A Chance to Belong

The "serious mental illness" label says that the social system has rejected
the labeled person's understanding of the world, has stated that the person's
emotions and behaviors are not apt, has categorized the person as
dysfunctional, and has assumed an obligation to provide base level sustenance. 
Implicit in the understanding of a duty to house and feed is a belief in the
value and meaning of life.  Withheld from those with psychiatric labels is an
authentic opportunity to improve the quality of their own life through a
central project.  Social policy about the psychiatrically labeled devalues the
interior state by labeling it illness.   Policy continues to depreciate the
person by also devaluing the ability to participate in community.  It sends
the disabled out of the way, to hospitals, locked facilities, board-and-cares.
The social policy suggested by mental health professionals denies
participation in even the volunteer labor force, gives a zero share in the
division of labor to those with psychiatric labels.  

This policy is initiated by giving housing and shelter and a label.  There is
a chance to belong only if one accepts the label of illness and learns the
skills of chronicity.  Rejecting the label is interpreted as denying the
illness; one becomes more of an outcast.  By staying chronic, the labelled
person is able to maintain housing and food and a place to belong and is
disallowed from learning skills to break away.  There is no chance to prove
one's importance to the quality of the larger social group by using one's
skills and abilities.  Remaining chronic gains economic security in a place
where one is told one fits.  Denied is an opportunity for independence and to
earn one's way.

Some users of mental health services have chosen to barter craziness for
shelter and food.  They provide their visions, voices and mood swings as
objects for the therapeutic community.  The current rehabilitative activity
and socialization programs for the seriously mentally ill separate those being
served from participation in the broad community.  Keeping the psychiatrically
labeled population dependent provides the opportunity for professionals to
exercise and experience their own good will and beneficence.   Professionals
argue that it is the disability that needs the dependence.  This is good for
the therapists but enfeebles the user.  I think the fundamental need is the
enterprise that will produce social acceptance, money, or something more than
illness, to barter for food and housing.  

A task for each user of mental health services is to define what projects are
achievable that will meet that individual's goal for satisfaction.  Each
person needs the opportunity to tailor connection and community while
accommodating mood swings, visions and voices.   Even when an emotional or
mental disability is the ground of an individual's life, the figure can be
self-determined purposeful action.

Copyright Sylvia Caras 1992