Stigma & Violence in Mental Health – Should We Disconnect the Dots?

Stigma against mentally ill persons is a major problem and has increased in incidence. Multiple studies have suggested that the perception of violent behavior by seriously mentally ill individuals is an important cause of stigma. It is also known that treating seriously mentally ill people decreases violent behavior. Therefore, the most effective way to decrease stigma is to make sure that patients receive adequate treatment. Stigma can lead to discrimination. Discrimination may be … [Read more...]

Accepting ‘Otherness’, a Path to Mental Health

"Woman is the other of man, animal is the other of human, stranger is the other of native, abnormality the other of norm, deviation the other of law-abiding, illness the other of health, insanity the other of reason, lay public the other of the expert, foreigner the other of state subject, enemy the other of friend." (Bauman 1991: 8). Modern Illness in Mental Health Societal Mental Health; why Humans need Integration for Health The concept of The Other highlights how many societies … [Read more...]

Postpartum Depression is Real – Take Action!

Having a baby is an exciting event. However, along with the joy, excitement and euphoria that surrounds the birth of a baby, many women experience feelings of depression as well as increased sensitivity, tearfullness and irritability. A woman might worry that she will not be a good mother, or that her relationship with her husband will be negatively affected by the birth. These anxieties together with unbalanced hormones and extreme fatigue can contribute to drastic mood swings, … [Read more...]

January is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month

In Canada, 747,000 people currently live with dementia and one of the major challenges they and their families face when they receive the diagnosis is the stigma associated with it. In fact, according to a recent poll by Alzheimer's Disease International, 40 per cent of people with dementia reported they had been avoided or treated differently after diagnosis. That's why, this January during Alzheimer Awareness Month, the Alzheimer Society Canada is launching a nation-wide campaign called "See … [Read more...]

International Widow’s Day – JUNE 23

Plight of Widows and their Children Around the World Many people may not know anything about the discrimination against and degradation of widows. It had never been addressed by governments or the UN on a global scale; it had simply been swept under the carpet.  In 2009 The Loomba Foundation commissioned a report to be researched and written on the plight of widows around the world. The Widows Research Report is a comprehensive study of every facet and factor concerning widowhood; it … [Read more...]

Rise Above a Borderline Life, Take Action

  Borderline Personality   Do you have someone in your life that suffers behaviours that are completely out of control?  Do you have moments with this same person that are loving and heartwarming; then, twenty minutes later, this same person is threatening to kill you?  Does this person have moments of violent outbursts that make no sense to those around them?  Does this person cry at extremely inappropriate times with no reason for sadness that are apparent? The above … [Read more...]

WHAT IS THE NATIONAL HIV/AIDS STRATEGY?

Last Sunday marked Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, and we are providing an update on the Working Group’s progress. As co-chairs, we are personally committed to this work, having first-hand community and clinical experience in seeing and treating the devastating effects violence has on the lives of women and their families. PROGRESS TO DATE: PRESIDENT’S WORKING GROUP ON THE INTERSECTION OF HIV/AIDS, VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS, AND GENDER-RELATED HEALTH … [Read more...]

Bi-Polar Disorder – WOMEN in RECOVERY

The causes of bipolar disorder have yet to be fully uncovered, but there is strong evidence that brain structure anomalies play a role. Bipolar disorder or bipolar affective disorder (historically known as manic-depressive disorder) is a psychiatric diagnosis for a mood disorder in which people experience disruptive mood swings. These encompass a frenzied state known as mania (or hypomania) usually alternated with symptoms of depression. Bipolar disorder is defined by the presence of … [Read more...]

Meena Seshu, founder of India’s SANGRAM: HIV,VIOLENCE & SEX WORK

As the founder of SANGRAM, an Indian non-governmental organisation that works with sex workers to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS, Meena Seshu has strongly lobbied against the image of sex workers as powerless, irresponsible or even deserving of harm. Based in rural Maharashtra, the group seeks to empower the workers – most of whom are women – to form collectives and lobby for their rights. Here Seshu explains that in order to help reduce their vulnerability to HIV, any efforts must first help … [Read more...]

Indonesian HIV advocate, Baby Rivona

The International Aids Conference 2012 to be held in Washington, D.C. from 22 to 27 July, is bringing together activists and experts from around the world to shape the global response to HIV/AIDS. Stigma, gender based violence and discrimination continue to fuel the HIV/AIDS pandemic, increasing the risk of violence and HIV infection for women and girls, and reducing their access to resources and services. Baby Rivona has advocated passionately on behalf of women living with HIV and … [Read more...]

Zimbabwe, women with HIV leading change, claiming their rights

As a woman with deteriorating health due to HIV, Phillipa Marisa, 60, used to agonize over the legacy that she would leave her children. Since her husband’s death from AIDS she had become dispossessed from her property in Hopley Farm, Harare, faced discord within her family, and had fierce arguments with her in-laws. Yet she found support and solace in a programme that connects HIV-affected women with their property and inheritance rights, and with each other. “They taught us women to … [Read more...]

Saving Face Can’t Make You Safe – HIV and the AAPI Community

“Saving face can’t make you safe. “Talk about HIV—for me, for you, for everyone.” The slogan is reflective of how Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders need to embrace the growing concern of HIV in our communities. Judging by recent activities the efforts to educate the community about HIV is having an impact. On May 19, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders gathered at more than 20 community events for the 8th Annual National Asian & Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. … [Read more...]

“Telling Stories to Fight STIs and HIV/AIDS,” Social Marketing Quarterly

Heard any good stories about HIV or STIs lately? Told any? What makes a good story?   Dr. William Smith at "Telling Stories to Fight STIs and HIV/AIDS"     Dr. William Smith, Editor of Social Marketing Quarterly, asked about 20 invited participants at a May 18, 2012 workshop, “Telling Stories to Fight STIs and HIV/AIDS,” to consider the elements of a good story and then use them to create one. Sponsored by the AIDS Institute of the New York State Department of … [Read more...]

Copyright 2022 @ A Celebration of Women™ The World Hub for Women Leaders That Care