Summary of my Learning

Throughout this course I have been able to build a knowledge base not only on social welfare but as well as different marginalized groups specifically people living with a mental illness. Before entering this course I had a basic understanding of what social welfare is but I now have gained knowledge that I will take with me in the future. By learning about Canada's history of their welfare state as well as different political ideologies I am now able to apply theses topic areas in the other courses I am taking. Throughout the semester and the blog posts I have been able to expand my Knowledge vastly on the area of mental illness and the social and political issues that face people who live with a mental illness. Some of the areas I have focused my blogs on are, employment, health care, poverty and housing. These are only just a few of the many issues that face those living or experiencing a mental illness but these topic areas have opened up my view on social policies in Canada and how many people are greatly neglected. Through my placement with the Child and Youth Worker program I was able to work within the Royal Ottawa Mental Heath Care Group and during that time I was able to experience inpatient issues that face youth living with a mental illness. But now with the information I have gained from this course and specifically the blog posts i know there are many other issues that face this population far beyond managing their illness. One major things I have learnt from doing research and finding topic areas is that the severe disadvantage we have here living in the north when it comes to access of care and treatment compared to other urban centers such as Ottawa and Toronto. As a future social worker I hope to work in this area and I'm very intrigued on finding out more information about what can be done in our area to improve support and services. As well from reading the blog posts not only of my other group members but the other groups as well not only I have I gained knowledge on other maraganlized groups but I was able to recognize all the work that we as future social workers will be faced with. These blog posts I believe are important because I now have a background knowledge in all these topic areas that I did not have before and I will be able to carry this information with me in the future.

- Amanda

Health Care in Canada, for those living with or experiencing a mental illness

For this blog I decided to research the topic of health care concerns for those who experience or live with a mental illness. I was able to find an article on Maclean’s magazine website concerning this issue. As we all have learnt in class and through some of the blog posts this semester that mental illness can be called the invisible disease. But as stated in this article this is not the fact at all it is seen in schools, homes, hospitals etc. (Belluz & Macqueen, 2011). Canadian Mental Health Association has stated that mental illness has or will affect all Canadians at some point i.e. through family members, friends, or coworkers (Canadian Mental Health Association , 2012). Also that 20% of Canadians will have a personal experiences at some point and it has no bias’s i.e. does not matter what ages you are, education or skills, income or culture (Canadian Mental Health Association , 2012) As well suicide in Canada is one of the most leading causes of death among men and women (Canadian Mental Health Association , 2012)When we look at these statistics and then again think about the phrase invisible disease it is hard to really compare the two.

            Canada is the only G7 country without a national mental health strategy, and discussed in the mclanes article is that they believe this is due because of lesser priority and lower funding when it comes to the proper treatment of psychiatric disorders (Belluz & Macqueen, 2011). The cost to the economy in 1998 was about $7.9 billion as well and added 6.3 billion was spent on uninsured mental health services or time taken off work because of a mental illness (Canadian Mental Health Association , 2012). This is a clear sign that this is an area that needs to be addressed. When we look at the stats again and compare it to the stats of who actually receives the proper treatment and health care it is astounding. Because of this many people who undiagnosed, suffer silently, turn to substance abuse. And when they do try to seek professional help they are likely to receive improper care and long wait times to find care (Belluz & Macqueen, 2011).

            As well in the article they quote the executive director of the Canadian Mental Health Association saying that only one in three adults get access to proper mental health care, and if you’re a child it’s about one in six (Belluz & Macqueen, 2011). As well as that higher your income the higher your chances are to receive care because of the privatization of most services and the cost (Belluz & Macqueen, 2011). I believe it’s important when discussing health care for those with mental illness to address the issues that concern children and youth because often for severe mental illnesses they develop around this age. It is estimated that 10-20% of Canadian youth suffer from a mental illness or disorder, as well as Canada’s youth suicide rate is the third highest in the industrialized world. It is the second leading cause of death for youth, and the second highest hospital care expenditure in Canada. But with this being said only one out of five children who need mental health services receives them (Canadian Mental Health Association , 2012). Only about 7% of governments health expenditures go to mental health and shockingly this is well under most developed countries (Canadian Mental Health Association , 2012).

