The Problem with “Community” in the Mental Health Field
Publication: Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health
19 October 2018
Abstract
The concept of “community” is ubiquitous in mental health policy, research, and practice in Canada; however, its meaning is rarely defined. In this paper, we consider the positioning of “community” within the Canadian historical and political mental health context and reveal that it contrasts with the lived experiences of people with psychiatric disabilities. We argue that mental health policy, research, and practice should move away from the term community in favour of a framework that addresses basic needs, disability justice, intersecting social identities, and the structural forces that impact the lives of people with psychiatric disabilities as they “recover” in settings outside of hospital.
Résumé
Le concept de « communauté » est omniprésent dans les politiques, la recherche et la pratique en santé mentale au Canada. Malgré tout, sa signification est rarement définie. Dans le présent article, nous considérons le positionnement de la « communauté » dans le contexte historique et politique de la santé mentale au Canada, et nous révélons que celle-ci contraste avec les expériences vécues par les personnes ayant une incapacité psychiatrique. Nous soutenons que les politiques, la recherche et la pratique en matière de santé mentale devraient s’éloigner de la notion de communauté en faveur d’un cadre conceptuel qui tient compte des besoins fondamentaux, de la justice pour les personnes ayant une incapacité, des identités sociales intersectées et des forces structurelles qui influent sur la vie des personnes ayant une incapacité psychiatrique, et ce, au fur et à mesure que celles-ci se « rétablissent » à l’extérieur du milieu hospitalier.
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Published In
Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health
Volume 36 • Number 4 • December 2017
Pages: 3 - 32
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Version of record online: 19 October 2018
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Tyler Frederick, Lesley A. Tarasoff, Jijian Voronka, Lucy Costa, and Sean Kidd. 2017. The Problem with “Community” in the Mental Health Field. Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health.
36(4): 3-32. https://doi.org/10.7870/cjcmh-2017-030
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