IOM Launches Manual on Community-Based Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergencies and Displacement

IOM Launches Manual on Community-Based Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergencies and Displacement: Geneva— Mental health and psychosocial support are increasingly considered an essential element of humanitarian responses for populations displaced due to wars and conflicts, natural disasters, famine and poverty, and those torn by emergencies. Mass disruptions and displacement can bring to several sources of stress for individuals, families and communities involved. Providing psychosocial support in educational, cultural, community, religious and health settings reduces vulnerabilities, and prevents their stagnation.

Language, culture, race tid bits (from notes)

I have attended quite a few seminars and conferences during this past year. To encourage continuing membership there was a lot more free events which I took advantage of. That doesn’t happen too often. This year of course due to the pandemic, we all went on line. I normally provide the notes of what I learn or refreshed for you. However, there was a lot of information that was for therapists to increase their performance. So I won’t be providing you with all the information. However, I can give you tid bits here and there for your interest. So, here goes. During my 16 Jan 21, seminar, I learned from Dr Jessica Dere that from 76 studies (USA) it was determined that the therapeutic relationship was much stronger when the therapist spoke to clients in their first language, even though it was the therapist’s second language. I can relate to that and I will expand as well. Italian is my second language and my name is rather unique. Sometimes people mistake my name as from all kinds of culture. Sometimes, a client or relative is trying to find someone who understands their culture, or religion or both, along side of the language. However, this does not apply to all. I have had clients purposely seeking me out because I am not of their culture. They don't want to be judged. So, it would have been nice to know exactly how the studies were conducted. I have only referred people to therapists of their own culture twice in my entire career as a therapist. That was because I thought someone of their own background would benefit them therapeutically. There is so much shame for some people and to have shared experience, can be very helpful. That can make them feel vaidated. I try to help people through their lens. When it comes to what is normal or not, I like to refrain from labels. However, there is a lot of normal out there that some don’t realize and that becomes therapeutic. Then there are those who try to normalize child sexual abuse as an example and that is where I step in and say no that it is not acceptable. I remember years ago hearing some man talk about how right it was to have sex with a child. I challenged him and later he approached me and wanted to know that he was just talking. He did not know, that I knew he was a pedophile. That causes so much harm. The second lecturer on that day was Dr Jackson, Associate Professor, Couple and family therapy (The Black male Therapist) from Texas. His question: How do we deal with evil in the world? When did we realize when we were different? 80% of teachers in the U.S are white. Dr Jackson said that racism is everywhere but experienced differently even within the same racial background. If you only see one lane, you may not see the other lanes. I recommend this professor. Dr Jackson is on Instagram, Facebook: The black male therapist. www.theblack therapist.com. That is all for today. Why not think about what Dr Jackson asked. What do you think?

Theology - Faith seeking understanding :Notes

Gospel of Mark Morale theology starts in scripture - your exercise. Morality becomes more than a set of rules but objectively is essential. Contemporary Ethics Pluralistic: Secularized - we get rid of God; Philosophical ; abstract principals- Autonomy beneficence, non- maleficence and justice. How do we define death? Who should we transplant? The right to make own choices. - Individualistic - (rights based). It has become a bit legalistic. We have forgotten that if I have rights so does Sandy (eg). With every right there is a corresponding duty. Christian ethic of common good. So therefore, there is a bit of social ethics and contemporary ethics. Systemic Theology: overarching discipline that seeks to work out a coherent view of the world by integrating the truths of faith with all other truths we can know. Morale Theology: A particular expression of system theology which focuses on the implications of faith for the way we live. Eg. Morally wrong - abortion (sanctuary of life). What we seek in both is coherence. War, Capital Punishment. Bishops of the Philippines - environment crises going on is the ultimate pro life crises. Evangelium Vitae-sanctuary of life. - ecology -poverty - abortion - war D.V., CP, CON.EL. Mediation ethics - Both/and faith (in life of Jesus Christ) and reason (what is reality in the world and incarnational principle - when we seek - we seek in resurrection of Jesus Christ. God became incarnate. What does that speak to us of faith and reason (of the reality of the world)? We have often done things to get into heaven and not often for others. Where do we find what we are called to reveal? From universal love to discipleship. Not only what should I do but who should I be? It becomes much bigger than the rules. Jesus never expected blind obedience. Call and response - call to conversion - then we are called to follow Jesus and then to call what is good.

