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Under A Bridge, At Missions And Shelters, In Alleyways, Wherever I Woke Up: An Exploration Of How Structural And Everyday Factors Impact Mental Health Issues And Survival Strategies Among Young Homeless Women In London, Ontario, Louise M. Vesanen

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This thesis examines how structural and everyday factors impact the survival strategies and mental health issues of young homeless females in London, Ontario. Data were gathered through secondary analysis of information from a larger study of service utilization and mental illness among homeless youth in London, and fieldnotes were also collected. The most important findings pertain to how these youth navigate the complicated terrain of daily life and the multitude of social and health-related services that they struggle to obtain and desperately need. The participants’ experiences with healthcare, justice, and social support systems, reveal a multitude of intersecting structural barriers …