Remarks by Abdel Fudadin
SASOD-TCV
“Voices Against Violence” Candlelight Vigil for World Suicide Prevention Day
We
have all been programmed to respond to the human difference between us with fear
and loathing and to handle that difference in one of three ways: ignore it, and
if that is not possible, copy it if we think it is dominant, or destroy it if
we think it is subordinate. But we have no patterns for relating across our
human difference as equals. As a result, those differences have been misused in
the service of separation and confusion.
Prejudice,
discrimination, social exclusion and mental ill-health are interconnected in
more than one way. While people with mental illnesses may face discrimination
due to stigma attached to mental health symptoms, discrimination on a variety
of grounds can also be at the root of mental health issues.
Discrimination
and exclusion have proven to negatively impact persons with mental health
illnesses which then increase their risk of suicide ideation. On a social
level, prejudice and discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender (LGBT) are reflected in everyday stereotypes compounded by very
rigid social identity expectations, for example, limitations on job
opportunities, parenting, and relationship recognition are often justified by
stereotyping assumptions.