The Internet Murder Continues..............http://www.silvaredigonda.ca

"...there’s always that one special guy. In those cases the women don’t come to me for help. Oh, well. I have enough to pay the rent for another month and savings for two more months. Sandra missed being a cop, but after two years with

homicide, she had seen enough for a lifetime. Now, where was she? “I need a coffee,” she mumbled. She didn’t hear anything. She had barely managed to rise from her chair when she felt powerful arms come from behind her, choking her. Automatically, Sandra tucked her chin down, bent her knees, and flung him over her head. She didn’t wait to see if she could take him. She wasn’t stupid, but was fully aware of her limitations. She ran down the stairs, stumbling a few times, but managed not to fall. It had been a long time since she had moved that fast. She almost made it outside. Her hand was on the door that promised her an escape. When she felt the knife slice her arm, she automatically used the force of her entire body to turn and punch him, aiming to kill him by using all her force to strike upward from just underneath his nose. She missed. She dug her diamond ring into his face, hoping to blind him as she rigidly prepared her other hand to pierce his other eye. The ring on her right hand nicked his face before she felt the blow that pushed her out the door she had tried so hard to escape through. Excerpt From: Silva Redigonda. “The Internet Murders.” iBooks.

York University - COVID Lock Down one year anniversary is now live on Facebook

PRESS RELEASE UN and partners release new Research Roadmap to guide recovery from COVID-19 New report puts science focus on equity, resilience and sustainability to leave no one behind. NEW YORK, 17 November 2020— COVID-19 has exposed stark global inequities, fragilities and unsustainable practices that have intensified the impact of the pandemic. According to UN estimates, in 2020, 71 million people will be pushed into extreme poverty. To immediately address the complex health, humanitarian and socio-economic consequences while boosting speedy recovery efforts, the UN has released a Research Roadmap for the COVID-19 Recovery, encouraging targeted research for data-driven responses that focus particularly on the needs of people being left behind. The Roadmap highlights the choice between business as usual, or transformative change that is focused on equity, resilience and sustainability. This transformation requires knowledge of the best way forward, and science represents the world’s best chance for generating that knowledge and recovering better from the COVID-19 crisis. “We have a historic opportunity for change; for macroeconomic choices and fiscal policies that are pro-poor and that place peoples' rights at the centre of recovery. We must focus on gender equity and invest in public services and other measures that will help close the widening gap on inequalities and lead to a greener future,” said United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed in the report. In an interdependent world—shared risk means shared responsibility. Designed to complement the existing UN Framework for the Immediate Socio-Economic Response to COVID-19, the Roadmap identifies 25 main research priorities and key scientific strategies to support a recovery that benefits everyone, everywhere. “The stakes are too high and the opportunity too great to leave the potential of science for a better COVID-19 recovery unfulfilled. The UN Research Roadmap for the COVID-19 Recovery is a commitment and guide to bring the full promise of research to bear on today’s greatest challenges,” said Professor Steven J. Hoffman, Scientific Director of the Institute of Population & Public Health at the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, who led the development of the Research Roadmap. *** Note to editors: The UN Research Roadmap for the COVID-19 Recovery articulates five research priorities for each of the five pillars identified in the UN Framework for the Immediate Socio- Economic Response to COVID-19. Below is one example of a research priority for each of the five pillars: 1. Health Systems and Services: What strategies and financing models are most effective in expanding universal health coverage? 2. Social Protection and Basic Services: What are the most effective and equitable ways of ensuring basic income protection for all? 3. Economic Response and Recovery: How can food supply chains be secured for the world’s most marginalized populations to ensure food security and nutrition in all circumstances? 4. Macroeconomic Policies and Multilateral Collaboration: What lessons from past economic crises can inform the design of national, regional and global recovery strategies? 5. Social Cohesion and Community Resilience: What are the best strategies for building sustainable, inclusive and resilient cities that protect people from future pandemics and climate change? Science strategies into action The Roadmap also details how the implementation of an equitable, resilient and sustainable recovery from COVID-19 will require effective science strategies underpinned by investments in data infrastructure and sound scientific methods. The systems that support societies must quickly adapt to new knowledge and new technologies to recover as effectively as possible. 2 To advance the 25 research priorities identified in this Roadmap, action is needed across the research ecosystem. Researchers, funding agencies, governments and civil society organizations as well as UN entities will need to collaborate and maximize the impacts of investments in research. The Roadmap can guide global efforts, minimize gaps and duplication, and foster partnerships in order to accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals. How this Roadmap was developed The Roadmap was developed in 10 weeks through a global consultative process that engaged more than 250 experts. The process included consultation with five steering groups made up of 38 research funding agencies, consultations with hundreds of policy, research and implementation leaders, and scoping reviews of existing research evidence on socio-economic recovery from health emergencies.

