Young People, Couchsurfing, and Mental Health
Tracks
Conference Centre Room 2
| Monday, March 28, 2022 |
| 1:52 PM - 2:12 PM |
Overview
Dr Katie Hail-Jares, Griffith University
Speaker
Dr Katie Hail-jares
Lecturer
Griffith University
Young People, Couchsurfing, and Mental Health
Abstract
Young People, Couchsurfing, and Mental Health
At the last CAMH conference, we shared results from an earlier project that found a relationship between couchsurfing and poor self-assessed mental health. Since then, we have concluded an additional mixed-methods study exploring this relationship in more detail. We present first the results of a new quantitative study that draws upon five years of intake data—and over 2,800 records of young people who are couchsurfing—to comment on the relationship between mental health and homelessness. We then introduce the results following interviews with 65 young people who were couchsurfing throughout Queensland between 2018-2020. Young people linked their couchsurfing experiences to feelings of uncertainty and transience, abandonment, and “being a burden.” We also touch upon the relationship between couchsurfing and substance use, sexual assault, and forced labour. Cumulatively, these experiences contributed to three-fourths of respondents reporting very high levels of psychological distress on the Kessler-10 (K10). We conclude by discussing how social service agencies—and educational institutions—can do better at supporting young people who are couchsurfing.
3 x Key Learnings:
• The link between poor mental health and couchsurfing
• The common challenges faced by young people who are couchsurfing
• Solutions for improving service delivery for young people who are couchsurfing
At the last CAMH conference, we shared results from an earlier project that found a relationship between couchsurfing and poor self-assessed mental health. Since then, we have concluded an additional mixed-methods study exploring this relationship in more detail. We present first the results of a new quantitative study that draws upon five years of intake data—and over 2,800 records of young people who are couchsurfing—to comment on the relationship between mental health and homelessness. We then introduce the results following interviews with 65 young people who were couchsurfing throughout Queensland between 2018-2020. Young people linked their couchsurfing experiences to feelings of uncertainty and transience, abandonment, and “being a burden.” We also touch upon the relationship between couchsurfing and substance use, sexual assault, and forced labour. Cumulatively, these experiences contributed to three-fourths of respondents reporting very high levels of psychological distress on the Kessler-10 (K10). We conclude by discussing how social service agencies—and educational institutions—can do better at supporting young people who are couchsurfing.
3 x Key Learnings:
• The link between poor mental health and couchsurfing
• The common challenges faced by young people who are couchsurfing
• Solutions for improving service delivery for young people who are couchsurfing
Biography
Katie Hail-Jares (she/her) is a lecturer in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Griffith University in Queensland, Australia. Her work focuses on how criminalising behaviour impacts the health of people, including sex workers, people who use drugs, youth who are experiencing homelessness, and incarcerated communities.
Rhianon Vichta-Ohlsen (she/her) is the Research and Evaluation Manager for Brisbane Youth Service, leading practice research and outcomes measurement specifically adapted to the complex intersecting issues of young people who experience homelessness associated risks. She became a researcher and evaluator after spending more than 20 years delivering, designing, managing and working to improve social programs both in Australia and overseas.
