Stigma + Discrimination

 

PDF | Vol. 13, No. 1 (2017)

Words matter. They impact the assumptions we make about others, the way we understand someone else’s experiences, and the value we place on others.

It seems like everyone has an opinion when it comes to treatments for mental health or substance use problems. To add to the confusion, it isn’t always obvious who is basing their opinions on real evidence and who is not. And while we often hear people talk about evidence-based treatments, it’s also clear that complementary and alternative medicine approaches are helpful for some.

Discrimination appears in so many facets of mental health care, and housing is no exception. Some people feel that challenges of low income, mental illness, or substance use should be relegated to a few parts of town or types of accommodation. While similar discrimination and exclusion would be unthinkable for most other group, some who experience mental health or substance use challenges are not welcomed or even tolerated by their neighbours.

While it's common to talk about the mental health system, the system isn’t a singular entity. The system might include primary care, mental health, substance use, housing, income assistance, and justice. They are not always accessed the same way, through similar gatekeepers.

When we talk about mental illnesses and substance use problems, it’s easy to talk in clinical terms: that person has this symptom, or that person uses a certain drug. But recovery is so much bigger than a checklist.

 

PDF | Vol. 2, No. 6 (2005)