Homeless individuals struggle to escape life circumstances
A holistic approach is needed to understand the root causes of these problems and provide appropriate support methods, says expert.
SHAH ALAM - A handful of homeless individuals find it difficult to break out of the same repetitive life cycle due to factors such as mental health disturbances and lack of social support.
Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) Psychology Counselling expert Associate Professor Dr Fauziah Mohd Sa'ad said the situation faced by these groups raised many complex social and economic issues.
She emphasised that a holistic approach was needed to understand the root causes of these problems and to provide appropriate support methods.
"Yes, the homeless often find themselves trapped in a loop from which they find it difficult to escape.
"Other factors such as difficulty in finding employment and housing can also contribute to feelings of being trapped or unable to find a way out," she said.
She was commenting on a special report about homeless individuals "celebrating" Aidilfitri in the capital city, where some have been living under bridges and wandering the streets for up to 30 years.
Fauziah also noted that the community could play a role by providing encouraging words and support to these vulnerable individuals.
"The public can also help by providing job opportunities and financial assistance.
"An integrated approach involving local authorities (PBT), non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the community as a whole is also important to address this issue," she said.
