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Effects of stigma can be worse than illness by Nathan Howes Special to the Beaver 5 | Thursday, November 14, 2013 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Stigma and discrimination are huge issues when it comes to mental illness. The topic was discussed at great length last week at the Halton Suicide Prevention Coalition's annual meeting and community workshop held at the Oakville Conference Centre. Dr. David Goldbloom, a University of Toronto psychiatry professor and chair of the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC), was the keynote speaker. He spoke about stigma associated with mental health and suicide. "As a psychiatrist, I've seen patients die by suicide and I have dealt with the aftermath for them and their families. I'm a family member of people who've died by suicide, including two physicians," said Goldbloom. "Health professionals are just as vulnerable to the impact of mental illness, substance abuse and suicide as anybody else." Goldbloom said the word stigma is derivative of a term the Greeks used to convey "somebody who had bodily signs on them (that indicated they) were morally polluted." "They were people to be avoided in public places. It implied not just an attitude, but also a behaviour (that) we call social distance," said Goldbloom. He pointed out there has been an elimination or reduction of stigma in some areas, but said, "jokes still persist for mental illness." Keynote speaker Dr. David Goldbloom presents at the Halton Suicide Prevention Coalition's annual meeting and Community Workshop at the Oakville Convention Centre Friday morning. | photo by Nikki Wesley ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog) "It persists in ways that are reflected in cartoons, in popular culture and on television shows. Why does it endure in our politicallycorrect society when so many other forms of discrimination are now forbidden?" asked the psychiatrist. "There is nothing more threatening to our integrity, our identity and our uniqueness than mental illness." The tragedy surrounding stigma, Goldbloom said, is it "haunts people in life and in death." "When somebody dies by suicide, we know the secret code in obituaries is `died suddenly.' The greater likelihood is that suicide won't be acknowledged," said the physician. The MHCC chair said mental illness affects more than "just our health" -- it also impacts communities, families and Canada's economy and judicial system. "We've estimated the costs to the Canadian economy are greater than $50 billion a year. That's almost three per cent of our gross domestic product (GDP) in terms of health and social service costs, income support and lost productivity," said Goldbloom. He noted seven per cent of Canada's healthcare budget goes to mental health, which is "way below the burden of illness on Canadian society." In 2012, the MHCC launched Changing Directions, Changing Lives: The Mental Health Strategy for Canada. It outlines six strategic directions to improve Canadian mental health care. The psychiatry professor said Canada is "almost alone" among developed nations that lack a national mental health strategy. The strategy touches on stigma in several areas including promoting mental health, reducing stigma and preventing mental illness and suicide, Goldbloom said. "For some people, the impact of stigma is even more devastating than the illness itself. Changing attitudes and fighting stigma and discrimination requires more than just improving understanding," said Goldbloom. "The best way to break down stigma is through contactbased education." He said suicide is one of the top 10 causes of death in Canada and that the number of suicides each year is "far greater" than the number of deaths resulting from war, homicide and natural disasters. "For people aged 15-24, it's the second leadsee Mental on p.16 White Oaks has Oakville's largest IB Diploma Programme Interested in the IB Program? If you missed the October open house, POOL TABLE FLOOR MODEL SALE!!* MODELS 50% OFF · 4 Person Spa · Plug n' play 110v · Just Plug It In! ALL FLOOR 4' x 8' Hardwood Slate Table* SALE $1,499 ALL 1/2 PRICE Join us! REG.$2,999 IB/ALP Open house November 21st @ 7:30 pm Check out our May 2013 IB results: http://wossweb.com/pdf/IBstatsMay2013.pdf BARS $ FLOOR MODEL 1,999 $ Questions? Contact: Erin Davidson davidsone@hdsb.ca 905.845.5200 x 233 White Oaks Secondary School, South Campus 1330 Montclair Drive 504 IROQUOIS SHORE ROAD, UNIT #1, OAKVILLE, ON L6H 3K4 WHY PAY HIGH RETAIL? BUY FACTORY DIRECT 799 FROM BAR STOOLS PUB TABLE $ 119 FROM $ 199 FROM *Not exactly as shown *Limited Time Offer, No Dealers Please, Quantities Limited. 905.815.5252 www.leisureindustries.ca