We have a responsibility to help the poor...

The opening sentence of a story Wednesday in the Ottawa Citizen should concern us all: "We haven't progressed very far from the 'Let them eat cake' attitude of decapitated French royalty."

The story documented the findings of a recent survey conducted for the Salvation Army that looked at the attitudes of Canadians toward those people who are impoverished. The survey's findings are alarming.


They demonstrate a type of bigotry reminiscent of the British feudal days.

Instead of classes ranging from lords and ladies to serfs, the survey demonstrated the disdain many of us feel toward those in need.

According to the survey, almost half of Canadians actually believe that if someone wants to work, they can always find a job, regardless of the unemployment rate.


More than 40% of those surveyed think that a good work ethic is all someone needs to escape poverty.


It sounds plausible until you are the person looking for work. The survey also found that nearly 25% of us believe poor people are just lazy and that 28% of Canadians actually believe poor people have lower moral values than the rest of us.


Do we really think poor people are bad? What some of the people surveyed failed to consider is that many of those apparently in the middle class are just one pay cheque away from being poor. Too many of us have credit cards that are maxed out and a layoff could lead to financial ruin, especially if interest rates rise as predicted.


Those who dismiss the circumstances poor people face should remember: "There but for the grace of God go I."

Some of the homeless and destitute people we see on city streets do have substance abuse and mental health problems but they are no less deserving of support and guidance than any other person.


We have come to rely on organizations like the Salvation Army and other charities to reinforce Canada's sagging social safety net, to try to stop people from falling through it. But even organizations like the Army face difficult times.

The fact is poor people face challenges that are different from many of us. To put all of them in the same category ignores the reality of their situations.

In Nanaimo, Salvation Army officials are worried that its thrift stores aren't receiving enough donations.

These donations are cleaned up and sold at the Army's three thrift store locations to help provide operational funding for the New Hope Centre and the organization's meal and hamper programs.


Instead of being critical of those in need, for whatever reason, Canadians should focus their concern on federal and provincial governments who wash their hands when it comes to poverty issues and decide to download them onto the backs of already financially strapped municipalities.


Attitudes continually change but the needs of people for shelter, food and respect do not. There may be a few people who try to take advantage of social services wherever they live but the vast majority of poor people are just trying to make it through their day.


Hopefully, the Salvation Army's study does not reflect the attitudes of most Canadians.

There is no evidence that poor people are stupid, have lower moral values and are lazy.


Too few of us recognize that the people we see on the streets are but for their circumstances no different than the rest of us.

© Copyright (c) Postmedia News

Bi-polar princess and courageous mental health advocate Victoria Maxwell

In partnership with Crest.BD, Victoria Maxwell uses her love of theatre to raise mental health awareness.

Victoria Maxwell is an award-winning actress who has worked with famous leading men like Johnny Depp, David Duchovny, and John Travolta. She's a mental health educator and playwright with over two decades of experience.
Maxwell is also mentally ill.
After being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, anxiety, and psychosis, Maxwell became active in the promotion of mental health awareness and addressing stigma. During the past decade, she has combined her theatre background, professional knowledge, and personal experiences with mental illness to offer a unique perspective on the lived experience of mental illness.


Her critically acclaimed one-woman shows "Crazy for Life" and "Funny… You Don’t Look Crazy," debuted to sold-out audiences in England, New Zealand, the United States and Canada. Irreverently funny and charismatic, Maxwell infuses each of her performances with important messages about mental health awareness interspersed with her personal history.


Maxwell is the creative director of Crazy for Life Co., a company that aims to educate health care professionals about mental illness and workplace wellness. She also presents customized workshops for conferences, in-house training, and a range of services for individuals and families, colleges and universities, and corporations. Her latest project is a one-woman show being developed in collaboration with Crest.BD.
Crest.BD is a collaborative research team studying the psychosocial issues in bipolar disorder. Current research includes the impact of recovery narratives in bipolar illness, attitudes towards the police, and the impact of bipolar disorder on employment experiences. A central tenant of Crest.BD is fostering and promoting community based research for individuals with bipolar disorder and their family members. Crest.BD organizes a number of free events open to the public throughout the greater Vancouver area.


I recently attended a community engagement night organized by Crest.BD and was fortunate enough to sit down with Victoria Maxwell. Taken with her vivacious energy and charisma, her passion for raising mental health awareness was immediately apparent.


When asked how she became involved in mental health advocacy, Maxwell recounted her initial struggle in accepting her diagnosis. After being diagnosed in 1992, she “didn’t know what bipolar disorder was." She described her concerns about taking medication and the fear that her personality would be pathologized. She had difficulty accepting her diagnosis due to the lack of knowledge available.


One of the biggest barriers to treatment people with mental illness face, she said, is this lack of open dialogue and discussion. “I wanted to see more discussion to prevent suffering and stigma [in mental illness]," Maxwell said.


Stigma, and particularly self-stigma, is one of the biggest barriers to treatment for mental illness. Realizing that open dialogue was one of the most effective ways to disarm the prejudices associated with mental illness, she became a mental health educator and an advocate for mental health awareness. “It is important to be creative, to share stories and to listen," she said.
This direct contact can only be achieved through individuals speaking out about mental health and illness, however, she cautioned that this disclosure should be appropriate to the situation. “The onus is on us [people with a mental illness] to stand up and be counted,” Maxwell said. “I think if all of us do, then we will be stronger for it”.


When asked whether she had any suggestions for people living with a mental illness, Maxwell offered some powerful advice. “Be as compassionate towards yourself as you can. Reach out for help, and if you don’t get it, reach out again until you find someone who cares. There is help and it does get better.”


Mental illness affects an estimated one in five Canadians throughout their lifetime, the Public Health Agency states. Societal impacts of mental illness are pervasive, impacting individuals, their families, health care systems and the community at large. Research has shown that the estimated economic annual cost of mental illness in Canada is $14.4 billion. According to the World Health Organization, mental illness is the leading cause of disability in Canada.


Fortunately, there is help available for individuals with mental illness. Thanks to people like Victoria Maxwell, who has the courage to stand up and be counted, mental health awareness is being pushed to the forefront of Canadian consciousness.


Victoria Maxwell’s play will debut in May, and is open to mental health professionals and to individuals with a mental illness and their families. For more information about Maxwell, visit her website and her blog at Psychology Today.


For more information about research, team members, and knowledge exchange activities conducted by Crest.BD, visit www.crestbd.ca.