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Class Action
March 2007 E-news
1. Class & Mental Health
2. Book of the Month: Psychology and Economic Injustice: Personal, Professional, And Political Intersections
3. March Action Against Classism
4. Resources: Class & Mental Health
Articles and Links
5. Share your experience: Class Action Survey
6. Class Action article in The Diversity factor journal
7. Jobs at Class Action
8. Guest edit an enewsletter
9. Host a House Party
10. Cartoons and Illustrations Sought
11. Upcoming Programs
1. Class & Mental Health
The links between poverty and mental health have been studied for decades. While the two have been proven to be indisputably correlated (the lower the socioeconomic status the higher the chances are for having a mental disorder) it has not been clear, until recently, which comes first - poverty acting as a stressor which then leads to a diagnosis, or a pre-existing condition presenting itself which then leads to poverty. Of course, the answer is not as simple as one or the other, but there is strong evidence that poverty often precedes mental illness. Sadly, this evidence has yet to influence public policies concerning healthcare access and services such as unemployment and assisted housing for low-income citizens in any large scale way. In this months enews, we offer several articles and studies that illuminate the connection between mental illness and poverty.
2. Book of the Month: Psychology and Economic Injustice: Personal, Professional, And Political Intersections by Bernice Lott and Heather E. Bullock (American Psychological Association 2006)
At a mere 190 pages, Psychology and Economic Injustice: Personal, Professional, and Political Intersections is a lithe and compact monograph in the Society for Psychology of Women Series (Division 35) of the American Psychological Association. The book draws from feminist and social psychology theory, empirical evidence and the authors’ personal narratives to make a compelling examination of the relationships between economic disparity, gender, mental health, public policy, and social justice.
Read more...
You can read more Book of the Month selections in our book corner.
3. March Action Against Classism
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) organization operates at the local, state and national levels. Each level of the organization provides support, education, information and referral and advocacy. Local affiliates and state organizations identify and work on issues most important to their community and state. To learn how you can help make a difference in the lives of people affected by serious mental illness, click on the link below.
The National Mental Health Association aims to organizepublic education and advocacy campaigns, so that communities across the country can implement state-of-the-art programs that will help people move off the streets and into homes and apartments. To find out more about this issue and what you can do to support them in their work, go to our action page.
4. Resources: Class and Mental Health Articles and Links
Grade Your State
NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, presents this first comprehensive state-by-state analysis of mental health care systems in 15 years. Every U.S. state has been scored on 39 specific criteria resulting in an overall grade and four sub-category grades for each state. The national average grade is D. Five states receive grades in the B range. Eight receive Fs. None received As.
In his study, Christopher G. Hudson, Ph.D., chairperson of the School of Social Work at Salem State College, examined the records of more than 34,000 mentally ill patients who had been hospitalized at least twice between 1994 and 2000 to examine the links between poverty and mental illness. His findings show that increased services, both pyschological and logistical, would greatly impact mentally ill patients, even prior to a diagnosis.
in 2000, the American Psychological Association (APA) adopted a Resolution on Poverty and Socioeconomic Status which is a concise and clear list of facts linking poverty and mental illness as well as a list of 17 resolutions they are taking up in order to better serve mentally ill patients.
5. Share Your Experience: Class and Mental Health
-Has class status affected your family's mental health and/or access to services? How?
Let us know at our survey page.
Read the varied responses to last month's survey on Class and Sports.
6. Class Action Article in The Diversity Factor Journal
The latest issue of the journal The Diversity Factor included an article by Class Action's Executive Director, Felice Yeskel, urging diversity professionals to include issues of classism in their work. To read the article click here.
7. Jobs at Class Action
Class Action seeks talented and committed individuals to fill two new staff positions: Development Director and Race/Class Intersections Program Coordinater. Class Action is committed to a class and race diverse staff. Please visit our website to learn more about these positions.
8. Coordinate and guest edit an enewsletter
Choose from topics such as class & gender, literature, media, health care, or one of your choosing. Email us if your are interested!
9. Host a Class Action House Party
Over the past two months, volunteers hosted nine house parties to benefit Class Action. The parties ranged from small living room gatherings to community events held at local cohousing communities. The parties introduced Class Action to new people, resulting in new volunteers, new consulting opportunities and raised over $10,000. We appreciate all of the hosts and guests who made these events such a success.
Looking for a way you can get involved with Class Action? Consider hosting a house party! Hosts invite people who they know, and provide a meal, snacks or dessert. Class Action provides the program, including the short film Enough. For more information contact Dana Gillette by e-mail or call her at 413-585-9709, ext. 207.
10. Cartoons and Illustrations Sought
Class Action seeks class-themed cartoons and illustrations for use in our publications, trainings and on our web site. Consider creating and donating your original artwork, or giving us permission to print previously published art. Immediate need exists for art that reflects working-class and low-income experience for inclusion in our upcoming Cross Class Dialogue Manual. Questions? Contact Peter via email or call at 413-585-9709, ext. 204.
11. Upcoming Programs:
Exploring Class - Northampton
March 10, 2007
Northampton, MA NorthMarch arch
More info...
Exploring Class - Philadelphia
March 17-18, 2007
Philadelphia, PA
More info...
Shining the Light on Poverty:
2nd Annual Conference Exposing the Effects of Poverty
March 23, 2007
Keene, NH
More Info...
Enough at Northampton Jewish Film Festival
March 25, 2007
Northampton, MA
More info...
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