[WSIS CS-Plenary] Shirin Ebadi Nomination - Deadline for supports

[Elizabeth Carll, PhD]

Dear All,

I am including my expanded response from the plenary list below as it will
further clarify.

-----Original Message-----
From: Elizabeth Carll, PhD [mailto:ecarll at optonline.net]
Sent: Sunday, October 16, 2005 4:48 PM
To: plenary at wsis-cs.org
Subject: RE: [WSIS CS-Plenary] Shirin Ebadi Nomination - Deadline for
supports


Hi Sylvia,

Yes, we have had this discussion and we appear to have a difference of
opinion.  By including mental health, which as we have discussed includes
all people, not only those with disabilities, it will insure funding and
resources via ICT.

While I can understand your concern, in reality, the allocation of resources
will be determined by parity in funding  and not by perceived
discrimination.  If it is not included in documents, it is usually not
included in funding and in the allocation of often limited resources.

In fact, according to a recent poll by the American Psychological
Association, 87 percent of Americans say that it is the lack of insurance
coverage that most keeps them from seeing a mental health professional, not
stigma or embarrassment.  The same poll revealed that 85 percent of
Americans think that health insurance should cover mental health services.

Please cite the research which shows that making provisions for parity in
access to mental health information and services results in discrimination
against people with psychosocial disabilities.  I would think quite the
opposite.

Elizabeth

Dr. Elizabeth Carll
International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies;
UN NGO Committee on Mental Health;
Communications Coordination Committee for the UN

-----Original Message-----
From: plenary-admin at wsis-cs.org [mailto:plenary-admin at wsis-cs.org]On
Behalf Of Sylvia Caras
Sent: Sunday, October 16, 2005 4:22 PM
To: plenary at wsis-cs.org
Subject: Re: [WSIS CS-Plenary] Shirin Ebadi Nomination - Deadline for
supports


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_______________________________________

At 12:45 PM 10/16/05, Elizabeth Carll, PhD wrote:
>Both physical and mental health is a basic human right, yet often mental
>health services is viewed as disconnected from health services.

Elizabeth and I have this conversation in many places.

Separating out mental health always results in discrimination against
people with psychosocial disabilities.  It feels like we, the people for
whom the right is urged, don't matter at all.

Sylvia

Sylvia Caras, PhD
Information Technology Consultant to the International Disability Alliance`



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