*21 June 2011 * WILL CHABUN If you're struggling with mental illness, the best place in which to live might be in a village in far-off India.
That's because research has shown such villages are hearteningly close and supportive - in sharp contrast to "alienated and fragmented North American culture", says Dr. Gabor Mate, who delivers the keynote speech today to the Canadian Housing and Renewal Association's annual congress in Regina. Mate, well-known for his work as the staff physician at the Portland Hotel, a hotel converted into a residence and resource centre for the people of Vancouver's Downtown East Side, said experience and research tells society that what drives people into homelessness. It's addiction, mental health issues and poverty - which flows from the other two. And what drives the existence of both mental health problems and addictions "is almost invariably childhood trauma" typified by seeing or experiencing physical, emotional or sexual abuse or perhaps a rancorous divorce. With this well proven, it seems to Mate that society could best try to reduce these problems by putting more resources into helping young families - parents and children - that have been identified as being "at risk". As well, more effort should go into spotting and supporting children in schools and childcare facilities before serious problems arise. In the absence of support, these issues instead end up in the hands of police, courts and correctional facilities. "Instead of making them legal issues, we could make them social issues," Mate suggested, adding that, "when it comes to young adults, we could be much less punitive and much more supportive. Instead of spending a billion dollars on jailing people, we could spend it in treating people and healing people." The theme of this year's CHRA congress is "Housing ideas that matter, housing tools that work". A news release from the association says that with long-term federal operating agreements covering social housing nearing expiration, "it is important now for housing professionals across the country to come together and shar the pioneering ways they are learning to do more with less." Focusing on mental health issues, Mate said the last few decades have seen the closing of mental health facilities across the country under "the false slogan" of giving their residents support in the community. "So they closed the institutions, but it was a shock because there was never any dispersion of the funds to the community." It was instead all about saving money, with the result that "people who needed support would basically just find themselves out there in the world," he said. That led to his contrast with villages in India, where there is remarkably close community, mutual responsibility and support for the mentally ill, whereas North Americans collectively want to push them "to the periphery". To compound their problems, those childhood traumas mean many of these individuals, "can't trust authority figures, for good reason, and they're left on their own." Does that make Mate pessimistic about the future of those facing mental health issues? "I have all kinds of optimism when it comes to human potential," he said in an interview Monday, adding that he's also struck by how research and evidence is being ignored and how "the system is working at cross-purposes." "On one hand, we're trying to help them and, on the other, we're ostracizing them. There's no system here to help these people." *[email protected]* http://www.leaderpost.com/health/Facing+homelessness+issues+behind/4978428/story.html -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Mental Health Advocacy (News 'N Views) India" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/MhaNewsViewsIndia?hl=en ------------- Affiliated Groups : MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY INDIA [email protected] Discussions on mental health law / policy / plan monitoring / human rights etc [email protected] India-specific news and views related to mental health [email protected] Information and support to carers of people with mental health issues [email protected] Mutual support and sharing of experiential knowledge, skills and social learning amongst peers
