Breaking the Cycle ....: A call to action!

Published on Jan 13, 2026

Breaking the Cycle of Illness and Homelessness in Mental Health Care - A Call to Action!

Severe mental illness (SMI) in many nations of the world is not just a health challenge—it is a human rights crisis. The lack of accessible treatment and support, entrenched stigma, and fragile social protection systems drive countless individuals into homelessness, where their suffering becomes both invisible and normalised.

This trajectory is preventable - Governments, NGOs, and Partners must act decisively:

- Invest in community mental health services that reach beyond hospitals into neighbourhoods.

- Develop social support programmes for individuals with mental health challenges and their caregivers.

- Integrate housing and social protection programmes to ensure residential stability for those living with SMI.

- Combat stigma through education and advocacy, reframing mental health as a public priority.

- Mobilise cross‑sector collaboration, recognizing that health, housing, and social welfare are inseparable.

Homelessness among people with SMI is the visible tip of systemic neglect.

Addressing it is not charity—it is justice.

The time to act is now.