Psychosocial Interventions and Gendered Mental Health Vulnerabilities Among Homeless Adults: A Case Study of Hastings, Kolkata

Abstract

 Homelessness is deeply intertwined with structural marginalization, poverty, and gendered vulnerabilities that significantly shape mental health outcomes. In Hastings, Kolkata - an area characterized by dense urban precarity and limited access to welfare services - homeless adults experience heightened psychosocial stressors, compounded by inadequate institutional support. This study, titled “Psychosocial Interventions and Gendered Mental Health Vulnerabilities Among Homeless Adults: A Case Study of Hastings, Kolkata,” adopts an embedded case study design to examine the intersection of mental health distress, social support deficits, and psychosocial intervention practices within a defined urban context.
Using a mixed-methods approach, data were collected from 133 homeless adults through standardized instruments, including the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). To capture lived experiences and gendered dimensions of vulnerability, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 homeless participants (men and women) and 5 professionals involved in intervention delivery, including social workers and mental health practitioners. Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS, while qualitative data were examined through thematic analysis to identify patterns related to distress, coping, and service access.
Findings indicate that nearly 70% of participants exhibited significant psychological distress, with women reporting higher levels of emotional strain, safety-related anxiety, and social isolation compared to men. Perceived social support was consistently low across familial, peer, and community networks. However, individuals who accessed psychosocial interventions - such as individual counselling, peer support groups, crisis referrals, and community outreach - reported improvements in emotional regulation, coping capacity, and perceived social connectedness. Qualitative insights further revealed that gender-sensitive outreach, sustained trust-building, and integrated service delivery were critical in facilitating engagement, particularly among women experiencing compounded vulnerabilities.
The study underscores the urgent need for structured, gender-responsive, and community-based psychosocial services tailored to the complex realities of urban homelessness. By situating mental health within broader social and gendered contexts, this case study contributes to a deeper understanding of how targeted psychosocial interventions can mitigate vulnerability and promote sustainable pathways toward well-being and social reintegration.