            As of now the family physician plays the key role in mental health care for most Canadian, but they cannot meet the full needs of every patient living with or experiencing a mental illness (Canadian Psychiatric Association, 1996). Some of the issues that need to be addressed by the government is prevalence of mental illness by age, sex and other variables, risk and protective factors, impact of mental illness on quality of life, access to primary and specialist health care, impact of mental illness on economy and the workforce, as well as a number of other issues that face people living with mental illness (Health Canada, 2002).  

            The social democratic lens believe that for people to reach their full potential the environment needs to be created (Mallaly, 2007). It is obvious that this is not the way the Canadian government is addressing the policy issues that face those who live with or experience a mental illness. As well for the social democratic political ideology believe that government intervention is key therefore they would believe that the goal the government should have is to fix these issues in the public sector not the private (Mullaly, 2007).  

-Amanda

References

Belluz, J. & Macqueen, K. (2011, March, 22). Mental Health Care for a Few. Macleans. Retrieved from http://www2.macleans.ca/2011/03/22/mental-health-care-for-the-few/

Canadian Mental Health Association . (2012). Fast Facts . Retrieved November 15, 2012, from Canadian Mental Health Association : http://www.cmha.ca/

Canadian Psychiatric Association. (October, 4, 1996). Shared Mental Health Care in Canada/Position Paper. Retrieved from http://www.cfpc.ca/uploadedFiles/Directories/_PDFs/Shared%20Mental%20Health%20C     are%20in%20Canada.pdf 

Health Canada. (2002). A Report on Mental Illness in Canada. Ottawa: Health Canada Editorial   Board Mental Illnesses in Canada.

Mullaly, R. (2007). The New Structural Social Work. Canada: Oxford University Press.

 

Children Suffering From Mental Illness

Raising a child without a Mental Illness is a very time consuming job and it takes a lot of care and patience, but for parents raising a child who is suffering from a Mental Illness there is definitely more challenges when it comes to raising their child. Dr Manion says "In Canada's health system mental health is an orphan, but children's mental health is an orphans orphan"("Manion & Michael, 2008). This basically means that not only is mental health pushed aside by the Canadian government but that Children's mental health is almost non existent. This is a disturbing thought especially because I plan on working with children who are mentally ill, but how are we supposed to help children who suffer from a mental illness if the resources are non existent. Mental health affects 13- 22 percent of Canadian children and is most often ignored due to denial.("Manion & Michael, 2008)

Across Canada 800.000 families struggle on a daily basis with the stress and complication due to raising a child with a mental illness.(Anderson & Andre, 2008) It is saddening that there are so many families out their fighting for answers, and all they can do is wait. But the longer they wait to find out the answers the longer their children are isolated from society. Ms Bishop and Mr Quins knew that their daughter needed help but that it was easier said than done.(Anderson & Andre, 2008). Why is this, why is it so hard to try and find answers? Until answers are found for children with mental illness they are more often than not seen as a spoiled child who is kicking and screaming because they didn't get what they want. Ms bishop said she wanted to scream out "she isn't spoiled she is sick" in regards to her daughter who was having a severe breakdown in the middle of the grocery store.(Anderson & Andre, 2008) I can't imagine what it would be like for these parents feeling humiliated because they don't know whats wrong with their child. Mental Illness doesn't just affect the child it also affects the parent(s). The more stressed and overwhelmed parents get the more likely they will have anxiety and breakdown.

Now to bring this into a Neoconservative lens, where they believe that individuals who suffer from mental illness deserve it and that it is not a disability. The definition of disability is " a physical or mental condition that limits a persons movement, senses or activities". This is often the case when individuals are diagnosed with a mental illness. The signs and symptoms can often include not being able to live they way they used too, not knowing from right or wrong and losing control of their body and mind. So by not seeing mental illness as a disability they are affecting they way children who suffer from a mental illness grow up. If the government doesn't see it as a disability then the funds or necessary programs will not be put into place or are taken away. Mental illness is more common than people think and as a society we need to do our part in advocating for those who cannot.

