’s largest nonprofit focused on ending Veteran homelessness, our services and programs empower Veterans by equipping them with the resources, know-how, and tools to create new opportunities.

Our goal is to create a community of support through open collaboration and connections in communities across our great state. Join MACV and become a part of our supportive and welcoming community" (2021).

MACV’S MISSION

End Veteran homelessness in Minnesota.

MACV’S VISION

Every Veteran in Minnesota has access to the services and support needed to avoid homelessness and achieve sustainable housing.

MACV’S PURPOSE

"Homelessness and its consequences are leading causes of personal and family suffering and community problems resulting in major health and social costs. MACV exists to directly help Veterans and their families affected by homelessness in Minnesota or those in danger of becoming homeless. We strive to serve, inform, educate, and train others to carry a message of hope. As a result, we aim to set a national standard for respectfully meeting the housing and supportive service needs of Veterans while maintaining the worth and dignity of all those involved.

Through outreach offices in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Duluth, Mankato, ST. Cloud, Moor head, Rochester, and Princeton, we provide and coordinate services for Veterans in need throughout Minnesota" (2021). 


https://www.mac-v.org


MACV has helped over 10,000 Veterans over their 30 plus years of service. 


An open letter about America's homeless Veterans | About Verizon


Garrett, W. (n.d.). Marginalized populations. MemberClicks. Retrieved December 4, 2021, from https://www.mnpsych.org/index.php?option=com_dailyplanetblog&view=entry&category=division+news&id=71%3Amarginalized-populations.  

About MACV, a Minnesota nonprofit for Homeless Veterans. MAC. (2021, September 2). Retrieved December 4, 2021, from https://www.mac-v.org/about-us/. 

American Psychological Association. (2014, October). Incarceration nation. Monitor on Psychology. Retrieved December 4, 2021, from https://www.apa.org/monitor/2014/10/incarceration. 

Health, V. H. A. O. of M. (2019, February 7). Veterans Affairs. Go to VA.gov. Retrieved December 4, 2021, from https://www.va.gov/HOMELESS/nchav/resources/justice-involved/incarceration.asp. 

Homelessness and mental illness: A challenge to our society. Brain & Behavior Research Foundation. (2020, February 3). Retrieved December 4, 2021, from https://www.bbrfoundation.org/blog/homelessness-and-mental-illness-challenge-our-society. 

Tanielian, T., Jaycox, L. H., Schell, T. L., Marshall, G. N., Burnam, M. A., Eibner, C., Karney, B., Meredith, L. S., Ringel, J. S., & Vaiana, M. E. (2008, April 8). Invisible wounds: Mental health and cognitive care needs of America's returning veterans. RAND Corporation. Retrieved December 4, 2021, from https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RB9336.html. 

Veteran mental health - facts and stats that need to be addressed. National Veterans Foundation. (2018, July 26). Retrieved December 4, 2021, from https://nvf.org/veteran-mental-health-facts-statistics/. 


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