People are often “proud” of those who suffer from Depression when they (the sufferers) are doing something for these others or at least not being a nuisance.
The number of people (employers, family members, friends, and others) who say they “understand depression” and “do what they can for people who suffer from it”, yet where are they when the person is suffering?
It’s easy to “understand” and “help” someone when they are doing what we consider “normal”.
What about when the person is sick? Only helping people “when they help themselves” is weak. True “help” occurs when it is needed.
It is common knowledge (and if it’s not, educate yourselves) that depression sufferers know themselves better than anyone else. If that is true (or at least believed), how come people are so quick to criticize when a depressive passes up on an invitation, or takes a day off work?
Would we be as critical of the cancer patient or AIDS sufferer who had the same behaviour?
Showing posts with label education.. Show all posts
Showing posts with label education.. Show all posts
Monday, February 28, 2011
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
What are we doing to our boys?
I've been reading where my (original) hometown of Montréal has the highest rate of high school drop out (almost 45%), and close to 80% of those are boys.
Firstly, I'd like to say that calling them "dropouts" is hypocritical. When an adult leaves a job of their own volition, they "resign". We no longer say they "quit" because that hurts our sensitive ears. But calling 16, 15, 14, and even younger children "drop outs" is fine.
Calling them "drop outs" puts the emphasis on them, and removes responsibility from teachers, school directors, school boards, and parents.
I specify boys in the title because of the disproportionate number they represent, and that discrepancy makes it easier to diminish the problem. By that I mean that if there were a more even number of girls "dropping out", more would be getting done to address the problem.
Now before you call me a knuckle-dragging Neanderthal, let me explain. If the discrepancy were more along the line or 55-45 or even 50-50, it would be affecting the same number of people, but more equally spread out in the population, hence more opportunity for people to get involved.
As well, since it is mostly boys, this can (more than likely does) lead to ghettoizing these "drop out" boys, while at the same time isolating the girls who "drop out" since they are the "exception".
When the "drop out" rate as high as it is in Montréal, it is time they looked at the education system. Not necessarily "what" they are teaching because after all math remains math, French is French, and so on. But how are we teaching it, and more importantly what are we teaching our children about themselves and life. Instead of shoving down their throats that "High education is the best way to have a better life", maybe we should explain that a better way to a potential good life is for them to think critically and logically about what they want, weigh the pros and the cons, explain how "life" or "society" works, and that a "successful" life includes balancing social expectations with personal needs and wants.
P.S. The French term for "drop out" is "décrocheur" which is just as derogatory.
Firstly, I'd like to say that calling them "dropouts" is hypocritical. When an adult leaves a job of their own volition, they "resign". We no longer say they "quit" because that hurts our sensitive ears. But calling 16, 15, 14, and even younger children "drop outs" is fine.
Calling them "drop outs" puts the emphasis on them, and removes responsibility from teachers, school directors, school boards, and parents.
I specify boys in the title because of the disproportionate number they represent, and that discrepancy makes it easier to diminish the problem. By that I mean that if there were a more even number of girls "dropping out", more would be getting done to address the problem.
Now before you call me a knuckle-dragging Neanderthal, let me explain. If the discrepancy were more along the line or 55-45 or even 50-50, it would be affecting the same number of people, but more equally spread out in the population, hence more opportunity for people to get involved.
As well, since it is mostly boys, this can (more than likely does) lead to ghettoizing these "drop out" boys, while at the same time isolating the girls who "drop out" since they are the "exception".
When the "drop out" rate as high as it is in Montréal, it is time they looked at the education system. Not necessarily "what" they are teaching because after all math remains math, French is French, and so on. But how are we teaching it, and more importantly what are we teaching our children about themselves and life. Instead of shoving down their throats that "High education is the best way to have a better life", maybe we should explain that a better way to a potential good life is for them to think critically and logically about what they want, weigh the pros and the cons, explain how "life" or "society" works, and that a "successful" life includes balancing social expectations with personal needs and wants.
P.S. The French term for "drop out" is "décrocheur" which is just as derogatory.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Stigma
Dictionary definition of stigma:
1. A mark of disgrace or infamy; as on one reputation.
Medical:
2. A mental or physical mark that is characteristic or a defect or disease.
Disgrace, infamy, is that what we think of when referring to mental illness being "stigmatized"? No, rather it is presented in the form of "ignorance". "Mental illness is stigmatized because people are ignorant of it's forms and symptoms".
The word "stigma" in it's current usage is actually a euphemism for "shame". We (the general feeling) feel SHAME for anyone with mental illness, but don't have the courage to say it as such.
In fact, the current use of the word "stigma" even subtly suggests that the "stigmatized" (IE. Mentally Ill person) is at fault. "Others don't understand you, but you're the one who needs change". What about these "others who don't understand" educating themselves!
I don't understand what diabetics, or cancer patients go through on a daily basis, does that make them "stigmatized", or me ignorant? The same applies to mental illness, when someone does not understand it, the sufferer is not "stigmatized", the first person is simply ignorant. So just as it is up to me to educate myself about diabetes and cancer, it is up to them to educate themselves about mental illness.
Reality is that mental illness is still seen as shameful. Like most everything else in today's world, people have come up with softer terms (in this case "stigma") in order to make unacceptable beliefs acceptable.
1. A mark of disgrace or infamy; as on one reputation.
Medical:
2. A mental or physical mark that is characteristic or a defect or disease.
Disgrace, infamy, is that what we think of when referring to mental illness being "stigmatized"? No, rather it is presented in the form of "ignorance". "Mental illness is stigmatized because people are ignorant of it's forms and symptoms".
The word "stigma" in it's current usage is actually a euphemism for "shame". We (the general feeling) feel SHAME for anyone with mental illness, but don't have the courage to say it as such.
In fact, the current use of the word "stigma" even subtly suggests that the "stigmatized" (IE. Mentally Ill person) is at fault. "Others don't understand you, but you're the one who needs change". What about these "others who don't understand" educating themselves!
I don't understand what diabetics, or cancer patients go through on a daily basis, does that make them "stigmatized", or me ignorant? The same applies to mental illness, when someone does not understand it, the sufferer is not "stigmatized", the first person is simply ignorant. So just as it is up to me to educate myself about diabetes and cancer, it is up to them to educate themselves about mental illness.
Reality is that mental illness is still seen as shameful. Like most everything else in today's world, people have come up with softer terms (in this case "stigma") in order to make unacceptable beliefs acceptable.
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