Aboriginal and Mental Health

Living in a community where there are several reserves around, I see many people stereotype Aboriginal people for being lazy, dirty, and alcoholic. In high school my mom encountered a lot of stigma for being Metis. This was also experienced with the Metis in residential schools because they were not accepted in white schools and were not recognized as Indians by the Department of Indian Affairs ("Where are the," 2009) . Although I’m Metis, I haven’t had to experience negative comments, but I still hear people use the term “ half breed” and many other offensive words towards the Aboriginal people. I think people see Aboriginals this way because they don’t know the cultures background and the colonization that they had to live through.

The one thing that Aboriginals are known for are having many mental illnesses, such as depression and suffering from alcohol addictions. According to an Ontario survey Aboriginal women use a significant least amount of alcohol, but have a much higher rate of depression (18% vs 9%)  compared to the National Population Health Survey. The survey showed that 55% of First Nations women reported drinking in the last year compared to 74% of NPHS, although 43% of First Nations women reported having 5+ drinks on one occasion compared to 24% of the NPHS (MacMillan et al., 2008). Before we judge Aboriginals health we must consider all of the factors that have affected their lives such as poverty, colonization, and life as a minority in a dominant culture (Shepard, O'Neill, & Guenette, 2006).

Colonization is one of the factors that has had a severe affect on the Aboriginal communities. Aboriginals had a community where all members were equal, until the Europeans came in and tried to assimilate them into their own beliefs. They believed that if they could convert Aboriginal people into practicing Christianity, then they might integrate into a European civilized society ( Mawhiney & Hardy, 2009). With the assimilation of the First Nation people, came the lost of their culture, spirituality, values, traditions and families ( Mawhiney & Hardey, 2009).

Of course, this disruption is what caused many of the health issues within the Aboriginal peoples. Many live in poverty because they have not acquired adequate education. Therefore, in order to survive they depend on welfare. The lost of their children only made matters worst and since the white traders introduced them to alcohol they turned to this depressant to relieve their pain and grievance. In fact, this did not solve the problem ( Ward, 2006). 

I think we need to realize that many of the mental health problems that Aboriginals suffer was created by their colonization. They suffered from abuse and poverty which then lead them to alcoholism, depression, violence and suicide which keeps passing on from generation to the next. In order to stop this vicious cycle and demeaning stereotypes we need to educate ourselves and others about their history and implement new programs provided by our government.

References:

Where are the children? healing the legacy of the residential schools. (2009, June 26). Retrieved from http://www.wherearethechildren.ca/en/blackboard/page-11.html

MacMillan, H., Jamieson, E., Walsh, C., Wong, M., Faries, E., McCue, H., et al.(2008). First nations women’s mental health: results from an ontario survey. Archives of Women's Mental Health, 11(2), 109-115.

Shepard, B., O'Neill, L., & Guenette, F. (2006). Counselling with first nations women: considerations of oppression and renewal. International Journal for the Advancement of Counseling, 28(3), 227-240.

Mawhiney, A., Hardy, S. (2009). Aboriginal peoples in Canada. In J. C. Turner and F.J. Turner (Eds). Canadian social welfare (pp. 95-109). Toronto, ON: Pearson Canada  

Ward, M. (2006). Bringing up baby. The family dynamic: a Canadian perspective (pp. 159). Nelson Education Ltd


Melanie.F

Hoarders

I was watching the show Hoarders last night and I thought it would be an interesting topic for my blog post. I actually only watched about fifteen minutes of the show because I was really grossed out!  Today I was thinking about my reaction to the lady featured on the show last night and I was disappointed in myself. It took a short fifteen minutes for me to be so repulsed by this lady’s house and I hadn’t even heard why she started hoarding. I judged the book by its cover and never bothered to learn about her personal story. For everyone who is unaware of what hoarding is, it is the collecting of miscellaneous items that people believe have personal value and cannot part with. Hoarding is also believed to be related to obsessive compulsive disorder.

Liberalism is based on equal opportunity for all no matter their life situations. It also focuses on help for those who are underprivileged such as people with mental disabilities. Based on liberal views I decided to see what specific resources there are for hoarders in Winnipeg. I was completely disappointed with my findings or should I say finding. Now you have to remember I didn’t do an extensive amount of research but I searched stuff that I thought the average person would. I was googling phrases like “hoarders Winnipeg,” “help hoarding Winnipeg,” and “OCD Winnipeg.”  With each different phrase I typed, I did find a resource but it happened to always be the same one, which was OCD Centre Manitoba. It had a specific support group for hoarders and those affected by hoarding and also had counselling services. It was great to find this website but disappointing at the same time. If someone was to Google “depression Winnipeg,” they would find themselves with at least five different resources.