Karlie

References

Anderssen, E., & Picard, A. (2008, November 22). Raising a child with a mental illness. Retrieved December 12, 2012, from Globe and Mail: http://v1.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081122.wbreakdown2211/BNStory/mentalhealth/

Manion, I., & Michael, C. (2008, November 25). Mental health professionals on children and mental illness. Retrieved December 11, 2012, from Globe and Mail: http://v1.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081122.wmhchildrendocsdiscussion1122/BNStory/mentalhealth/

Last Blog of the Semester

 

 

Throughout the semester and our blogging assignments I have gained more knowledge on the topic of mental illness in Canada. In my previous college program I took an introduction to mental health course, and it was one of my favorite course in my three-year program. I viewed working with the mental health group as way to gain more knowledge on a topic that I had been extremely interested in since my first year of college. I have learned much more than I had ever anticipated throughout the blogging assignments and group work.

            My first topic was on suicide, which I had never though would be a part of our group’s blogging because I hadn’t viewed it as a mental health disorder. However since researching the topic I learned that although it is not a mental health disorder, several of those who suffer from a mental health illness struggle with suicide at some point. I also learned about the changes that have been made in terms of the way society views suicide, and how it can be stigmatized. Further into my research I learned about the stereotypes that can be put on those who struggle with suicide and how it affects their mental well being.  I furthered my studies on mental health and suicide into my second blog. Also in my second blog I began to learn about the interference of colonial projects interfering with indigenous communities, and the effects it caused, suicide being one of those effects. Learning about these effects was a completely new experience for me as it was an issue I had never heard of before, this was my favorite topic to research and post on. For my third blog I had the opportunity to learn more about an issue that I have felt strongly about for sometime. Housing for those with mental health illnesses is an important one, and one I felt was often over looked. It was a great opportunity to learn more in depth on a topic I thought I already knew so well. My final blog was an eye-opener for me. I wrote it on the stigmatization, and stereotypes surrounding those who have a mental health illness being violent. I had never viewed this population as violent so it came as a shock to me when hearing some of the stereotypes, or beliefs some held about this population.

            From my group I have learned so much, and had a great experience reading their posts, interacting with each of them, and presenting our combined learning together. From my group I learned about the mental health populations and their struggles with employment, restructuring of the welfare state, inadequate income support programs, etc. I have learned so much from each new post, and I hope I was able to share my learning with them. I was uneasy about the assignment first, but at the end of the semester am glad I could be a part of such a different experience.

 

Erica

Violence and Mental Health Disorders

Violence and Mental Health Disorders



 

 

 

 

Since beginning to do research on the topic of violence involved with persons who have a form of mental health disorder, research has shown that the claimed violence from persons with a disorder is in fact a majority of the time a stigmatization. In fact it has been said several times throughout research that this population is generally more vulnerable than violent. The media however does an incredible job of stigmatizing the population by using 1 or 2 stories that involve a person who has a form of mental health disorder and blowing it up into headline stories. Of course there are some cases where those with mental health disorders are violent, however one must look at why they were violent, what contributed to the violence, and how the situation came about before putting a label on a whole population.

            Those who suffer from mental health disorders such as schizophrenia, mood disorders, major depression, bi-polar, etc. at times can show higher levels of violence than people normally would. However this can be caused by the violent individual suffering from symptoms of the disorder itself. Symptoms can include feeling as though they are being threatened, or manipulated by outside forces which can cause them to “lash out”. However as long as proper treatment is sought out and received, and an individual who is suffering takes their prescribed medication regularly, the use of violent behavior is reduced and is rare. Several Studies have shown that mental illness alone does not incline a person to violence, but instead it is the influence of “co-variants” (Canadian Mental Health Association). Two examples of a co-variant would be the persons environment whether it be throughout childhood, adolescents, school, as an adult it can have an effect on the persons disorders, and in turn behavior. A second example of a co-variant would be a person who has a mental health disorder, but also has a form of substance abuse issue. Finally for those who do exhibit violence that results in legal action being taken, this can cause further violence. Further violence can be cause due to the fact that most criminal justice agencies are poorly equipped to address the psychological needs of victims (Parsons & Bergin 2010).

            As a group, people with mental health issues are not more violent than any other group in our society. The majority of crimes are not committed by people with psychiatric illness, and multiple studies have proven that there is very little relationship between most of these diseases and violence (Canadian Mental Health Association). The media however does an excellent job at making it appear that a majority of criminals must have a mental health disorder. The media takes the small amount of violence that is committed by those who suffer from a mental health disorder and “blow it up”. As soon as crime is committed anywhere it is immediately on the new or in newspapers. However since being in this blogging group I have noticed that when a mental health disorder is also involved it is suddenly everywhere. Now the story is not only on the new or in the newspaper, it is in famous magazines, talked about across the internet, special crime shows are put on to discuss it. However what most people do not realize is that by doing these things we are actually in turn being violent towards that individual, and the mental health population emotionally, spiritually, and intellectually. Most are quick to forget that violence doesn’t end at the word physical. Suddenly a whole population is stereotyped as violent or dangerous because of the act of a few people who in the end most likely did not receive the help they needed in time.

