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13 | Friday, January 2 7, 2 0 1 7 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com MyView ell' s `Let' s Talk' campaign gives a face to a fundamental shift in the way people and communities talk about mental illness. However, it is essential we not limit this conversation to one day. Together, we should continue discussing ways to improve the health and wellbeing of our communities year round. Expert after expert has pointed to the relationship between mental illness and community engagement. Individuals who feel disconnected from their community are more susceptible to mental illness, while many mental illnesses -- and their stigmatization -- lead to feelings of severe isolation. Any parent who has raised a child with mental illness or developmental disabilities already understands this. However, there is another dimension to this problem that often goes unacknowledged. While mental illness affects people of all backgrounds, we cannot ignore the distinct relationship between mental illness and poverty. The feelings of extreme isolation and alienation experienced by those living in poverty have devastating impacts on mental M ental health and com m unityw ellbeingg ohand-in-hand B is a social issue and -- more than anything -- a public health issue. W e have an unfortunate habit of compartmentalizing issues that are actually closely connected. We are just now beginning to recognize the error in that, especially on the local level. Right now, we have an opportunity to fundamentally change that approach for the better. The Province of Ontario is getting ready to ask municipalities to develop Community Safety and Wellbeing Plans. This is a chance to improve the way we deal with community wellbeing, which has to include mental health, poverty, and other obstacles to the overall livability of our community. We have just begun creating such a plan for each part of Halton. We are taking issues out of their individual boxes and finding holistic ways to improve our communities' wellbeing as a whole. Please contact me if you would like to be involved in this work to take our community to the next level. By continuing this discussion together, we can build communities that are engaging by default, -- subm itted by O akville M ayor Rob Burton Oakville Mayor Rob Burton health, presenting yet another social and psychological barrier to those trying to overcome poverty or mental illness. If we are committed to recognizing mental illness as a health issue, and we acknowledge poverty is both a cause and symptom of mental illness, then it is time we brought that to its logical conclusion. Poverty is not simply an economic issue. It DISPOSAL SERVICES Mention Promo Code All Commercial and Residentantial AAA 586 Third Line, Oahville 9 0 5 -3 3 7 -8 6 8 6 immu.aaadisposal.org Oakville Beaver and receive 10% O FF the Price of Your BIN RENTAL* 10 % O FF Serving ( M i l e , Burlington. Milton & Mississauga Need help with house-cleaning? Let us do it for you! Discover cleaning service that's affordable, reliable, and convenient. Sunrise C leaning S ervices $100 R ebate 2 5 1 2 O ld B ro n te Rd a t D u n d as W e e k d a y s 1 0 -5 Sat 1 0 -3 "w e m a f e y o u fo o ^ j/o o d .,in s id e a n d o u t ! " O ffe r valid fro m Jan ua ry 1 6 M a rc h 1 7 ,2 0 1 7 . PurdiM aa m riinumof4 l>j«t^ an dreceiveaS100 rebatemdm extraSZ O fofBachad d ition al ahad e pucheaed. W lidat p articip atin grettibra oriy. T 1 A ll F litfT ta R eaorvod .T H EP R O M O T IO NC A R D a P rep aidA m ericanExp ress? Cadiaauedb yA m exBankof Cana*.* U asOtvA m exBankofC an ad ai Call us to d a y fo r a fre e e s tim a te ! ___ 905-567-1199 d WINDOWS - DOORS - COVERINGS Efl Servicing Oakville for over 20 years! w h e n you purchase e n e rg y e ffic ie n t D uette* h o n e y c o m b shades. C heck o ut our curren t s p e cials at: H u n te r D o u g la s www.Su n rise-Clean i ng.ca Gallery- 9 0 5 .8 2 7 .3 3 3 1 ^ ·Recurring cleaning. ·One time cleaning. ·Spring cleaning. ·Post renovation cleaning. fasada.ca IIbe iaauedii thefccmofa H u ntefD ou glasP rep aidA m erican& tprea#C ard.T H EP R O M O T IO NC A R Disa tradem arkofThe H u n tG ro u p . )fromA m erican E xp roaa. Forful derails, visit hintadoitfai.ca. a very py New Ye