#discrinimation

New Post has been published on https://iam1in4.com/2018/10/abuse-psychiatry-south-india/

Abuse of psychiatry in South India

Note* this is an analogy piece, and I have protected the identities of those involved

My return challenge: You’re running down the field, keeping your head up to look for oncoming attackers. You see a pathway for a direct goal, and then out of nowhere, there is a sudden blow to your feet. You fall down, tripping over the player who took you down. You lay on your back in pain for a couple of seconds, then sit up to look at the referee. No card given. No foul given. How can someone hit you so hard, and get away with it? You get up, and start sprinting towards that ball. With some help and a few tricks up your sleeve, you win the challenge. You dribble that ball through the defense, and with one strong kick; into the back of the net it goes. You smile and give yourself a pat on the back. You proved the people who tried to stop you, wrong, with a beautiful return.

This is what it felt like when I “return challenged” my university in a positive way.

For about 16 months, I had to deal with a particular department, which proved to be difficult. I’d safely say, that for about 8-10 months of those 16, I faced mental health discrimination. Discrimination that was undetected by higher ups in the university. I was constantly being “slide tackled,” to the point where it broke me. I was carried off “the field”; told to rest and tend to my injury. I rested, and like most people who are injured, they think of ways to get better and make a positive out of what happened. So I sat, and thought about what I could do. Then it hit me, change the way the game is played. Protect those from injury.

With the help of another student, and endless hours of working on the project, we came out and proposed the mental health proposal we had written. It changed the way the game was played. It changed the rules on how this department was to handle students with mental illness. But I didn’t stop there; I made sure the dirty team was going to be responsible for the numerous injuries caused to myself and other “players.” I reported it to the head, and the head had no idea how this team was playing. With a few reprimands here and there, this team was reborn, ready to play the new rule game. You can change someone at a level where they are in trouble, but you can also change them by engaging others. So I set out on building the biggest, and best team this university has ever seen.

With one chat with another student, and motivation from our student union, we created Memorial Minds, “A collection of students at Memorial University who are committed to breaking the stigma surrounding mental illness, both on campus and in the community at large. We endeavor to promote resources and projects on campus that are related to mental health. As a student society, we plan to support community groups and projects and bring the presence of the mental health movement to Memorial. Through awareness campaigns, fundraising events for community groups, and advocacy we plan to enrich Memorial University with a clear and progressive understanding of mental health.”

Within a couple of months, in the off-season as well, we’ve had 120 members join our team. A team of strong and determined individuals; ready to play the game. When the season starts, we will hit the field hard and fast. We will encourage others to join our team, and to help change the game play of mental health. I’m ecstatic to have so many players join our team, and you’re welcomed to the best team that has ever played the game.

 You can give our team a follow on Twitter at @munminds, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/munminds and www.facebook.com/groups/munminds