98 Making Connections (IntroPSYC and SDG1): No Poverty

By Meghan E. Norris and Riley J.T. Bonar

In this unit, we continue exploring psychopathology while also explicitly exploring psychopathy, and therapeutic orientations.

There are often questions regarding links between mental illness and illegal behaviours. The reality is that the relationship is complex. As summarized by the Canadian Mental Health Association, there is no straight causal line between violence and mental illness. Further, those with mental illness often experience stigma, social exclusion, and discrimination, including public beliefs that they might be a violent threat. However, individuals with severe mental illness are more likely to be victims of violence than those in the general population (CMHA, n.d.).

Further exploring this topic, in this video Dr. Crystal Dieleman, an Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy at Dalhousie University in Halifax, discusses intersections of mental health and connections with the criminal justice system. She addresses the importance of community and meeting basic needs to reduce risks tied to criminal behaviours for all. You will notice that this is a topic of shared importance to psychology, OT, and many other professions.

Access to resources associated with social determinants of health are critically important. This connects with Sustainable Development Goal 1: No Poverty. As described by the UN, 1 in 10 people worldwide were living in extreme poverty in 2025. Globally, we have fallen backwards on hunger, with hunger levels now back at those approximately 20 years ago in 2005, and food prices are rising.

In the Department of Psychology at Queen’s University, Dr. Chris Bowie is focused on understanding the factors that are associated with functioning in everyday life for those with mental disorders and to develop interventions that target these factors so that quality of life can be improved. A primary focus of his work is to examine how cognitive functioning is associated with outcomes such as work, home life, socializing, recreation, and quality of life. In addition to studying the mechanisms of cognitive impairment, his lab develops treatment interventions to help those with mental illness improve their cognitive abilities, develop new strategies for deploying cognitive skills in daily life, and improve their confidence to approach and sustain engagement with cognitively complex tasks.

References:

Canadian Mental Health Association. (n.d.). Violence and mental health: Unpacking a complex issue. https://ontario.cmha.ca/documents/violence-and-mental-health-unpacking-a-complex-issue/

Dieleman, C. (2015, January 12). Mental health and criminal justice. TEDxMoncton [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1LIlKoxwjg

United Nations. (n.d.). Goal 1: No poverty. https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/poverty/

How to cite this using APA Style:

Norris, M. E., & Bonar, R. J. T. (2026). Making connections (IntroPSYC and SDG 1): No poverty. In PSYC 100: Principles of psychology. eCampusOntario. https://ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub/testbookje/chapter/making-connections-intropsyc-and-sdg1-no-poverty/