Disconnection is a common trait I see among people experiencing homelessness — disconnection from society, from family and friends, and from a system they do not trust. Such isolation can lead to a lack of purpose and direction, which can set in motion a downhill spiral into anxiety and depression.

Humans are social beings; we yearn for connection and validation. Typically, we make connections among family members, work colleagues, friend groups, or at church. And even in how people support a football team — it’s about building connections with others who support the same team or who also have a love for the game.

When people become socially disconnected, they feel empty. They may experience low motivation, procrastination and self-doubt. Our natural responses to stressful situations are to fight, flight or freeze — and those who distance themselves from society will often freeze. Over the years, they give up on opportunities, stop looking for jobs, and sometimes lose motivation to fix their housing situation.

Some may dismiss these symptoms as laziness or lack of ambition. I would argue the reality is much more complex and is often linked to past trauma, which leads to disconnection and over time causes other aspects of their lives to deteriorate.

As you peel back the layers, you gain a better understanding of why they have retreated from society. What type of traumatic episodes, challenging circumstances or abuse have they faced? Why do they not have the social support networks of family, friends and colleagues that most of us are able to build and rely on? Answering these questions is critical for us as a community, with more than 1,100 people experiencing homelessness.

A growing body of research has found negative physical, mental and emotional impacts from social isolation and loneliness. According to the United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, these impacts include higher risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, dementia, depression, anxiety, self-harm and suicide.

Most of those experiencing homelessness have seen the breakdown of personal and social relationships that lead to disconnection from society. This does not make them idle or unintelligent. And telling them that they should be “normal” and “find a job” fails to address their underlying, trauma-related issues and will only push them into deeper isolation.

Homelessness exacerbates this disconnection and can further strain relationships with friends who remain, for example, through borrowing money from them and being unable to pay it back.

The link between homelessness and isolation is strong. For example, among 506 users of homeless services surveyed in 2015 by the British homeless charity Crisis, 61 per cent described themselves as “lonely”, only 23 per cent said they could count on a friend in the case of an emergency, while 28 per cent said they often felt invisible to others.

My aim in writing this article is to reach some of those who may be feeling disconnected, whether they are homeless or potentially on a path to homelessness.

My message to them is there is nothing wrong with you. The road to recovery starts with knowing you are not alone, that you have someone who has your interests at heart.

And it’s important you seek help, even if it means swallowing your pride. Organisations including Dignity House, the Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute and Home are there to help. It will not be a quick fix. It’s about first understanding where you are and then finding the specific support you need.

At Home, our case managers strive to be steady, reliable guides for our clients, helping them navigate the maze of life when they don’t know which way to turn.

We help them access the services they need and the professionals they need to engage with. At the core of our approach to addressing homelessness is the creation of a co-ordinated system of wraparound services that places the individual at the centre, giving those experiencing homelessness the sustained support necessary to make progress and to maintain stable, independent living.

This “one front door” approach, providing a single point of entry into the services ecosystem, can bring together the fragmented and difficult-to-navigate system we have today.

Home is working towards this vision through the introduction of integrated case-management technology for adoption by all providers of homeless services. Further progress will come as more social-service and helping agencies come on board with the system.

We see success stories at Home week after week. It is inspiring to see someone take that first step towards seeking help and a constant reminder of the reality we emphasise every day: homelessness is a journey and not a destination.

• Keishen Bean is a supervising case manager at Home who previously served as a residential care officer for the Department of Child and Family Services, and as an educational therapist assistant with the Ministry of Education. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Community Studies from Cape Breton University, and is former captain of the national football team. Keishen can be reached by e-mailing keishen@home.bm or by calling 599-9931. To learn more, see Home’s annual report at www.home.bm