Personal Reflection

To wrap up my blog, I would like to end with one final personal reflection post on all the work I have done over the past several weeks regarding this topic and project. From this experience, I've learned not only the logistics of finding a bill and researching it's topic, but I've also learned a lot about mental health awareness itself.  My eyes have truly been opened to the issues and controversies regarding this subject that exists in our society, and more specifically in our education system, today.  However, I've also discovered that these problems won't change unless two things happen.  First, we must make an effort to spread the word of mental health awareness as often as we can.  A problem cannot be solved unless people know about it.  Second, we must than focus our efforts toward finding solutions and changes that can be made for the betterment of mental health awareness. What needs to be changed, and how can we change it? These are the questions we need to be asking ourselves in order to obtain success. The greatest takeaway I have from this project is that it's really quite easy to make a difference and fight for something you believe in if you put your mind to it.  All I needed to do was find a bill, do some research, and then contact a government representative about my findings, my opinions, and my goals.  In the future I'm going to continue to advocate for those who have mental illnesses and join the effort in trying to make our education system as accomodating to their needs as possible.  I will also carry with me the tools I've used to uncover the details of this topic so that I may apply them again when necessary.  My recommendation for you all is to not be afraid to pursue something you believe in, because with the right amount of work and information, a difference can be made!

Mental Health Awareness Blog Summary Video

Welcome back to my blog! I've put together a video recap of all my past posts, check it out!

http://youtu.be/J27ZcXhGNk4

Special Education and Mental Health Awareness: The Takeaway

Hello again and welcome to my blog! This posting will serve as a recap of all the research and blogging I have done on this topic over the past several weeks. Allow me to first remind you of the very bill that is the backbone to my blog: The Mental Health Awareness and Improvement Act of 2013.  This bill strives to advocate for those with mental illnesses or special education handicaps and help to improve standards under which they are currently being treated.  The area that I specifically focused on was mental health awareness in the education system.  

To begin this blog, I first did some research on the history of mental health in order to put this bill into context.  I found that mental health awareness can be linked back to the Mental Hygiene Movement which began in the mid 19th century.  It wasn't until the 20th century, however, when the National Committee for Mental Hygiene was established, the first outpatient mental health clinic was formed.  The awareness and advocacy for mental health has grown ever since.  Two specific notable organizations that I came across in my research were Mental Health America and the Mental Health Association of Greater Chicago.  Both of these establishments share the same common goal: to provide support and assistance to those struggling with a mental illness or special education handicap.

As my research progressed, I began to look for some stories in the news that I could apply to the topic of the bill.  I came across a story of an anonymous student at Princeton University which highlighted just how misinformed some schools really are on the reality of mental health (for more information on this story, refer back to my third blog posting).  This story was the perfect example of why we need to provide support for the Mental Heath Awareness and Improvement Act of 2013.  This bill will strive to properly educate students, faculty, and staff on the nature of mental illnesses, how to identify these conditions/seek help, and most importantly how to properly treat and understand those who have mental illnesses or disabilities.  The significance of this bill can be found in the huge impact it can have on the lives of the mentally ill.  They deserve to be understood, treated justly, and have the same learning opportunities as all students.  Mentally handicapped students have the right to feel just as important to society as their peers; they should never feel like a burden.  My research on this to

It and bill has provided me with a new perspective towards all those who are mentally ill and disabled, and I will use the knowledge I've gathered to educate others and advocate for the passing of the mental Health Awareness and Improvement Act of 2013. How will you choose to show your support and compassion for the mentally ill?      

Sources:

All previous blog postings 

https://www.google.com/images

Pros and Cons of the Mental Health Act

Hello and welcome back to my blog on the Mental Heath Awareness and Improvement Act of 2013! In this post I will be discussing the pros and cons of the bill.  As is the case with any bill or law, this act comes with both advantages and disadvantages.

The major pros of this bill will really have a positive effect on mental health awareness I. Our education system today.  This bill allows for schools to use school improvement funds in order to mental health awareness intervention or intervening services.  By doing so, students will be better educated on this topic and they will be able to recognize whether themselves or others may be in need of some mental health assistance.  They will also learn how to treat others who find themselves in these situations.  Educating the student body is the first step in improving school life for children with mental illnesses.  Not only will this bill create programs to educate the students, but it also strives to educate the faculty and staff.  All school personnel will be educated on the mental health awareness of their students.  They will be taught how to teach, treat, support, and identify any students that have or may have a mental illness.  They will have a better, more in-depth understanding of the needs of these students and the ways that they can help and guide them.  Some smaller, additional pros of this bill include the changing of the terms "substance abuse" to "substance use disorder" and "mental illness" to "mental health".  All of these advantages combined will create a much healthier, supportive learning environment for students with mental handicaps, and it will provide them with the proper attention and assistance they need.

There really are only a few cons to this bill, and they are minor.  Regarding school funding, schools will lose some of their funding money that they now will have to put towards the interventions and mental health services that the bill requires.  In addition, these services  and programs may take time out of the education of the students and faculty.  However, I don't truly see these factors as a disadvantage because, in the long run, they will benefit everyone.  By examining these advantages and disadvantages of the Mental Health Awareness and Improvement Act of 2013, I hope you as the reader can see just how important and beneficial this bill truly is! 

