Mental Illness
• According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, mental illness is both a cause and a result of poverty. People who are mentally ill are challenged in their ability to find employment, shelter, access to health care and further education. Individuals who are poor but not dealing with mental illness can develop psychological difficulties related to coping with their circumstances. Psychological difficulties of individuals in poverty that are not addressed in the community can lead to societies that short-change themselves of productive citizens.