[WSIS CS-Plenary] Draft Statement for Sub-Committee B- Inclusion Issues

[Elizabeth Carll, PhD]

Richard,

I absolutely agree with the concept of the whole person.  Unfortunately,
governments, private sector business and even not for profits are not so
enlightened.  I have never seen grants awarded for researching the "whole
person", nor allocation of or access to medical services and resources, or
insurance coverage made available on the basis of the "whole person".

It is essential that if we are attempting to hold government and businesses
accountable for providing what they promise, it needs to be specific and
written in such a way as not to create giant loopholes to circumvent the
intent of outcome documents, declarations and other written commitments.

It is also my understanding, why we have experts (hopefully) provide input
in various thematic and specialty areas.  I would not assume I know enough
about intellectual property and legal aspects of privacy laws, to insist on
changing language.

I believe everyone should be able to raise questions.  But there is a
difference in requesting the removal of certain language, as did Sylvia,
from recommendations that are made in areas that are also outside of the
area of disability, and thereby potentially deny access of services to
mental health information to those who are not disabled.  If this is the
choice of the disability caucus as it pertains to their documents and
sections of the declaration that is their decision (although I would not
recommend doing so), but it should not be imposed on others.

Furthermore, access to physical and mental health information has already
been included in the WSIS CS Declaration.  In my previous post I stated it
was my recommendation to move forward in an INCLUSIVE MANNER ON ALL issues
and cited physical and mental health as one example.  It was Sylvia's
recommendation to then recommend the exclusion of physical and mental health
information.

>From my observation, civil society would be more successful in accomplishing
its goals with a more inclusive agenda rather than attempting to have
language regarding others' issues removed.

Elizabeth

Dr.  Elizabeth  Carll
International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies;
UN NGO Committee on Mental  Health;
Communications Coordination Committee  for the UN
Tel:  1631-754-2424
Fax: 1631-754-5032
ecarll at optonline.net

-----Original Message-----
From: plenary-admin at wsis-cs.org [mailto:plenary-admin at wsis-cs.org]On
Behalf Of richard jordan
Sent: Tuesday, September 20, 2005 4:24 PM
To: plenary at wsis-cs.org
Subject: RE: [WSIS CS-Plenary] Draft Statement for Sub-Committee B-
Inclusion Issues

Not to offer an opinion on a topic in which I have no expertise, but only to
say, if you have been to any of the meetings of the Permanent Forum on
indigenous Peoples, you will have heard Willie Littlechild speak on the
WHOLE PERSON, mental, physical and spiritual, just to emphasize Sylvia's
point.

Richard Jordan

----- Original Message -----
From: "Elizabeth Carll, PhD" <ecarll at optonline.net>
To: plenary at wsis-cs.org
Subject: RE: [WSIS CS-Plenary] Draft Statement for Sub-Committee B-
Inclusion Issues
Date: Tue, 20 Sep 2005 13:11:02 -0400

>
> [Please note that by using 'REPLY', your response goes to the
> entire list. Kindly use individual addresses for responses intended
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>
> Click http://wsis.funredes.org/plenary/ to access automatic
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> _______________________________________
>
> Sylvia,
>
> In my many posts I have indicated this is NOT SPECIFICALLY A REFERENCE TO
> DISABILITY, which is only one aspect of the possible outcome of mental
> illness.  The focus is on information for MENTAL HEALTH, which includes
> learning information about emotional well being, resilience, dealing with
> trauma, coping with stress, coping with illness, etc. all of which are not
> necessarily under the category of mental illness and disability.
>
> Furthermore, it is included as such to PREVENT the SEPARATION of physical
> and mental health as it should be seen as a seamless service/issue.
> Unfortunately in most countries, mental health is separated from physical
> health, and as a result services and insurance are arbitrary and
> discriminatory.  The US is a prime example of the failure of a seamless
> recognition and provision of resources.  Refusing to recognize this will
not
> make it go away.
>
> Not mentioning mental health will not eliminate perceived stigma by some
re
> mental illness, only eliminate the possible allocation of resources.
>
> Hope this helps clarify.
>
> Elizabeth
>
> Dr.  Elizabeth  Carll
> International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies;
> UN NGO Committee on Mental  Health;
> Communications Coordination Committee  for the UN
> Tel:  631-754-2424
> Fax: 631-754-5032
> ecarll at optonline.net
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: plenary-admin at wsis-cs.org [mailto:plenary-admin at wsis-cs.org]On
> Behalf Of Sylvia Caras
> Sent: Tuesday, September 20, 2005 12:48 PM
> To: plenary at wsis-cs.org
> Subject: RE: [WSIS CS-Plenary] Draft Statement for Sub-Committee B (for
> Tuesday afternoon)
>
>
> [Please note that by using 'REPLY', your response goes to the entire list.
> Kindly use individual addresses for responses intended for specific
people]
>
> Click http://wsis.funredes.org/plenary/ to access automatic translation of
> this message!
> _______________________________________
>
>
> > the inclusion of the recognition of both physical and mental health
> > information.
>
>
> We have this discussion again and again, but I will keep objecting to the
> separation of physical and mental, and I object to perpetuating the
> separation based on reference to prior documents.  Health is a seamless
> blend of biological, psychological, sociological, spiritual and vocational
> well being.  People who actually experience mood swings, fear, voices and
> visions are whole human beings and, whatever the intent, it fosters
> shaming, prejudice and discrimination to carve us out in this way.
>
> Sylvia
>
> Sylvia Caras, PhD
> www.peoplewho.org
>