Critical Perspectives and Reflections

GEORGE FROEHLICH March 26, 2021 Why is wearing a mask during the Covid-19 pandemic so problematic for some? Why is it that wearing masks in public has become such a major political issue in the West (North America and parts of Europe for example)? And why is it that in the East (China, Japan, Viet Nam and Thailand, to name just a few) it is almost a non-issue? Although much has been written on the psychology behind why mask wearing is odious to some, not much has been written about it also being a cultural issue. I believe that it all comes down to different strokes for different folks. So here we go. East In Asia wearing masks has been a cultural narrative since 1918. (Young, 2020) It started in Japan as the country dealt with the outbreak of the Spanish flu. Wearing masks was seen as an effective way to prevent the flu from spreading further. And that translated additionally with many Asian countries seeing masks as preventing the spread of communicable diseases. As well many Asian c...

                       SHANNON DYBCZAK      MARCH 16, 2021 I recently came across a very thoughtful and moving Facebook post on the effect of situations - the various structural stresses - that can, and do, affect and cause the mental health struggles of so many people.1 It is a very important insight and I want to point out particularly the importance of colonialism and its effect on Indigenous people in this dynamic. I blame Colonialism and all that came, and all that comes, with it for most of the personal suffering we, Indigenous people, experience. It is important that we confront and acknowledge the harms it has caused. Finding healing, for me as an Indigenous woman, was about reclaiming my connection with my true self, mind, body, spirit, and finding balance. I had to do the work to clear out my negative thoughts, fostered in the minds of so many of us Indigenous people by the continued colonial lies and o...

March 17, 2021 KATRINA BERCOV In short: let's not confuse despair with illness. I acknowledge that some mental health issues may have genetic or other unavoidable causes. But Coroner Ros Fogliani blamed the recent cluster of Kimberley child suicides on 'the crushing effects of tragic intergenerational trauma'. ( https://www.abc.net.au/.../kimberley-child.../10783016 ) I agree with the Coroner. Calling depression an "illness", suggests a dysfunctional brain is the reason for someone’s feelings or behaviour. BUT WHAT IF, for some of us, like those Kimberley children, depression is not simply evidence of a broken mind, but a REASONABLE AND RATIONAL REACTION to circumstance? An isolated elderly person is "depressed" sitting alone at home 24/7 with no interests or human contact. But their "depression" is mysteriously "cured" when they move to be near family, go on regular outings and make new friends. That was never a sick brain needing a ...