 

Erica



Referances:

Picture: http://www-faculty.edfac.usyd.edu.au/projects/towards_better_practice/uploads/images/hands%20reaching.jpg

http://www.cmha.ca/mental_health/violence-and-mental-illness/

Parson,J. Bergin,T. (2010). The Impact of Criminal Justice Involvement on Victim's Mental Health. Vera Institute of Justice, New York. Vol.23.2.182-188

Davis,K. Fallon,J. Vogel,S. Teachout,A. (2008) Integrating into the Mental Health System from the Criminal Justice System. The Hawthorne Press. 217-231

Impriosment of Individuals with a Mental Illness a Neo-conservative View

     By looking through a neo-conservative lens it could be said that people who have a mental illness are a threat to neighbourhood safety.  It has been a view of the neoconservatives that criminals opt to prey upon others for the sake of their own gratification (Lafond & Durham, 1992).  The views of neoconservatives are very black and white when it comes to punishment and justice.  "Neoconservatives argue that the law could not and should not take into account the various social environments from which offenders came and the incentives for crime those environments created" (Lafond & Durham, 1992).  In my opinon neoconservatives believe whether an individual has a mental illness or not it is their view that punishment is essential to prevent and restrain those who commit crimes.   An issue that comes to rise under this lens is the fact that many people facing mental illness are being placed into the prison systems.  The Globe and Mail produced an article that states that Canada’s prisons are becoming warehouses for the mentally ill (Mackrel, 2009).  The main ideas produced by this article are: the closing of many psychiatric institutions has resulted in an increase in mentally ill individuals being incarcerated.  More than one in ten men, and one in three women held in federal prisons have mental health problems.  The prisons are not equipped with the proper resources to help the individuals suffering from mental illness.  The Conservatives idea to solve this problem is to expand prison space and staff to accommodate such growth.  In my opinion the conservative governments’ solution to this problem does absolutely nothing to solve a growing problem.  The issue at hand is that these individuals are not receiving proper treatment within these facilities.  Without such treatment upon release these individuals are at a high risk to be placed back within the prison system.

     The view of the neo-conservative suggests these individuals are a threat.   Police play a factor in keeping neighbourhoods safe and if they feel an individual is a threat to the community they are obligated to remove them.  “The police are well aware that if they refer a person with mental illness to the criminal justice system, the individual will be dealt with in a more predictable way. He or she will be taken into custody, will probably be seen by a mental health professional attached to the court or the jail, and will probably receive psychiatric evaluation and treatment” (Lamb, Weinberger, Decuir, 2002).  Thus through placing men and women who have a mental illness in prisons neighbourhood safety is achieved, and the officers believe these individuals will receive the necessary help they require.

     Attitudes of society still hold much stigma and stereotypes when dealing with individuals who have a mental illness.  These attitudes can hinder how individuals are reintegrated into communities, “the social reintegration of ex-psychiatric patients depends crucially upon their acceptance (or rejection) by the host community” (Taylor & Dear, 1981).  This research proves that it is essential for communities to support these individuals if they are to be rehabilitated properly.  If these stereotypes exist it is in my opinion that we will continue to find these individuals within the prison system because of the difficulties faced with trying to reintegrate them into the community. 

     The neoconservative’s idea of getting tough on crime and keeping neighbourhoods safe seemingly ignores the needs of vulnerable individuals that have a mental illness.  There are problems that are occurring at the policing level and community level which help keep these individuals behind bars.  Research has also suggested that systemic problems are occurring and contributing to this problem of the mentally ill being incarcerated (Lamberti et al, 2001).  The health care system, justice system, and social service system all work within their own entity and the defragmentation of services work against individuals who suffer from a mental illness.  The view that the neoconservative government holds ignores possibilities to try and offer solutions to this growing problem.

