“The depression will come, [to] every one of them [other stateless people]. They [stateless people] may not admit it to you, but it’s there. When they’re speaking to you they’re having a good day. But when they’re by themselves the depression will set in. Because, how can you live like this? You can’t even get a job, you’re watching all your friends making good money, they got new cars, just finished building their house, and I got 50 cents in my pocket I can maybe buy a pack of Mr. Noodles. I can do that job, but I can’t do that job, because I don’t have a SIN. That job could have set me up for the rest of my life, that was my future, but I can’t get it. So eventually, you don’t even look at stuff like that because how can it be?” [Dave] Farah reported several incidents of having panic attacks. This started during her time at the refugee camp and later in Canada. “My school [in Canada] found the room for me but when I arrived to this room and I saw it and it was without a good ventilation and I have some breathing problems so I had a severe panic attack.” [Farah] “So you are under pressure and depression your whole life.” [Razam] “I feel stressed. Sometimes it’s hard to stay like this. Thinking about this is hard. Just waiting and waiting. They hold us.” [Noor] The challenges of a stateless man with memory and cognitive problems to obtain documentation to prove his identity were noted in a Federal Court judge’s statement in 2017: “imposing an obligation to prove a negative in these circumstances may give rise to a Catch-22 situation for the stateless, nameless, mentally ill, and other vulnerable individuals who may not be able to establish identity.”79 One of the main problems he encountered was remaining in detention for three years as he was unable to establish his identity. The Federal Court judge further noted this unfortunate consequence and referred to the limited guidance that the Canadian legislative framework provides for dealing with persons who are unable to establish their identity and nationality, including prolonged detention. 3.7.1 Addiction Alcohol is a depressant80 and many who consume heavy amounts of alcohol admit it is used as a way to numb pain,81 or provide a temporary relief from anguish. Boris reported developing an addiction to alcohol as a result being stateless and the frustration that created. “I’m not allowed to work. I applied for work permit but it can take another one year or year and a half so after all that struggle and desperation I became an alcoholic. I drink more and more and end up in detox. You know, I start to have 79 Canada (Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness) v. Rooney, [2017] 2 FCR 375, 2016 FC 1097, para. 46 80 Puz, Carol A. et al. “Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome: Assessment and Treatment with the Use of the Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol-Revised.” Critical Care Nursing Clinics, 17 no. 3 (2005): 297-304. 81 Weber, G. “Using to Numb the Pain: Substance Use and Abuse Among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Individuals.” Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 30 no. 1 (2008): 31-48. 30