Mothers with Mental Illness

Mothers struggling with a mental illness are particularly vulnerable to a widespread set of challenges.  Stigmatization creates seemingly endless barriers to access affordable housing and meaningful employment.  While social assistance provides minimal support, for many, particularly those experiencing domestic violence, the social assistance is inadequate. 

In comparison to the general population, people living with mental illness are also living in poverty.  By strategically freezing or reducing welfare rates, and imposing time limitations for financial support, government personnel propose that these strategies will encourage more people to become self-sufficient by no longer relying on the welfare state (Wilton, 2004).  However, failure to provide people with an adequate standard of living reinforces oppressive walls that leave many mothers with mental illness marginalized and vulnerable to dangerous living conditions.

Stigmatized by mental illness and reliance on social assistance, mothers with mental illness experience minimal success in securing affordable housing.  Discrimination against mental health is compounded by having children, living in poverty, as well as other factors such as race, ethnic identity, and language barriers (Benbow, Forchuk, & Ray, 2011).  Many mothers were denied housing because their landlord requested disclosure of mental health status and other factors as part of the housing application process (Benbow, Forchuk, & Ray, 2011).

Mothers with mental illness also experience difficulty finding meaningful employment that provides a sustainable income.  Similar to the challenges experienced in securing affordable housing, obtaining meaningful employment was also hindered by several factors.  Women had to find employment that did not pose threat to their mental health, while also considering issues such as child care, transportation, and personal exhaustion.  As a result, many women with mental illness found it particularly difficult to obtain legal employment (Benbow, Forchuk, & Ray, 2011).  Feeling limited by unsuccessful attempts to find affordable housing and obtaining employment, many mothers with mental illness were left fending for themselves and their family on the streets as the support from social welfare is not sufficient enough to make ends meet.

Unfortunately, a common experience shared by many women with mental illness living in shelters or on the streets is a history of violence and domestic abuse (Benbow, Forchuk, & Ray, 2011).  Women in this situation experience a cycle of oppression in which they may find strength to escape domestic violence, but continue to feel trapped in society as they are unable to obtain the financial means to support themselves or their family (Benbow, Forchuk, & Ray, 2011).  Many women have to choose a life existing between two evils in which they either return to an abusive partner who can provide for the family or be free of violence but struggle financially, risking the apprehension of her children.  The risk of homeless and violence for women with mental illness raises huge concerns and indicates that more attention and support at a policy level needs to be provided.

In order to improve the situation for mothers living with mental illness several supports need to be emplaced.  First, financial supports through social assistance needs to be more easily accessible and must provide an adequate standard of living.  Second, public education and awareness about mental health issues should become a priority in order to reduce or eliminate the discrimination and stigmatization experienced by many. Thirdly, Canada needs to implement “a national housing strategy inclusive of diverse and socially excluded groups” (Benbow, Forchuk, & Ray, 2011, p. 694). Lastly, more support in education, health care, financial support, housing and access to resources such as transportation and child care needs to be provided to women who are experiencing domestic abuse and violence.  With these supports emplaced mothers living with mental illness could attain a higher quality of life for themselves and their children.

Kim

References

Benbow, S., Forchuk, C., & Ray, S. L. (2011).  Mothers with mental illness experiencing homelessness: a critical analysis.  Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 18(8), 687-695. Retrieved from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com.proxy2.lib.umanitoba.ca/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2850.2011.01720.x/abstract

Wilton, R. (2004). Putting policy into practise? Poverty and people with serious mental illness.  Social Science and Medicine, 58(1), 25-39.  Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com.proxy2.lib.umanitoba.ca/science/article/pii/S0277953603001485