In the Social Platform podcast and blogs and in the YouTube video, personal stories are conveyed more often than factual reports. The Podcast relates stories about individual family experiences with learning differences. Questions about teaching to dyslexics are raised and answered; individual cases are discussed. The blog posts often a similar kind of venue. Personal stories are part of every blog posting. The YouTube video tries to teach what it feels like to be dyslexic through a story using cartoon characters. What all of these sources help us to understand is how real the problem is and how those in the dyslexia community are trying to improve the experience of education. 

https://www.dyslexicadvantage.org/category/social-and-emotional/

https://www.apmreports.org/story/2017/09/11/hard-to-read

 

 

 

 

 

 

After compiling the platforms and videos a multitude of possibilities for courses of action to take arose. All of the links and sources detail the same issue, the importance of addressing and even just naming the issue of mental illness, especially for the youth in this country is immense. Much like Ruby Wax said, the statistics could easily change to 4/4 affected Americans should nothing be done.

Michael Marmot also details the most descriptive and inclusive strategy for enacting social change that not only creates healthier generations today, but also addresses the structural root cause of the problem within society to make healthier generations of tomorrow as well. His work combined with the use of the framework outlined by the US Department of Health Services provides the clearest ‘next steps’ that I could take in creating a plan to fix or begin fixing my issue.

Such first steps are illustrated and currently being done by those at the Young Minds Advocacy Organization that offers great, detailed resources for ways to get informed, involved, and seek help.

I plan to dive deeper into combining all of the sites I’ve found so far to create one, all-encompassing way to focus and work on the issue at hand.

– tf

The FDA’s recent decision to ban the flavors of Juul pods has been through the work of the public sphere. This is an example of how public activism can have a strong effect on the government and on corporations.

Change can be made if people come together to voice their opinion on societal issues.  In addition, many advocacy groups and government organizations have done work to inform the youth about the dangers of picking up a Juul. One hit of a Juul can instantly create an addiction like any other product that contains nicotine.

By tightening up legislative laws, informing teens, and making Juuls less appealing to the youth consumer, it can ultimately led to Juuls being only used by people who want to end an addiction and not by teens who are clueless and will bring one upon themselves.

 

-S.L.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qIrBtgUC80

Jessica Clemons a black psychiatrist using her platform to change the perception of black mental health is truly inspiring. Through social media using Instagram live she provides an alternative for those who may not be able to afford the help of a psychiatrist and answers questions surrounding mental health and wellness. Through this platform Clemons educates, and supports mental health while providing a digital space for black people to learn, grow in breaking the stigma and identifying root causes.

Kimberly Brazwell took an interesting approach by using a poem “Crazy, Black and Poor” to lead off in discussing the many dangers in stigma regarding mental health and denial of trauma as someone who grew up in a low income neighborhood. Brawell offers an analysis that promotes defining things correctly and speaking truth so untreated mental health and trauma does not permeate in socially, physically and emotionally.

The Black Mental Health Coalition is campus run organization, raising awareness regarding mental health and breaking the stigma through discussion, solidarity and useful tips. By providing stories of way in which mental health and blackness is not discuss their platform online has become a tool of support and awareness. Through meetings, tips and discussions surrounding mental health they are broadening the scope and breaking the stigma.

• J.H.

 

Social media is like a drug to us- addictive. We are all extremely dependent on it- getting relief out of receiving the right amount of likes, making sure all notifications are checked, etc. This addiction starts young, along with the deterioration of mental health due to it. Children in grades 7-12 who spent over 2 hours a day on social media reported higher depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts.

Bailey Parnell addressed all of the issues that run through our minds while on social media, and she highlights how addictive it is to be in the loop with everyone else. She also shows how many of us consider deleted our social media platforms, but never do. Why is this so similar to a drug, and how can we put an end to this problem. For the most part, the people who are most present on social media have been on it for their whole lives, including myself. Living in this online world had led to many problems, and the next step is to figure out a way to stop it before it gets even worse.