Assignment 2: Intermediate Assignment
Essay on the Canadian Mental Health Association
Thomas Dowsley
SL 100
06/17/2015
Within social assistance programs in Canada, there is a general split between social security programs and social and welfare services. Social security programs, which are the responsibility of all levels of government, deliver direct economic support in one way or another to individuals or families. Included in this category are programs such as family allowances, old age pensions and provincial and municipal social-assistance programs. Whereas Social and Welfare service programs, have been established in an attempt to address personal, social and emotional needs. These services are now often referred to as the
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However, as society modernized there became a larger need for social assistance and so the government decided to start funding its own programs, and supporting many other programs such as non-profit assistance programs. One problem however is that government spending in recent years has not risen at the same rate as it has for many other services (http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/070622/dq070622b-eng.htm) and this needs to change in order for these programs to accomplish what they are supposed to do. These programs are now essential to society as they provide a variety of necessary goods, services and support, which many individuals within our society would otherwise not receive. I chose to explore The Canadian Mental Health Asscotiation and their positive impact on our …show more content…
Their budget for the 2014 fiscal year was $1,194,945 (http://www.cmha.ca/about-cmha/annual-report/#.VYCs6lVViko) This organization sets goals each year and work towards accomplishing these goals. From a third party position it is clear that they are achieving these goals at a high degree of effectiveness. For example the Canadian Mental Health Association set out to increase the help for the most vulnerable and they played a large role in setting the policy for Bill C-14, which helps people with mental illness when they are charged with certain crimes. The Canadian Mental Health Association has set a high standard for a number of years within the non-profit organization sector in Canada and is an example of an organization that many others should strive to be similar to. Another important element to being a successful organization is having a long-term plan. The Canadian Mental Health Association has come up with a strategic plan in which they hope to complete by 2017 (http://www.cmha.ca/cmha-national-strategic-plan-2012-2017/#.VYCvgVVViko) This plan was set into action in 2012 and covers a variety of challenges and initiatives that they wish to overcome and achieve. Some examples of items that are on this agenda include, developing an enhanced website and improving social media
Every week a special fee charged for social insurance in every individual’s paycheck. Later when you decide to retire, or get sick, you can receive Social Security benefits. The Social Security is a contribution, which is institutional (Tussing, 1974). There is also the Public Assistance program, which belongs to the Federal Agency. It was designed for Emergency Management (AP). Public Assistance provides secondary, federal assistance to state governments, and state government agencies those are non-profit organizations that must verify specific criteria and are "institutional and residual" (Tussing, 1974). Tussing analyzed the breakdown in the social welfare system in America in the article 'The Dual Welfare System' (1974). Tussing argues that in America there is "social insurance" also known as Social Security which is "public charity" that a retiree receives in this country. Tussing also argues that the only difference between Social Security and Public Assistance, is the vocabulary used to provide Public Assistance and Social Security e.g., some of the words that express a certain Ideal. For example "charity" and "help" are used to describe public assistance, while the language used for forms of insurance is more favorable: "safe" or
According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), it defines mental illness as Mental illnesses are health conditions involving changes in thinking, emotion or behavior (or a combination of these). Mental illnesses are associated with distress and/or problems functioning in social, work or family activities. (What Is Mental Illness? (n.d.). Retrieved June 26, 2016, from https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/what-is-mental-illness). Mental Disorders are a wide range of mental conditions that affect mood, thinking, and behavior. There are a lot of different psychological disorders here is a list of the major psychological disorders and their definitions:
Mental Health Funding Mental health is a subject a lot of people prefer not to talk about, which is a main reason that it is so underfunded. The severe underfunding affects not only the people suffering from mental illness, but also the government, the economy, and society as a whole. It is in the government's best interest to put more funding into mental health due to the health consequences on patients, including weight issues, drastic effects on bodily functions, and difficulties in pregnancy. As well as this
In this research paper, a variety of articles are examined about immigrants’ access to mental health services in Canada. It addresses the significant barriers to utilization of resources, and it also makes suggestions about changes that could improve mental health services for immigrants. Although immigrants receive economic and political support in Canada, often social support does not follow the same pattern. New immigrants are oftentimes faced with factors that affect their utilization of government services that can help them transition to their new life.
Close to six million Canadians live with mental illness; let alone the thousands that are undiagnosed. Mental illness has made big headlines in the news in the recent years. The people suffering from mental illness have been faced with discrimination a caused by a stigma towards them. Mental illness can be caused by many different factors whether they are psychological or environmental. Although only twenty percent of Canadians personally experience mental illness in their lifetime, it affects everyone in their lives. Many of the people suffering from mental illness live their lives in silence because of the stigma attached to the illness. They would rather nobody know about their condition than face the stigma and discrimination of the public. Society has come a long way from a hundred years ago when they would use trepanation. Trepanation is a primitive method used to heal head injuries; they truly believed that carving a hole in ones skull would release any mental injuries the patient had. A decade ago people suffering from mental illness were treated as if they were less than others. Now a days, people suffering from mental illness are not treated as poorly as before, they have larger support group than before, and society is more understanding of mental illness now. However, there is still much room for improvement.