                 

Sources:

https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/113/s689#summary/libraryofcongress

School Administrations Neglect Mentally Ill Students

Welcome back to my blog! This week, I have taken time to uncover some specific stories of mental health awareness issues in schools, and I've come across some very eye-opening stories.  One story I came across was about an anonymous college student at Princeton University.  This student was prescribed to take certain anti-depressant medication, a medication that he/she overdosed on in 2012.  After realizing what he/she had done, they sought help at once, first going to the Princeton Health Center and then to the hospital.  However, even though this student had immediately recognized the error in their actions, he/she was consequently kicked out of the university and banned from campus.  The hospital had determined that said student wasn't a threat to himself/hersel or the student body.  While the school administration was simply trying to keep the well-being of its entire university in mind, they also failed to understand the reality of the student's situation.  Yes, he/she made a serious mistake, but they also needed help.  Rather than addressing this student's illness and assisting them in their recovery, the school opted to do what was necessary to get the student off its hands.  Unfortunately, there are countless stories similar to this one where school administrations are misguided in their decisions regarding the mentally ill due to their misunderstanding of the situation.  Unsure how to act, schools often decide to simply turn the student away, believing they are doing what's best for the school as a whole.  It is because of situations like these that we need to advocate for the passing of the Mental Health Awareness Act of 2013. Help spread the word! Every student, regardless of any given handicap, has the right to receive assistance as well as an education; they shouldn't have to choose! 

Sources: 

http://www.npr.org/2014/02/16/277882111/colleges-fail-to-treatt-students-with-mental-illness

Roots of Mental Health Awareness

       Hi and welcome back to my blog! For my second post I'm going to be focusing on the historical background of Mental Health Awareness and examining how it's roots have led up to the present day.  We will take a look at when the issue first began to surface, and we'll cover some major people and organizations that arose along the way.

       First referred to as "mental hygiene", mental health didn't start to become a major topic of discussion until the mid 19th century, which marks the beginning of the mental hygiene movement.  One very influential individual of this time was Dorothea Dix, a key player in the movement.  She dedicated her adult life to helping those with mental illnesses and spoke out against the way they were being neglected.  During this time, the majority of people simply gave up on those with mental health issues.  Even most mental health facilities were understaffed and unfit to meet the needs of their patients.  It wasn't until the beginning of the 20th century that circumstances began to gradually improve.  Some of the strides that the mental hygiene movement made during this time included the establishment of the National Committee for Mental Hygiene and the first outpatient mental health clinic in the US.  

       One of the nations most prominent nonprofit organizations dedicated to the welfare of the mentally ill is Mental Health America. This association was founded by Clifford W. Beers in 1909, who also was the founder of the previously mentioned National Committee for Mental Hygiene.  Beers used to be a psych patient and consequently witness firsthand all of the horrible conditions mentally ill patients are under.  This poor conditions included lack of necessary care and wrongful treatment of the patients.  Throughout history this organization has fought for the rights if the mentally ill, opened the eyes of both state and federal governments to a number of large issues, and helped found several other associations with the same desires to benefit mental health.  Mental Health America continues to be a very strong advocate dedicated to the betterment of mental health awareness.

       Another more recent, local organization that is also a major supporter of Mental Health Awareness is the Mental Health Association of Greater Chicago.  Also a nonprofit and volunteer-oriented, this organization was founded in 1957 and focuses providing help for mental patients and educating the community on mental illnesses.  

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_health

http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/our-history#.Uxe82PldVVI

http://www.mentalhealthchicago.org/about

Advocate for Change

Hi and welcome to my blog! My name is Gianna and I'm a student at Loyola Academy, and the purpose of this blog is to help advocate for mental health awareness in schools and for those in need of special education assistance. In order to do so, I will be tracking and writing about the progress of the Mental Health Awareness and Improvement Act of 2013.  Due to the complexity and diversity of its nature, mental health is a topic that has caused a great deal of controversy. There is a multitude of disadvantages and illnesses a student may have that would classify him or her as a special ed candidate or mentally ill child. As a result, issues often rise regarding whether or not a certain student should be apart of a special ed/mental health program.  This Act seeks to provide schools with the necessary means to provide disabled or mentally ill kids with the proper help and attention they require.  The issues surrounding special education today range from opposite ends of the spectrum; some schools barely provide disabled children with any extra help at all, while others are admitting too many into the program.  Some students are put into special ed classes due to poor grades, however they don't actually have any handicap.  More often than not, such schools do so in order to receive increased funding from the government by filling their special education programs with students that are merely struggling in school. This is not how special ed programs should be utilized.  As for mental illnesses, the main issue remains to be that students don't receive enough attention and assessment, which is why such issues often go unnoticed.

   

With this blog and the tracking of the Mental Health Awareness and Improvement Act of 2013, I will strive to restore the true focus of special education programs and advocate for mentally ill students.  I strongly hope you will continue to visit my page to track my progress and support students in need. Thanks!

Sources: 

https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/113/s689#summary/libraryofcongress

http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/228232/problems-special-ed/jay-p-greene