Mental Health and Your Co-op Community Workshop Presenter: Barbara Casey Mental Health and Your Co-op Community

Agenda Part I What do we mean by mental illness? Why is it important to talk about mental health in our co-op communities? Overview of common mental illnesses Understanding the impact of MH stigma and discrimination.

Agenda Part II How can we support a member with a mental illness? What resources are available? What does mental illness look like in our communities ? Case studies How do we balance the needs of members and the co-op?

What is Mental Health? Mental Health Problems Mental Health Disorder Causes major changes in a person’s thinking, emotional state and/or behavior. May change the person’s ability to work and perform day to day tasks. May relapse, or have periods of mental wellness. DSM-V – is the standard classification system for diagnosing mental health disorders. Mental Health Problems Issues or concerns which may not be severe enough to warrant a diagnosis of a mental health disorder Many people who have mental health problems rarely seek treatment. Lack of knowledge about mental health contributes to people’s misunderstanding of their symptoms or the ways in which their mental health is impacts their daily life.

Mental Health Disorders Anxiety Disorders Eating Disorders Phobias - anorexia nervosa Panic disorder - bulimia Generalized anxiety or social anxiety Post traumatic stress Obsessive compulsive disorder

Mental Health Disorders Mood Disorders Postpartum depression Bipolar disorder Major Depressive Disorder Seasonal Affective Disorder

Mental Health Disorders Concurrent Disorder Someone with a mental health disorder and a substance misuse disorder Psychotic Disorders schizophrenia

How Disabling are Mental Health Problems Think of it this way Moderate depression – similar to relapsing MS Severe post traumatic stress disorder is comparable to leg amputation Schizophrenia is comparable to having a spinal cord injury

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO TALK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH IN OUR COMMUNITIES?

BECAUSE 1 IN 5 PEOPLE HAVE A MENTAL ILLNESS

BECAUSE SUICIDE IS THE 2ND LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN YOUTH

BECAUSE HALF OF ALL MENTAL DISORDERS BEGIN BY AGE 14

BECAUSE 75% OF MENTAL DISORDERS BEGIN BY AGE 24

BECAUSE 49% OF PEOPLE WHO SUFFERED A MAJOR DEPRESSION NEVER RECEIVED TREATMENT.

BECAUSE IF YOU WERE DIAGNOSED WITH DIABETES, YOU WOULD RECEIVE TREATMENT WITHIN DAYS. BUT IF YOU WERE DIAGNOSED WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER, YOU WOULD WAIT 12 – 18 MONTHS FOR TREATMENT.

Because, of the 30 people in this workshop, 6 people have a mental illness. And in a 50 unit co-op, with about 125 adults and kids, 25 members likely have a mental illness – mostly untreated.

Because all of us in this room love someone, work with someone, know someone with a mental illness. Think about it!

OK, SO HE HAD A HEART ATTACK. IT’S JUST AN EXCUSE TO GET OUT OF WORK OK, SO HE HAD A HEART ATTACK. IT’S JUST AN EXCUSE TO GET OUT OF WORK. HE IS JUST LAZY. PEOPLE GET CANCER BECAUSE THEY CAN’T HANDLE THE TOUGH STUFF IN THEIR LIVES Imagine if we treated everyone like we treated people with mental illness. Discuss how shocking it is that we don’t take mental illness seriously and that we a quick to blame the ill person with the mental illness or to say that it is their fault. That they COULD choose to be well. But we don’t think that of someone who has had a heart attack or has cancer

SHE’S NOT DEPRESSED - IT’S JUST ALL IN HER HEAD SHE’S NOT DEPRESSED - IT’S JUST ALL IN HER HEAD. SHE JUST NEEDS TO GET OUT OF BED, DO SOMEHTING AND STOP BEING SAD. Small group discussion Organize workshop participant into small table of 4-5 members. TWO POINTS OF DISCUSSION Question 1) What doe mental health stigma and discrimination look like our co-op communities? Question 2) As a community – what can we do to end stigma and discrimination

STIGMA and DISCRIMINATION Stigma – negative stereotype - judging or having incorrect ideas about someone i.e. thinking that someone with a mental illness is dangerous? Or that they are seeking attention. Discrimination is unfair treatment due to their mental illness. i.e. kicking a person out of their apartment because they are depressed or not offering someone a job because you heard they were mentally ill.

What can we do to raise awareness around stigma and discrimination? Let’s Talk What does mental health stigma and discrimination look like our co-op communities? What can we do to raise awareness around stigma and discrimination?

