Disconnected: The Invisible Thread Linking Homelessness, Addiction, and Mental Illness

When we talk about homelessness, addiction, or mental illness, the conversation often centers around what we can see—substance use, lack of housing, or behavioral symptoms. But beneath those surface-level struggles lies a deeper, less visible issue that often fuels and sustains them: disconnection.

Disconnection as the Root, Not the Side Effect

Many people assume that disconnection happens because someone is homeless, addicted, or mentally ill. But growing research and lived experience suggest that disconnection often precedes these issues—and may, in fact, be a root cause.

Dr. Bruce Perry, a renowned psychiatrist and trauma expert, emphasizes that connection is essential to human development and mental health. In What Happened to You?, co-authored with Oprah Winfrey (2021), Perry writes:

“Connectedness has the power to counterbalance adversity. When a child has a stable, supportive relationship, it can buffer the effects of trauma.”

This principle doesn’t just apply to children. The absence of supportive, stable relationships—whether due to trauma, poverty, discrimination, or systemic failure—leaves people vulnerable to a range of problems, from mental illness to substance use.

Addiction as a Search for Connection

Addiction is often seen as a disease of the brain, but it's also a response to emotional and social pain. As journalist Johann Hari famously put it in his TED Talk and book Chasing the Scream (2015):

“The opposite of addiction is not sobriety. The opposite of addiction is connection.”

This idea is supported by research from the Rat Park studies (Alexander et al., 1981), which showed that rats isolated in cages consumed far more morphine than those in enriched, social environments. While the study has its limitations, it sparked a conversation about the role of environment and connection in substance use.

A 2020 study published in Frontiers in Psychology also found that social isolation was significantly linked to higher rates of substance use, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic (Killgore et al., 2020).

Homelessness and Isolation

Homelessness is not only the loss of housing—it's often the breakdown of social ties. Research shows that people experiencing homelessness frequently report extreme social isolation and alienation (Perri et al., 2020).

Even when housing is provided, outcomes can be poor if people remain disconnected. This is why models like Housing First, which combine housing with supportive relationships and community integration, tend to be more successful than housing alone (Tsemberis et al., 2004).

Mental Illness and the Pain of Disconnection

People with serious mental illness are at high risk of isolation, often due to stigma, discrimination, and the symptoms themselves. A systematic review published in BMC Psychiatry (2014) found that loneliness is both a symptom and a predictor of poor outcomes in mental illness (Badcock et al., 2014).

Connection isn’t just helpful—it can be life-saving. Peer support, which involves people with lived experience of mental illness helping others on their recovery journey, is one approach rooted in connection and mutual understanding. Studies have shown that it can reduce hospitalizations and improve recovery outcomes (Repper & Carter, 2011).

Reconnection Is the Real Solution

Housing, treatment, and therapy are vital. But none of these interventions work in isolation—literally. For recovery to stick, people need a sense of belonging. As Dr. Julian Abel, co-author of The Compassion Project (2020), argues:

“Social relationships are the foundation of health.”

Community-led responses, trauma-informed care, and peer support are all grounded in the recognition that human beings heal in connection with others. This is why some of the most successful interventions address not just individual needs, but also rebuild social networks and restore a sense of purpose and belonging.

Final Thoughts

Disconnection may not be as visible as addiction or as headline-grabbing as homelessness, but it’s often the common thread tying them together. If we want lasting solutions—not just temporary fixes—we must address the loneliness, exclusion, and systemic barriers that keep people disconnected.

Because when people are seen, valued, and connected, healing becomes possible—not just for individuals, but for communities.

__________________________________________________________________________________

References:

• Alexander, B. K., Coambs, R. B., & Hadaway, P. F. (1981). The effect of housing and gender on morphine self-administration in rats. Psychopharmacology, 72(1), 47–52.

• Badcock, J. C., Adery, L. H., & Park, S. (2014). Loneliness in psychosis: A review. BMC Psychiatry, 14(1), 1–12.

• Hari, J. (2015). Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs. Bloomsbury.

• Killgore, W. D. S., Cloonan, S. A., Taylor, E. C., & Dailey, N. S. (2020). Loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic is associated with increased alcohol consumption. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 11, 572393.

• Perry, B. D., & Winfrey, O. (2021). What Happened to You? Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing. Flatiron Books.

• Perri, M., Dosani, N., & Hwang, S. W. (2020). COVID-19 and people experiencing homelessness: Challenges and mitigation strategies. CMAJ, 192(26), E716–E719.

• Repper, J., & Carter, T. (2011). A review of the literature on peer support in mental health services. Journal of Mental Health, 20(4), 392–411.

• Tsemberis, S., Gulcur, L., & Nakae, M. (2004). Housing First, consumer choice, and harm reduction for homeless individuals with a dual diagnosis. American Journal of Public Health, 94(4), 651–656.