Mental Illness and Human rights

 The Ontario Human  Rights Code allows for human rights for people with mental health issues and addiction issues.  I have not been able to find much information online about the rights of people with mental illness and addiction problems in Nova Scotia.  There is a little but not much.

The code allows for equality in opportunities and rights.  The code is also against discrimination.  Our rights need to be imputed to us in "employment, housing, goods, facilities and services, contracts, and memberships in unions, trade, or professional associations.   

There is a process called the duty to accommodate.  The accommodation is provided in services, housing, and employment.  Normally it doesn't happen until the person instigates the process.  There are times though when the person will not seek accommodation.  When a housing provider, employer, and service provider recognizes a problem with the persons mental health they are obligated to provide accommodation.   

Organizations are under obligation to create services and policies that include those with mental health issues and addictions.  They need to be included in employment, housing, and society as a whole.

Accommodation is a combined effort between all parties involved.

There is a lot of stigma attached to mental illness and addiction.  There are obstacles to finding a job.  The code safeguards a person from being discriminated against when applying for work, and being let go, or advancement in a job.  All this happens because of prejudice against those who are ill.  If accommodating someone causes undue hardship then the employee is allowed to be terminated.

People with mental illness and/or addictions have a very difficult time finding a place to live.  It is because landowners have  a lot of stigma, prejudice, and discrimination towards those that are ill.  Landowners have the obligation to accommodate those with these issues.

The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (2005) states that those who offer services to the public must provide those services to those with mental illness and addictions that does not discriminate against them.  They receive equal treatment with those who are not ill.  

Here are some of the services that are listed in the code.  

• schools and universities
• shops, restaurants, and gyms
• hospitals, and health care organizations
• police and the court system
• insurance
• government services

People with mental health and addition issues have exactly the same rights as those in the rest of society.  We have made progress in having this populations rights being imputed unto them but we still have a long long way to go.  The government is trying to do their part but not necessarily making  much progress.  The major drawback is how society as a whole treats those with mental illness and addiction problems.  We need to stand up and fight for our rights.

Source

Human rights and Metal Health (fact sheet) Ontario Human Rights Commission. Sept 12 2020.

<http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/human-rights-and-mental-health-fact-sheet>

Stigma and Mental Illness

 A few years ago I had developed a rare disease called Gillian Barre Syndrome.  It came on slowly.  Gradually I was loosing the use of  my legs and arms.  One night I fell to the floor and couldn't move my arms and legs.  The paramedics were called and they took me up to the hospital.  They didn't even examine me.  They kept me overnight and sent me home in the morning telling me my problem was caused by my obsessive compulsive disorder.  When I got home They took me to my wife's doctor.  She told me it was caused by some kind of virus.  I then went home.

The next morning I fell again and could not get up.  The paramedics were called again.  When I got up there my psychiatrist was there and he knew what was going on.  He told them to take this man seriously.  He very seldom complains about medical problems and very seldom has medical problems.  Take this man seriously.  They decided to do that.

A specialist came in to see me.  She examined me and left.  She came back with another specialist and he examined me.  They both left.  She  came back later and examined me again.  She then told  me that they suspect something and they are going to do a spinal tap.  They did the spinal tap.

She came  back again and told me that I had Gillian Barre Syndrome.  She told me it attacks the immune system and the muscles.  I makes a person paralyzed and it eventually  kills a person.  It did not take them very long to rush me to ICU.  When I got there they hooked me up to some machines.  They started my treatment that night.  I was treated with a blood by product.  I forget the name of it because it is long and complicated.  I received it by IV.  I was given it once a day for seven days.  

After a few days when I was out of danger I was placed in a regular ward.  Then they started my physio therapy to help me learn  to walk normal again.  I was gradually getting the use of my arms and legs back.  Because it was close to X-mas I was sent home earlier than usual.  Dad came down and took my wife and I home for X-mas.  I found things difficult but I was gradually getting better.  The doctor told me it was because of my attitude. The second day in ICU I was laying in bed I was an emotional wreck.  I made a decision that I am going to use sheer determination, motivation, and hard work to beat this thing.  I did just that.

Today I am almost completely recovered.  I am doing quite well in life.