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RESEARCH PAPER
Bibliometric Insights into the Challenges and Needs of Homeless People with Mental Disorders
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1
Department of Social Work, Rajagiri College of Social Sciences, India
 
2
Library, Marian College Kuttikkanam, India
 
 
Submission date: 2025-07-19
 
 
Final revision date: 2025-10-12
 
 
Acceptance date: 2025-10-13
 
 
Online publication date: 2026-04-25
 
 
Publication date: 2026-04-25
 
 
Corresponding author
Anish K R   

Department of Social Work, Rajagiri College of Social Sciences, Rajagiri PO, 683104, Kochi, India
 
 
Problemy Polityki Społecznej 2026;72(1):1-28
 
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
This study presents a bibliometric analysis of scholarly literature on the challenges and needs of homeless people with mental disorders. Utilizing data from the Scopus database and analytical tools such as Biblioshiny, VOSviewer, and CiteSpace, the research maps global scientific output and intellectual structure in this interdisciplinary field. The analysis reveals steady growth in publications, with a significant rise after 2010, reflecting increasing academic attention to the intersection of homelessness and mental health. Leading contributors include researchers from the United States and Canada, with top journals such as Psychiatric Services and the Community Mental Health Journal serving as primary dissemination platforms. Co-citation and bibliographic coupling analyses reveal thematic cohesion centred on housing-first interventions, dual diagnosis, and integrated care models. Keyword co-occurrence and trend topic analyses highlight ongoing interest in trauma, substance use, and public health, while newer terms like COVID-19 and indigenous mental health signal responsive adaptation to contemporary challenges. Thematic mapping identifies underexplored areas such as incarceration, veterans, and youth mental health as emerging yet underdeveloped. The findings underscore the field's evolution from foundational to service-oriented research, with a growing focus on equity and recovery. Despite progress, gaps remain in digital health integration and cross-sectoral approaches. These insights inform future research directions and underscore the need for inclusive, policy-aligned strategies to support this vulnerable population.
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