麻豆传媒AV

Canadians will be observing Mental Health Week during the first week of May. During this week, it is important to educate the public to a higher level of understanding of the condition known as mental illness, especially to reduce stigma.

"Much has been said about erasing stigma," said Norvald Flaaten, retired social worker. "We ask the question, how can we erase something invisible, something that is not seen?"

"To answer this question, I have coined the following formula which has been approved by a psychology professor from the University of Regina. I have used the science of physics to help complete this formula."

"To erase something invisible, we use some other element that is also invisible. I have chosen the element of attitude, which in most cases has proved to be most effective. A person's attitude can be changed to such a degree that they have a more positive look at the condition known as stigma."

"But how are we going to change a person's attitude? For this I have chosen the element of education. The public can be educated to a higher level of understanding of the condition known as mental illness, and therefore the stigma can be completely wiped out."

Flaaten has experience with encountering stigma, since he worked in the Weyburn Mental Hospital, which was later named the Souris Valley Extended Care Centre. He first entered the facility on April 9, 1946.

"I was unaware of the stigma that prevailed in the field of mental health at that time. I had only worked a short time before the damaging effect of stigma was visibly demonstrated," said Flaaten. "The families of loved ones would bring their relatives to the door of the hospital, hand them over to a doctor and nurse, and then quickly disappear, not to be seen again until Christmas and Easter. They were afraid that their character would be stained if people knew that one of their family members were mentally ill."

The Souris Valley Extended Care Centre has been demolished, but Flaaten still sees stigma in regard to mental illness, 65 years after he had entered the hospital.

"As we enter Mental Health Week, my wife Helen and I find great pleasure and satisfaction in knowing that we served for over 40 years in the department of Mental Health, and were able to give care and comfort to those in need. The experience we gained will never be forgotten."