Gregory Frankson a.k.a. Ritallin is an Ottawa-based spoken word artist, educator, and community organizer.
Ritallin was the Poet In Residence for the 2007 Conference for the International Initiative for Mental Health Leadership, which changed his perception on mental health and the use of art to effect change in society. This intersection - art, health, societal change - is interesting. How are ecohealthers exploring this intersection? Or are we?
Between 2007 and 2010 Ritallin attended several events focused on mental health in Canada, Australia, and the US listening to and reflecting on stories of abuse, neglect, isolation, over-medication, incarceration and systemic discrimination from people living all over the world. Based on those experiences he published the chapbook "Mindfull: A collection of mental health poems". We reproduce (with permission) one of his poems:
Moral Imperative
good practice is practically
imperative in practice
the moral imperative
needs action to enact this
exclude the non-inclusive
and dispense with the intrusive
break the cycle that produces
our bias cuz it reduces
the ambitions and the attitude
that create survivor altitude
can they succeed if we repress
their dreams and cause distress?
we gotta get the basics right
inspire desire, ignite
the sparkle within the minds
of consumers - now that reminds
me of a truth so profound
please allow me to expound -
don't define by disease
and bring people down to their knees
on this reality i seize -
we're a mass of discrete identities
reduction of the whole soul
can never be the goal
put together the pieces
cuz being shattered takes a toll
all our experience teaches
that it's time to make the change
and by providing new jobs
we work within a narrow range
simplistic focus that robs
from those requiring broader reach
it is important to self sustain
employment's definitely key
but social inclusion by its name
implies much more than we see
when people learn how to connect
through body, soul, heart and mind
we come to find a new respect
for those we still leave behind
good practice is practically
imperative in practice
the moral imperative
needs action to enact this
exclude the non-inclusive
and dispense the intrusive
break the cycle that produces
results we find exclusive.