Hey Kent,
Here is a taste of some of the commentary from Dennis.  He is a
professor of health policy at York University.  He is considered
eccentric in public health (mainly because he doesn't think public
health should exist).  What are you thoughts on the commentary below?
I'll send you others as they come...its pretty good reading.  I have to
admit that often gets me thinking about some of the things we do in
public health.

Luv you budgie.  Can we do weight training tonight?

Sheila Datta, RN., B.Sc.N.
Public Health Nurse
Tobacco Use/Subtance Abuse Prevention
Region of Peel Health Department
44 Peel Centre Drive, Suite 102
Brampton, ON L6T 4B5
(905) 791-7800 ext. 2694
Fax: (905) 793-0764
email: [log in to unmask]

-----Original Message-----
From: Dennis Raphael [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: September 13, 2003 9:06 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Question regarding homelessness and addictions

My earlier comment about homeless and psychistric disorder refers to the
fact that by the time a person -- usually through no fault of their own
--
has lost everything in the world and has become homeless -- and even
that
requires quite an uncaring and unsympathetic society and policy makers
--
they should rightly be upset, unhappy and distraught.  It is very easy
for
a mental helath worker to focus on these characteristics and ascribe  or
provide a psychiatric diagnosis.  This could be anxiety disorder,
depression, paranoid personality -- take your pick.  The diagnosis is
then
ascribed as the cause of the person's homelessness rather than the
result
of the structural forces that create homelessness in the first place.

The cure for homelessness is housing, not more mental health workers,
though by this time, they probably could help integrate people into
their
new and available housing -- if there was available housing!

dennis

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