Continuing budget cuts on mental health care create negative and detrimental impacts on society due to increased improper care for mentally ill, public violence, and overcrowding in jails and emergency rooms. Origins, of mental health as people know it today, began in 1908. The movement initiated was known as “mental hygiene”, which was defined as referring to all things preserving mental health, including maintaining harmonious relation with others, and to participate in constructive changes in one’s social and physical environment (Bertolote 1). As a result of the current spending cuts approaching mental health care, proper treatment has declined drastically. The expanse of improper care to mentally ill peoples has elevated harmful threats of heightened public violence to society.
Are mental health services underfunded in Australia? In fact, the whole mental health services are underfunded. People experiencing mental health problems and sicknesses aren't getting a fair deal. They have to face money/giving money shortages, limited access to services, unfair treatment based on skin colour, age, etc. and the services that still do exist are finding it impossible to successfully deal with demand. Every single day, Two hundred Australians attempt to take their own lives, but around seven Australians succeed. This is more than 2,500 people lost to suicide each year. Western Australia shows that many suicidal people are suffering. The crowded and blocked public hospitals are often forced to release mental health patients too early, and sometimes people are being refused care. According to the Age Newspaper some young people have committed suicide after being refused help. Western Australia is not the only state where people are losing their lives due to the underfunding of mental
Most social programs are handled by the provinces and territories rather than the federal government but are funded with money granted to them on the federal level. A cornerstone of Canada's social welfare state is universal health care. It offers coverage for medically essential health care, which means that services are provided based on the urgency of the issue, rather than the ability of paying. Employment Insurance is another prime example of a Canadian social program, it offers benefits to employees who have had to miss work or have lost their jobs due to circumstances that were out of their control. Canada also offers a free public education in all provinces and territories up to grade 12 (ending a year earlier in Quebec).
The Mental Health Ministry (MHM) represents a new initiative within Christ Church, that seeks to embody our mission to be a fully inclusive space, specifically through its work to enable those with mental health issues to feel safe and accepted within our Community. Functioning as a peer support group for those that struggle with mental illness, MHM aspires to provide two fundamental aspects that promote healing in mental illness, faith and friendship. It also proposes to develop educational workshops and resources that will help to build skills and sensitivity around mental health. Considering that mental health represents an affliction shared by one in five Canadians, with an estimated medical cost of nearly 50 billion/year, it it fitting
In June of 2016, the federal government invested $69 million over three years to create additional mental health teams for indigenous communities and crisis intervention teams in Ontario. The funding created thirty-two mental health and wellness teams and facilities within First Nation communities; in hopes this will create a long-term support
In addition to my research experience, I have also gathered clinical/hands-on experience working with adults and children in my community. Being a recent graduate of the Developmental Services Worker (DSW) Accelerated Diploma program at Humber College, I was able to complete two field placements within the Toronto District School Board (200+ hours) and at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (500+ hours). As a DSW student, I learned how to effectively promote the physical, mental, and emotional health of individuals with special needs and dual diagnosis – the co-existence of a developmental disability and a mental health concern. During my internship within the school board, I supported two elementary school students both diagnosed with Autism. During this time I was able to provide 1:1 support, both formally and informally, to encourage the attainment of educational goals and useful life skills. Formally, I was able to develop and
Simpson, C. (2007) ‘Mental Health part3: Assessment and Treatment of Depression’ British Journal of Healthcare assistants. pp 167-171.
Mental health counseling involves counseling people who are struggling to cope with events in their lives. These events may be traumatic, family issues, substance abuse, and other difficult experiences. There are different kinds of mental health counseling. Mental health professionals can work in different places like schools, hospitals, and client’s homes. Counselors offer help to different ages of patients from children to elderly.
Both mental illness and substance abuse remain stigmatized with major gender, racial-ethnic and economic inequalities in access, use and quality of services and support. Therefore, my goal is to collaborate with educational institutions, health organizations and government agencies to create, study, and disseminate interventions that reduce the risk, increase resilience, provide effective treatment, and aid in-long term recovery. In particular, I am interested in creating policies that will help bridge the economic inequalities face by those who experience mental illnesses and substance abuse disorders. With these plans in mind, I am currently studying French and will continue working with underserved communities to gain valuable field experience in public
Social welfare signifies the attempts made by governments and voluntary organizations to help families and individuals by maintaining incomes at an acceptable, by providing medical care and public health services, by furthering adequate housing and community development, by providing services to facilitate social adjustment and by furnishing facilities for recreation. All the nations have developed social welfare services as they have moved from agrarian to industrial economies. In India the term social welfare has come to be used in a restricted sense, provision of social services for the socially unprivileged groups – schedule castes, schedule tribes, Denotified communities, orphans, disabled and economically unprivileged social welfare program are therefore directed to ameliorate their conditions (Sachdeva 1992)