MAIN POINTS

1. Less anxiety, stress and insecurity

2. Life-long benefits for children's health

3. Less addiction

4. Better mental health

5. Less isolation

6. Better nutrition

7. Ability to buy organic food

8. Opportunity to focus more on nutrition and exercise

9. More preventative health; problems addressed sooner and less use of emergency health services

10. Less consumption of fast foods and unhealthy products

11. GLI would enable more community supports & less institutional/pharmaceutical response to health problems

12. Better dental and eye care

13. Healthier caregivers and helpers (paid & unpaid)

14. Healthier housing conditions with less overcrowding

15. More time for counseling and healing

16. Stability: able to think long term

17. Less aggression and violence

18. More dignity; positive self-worth; feeling included

19. Fewer jobs that damage the environment (water, air quality)

20. Less stress and pollution from commuting

21. Fewer public health disasters

22. Less accidents when workers (drivers) aren't sleep deprived

23. Less stress from overwork

Health Benefits - Quotes

Freedom, independence and healing are the first benefits I think of. -Olive

Look at children that are undernourished and suffer because of living in poverty; it affects them mentally and physically. With a GLI, society will reap long term economic benefits. Society will be a heck of a lot healthier when everybody isn't stigmatized, people will be able to grow up with dignity. The contributions will be mind-boggling. It would be wonderful to just see people smiling.   -Bernice

In the short term, a GLI means life. A longer and better quality of life because the stress of not having enough money is beyond describing. Sometimes, I get emotional even talking about it. -Cecia

The biggest benefit with GLI is it will impact on health. I don't think we even realize the amount of health problems people have when you can't get proper nutrition. Immediately people will be able to deal with their own and their children's health issues.   -Claire

In the short term you'd see a lot fewer anxiety-related illnesses and conditions. I think about half of the diseases that people see doctors for are related to stress. People could take care of their health better, if they were not making sacrifices for economic reasons. You'd see fewer things such as fibromyalgia related to people working themselves into the ground. People can't take time off work to get their eyes checked and have an auto accident, or they don't get their brakes repaired on their car...   Little things that don't seem important, because people are scrimping and cutting corners, later become big problems. Poor people die sooner; they have more chronic ailments. And some of the drug use, I'm sure, is a way to alleviate stress, despair and the lack of attention to medical conditions. There is also stress from overcrowded living conditions. -Jennifer

I can only see the GLI as benefiting everybody for the good. We have a system without a GLI, and we have people that are dying on the streets. We've seen the negative side. -Rose

I believe the GLI would enable women to focus on things that are of real importance to them, rather than having to put their energy and focus on how they are going to survive. They would be healthier.   Stress has all sorts of effects on the body and health and well-being. -Ruth

We would have less alcoholism, less addiction. People don't start drinking and doing drugs because they feel good about themselves, or feel healthy and fine and have a bright outlook on life. -Brenda

If you had a GLI, you would not be stressed as much about having to get a job that you don't like or that makes you ill. People in general too wouldn't be stuck in jobs they hate, which really affects their stress level, which affects their productivity and their health. -Dawn

The number one benefit is stability. You know you will have the necessities. Less physical and emotional stress. Money is the highest stress cause ever. -Sasha

If income is stable, it goes a long way to alleviate anxiety. The GLI system could go a long, long way to prevent numerous health concerns which we know are extremely expensive-chronic health problems, suicides in young people from the pressure to support yourself. -Elizabeth

We would have a chance to actually be able to heal and not be forced into a situation where you have to go out and find a 5-day-a-week job to fit in.   -Olive

With a GLI and more community drop-ins, with people more able to listen to each other, more community-based preventative health care and treatment, more exploration of traditional healing methods away from institutionalized medical care, most mental health breakdowns could be preventable. -Focus group, Jan. 13, 2006