Why is There Still Stigma and Discrimination? The media contributes The criminal justice system contributes Most people are not well informed about mental health The medical system favours treatments for physical illness over mental illness. Discrimination is tolerated in workplaces, in society – people don’t speak up. The brain is the last great frontier. It is what makes us tick. Yet we know so little about it. Mystery breeds myths. Before brining up this page – as the group to brainstorm what we think contirbutes to stigma and why it is still ok to discriminate against people because they have a mental illness.

Media and Stigma Stigma due to negative media coverage impedes recovery, triggers discrimination and prejudice, and creates barriers to seeking and finding decent housing, employment, and education. The effects of stigma are both cyclical and burdensome. Lack of safe, affordable, available housing contributes to homelessness, adding to the burden of mental illness, and increasing the challenge of daily survival. Inadequate, unhealthy living conditions and increased stress are hardly conducive to improved mental functioning. Ask the group for examples of media coverage of people with mental health issues – How have they been portrayed? How does cinema portray pepole with mental illess How do those portrays contribute to the stigma around mental illess / and the discimination that they are subjected to. i.E. Case in one of the atlantic provinces – where a young man killed his parents. He was tried for 1st degree murder, but he was found not criminally responsilbity by reason of his mental illness ( was schizophrenic)

How Can We Support Members within Our Communities Listen to them – help understand what is going on for them Inquire if they have resources, someone they can connect with Pay attention to your own emotional involvement . You don’t have to rescue someone. Be positive – Offer hope Create an environment that messages acceptance Understand an individual’s unique needs

How Can We Support Members within Our Communities For Youth Kids help line School mental health/guidance counselor Local pediatric health centre or community agency for homeless/at risk youth Websites www.Teenmentalhealth.org www.Mindyourmind.ca www.griponlife.ca www.keltymentalhealth.ca

How Can We Support Members within Our Communities For adults Local adult mental health services Community based agencies Club houses – support group – peer supports On line educational resources Canadian Psychiatric Association National Institute of Mental Health

How Can We Support Members within Our Communities Websites www.ccsmh.ca (Canadian coalition for seniors mental health) www.mentalhealth.org.uk (U.K Mental Health Foundation) www.nimh.nih.gov (National Institute of Mental Health)

In An Emergency If someone in your co-op is experiencing a mental health crisis: Help them connect with their family doctor If it seems like an emergency (psychosis, threat to self/others) Go to the nearest emergency department Find a local crisis line Find a mobile crisis team Call 911 If they are thinking of suicide, there is help.  Call your local crisis line or mobile crisis team or the police, or go to the emergency room of your local hospital.

Non Crisis Situations Alberta Quebec British Columbia Saskatchewan Canadian Mental Health Associations has 32 branches across Canada. Check out www.cmha.ca Alberta Quebec British Columbia Saskatchewan Manitoba Yukon New Brunswick Prince Edward Island Newfoundland and Labrador Ontario Nova Scotia North West Territories

Creating a Supportive Community Take time to learn what you can about mental illness – it helps increase awareness and decrease stigma Have an expert from your local Canadian Mental Health Association provide a talk to members. Display posters Show YouTube videos at a GM/AGM Create a list of resources available in your community – share it!

Creating a Supportive Community Take a stand against stigmatizing language or discrimination – put it in your policies. Invite a first voice to share their story Have a wellness committee that supports all members who are unwell – regardless of their illness. Little gestures mean a lot! Encourage activities that support mental wellness Walking, yoga, mindfulness training, nutrition workshops

How to Balance Members Needs and Community Needs Is there a friend, family member with whom you can connect to offer the member support? Identify what the issues are and problem solve solutions See advice from a local mental health agency Encourage /seek out additional support (in home support services, visiting nurses for medication) Is there supportive housing within your community that may be a better fit for the member, especially if they are completely unable to manage their housing. Are there specific violations of tenancy, lease agreements? Create a list of the kinds of challenges that communities might be facing Noise Disruptive personalities Hoarding

A Word About Privacy Permission to disclose/share information a member must give permission to their clinician/doctor in order to share information with you. a member should give you permission to contact agencies on their behalf, if you are sharing identifying information Ethical obligation to keep information confidential Privacy legislation varies from province to province

Case Studies Let’s See What We’ve Learned

People with Mental Illness Who Have Enriched Our Lives Abe Lincoln Virginia Woolf Beethoven Tennessee Williams Michelangelo Winston Churchill Patty Duke Catherine Zeta Jones Brittany Spears Mel Gibson Brooke Shields Michael Phelps Paula Deen Elton John Ben Stiller Drew Carey Howie Mandel Pablo Picasso

What will you take back to your co-op community? Evaluations Please! What will you take back to your co-op community?