 

References

Lafond, J. & Durham, M. (1992). Back to the asylum: The future of mental health law in the United States.  Available from http://books.google.ca/books?id=odu2ssjEtAEC&pg=PA53&lpg=PA53&dq=neoconservative+%22mental+illness%22+safety&source=bl&ots=PLfKMg9FrK&sig=VgryzEo6YRz02KDWAsW7BCz-fOs&hl=en&sa=X&ei=TQvGUPejBqaoywGrpICIDg&ved=0CE0Q6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=neoconservative%20%22mental%20illness%22%20safety&f=false

Lamb, R. Weinberger, L. & Decuir, W.  (2002).  The Police and Mental Health.  Psychiatric Services.  53 (10).  doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.53.10.1266

Lamberti, J., Weisman, R. L., Schwarzkopf, S. B., Price, N., Aston, R., & Trompeter, J. (2001). The Mentally Ill in Jails and Prisons: Towards an Integrated Model of Prevention. Psychiatric Quarterly, 72(1), 63.  Retrieved from: http://web.ebscohost.com.libproxy.auc.ca/ehost/detail?sid=97ceff93-6a0a-46c6-9482-944cb727af8a%40sessionmgr15&vid=1&hid=19&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#db=a9h&AN=11303866

Mackrael, K.  (2009). Canada’s Prisons becoming Warehouses for the Mentally Ill.  The Globe and Mail.  Retrieved from: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/canadas-prisons-becoming-warehouses-for-the-mentally-ill/article4236899/

Taylor, S. M., & Dear, M. J. (1981). Scaling community attitudes toward the mentally ill. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 7(2), 225-240.  Retrieved from: http://search.proquest.com/docview/614275499?accountid=46683

By: Alissa B

Poverty Facing People Living with a Mental Illness

In Canada there’s been major restructuring of the welfare state in the past years by the government that has led to many policy issues effecting people who have a mental illness.

Canada is continually cutting back government assistance support programs to community based programs because of globalizations and the government’s current neoconservative lens, this has impacted areas such as employment, poverty, housing, education and health care that directly impact those who are living with a mental illness. In Canada there is a lack of social economic supports, insufficient primary health care and community mental health services, shortages of affordable housing and inadequate income support programs (Canadian Mental Health Association, 2007).

            I’ve decided this blog to focus on the social policy issue of poverty for those who are living with a mental illness. When we look at the poverty level in Canada, a high level of people living with a mental illness are living in poverty. In Canada almost 27% of adults with a mental illness are living in poverty (Wilton, 2004). Some of the reasons behind this high rate of poverty for people who live with a mental illness are because a mental illness can interrupt a person’s education or career the result is reduced chance of finding full time employment. This lack of employment then affects that person’s ability to bring in an income to support themselves (Canadian Mental Health Association, 2007). Another reason for poverty facing people with mental illness is because people are frequently not able to access community services and supports due to lack of services and challenges that face the system. With the recent changes to our welfare state in Canada by the government and the changes in our political economy it has negatively affected many people living with a mental illness. For example people who live with disabilities are three times more likely to be poor and four times more likely to receive social assistance than those who live without a disability. In 2006, 1 out of 3 people receiving ODSP were people living with a serious mental illness. But with this said ODSP rates do not cover basic needs i.e. food, clothing and housing. Also many people who live with a mental illness access Ontario Works, and that assistance is half as much as ODSP. 34% of people who live off of ODSP are below the poverty line. These are social assistance programs that are provided by the government that are supposed help meet the needs of Canadian citizen who need them, but they do not  (Canadian Mental Health Association, 2007).

            Through the neo conservative lens, the issue of poverty facing those with mental illnesses and people with other disabilities is not a primary concern. They believe that it should be up to public and private sectors to take on these responsibilities to meet their needs (Mullaly, 2007). 

-          Amanda

References

Canadian Mental Health Association of Ontario . (2007). Poverty and Mental Illness . Retrieved November 29, 2012, from Canadian Mental Health Association of Ontario : http://www.ontario.cmha.ca/admin_ver2/maps/cmha_poverty_backgrounder.pdf

Wilton, R. (2004). Putting Policy into Practice? Poverty and People with Serious Mental Illness. Social Science and Medicine, 25-39.

Mullaly, R. (2007). The New Structural Social Work. Canada: Oxford University Press.