Reflection Paper: How Neo-liberalism is Damaging your Mental Health

Reflection Paper 1
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Course
Institution
Date
Module 1
Cain, R. 2018. How Neo-liberalism is Damaging your Mental Health. The Conversation.
https://theconversation.com/how-neoliberalism-is-damaging-your-mental-health-90565
In Cain's article, the writer argues neoliberal capitalism has harmed people's mental health and overall wellbeing at a time when there is the clamor for more austerity after the global financial crisis. Neoliberalism is based on the classical liberal theory, which highlights that the free market is the engine of wealth. The government or state cannot intervene except to enforce rules. The neoliberal movement is associated with the cuts in public services, social benefits, and labor rights, but this has disadvantaged people in a worse situation. Some of the emerging economic themes in the past few decades are relentless privatization, reduced state support, and increased work demand
Neoliberalism extends beyond limiting state intervention to all spheres of human existence. Furthermore, the destruction of social protection and too much emphasis on the individuals has meant that planning is less focused on meeting the population's needs, emphasizing individual choices (Cain, 2018). However, people are harshly judged if they make the wrong choices. Even when structural factors affect growth and progress, they are ignored in favor of choices; people are less protected in the free-market economies. The citizens of people in these societies have higher mental health problems (Cain, 2018). Depression is at times one way of self-protection against the unwinnable competition when there is the privatization of care and making it more difficult to address the mental health crisis. Neoliberal policies have worsened inequality, and the most vulnerable people with serious mental health problems are less likely to get adequate mental health care.
Module 2 Community Economic Development
Enns, S. W. 2018. Community Economic Development in Manitoba: Theory, History, Policy, and Practice. Winnipeg, MB: Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives – Manitoba. /sites/default/files/uploads/publications/Manitoba%20Office/2018/01/CED_in_MB_Theory_History_Policy_Practice.pdf
The source focuses on Community Economic Development (CED) in Manitoba, a highly developed Canadian province with low unemployment. The CED development framework emphasizes socio-economic development and the community's environmental wellbeing with sustainability and inclusiveness. Yet, Manitoba is a highly unequal province with high child poverty, homicide rates, and economic and social exclusion (Enns, 2018). In addition, Winnipeg, Manitoba's capital, has laws and policies that disfranchise marginalized communities. CED benefits marginalized communities, including the Indigenous populations, who are often left behind economically and have poor access to social benefits. To promote Manitoban community economic development, it is essential to have government support, and subsiding development also helps address economic inequality and barriers to development.
The Community Economic Development approach focuses more on the local needs of the people and communities in Manitoba, unlike the market-oriented and state-led economic development. Sustainable economic development benefits the people where revenue generated is reinvested into community development to foster the local economy further. Thus, supporting quality services and forgetting the rights of indigenous communities are essential in addressing the specific economic needs of the community. The community-driven economic initiatives go beyond fighting poverty and address inequality among marginalized communities with advocacy and holistic development. Enns (2018) singles out Neechi Principles, which guide Manitoba Community Economic Development, include local production, local skills development, local decision-making, employing residents, and reinvesting profits. Besides this, there is a focus on social enterprise without ignoring stability and local support to promote holistic development. Ensuring that local communities have skills will also improve their socio-economic development situation.
Module 3: CED and Organizational Form: Non-profit Organizations
Munshi, Shereen. and Levi, Elisa. 20...