Collaborating projects, Organizations and Groups could play a part in Reducing Stigma according to some

 

 

 

By – Kendall Worth

To start off, I will give a bit of background as to where the title of this blog is coming from.  Since starting my blog in 2021, many of you know I have always reported on disability issues, issues impacting homeless people in Halifax, and people who are living in poverty but who are housed. 

 

 In this BLOG from April 10th, 2025, I reported on how these days, more and more housed people living in Halifax are identifying as introverts.

 

One person, who I recently interviewed and who read this Article  from the now-folded Nova Scotia Advocate, said that one way to make a friendship is to develop a hobby and then find people in your community who share this hobby. Even though this person’s idea is good, many people do not have the space to maintain a hobby at home - or the income. 

 

 

Many income assistance recipients who I have spoken to over the years have special talents, like making crafts and drawing. They often buy cheap art supplies at Dollar Stores and make things such as handmade cards to pass their time at home.

Then I got to thinking - wouldn’t it be nice if people who were making these kinds of crafts could make crafts together? People who share this talent could make friends with each other and start a social group of their own. It would be nice because they already have something in common.

 

 As many of you readers know, I advocate for various solutions to solve issues facing people living in poverty. This includes a Social Prescription Program in Halifax and a Social Prescribing Organization (if we do get something like this up-and-running, I don’t know what we would call it).

 

However, the person I interviewed for this current BLOG post had a really great idea. Her idea  was like the Social prescription program I am advocating for, but would include something for hobby groups. She suggested maybe making those hobbies affordable for the people, and maybe getting community donations. I do agree this is a good idea. People would be able to share supplies too.

 

Then, this idea had me thinking further: if these hobby groups could get created and advertised to members of the community, this could help reduce the stigma. After all, the hobby group could organize community events to share their work with the public. This could reduce stigma by proving what we already know: that people on welfare aren’t just sitting at home and watching TV!

 

This woman pointed out that being lonesome or in social isolation is not a mental illness like Bipolar or Schizophrenia. There is no medication specifically for isolation and loneliness. Even though they aren’t mental illnesses, they impact people’s mental health. The remedy for these things is community and social contact. Hobbies that people already have could be one way to bring people together with similar interests.

 

 

So… What’s next?

If you want to read more about my hopes for and about the need a Social Prescription Organization, Here in Halifax, Plus for more about stigma, and the need for friendship you can click the links below:

 

https://worthmatters.blogspot.com/2024/12/reflections-and-conversations-on.html 

https://worthmatters.blogspot.com/2025/03/more-questions-and-answers-about-social.html 

https://nsadvocate.org/2017/03/27/downright-difficult-kendall-worth-on-friendships-ending/
https://nsadvocate.org/2016/10/17/kendall-worth-ignorant-ideas-about-welfare-i-hear-a-lot/

https://nsadvocate.org/2017/10/05/letter-from-kendall-worth-mind-your-own-business/