02 X 180 The Blind Perspective 20: Lets Talk Mental Health

Published: Aug. 6, 2022, 8:54 p.m.

Historically, mental health has not been treated well. In fact, for the first three quarters of the twentieth century, mental health sufferers were placed in institutions, and although the stigma of mental health has somewhat improved, the fact is, thanks to the pandemic, mental health statistics have increased to just under half of the population.\n\nThe pandemic saw mental health sufferers climb from one in ten, to four in ten, and insurance companies and governments have not faired well under that pressure. The fact is, prison inmates are amongst the highest treated for mental illness in the United States, which essentially means, the US has gone from placing mental health sufferers in a prison-like setting, to just plain prisons. \n\nThe government claims to be caring well for it\u2019s mental health patients, but the question is, are they?\n\nYou can find mental health resources for Canada and the United States below:\nUnited States:\n\n\u2022\tNational Suicide Prevention : 1-800-273-8255\n\u2022\t Crisis text line: Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor\n\u2022\t Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357\n\u2022\t Behavioral health treatment services locator:\nhttps://findtreatment.gov/\n\nCanada:\n\n\u2022\t Canada Mental Health Resources:\nhttps://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/mental-health-services/mental-health-get-help.html\n\u2022\t Talk Suicide Canada: 1-833-456-4566 (Phone) | 45645 (Text, 4 p.m. to midnight ET only) http://www.talksuicide.ca\n\u2022\tIn Quebec (French): Association qu\xe9b\xe9coise de pr\xe9vention du suicide: 1-866-APPELLE (1-866-277-3553)\n\u2022\tKids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868 (Phone), Live Chat counselling at www.kidshelpphone.ca\n\nJoin our panel, on Saturday, 4:00 pm (EST), 1:00 pm (PST), 9:00 pm (GMT), as they discuss topical news items of importance from a blind perspective.\n\nThe Blind Perspective is an interactive show, allowing for the participation of the audience. Should you wish to be involved in the conversation, please send an e-mail message to:\n\nwhoseblindlifeisitanyway@gmail.com\n\nOr, message us on our Facebook page at:\n\nhttp://www.Facebook.com/whose.blind.life.is.it.anyway\n\nYou can also Tweet us on Twitter:\n\nhttp://www.twitter.com/blindwhose\n\nCome join the conversation today.