[WSIS CS-Plenary] Draft Statement for Sub-Committee B- Inclusion Issues

[Elizabeth Carll, PhD]

Richard,

You point out an excellent issue which applies to many content areas.  Many
of us in the area of physical and mental health subscribe to a holistic view
and one which must necessarily take culture into consideration.  However,
translating and operationalizing concepts into a usable and effective
document is quite another matter.

For example, we had much discussion as to using the words "mental health" as
opposed to "emotional well-being", "psychological well-being", or
"psychological health" and others.  This issue arose due to the unfortunate
and erroneous interpretation, in the English language, by some that the
terms mental health and mental illness are often interchanged and seen as
synonymous .  This results in negative connotations of mental health being
associated with stigma, when in reality it is mental illness which has been
associated with stigma.  I think an excellent example is Sylvia's perception
and not wanting to use the term "mental health" with regard to disability
issues.

However, after much discussion, there was a concern as to how the words
"emotional" and "psychological" will be translated into other languages.  It
was determined that in some languages psychological will have a negative
connotation, more similarly related to "psychiatric" with a pathology focus
and that these terms may more likely be incorrectly translated.  In the end
it was decided to use the term "mental health" as this would more likely be
more accurately translated and be consistent and familiar as it is used by
the WHO.

I gave this example, as I am sure there are similar issues with other
content areas and much thought is given to the language which is used in
drafting documents, by the experts in those areas.

I plan on keeping this thread, as it is an excellent discussion of the
issues.

Elizabeth

Dr.  Elizabeth  Carll
International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies;
UN NGO Committee on Mental  Health;
Communications Coordination Committee  for the UN
Tel:  1631-754-2424
Fax: 1631-754-5032
ecarll at optonline.net



-----Original Message-----
From: plenary-admin at wsis-cs.org [mailto:plenary-admin at wsis-cs.org]On
Behalf Of richard jordan
Sent: Wednesday, September 21, 2005 1:39 AM
To: plenary at wsis-cs.org
Cc: richardjordan at mailcity.com
Subject: RE: [WSIS CS-Plenary] Draft Statement for Sub-Committee B-
Inclusion Issues

I think that my purpose, perhaps not articulated well, was to point out that
different cosmovisions may look at a subject not only from a holistic
approach, but also from the point of view of the Indian medicine wheel. You
are looking at the issue from one place, perhaps I from another.

Not to change anything, just to say that notwithstanding the previous
debate, of which I am aware, this is a valid view. Whether the strategy to
bring this into any document now is correct, that is another matter
entirely.

Richard

----- Original Message -----
From: "Elizabeth Carll, PhD" <ecarll at optonline.net>
To: plenary at wsis-cs.org
Subject: RE: [WSIS CS-Plenary] Draft Statement for Sub-Committee B-
Inclusion Issues
Date: Tue, 20 Sep 2005 23:41:06 -0400


