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Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
Every young person who seeks help at Larkin Street Youth Services is different,
but there is one thing they all have in common: they need to recover
from trauma that occurred in their past and heal from the painful experience
of living on the street. Some of them suffered from mental health
issues even before they ended up on the street; others have developed
emotional difficulties from dealing with the threat of violence and exploitation. Depression,
post-traumatic stress disorder, and suicide attempts are all common in
the histories of homeless youth.
The combination of abusive or neglectful childhoods and the hopelessness of street life is so toxic that many of LSYS’s clients have also turned to drug use as self-medication or escape. Therefore, a significant number of the kids at LSYS are dually diagnosed with both mental health and substance abuse issues. Once the kids’ basic survival needs have been taken care of in LSYS programs such as the Drop-In Center or the Medical Clinic, it’s time to work towards greater stability and consider on-going counseling in order to continue their journey toward productive adulthood. LSYS offers an integrated program to address both mental health and substance abuse issues. It is designed to be comprehensive, fulfilling individual needs through any combination of mental health and substance abuse assessments, individual and group counseling, emergency mental health assistance, psychiatric evaluation, and referrals to community providers for longer term care. For youth who also need treatment for substance abuse, LSYS offers assessments and intervention activities designed to encourage engagement in longer term alcohol or drug abuse treatment. Young people enter Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services from any of the LSYS programs. Intensive case management is available to help youth navigate LSYS’s continuum as well as the network of community providers in order to get each young person’s mental health and substance abuse needs met. Kids who have been hurt, whether by their families or by the hardships of the street, want to recover and move on with their lives. But without assistance, the twin hardships of mental illness and substance abuse prevent them from finding stability. Larkin Street’s Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services give young people the crucial support that allows them to make peace with their painful pasts and look forward to happy futures.
“Streets and speed have got me down. Now I’m going to rehab. It feels really good. I’m getting on track.” – Mike, 23 |
