Dear Editor,
As a social worker servicing homeless people and persons who experience mental illness in Portland I have come to recognize the impact of stigma and discrimination among these groups.
One of my clients has been taking medication and his condition is stable and has been steadily employed for one year. This client saved up a significant amount of money and went to open a bank account. He was denied to open an account because of the assumption that based on his mental health condition he would not be stable or responsible enough to maintain his finances.
This client then acquired a letter from his psychologist stating that he is stable and fully competent to maintain a bank account. When this client presented the letter to the bank manager he was informed that it was "against our company policy to allow persons with mental health illnesses to open accounts".
I have not been able to acquire a copy of the bank's policy manual as yet, however, whether this is true or not this client's experience is a blatant example of the widespread discrimination and unfair treatment of persons with mental health challenges in Jamaica. This client is completely capable of maintaining steady employment and his finances, moreso than many people without mental illness.
What does it take for us to realise that people who experience mental health challenges are just as capable as us "normal" people? Is it only when one of our own one mothers, fathers, sisters, or brothers get sick that we wake up and realise that mental health challenges can happen to anyone. No one is free from the possibility of developing a mental disorder, no matter how physically healthy they may be.
How can we move forward and learn to accept and support one another? It takes more than our mental health teams to move forward and help persons with mental disorders. Change needs to come from the community and from each and every one of us, as we are all responsible for each other. Let's work together to create a more fair and equal Jamaica, where stigma does not lead to the violation of our rights as citizens and persons.
Concerned Citizen
Portland
Barred from saving in 2013
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As a social worker servicing homeless people and persons who experience mental illness in Portland I have come to recognize the impact of stigma and discrimination among these groups.
One of my clients has been taking medication and his condition is stable and has been steadily employed for one year. This client saved up a significant amount of money and went to open a bank account. He was denied to open an account because of the assumption that based on his mental health condition he would not be stable or responsible enough to maintain his finances.
This client then acquired a letter from his psychologist stating that he is stable and fully competent to maintain a bank account. When this client presented the letter to the bank manager he was informed that it was "against our company policy to allow persons with mental health illnesses to open accounts".
I have not been able to acquire a copy of the bank's policy manual as yet, however, whether this is true or not this client's experience is a blatant example of the widespread discrimination and unfair treatment of persons with mental health challenges in Jamaica. This client is completely capable of maintaining steady employment and his finances, moreso than many people without mental illness.
What does it take for us to realise that people who experience mental health challenges are just as capable as us "normal" people? Is it only when one of our own one mothers, fathers, sisters, or brothers get sick that we wake up and realise that mental health challenges can happen to anyone. No one is free from the possibility of developing a mental disorder, no matter how physically healthy they may be.
How can we move forward and learn to accept and support one another? It takes more than our mental health teams to move forward and help persons with mental disorders. Change needs to come from the community and from each and every one of us, as we are all responsible for each other. Let's work together to create a more fair and equal Jamaica, where stigma does not lead to the violation of our rights as citizens and persons.
Concerned Citizen
Portland
Barred from saving in 2013
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