Unemployment a life-long nightmare

 

There is a link between unemployment and mental health according to local mental health workers.

Robert Goulard is a social worker from Windsor with over 29 years of experience. He said he believes unemployment is directly linked to problems that arise with mental health.

“There’s definitely a correlation between unemployment and mental illnesses,” said Goulard. “People get a lot of their self-esteem directly related to them working… people would say ‘I’m not working, I’m not contributing, my role in the family has changed.’”

According to Statistic’s Canada, 56.3 per cent of Windsorites 15 years old or over earned less than $27,815 in 2013.

Amy Bullock is a 37-year-old mother from West Windsor who experienced a workless year paired with suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Bullock worked as a property manager in Windsor and lost her job after becoming mentally ill in May of last year.

A stressful situation with an abusive client at work resulted in Bullock being admitted to the hospital.

“This left me shaken-up, and triggered me to have a meltdown,” said Bullock.

Bullock said she has finally been given the opportunity to work as a receptionist after a year of searching, even though she struggled financially and felt it was hopeless at times.

Some people suffering from mental illnesses and unemployment may seek help at different community services. Mental Health Connections is a place where anyone, especially those who suffer from mental illnesses, can come to engage in social programs and educational services.

“When people stop working they lose social connections and friendships that they had at work, they’re all by themselves with all these thoughts,” Goulard explained. “Social interaction is crucial to some, especially people that suffer from mental illness.”

Violette Daabous is a social worker and the client services manager of Mental Health Connections. She says the best way for her clients to make progress is by participating in these social group settings and to lean on each other for support.

“I can teach them, but they’re going to learn from each other more than they’re ever going to learn from me,” said Daabous. “People often say ‘I didn’t know there was somebody else that understood.’”

The National Alliance of Mental Illness holds a 12-week intensive education program for families. It’s offered at the Mental Health Connect during January and September.

Clients who speak to Daabous and Goulard said clients often say that they feel isolated by their families and that they may say things that are discouraging or unsympathetic.

“One mother that was in the program had said, ‘I can’t believe I’ve been telling my son who suffered from depression to pull up his socks, to get up and go find a job,’” said Daabous. “I don’t think it’s because they don’t care, I think it’s because they don’t understand.”

Daabous says it’s crucial that people suffering from unemployment and mental illnesses should work together with their families and friends in order to make progress enough to feel motivated to get back in the work-force while preventing further complications.

According to Goulard, participating in therapy and community programs can help lessen the effects that unemployment has on those with mental health issues.