 What happened to equal opportunity for all especially those who are underprivileged?

Alexis B. 

Dementia and Alzheimer's

I have the great opportunity of working in a personal care home. I have met many lovely people there. They always put a smile on my face with their cheerful and welcoming personalities, even though some of them suffer from dementia. I never realized until this time on how serious this illness can affect their lives and how many people are affected with it.  Everyone who has a loved one that is or has been affected knows that it is a really stressful and emotional time. 

In many countries there is rapid growth in the aging population which means there is going to be an increase of number of older persons with mental disorders. Improvements of the quality and quantity of mental health resources will be necessary to provide adequate care for current and future needs. It is up to researchers, policy makers and the population to find better living conditions for older people with mental disabilities (De Mendonca, Leibing, & Buschfort, 2007). 

According to Mullaly (2007) Liberals believe that, “ society should use the welfare state to guarantee a minimum income to purchase the basic necessities of life and to ensure that everyone has access to basic (minimum) levels or standards of health care, housing and education”(p.103). I believe that Liberals are changing this view due to the fact that they hosted a forum on Parliament Hill. They hosted this forum because they realize the need to improve the quality of life for people suffering from Alzheimer’s and their families. They realize the burden it puts on the family and they are implementing strategies to help ease this burden (2010). Which makes me believe that they no longer want these people to live with the basic standards of health care. 

 “If being a liberal means a willingness to pay a few dollars more in taxes to help the mentally disabled, those without job skills and the medically uninsured, then I'm proud to be a liberal” says, John Terranova (“Accept the ‘liberal’,” 2002). I believe that this statement shows that liberals accept the fact that the mentally disabled, such as people suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s need help and they will do whatever they can to make life easier for them. 

In conclusion, there are many older people affected by Alzheimer’s and dementia which means that we need to realize the care and resources that these people will need. We also have to notice the effect it has on the family, financially and emotionally. I believe that liberals are taking a very positive approach not only to people suffering from Alzheimer’s and dementia, but all the mentally disabled people by trying to improve their quality of life.

References:

De Mendonca, C., Leibing, A., & Bushfort, R. (2007). Mental health resources for older persons in the western pacific region of the world health organization. Psychogeriatrics, 7(2), 81-86

Mullaly, R.P. (2007). The new structural social work. Canada: Oxford University Press.

Health & Home Care. (2010). Liberals are working for people living with Alzheimer’s and dementia The Federal Liberal Agency of Canada. Retrieved from http://www.liberal.ca/newsroom/news-release/liberals-are-working-for-people-living-with-alzheimers-and-dementia/

N.A. Accept the 'liberal' definition with pride. (2002). USA Today, 14a. Retrieved from the Academic Search Premier Database


Melanie. F

The Neo-Conservatism Analysis

"Neo- Conservatism holds that people should provide themselves by exercising their individual freedoms and choices in the competitive marketplace; Even if people become ill and cannot look after themselves, the  judgement is often that they should have made arrangements to cover such contingencies". (Mullaly pg. 83)

The world around us is critically analyized be many different means of people. Ideologies have shaped different societies in the world. However, can these ideologies permit certain problems and implications?
As a Canadian government under a neoconservatism holt, do problems exist for a person who suffers with Mental Health Issues?

Fact:
           "Twenty years ago it was generally accepted that one in six Canadians would suffer from a significant mental illness in their lifetimes; 10 years ago it was one in five; today we're creeping up on one in four and wondering how long until it's one in three."

A neoconservatism world in Canada is causing implications for ones who suffer with Mental Health Illnesses.

On May 5, 2009 NDP critiques Nova Scotia Conservative Party's performance on Mental health issues.

The piece of literary work significantly points out some of the implications that the Canadian Conservative Government has lacked in order to full-fill the Nova Scotia-ins.                                      (Which was to provide mental health services to the public and school systems to help reduce mental illnesses).

" The Conservative government has had almost 10 years to fix the problems in mental health for children, teens and adults, and they have failed". - NDP critics

The following quote mentioned above explains the Neo-conservatisms view of social change, which states in "Mullaly" that it should be a gradual process rather than a revolutionary process. Perhaps a Conservatism government is causing these social difficulties in Nova Scotia's Mental Health Societies.