Covid 19 and the Environment, Behaviour, Policy Implications for Sustainability

Last September I attended a webinar at York University with Dr Mark Winfield, Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change. At the time he spoke that one of the benefits seen from this pandemic is a 15% - 20 % global reductions of emissions, an improvement of air quality improvements. We have experienced vulnerability of global supply chains. There was no domestic availability, even though we have manufacturing abilities. This fragility of supplies. He described the government responses as bi-polar - two decisions, a return to normal versus building back better. Exodus from urban core to suburbs and exurbia. Is this temporary or a long term trend? It was at that moment unknown. There was a 50% reduction of TTC use > warning of increasing car use, loss of transit use; post crises. Biking and walking is restrictive by distance - weather - long term - unknown. Low density housing - development vs high density high rise. Elevators - more people. There was an on shoring of critical supply chains. We saw it with 95 masks. Dr Winfield said he wouldn’t be getting into the political division. He believed it is clear who is protecting the environment and who isn’t. The European Union is moving investments into climate change. This was an opportunity to move forward into this pandemic. There has been a dismantlement of any protection for the environment. A lot of the danger before the pandemic is continuing and risk is embedding urban forms - high carbon and high cost which we will be stuck with for a long time. The protection elements in place during 1975 have all be dismantled. Tomorrow I shall be attending another lecture regarding the pandemic provided by York University. Excuse the delay in bringing this to you please.