> Richard,
>
> I absolutely agree with the concept of the whole person.  Unfortunately,
> governments, private sector business and even not for profits are not so
> enlightened.  I have never seen grants awarded for researching the "whole
> person", nor allocation of or access to medical services and resources, or
> insurance coverage made available on the basis of the "whole person".
>
> It is essential that if we are attempting to hold government and
businesses
> accountable for providing what they promise, it needs to be specific and
> written in such a way as not to create giant loopholes to circumvent the
> intent of outcome documents, declarations and other written commitments.
>
> It is also my understanding, why we have experts (hopefully) provide input
> in various thematic and specialty areas.  I would not assume I know enough
> about intellectual property and legal aspects of privacy laws, to insist
on
> changing language.
>
> I believe everyone should be able to raise questions.  But there is a
> difference in requesting the removal of certain language, as did Sylvia,
> from recommendations that are made in areas that are also outside of the
> area of disability, and thereby potentially deny access of services to
> mental health information to those who are not disabled.  If this is the
> choice of the disability caucus as it pertains to their documents and
> sections of the declaration that is their decision (although I would not
> recommend doing so), but it should not be imposed on others.
>
> Furthermore, access to physical and mental health information has already
> been included in the WSIS CS Declaration.  In my previous post I stated it
> was my recommendation to move forward in an INCLUSIVE MANNER ON ALL issues
> and cited physical and mental health as one example.  It was Sylvia's
> recommendation to then recommend the exclusion of physical and mental
health
> information.
>
> > From my observation, civil society would be more successful in
accomplishing
> its goals with a more inclusive agenda rather than attempting to have
> language regarding others' issues removed.
>
> Elizabeth
>
> Dr.  Elizabeth  Carll
> International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies;
> UN NGO Committee on Mental  Health;
> Communications Coordination Committee  for the UN
> Tel:  1631-754-2424
> Fax: 1631-754-5032
> ecarll at optonline.net
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: plenary-admin at wsis-cs.org [mailto:plenary-admin at wsis-cs.org]On
> Behalf Of richard jordan
> Sent: Tuesday, September 20, 2005 4:24 PM
> To: plenary at wsis-cs.org
> Subject: RE: [WSIS CS-Plenary] Draft Statement for Sub-Committee B-
> Inclusion Issues
>
> Not to offer an opinion on a topic in which I have no expertise, but only
to
> say, if you have been to any of the meetings of the Permanent Forum on
> indigenous Peoples, you will have heard Willie Littlechild speak on the
> WHOLE PERSON, mental, physical and spiritual, just to emphasize Sylvia's
> point.
>
> Richard Jordan
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Elizabeth Carll, PhD" <ecarll at optonline.net>
> To: plenary at wsis-cs.org
> Subject: RE: [WSIS CS-Plenary] Draft Statement for Sub-Committee B-
> Inclusion Issues
> Date: Tue, 20 Sep 2005 13:11:02 -0400
>

> > Sylvia,
> >
> > In my many posts I have indicated this is NOT SPECIFICALLY A REFERENCE
TO
> > DISABILITY, which is only one aspect of the possible outcome of mental
> > illness.  The focus is on information for MENTAL HEALTH, which includes
> > learning information about emotional well being, resilience, dealing
with
> > trauma, coping with stress, coping with illness, etc. all of which are
not
> > necessarily under the category of mental illness and disability.
> >
> > Furthermore, it is included as such to PREVENT the SEPARATION of
physical
> > and mental health as it should be seen as a seamless service/issue.
> > Unfortunately in most countries, mental health is separated from
physical
> > health, and as a result services and insurance are arbitrary and
> > discriminatory.  The US is a prime example of the failure of a seamless
> > recognition and provision of resources.  Refusing to recognize this will
> not
> > make it go away.
> >
> > Not mentioning mental health will not eliminate perceived stigma by some
> re
> > mental illness, only eliminate the possible allocation of resources.
> >
> > Hope this helps clarify.
> >
> > Elizabeth
> >
> > Dr.  Elizabeth  Carll
> > International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies;
> > UN NGO Committee on Mental  Health;
> > Communications Coordination Committee  for the UN
> > Tel:  631-754-2424
> > Fax: 631-754-5032
> > ecarll at optonline.net
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: plenary-admin at wsis-cs.org [mailto:plenary-admin at wsis-cs.org]On
> > Behalf Of Sylvia Caras
> > Sent: Tuesday, September 20, 2005 12:48 PM
> > To: plenary at wsis-cs.org
> > Subject: RE: [WSIS CS-Plenary] Draft Statement for Sub-Committee B (for
> > Tuesday afternoon)
> >

> >
> > > the inclusion of the recognition of both physical and mental health
> > > information.
> >
> >
> > We have this discussion again and again, but I will keep objecting to
the
> > separation of physical and mental, and I object to perpetuating the
> > separation based on reference to prior documents.  Health is a seamless
> > blend of biological, psychological, sociological, spiritual and
vocational
> > well being.  People who actually experience mood swings, fear, voices
and
> > visions are whole human beings and, whatever the intent, it fosters
> > shaming, prejudice and discrimination to carve us out in this way.
> >
> > Sylvia
> >
> > Sylvia Caras, PhD
> > www.peoplewho.org
> >