However, the Conservatism government states that many people did not reach for the necessary programs when giving the chance.

Referring to "Mullaly" once again:

"Individuals have responsibility to look after themselves" - Mullaly pg.79


Do Canadian's need to start reversing these thoughts by paying closer attention to the issues and impacts of a society? Is a Conservative government really that bad? Is Neo-conservatism to: what some would call old school?

According to the Canadian Mental Health Association:
                 "Canadians need to start trying to reverse these trends by paying closer attention to the issues and impacts."




However, what may we take from this piece of literary work?

Mullaly:

Neo-conservatism's human nature is isolated & selfish
Neo-conservatism's society is known for "no society, only individuals"
Neo-conservatism's social justice "individuals have responsibility to look after themselves"
Neo-conservatism's social change is gradual and not revolutionary


Statement:
                        "Individuals are either morally superior or inferior"-Mullaly


Kayla Leonardo.

Mental Health and Social Policy

            Neo-conservatisms believe that “Individuals have a responsibility to look after themselves”; however when it comes to individuals who have disabilities they may not have the ability to take care of themselves on their own. The government views “government intervention as government interference”. This means that the government doesn’t feel like they should be getting involved in the ways that they are. “The limitations of human reason, and the consequent need for traditions, Institutions, symbols, and prejudices.” For example they provide care homes and institutions for people with disabilities, but they feel it is not their place to do so.

            The Neo-Conservatism government also “views poverty as an economic problem but as culturally determined through values, behaviours, attitudes, and a lack of ambition transmitted across generations.” In addition to that Neo-Conservatism believes “Poverty is a good thing as it teaches discipline and provides incentive.” These two statements are not fair because they assume that every individual has the power to provide for themselves. Individuals who have some form of a disability may not be able to work depending on how their disability affects them, while others may have a difficult finding someone to hire them, do to their disability.

           Equality is a main goal in society, however even the government doesn't view people as equal. There is "a natural heirachy of persons, characterized the morally superior as the wiser, the more expert, and the more opulent, and the morally inferior as the weaker, the less knowing, and the less provided with the goods of fortune." Individuals are suppose to be viewed as 'equal' yet there are still so many differences in each person that causes others to view them as unequal. It is not fair to categorize individuals as being equal and then create different situations where people are treated unequally.

          The Neo-Conservatism government feels like they should not be getting involved with individuals because they should be caring for themselves, but it is very difficult to do when there are so many obsticles that disabled individuals have to over come. Since they are viewed as "equal" they have the same responisbilites as other individuals do, however they may have a hard time being treated as equal by others.

- Brettany G.

Mental Illness and Workplace Stigma

According to Mullaly (2007) “Neo- conservatism holds that people should provide for themselves by exercising their individual freedoms and choices in the competitive marketplace. In other words, everyone should provide for his or her needs through work, savings, and the acquisition of property” (p.83).  Stigma in the workplace has made it rather difficult for people with mental disabilities to provide for themselves.

It is rather difficult for people with mental illness to get a job because many employers in the workplace see them as dangerous, unfit or incapable of being productive. In fact, “unemployment among people with serious mental illness is 80 to 90 percent , yet most people with psychiatric disabilities want to work and can work if programs are put in place. People experiencing mental health problems need access to employee assistance programs and programs like Mental Health Works that help workplaces accommodate workers who are living with mental illness” (Steve Lurie, Globe and Mail 2008).

“Depression carries a cruel stigma in the workplace”,says Bill Wilkerson, CEO of the Global Business and Economic Roundtable on Addiction and Mental Health. A way to help reduce this stigma is through the help of the government. We need the government to become a model and to change employers views in respect to mental health” (Globe and Mail, June 24, 2008). 

Since every mental illness and every person with a mental illness is not the same, I wonder what the perspective of a neo- conservatism is on mental illness. Do they see a mental illness, such as depression as a disabled person ( deserving poor) or do they see it as their own fault for being depressed? If they do see certain mental illnesses, such as depression is of something that they created of their own in a neo- conservatism government, I believe that stigma would stay within the workplace. The reason i believe so is because according to Mullaly (2007) a neo- conservative says that it is that persons fault that they became ill and they should of had a plan and that the family should take care of them. This sort of government would than enable other employers and all of society to keep this stigma within society.

The truth is we all need to throw away this stigma that people with a mental illness are dangerous by changing our attitudes and by doing so I believe it will be a much easier for people with mental illness to live and work in our society.

*Melanie. F*