The Black Family: Representation, Identity and Diversity

This morning I woke up very early, excited to start my day so I thought I would begin with letting you know about the lecture I attended yesterday with the American Association of Family Therapy. It was free and I received an education credit of one hour so how could I resist? As you know if you have been reading my blogs I have attended quite a few lectures about racism in the past year. I really enjoyed this one. The panel consisted of five black men and women, all family therapists, Camille Lafleur, Phd, Dr George James, Joslyn Armstrong Phd, and Dr Michael Lee Cook. It was respectful and in line with my own education. What did I learn? One of the panelists indicated that for the black community they can only trace their roots for about four generations. Of course. I have watched documentaries about this. Recently I just watched a movie about the heroic Harriet Tubman. What an amazing woman who gained so much freedom for slaves, a slave herself who through determination and love for freedom gained it for herself and many others. I think of the amazing woman whom I shall never forget who talked to me for a full day, she on her way to Savanah and me to Disney World via train. Her father was born a slave on a cotton plantation. My thoughts return to another experience while in Savanah myself driving around looking for a plantation which I never found and when I stopped and asked for directions, a man told me there had been no such thing. There were no plantations in the past that had slaves. I wondered if he was embarrassed or ignorant. My studies in my Masters program was very much understanding cultures and religion. It has served me well in my practice. Toronto is very multicultural. I will at times have clients reach out to me because I am Catholic or Italian descent or have a degree in Ministry and Spirituality or just because they like my picture. I grew up in Toronto where my name was very unusual. It was often of interest to my teachers and I would normally be asked what nationality I was. For a while I wasn’t sure. When I was a good girl I was from Switzerland and not such a good girl I would be Italian. Harmless fun, but I would say I was from Switzerland for a few years. I was fortunate that I could go home and be mentored. As a therapist now I see so much struggle in families and couples and within individuals. The panelists focused on the importance of the different cultures. If I have a client from Africa or a client from Jamaica or elsewhere, that is very much what defines the person. What the panelists stated was the importance of food and music. I love food. Even though I have never mastered cooking, I certainly love someone who can cook well. I was raised with that. My mom was an amazing cook. My father loved her food. My mother’s tip to me was to use butter. Butter is the trick. Last night I ordered from the Mandarin and wondered why my vegetables don’t taste as good. What am I doing wrong? What am I talking about? Food is important to me. Music? I like most music. My radio in my car doesn’t work anymore but when it did just before the pandemic, I had it loud and a young black youth, was staring at me, and began laughing his head off and gesturing in amusement. He couldn’t stop laughing which eventually annoyed me. However, it also dawned on me that the music I was listening to, in his mind was not music I should appreciate. He had perhaps labeled it, his music. That had happened to me years ago when driving a convertible (that car died too), a black man driving beside me asked if I really liked that music. I said yes and he shook his head in disbelief. While at Canada Day celebrations, a few brown skinned men sitting together remarked how surprise they were that white people appeared to be liking the music they enjoyed. I share this because it is all bias. There is an assumption from individuals because they are looking out at the world from their own lens. This is very much in line with presumptions about women and their roles and what defines a man. One question from the audience was, if it is ok for a white person to provide therapy to a black person and I was relieved to hear yes. Because, I know there are biases there as well. She said what a white therapist should be is authentic. That is important. I was going to give up AAMFT because it is expensive, especially paying in Canadian money and because I thought it was no longer relevant to me. But it is. Sometimes you need to pay for what you get. I know many cannot afford to remain with them anymore because of all the costs we incur here in Canada. I have been with AAMFT since I was a student in three programs. I was with them, doing my Masters and in the Toronto School of Theology with Pastoral Counselling. That certainly kept me busy. Recently here in one of the areas outside Toronto, what they call the GTA, a city council group I believe of some sort, got into the news because what they had posted trying to celebrate Black History month. Of course I always see the humour and could not help but chuckle as I heard what they were suggesting. The one that had me in hysterics was something like take a black person out to lunch and get to know the person. Really? They also suggesting eating a particular food etc… How condescending can that be? Well think about what I have just said. We each have our own lens. Can we speak for all? Their justification was that they had two people who were black in colour on their board. We need more education for those trying to educate. I need to keep my chuckles and laughter in check, however humour is very good for me and in my practice. One of the panelists remarked having two young children and her daughter has curly hair. She will gravitate towards a little girl who looks like her when choosing a book. This is important. I didn’t think it was a big deal when I was a teen that dolls were all white. I do now. White is not the end all. Educators need to get a wake up call and teach the different religions and experiences and politics world wide. We need to grow. We need to understand who we are as individuals, a reflection of all we have experienced. Recently I also watched the movie Concussion with Will Smith portraying Dr Bennet Omalu, who discovered during an autopsy that a football player had died because of the repeated trauma to his head. This man was/is brilliant, very educated and from Nigeria. He had to use his own money to research this. What did this movie demonstrate to me? Here is an intelligent man who was dismissed because he was a threat to football. People were dying and he took the interest and discovered why. He had to move. Yet, he prevailed and eventually gained the respect he should have received immediately. I am trying not to tell you to much because both movies are worthwhile watching. Why not show a movie a month in school about something similar and have a discussion. Have it be respectful and begin a zero tolerance for any kind of abuse. I remember myself as a child watching documentaries about the concentration in elementary and reading “Black like me.” Seven years later it was gone from the same school. Why? Anyhow, enough for now. Have a good weekend.