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Editor:Joan McCreath Issue 3,November 12,2010
Homeless due to mental illness and/or addiction
While addiction and mental illness are not the main reasons why people become homeless they are significant reasons and need to be addressed. According to the report “Homeless Voices,2010:Listening to Metro Vancouver Residents Who Have Experienced Homelessness”12% of homeless involved in the survey suffered addictions. The percentage of homeless afflicted with mental ill is not given but is described as increasing. Here are several excerpts from the report.
A husband and wife from Langley found themselves homeless after he was hospitalized for depression:“My wife and I were evicted while I was in hospital [for depression] because we fell behind in the rent while I was in hospital. We had lived there for over 17 years!”
A 56 year old male who had recently found his own place after 8 ½ years of homelessness,said,
“I have a lot of medical issues including depression … a disbelief in government … and I know the homeless are mistreated. They assume we’re all drug addicts. …Now that I have a place,I have more self-esteem,more balance,and better health.”
A 54 year old aboriginal male,homeless for 6 years since his wife died,said,“I’m grateful that I have this place …a shelter. Basically I live day to day. I can’t plan anything. I’m hoping to get some kind of housing before they close. I still struggle with depression …”
Only 12% of participants (18) who were currently homeless said it was the result of their addiction to drugs and/or alcohol. A 41 year old aboriginal male said that the past 3 years of homelessness were because of his addiction:“spending all of my paycheque and money on drugs.” A 33 year old man had a similar experience:“I got too far into the drugs.” And likewise with a 42 year old male who explained:“I’ve been using [heroin] for 3 years and I’ve lost jobs,girlfriends,and family. I’ve hit rock bottom. I’m sleeping in a tent in Surrey.”
This Report gives voice to and presents the perspectives of people who have experienced homelessness within the past two years …it should enable decision makers to respond more effectively. These interviews capture the urgency of implementing appropriate treatment and housing for the mentally ill. Read the full report at:www.Homeless Voices_Report_AUG2010_lowres.pdf.
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Healthy Minds at Work
New research shows that mental illness is costing the Canadian economy $51 billion a year in lost productivity. This leaves little doubt that employers simply cannot afford to neglect the psychological well-being,including the mental health,of their employees.
Dr. Carolyn Dewa,head of the Center for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) says in an average year a firm with 1000 employees might expect about 145 disability cases. Though only a fraction of these cases are due to mental illness,they cost employers nearly double the cost due to physical illness.
This is not the only issue. It’s not just lost work time due to mental illness that negatively impacts organizations. There is also the issue of retention;often an employee with a mental illness or who feels that the working environment is damaging their mental health will simply leave an organization if the issues are not being adequately addressed.
Joti Samra,a research scientist and adjunct professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University,says a psychologically healthy work place is the core of a well functioning and sustainable organization.
Although there is no national benchmark against which organizations can measure their efforts to create a mentally healthy workplace,there are programs such as Guarding Minds @ Work (GM@W) a free,evidence-based strategy that helps employers promote and protect psychological safety and health in their workplace. It addresses 12 psychosocial risk factors known to have a powerful impact on organizational health,the health of individual employees,and the financial bottom line.
Mary Ann Baynton,a business consultant and specialist in workplace mental health,says risks to mental health in the workplace need to be removed in the same way that risks to physical health and safety are removed. However,a psychologically healthy workplace is rarely on the agenda until problems arise such as a human rights violation or a rise in grievances,turnovers or absences.
Ms. Baynton says while GM@W has many valid and practical applications that have been available for years,the program is not meant for measuring the mental health of individuals. It is a comprehensive set of tools that looks at psychological safety in the workplace. Assessments are available through organizations such as Mood Disorders Association of Ontario. It is important to know whether the assessment is valid or simply a fun quiz. “Organizations must investigate assessment tools carefully before recommending screening”. Until employers can be assured that human rights violations are not committed in the use of mental health screening tools,they must move cautiously.
“The irony is that a psychologically healthy workplace has been shown by Watson Wyatt and the American Psychological Association to also be among the most profitable,so it should be a focus during times of economic downturn.”
For the complete article,‘Healthy minds at work’,in The Globe and Mail,September 27,2010,
Announcements
- Vancouver –Dr. Nancy Hall Has been awarded the C.M. Hincks award at this year’s 2010 National Conference on Mental Health. Her acceptance speech can be found on this website
- Watch for more articles on mental health in the next issue of the Newsletter on December15,2010.
