Mental health a human right

By Terra Johnston PhD

It could be said that throughout history, society has viewed persons with disabilities through a lens of sympathy rather than one of human rights. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities addresses societal attitudes toward persons with disabilities by affirming the inherent right of all individuals to live life to their fullest potential, whatever that may be.

Importantly, the convention recognizes that persons with disabilities includes individuals who live with mental illness and, who, because of that illness, face accessibility barriers that hinder their full participation in society.

This article was originally published in The Winnipeg Free Press, December 2016. You can find it here or download it here.

Examining Child Care through a Child-Centred Lens

By Terra Johnston PhD

Despite the wide recognition of early childhood development as 
a key social determinant of health, and the protection of early childhood education and care (ECEC) as a child’s right, through the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, child care continues to be portrayed in today’s Canadian discourse as, at worse, a threat to traditional family values and parental choice and, at best, a labour support issue for working parents (namely, mothers). Seldom are child-centred considerations factored into the discussion, including the negative effects of poor-quality child care on children’s development, and the potential of child care as a social justice equalizer that ameliorates systemic issues of inequity that many children endure.

This article was originally published in Interaction, Spring 2016. You can download it here

Recognizing early signs of PTSD

By Terra Johnston PhD

Due to the nature of their work, first responders (e.g., firefighters, paramedics, public safety officers) are uniquely susceptible to PTSD. PTSD involves exposure to psychological trauma, and first responders experience such trauma on a regular ongoing basis over the course of their careers. While not every first responder will develop PTSD, it is important that all first responders and their loved ones recognize its symptoms. It is all too easy for the warning signs to go unrecognized — I speak from experience.

Left untreated, PTSD poses great risk. Research shows the suicide rate of individuals who suffer from PTSD is far greater than that of the general population. Put simply, promoting awareness and treatment-seeking for PTSD saves lives.

This article was originally published in The Winnipeg Free Press, July 2016. You can find it online here or download it here.

My Husband Suffers From PTSD

Cannabis Saved His Life

By Terra Johnston PhD

These days everyone has an opinion on cannabis. Mostly, perspectives focus on the anticipated risks of legalization. But, to a great number of people, legalization brings the long-awaited opportunity to eliminate the stigma surrounding cannabis. My husband, Tony, and I are two of these people.

After receiving treatment for his PTSD, my husband is healthy and our family is strong – but I know how lucky we are.

This article was originally published in Globe and Mail, October 16, 2018. You can find it online here or download it here.