Written by Angie Peters, President & CEO of YSM

We tend to think of poverty as something people experience because of choices they’ve made and – with better choices – they can overcome poverty.

What if poverty was largely due to experiences that have shaped lives? Circumstances which causing individuals to isolate for protection and to survive by avoiding the possibility of re-opening deep emotional wounds.

THE STATS

• Neighbours living with low-income or in poverty, as well as seniors, are the most vulnerable to social isolation which is known to have damaging impacts on health, well-being, and quality of life (1).
• Social isolation increases risk for physical health issues including impaired mobility, lung disease, arthritis, infectious illnesses, heart disease and death (2).
• Depression, anxiety, social stigma, dementia and risk of cognitive decline are prevalent in those experiencing isolation (3). Social exclusion can cause low self-esteem, feelings of powerlessness, self-blame and avoidance of interactions with community (4).
• Canada’s Suicide Prevention Service saw a 62% increase in direct interventions regarding suicide attempts during the pandemic with one of the top risk factors being social isolation and loneliness (5).

MEET SUSAN

When Susan* came to YSM she was living in a rooming house with many others, sleeping on the floor. Growing up in foster homes, Susan had experienced multiple traumas and consistent negative messages: she was not worth anything; would never amount to anything, and above all, should shut up!

So she did. Susan would enter YSM quietly, get her meal and leave as silently as she’d arrived. She wished to be invisible. She felt worthless and didn’t dare hope for better. Slowly, however, after meeting YSM staff she began to open up.