Human Rights Commission releasing guidelines to protect people with mental illness and addictions

Posted on June 19, 2014 in Inclusion Policy Context

TheStar.com – News/GTA – Guidelines are aimed at ensuring that people with disabilities related to mental health and addiction don’t face discrimination in areas such as employment, housing and services.
Jun 18 2014.   By: Laurie Monsebraaten, Social justice reporter

Ontario’s Human Rights Commission is releasing new user-friendly guidelines on how to define, assess, handle and resolve discrimination related to mental health and addiction disabilities.

The guidelines are aimed at ensuring that people with mental illness or addictions have equal rights and opportunities without discrimination in areas such as employment, housing and services.

The 109-page policy, being released Wednesday by Ontario Human Rights Chief Commissioner Barbara Hall, is based on recommendations in the commission’s 2012 report on human rights issues affecting people with mental illness or addictions. That report was the result of a two-year consultation with more than 1,500 individuals and groups, including 1,000 people with mental health issues or addictions as well as employers, housing providers, advocates and family members.

The guidelines rely exclusively on the input received during that consultation, the commission’s largest, the commission says.

“People with disabilities such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and alcohol and drug addiction often face ignorance, fear and a lack of understanding,” the policy guidelines note.

Because of the stigma, they are less likely to disclose their disabilities or seek help. They are more likely to have low income and many live in chronic poverty, the commission says.

Despite the prevalence of prejudice, stigma, ignorance and misunderstanding, one in five Canadians has a mental health or addiction disability, or will experience one in their lifetimes.

“All of society benefits when people with mental health or addiction disabilities are given equal opportunity to take part at all levels,” the guidelines say.

Under Ontario’s Human Rights Code, people with mental health or addiction disabilities are protected from discrimination and harassment under the grounds of “disability.”

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