What is the best way for a student to prepare for a presentation?

By James Coulter
   I have presented over 20 presentations in my college career, and the majority of my presentations I was nervous. I try to prepare, and organize myself the right way, but sometimes there are mistakes. I recently made a class presentation in my KHP 509 class, and I had a graph that was slightly wrong. At the time I was trying to explain what I had done, and my proffesor said "James, you have it all wrong." It made me fill like I failed because my graph was slightly wrong. Also there where to guys on the front role laughing at me. The situation made me feel uncomfortable, and I went home, and discussed it with my family. so I searched on a web site to help me on my next project, but the proper corrections from the teacher, and group support is important as well.

                       www.quora.com/Business/What-is-the-best-way-to-present-a-power

Why are elderly males more likely to commit suicide? How can we help prevent these deaths?

65 of every 100,000 men over the age of 65 will commit suicide. Common risk factors include widowhood, chronic illness, and social isolation. This population feels very alone and feel like a burden, especially if they no longer see themselves as a productive member of society.

We can prevent this by support and education. As a younger person, be sure to include elserly family members in your life. This can make a positive impact on their mental health, and esentially save their life. These men who commit suicide often long for a relationship because they feel isolated. Volunteering in elderly homes is another good way to make connections with the elderly who would otherwise not have any.

In addition, it is best to know the warning signs or someone planning to commit suicide. Getting help for something thinking about suicide is crucial. Warning signs include cleaning up their will, talking about feeling hopeless or worthless, talking about death or about being a burden, isolating themselves, loss of interest, giving away prized possessions, and making after-death arrangements. If you see these warning signs in others, do not keep it a secret. Open the dialogue. Ask if they have ever considered suicide. Do not minimize the person or shame them out of committing suicide. Empathize with them and, most importantly, listen. Let them know that you care, and that many people feel the way they do. If in immediate danger, call the national suicide helpline, 1-800-273-TALK.

http://www.save.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.viewPage&page_id=705E1907-C4DD-5D32-2C7087CE5924CCA4

http://www.hsccs.org/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=13737

How can you incorporate older incorporate family members into a lifestyle?

There is no easy way to incorporate older family members into a lifestyle, but there are ways to help the older family members adjust to the new lifestyle. The ways to help adjust are by finding more help if need be for the family members.  Get in front of any legal concerns that the older family member has before they become incompetent. Fin a balance that works for the family as well as the older family. The main thing I to encourage self-reliance.  Communication and designing a plan are the most helpful ways.

http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/article/id/278251/

How is it different for older adults (60+) than adults (21-59) to overcome from depression?

Depression isn't a sign of weakness or a character flaw. It can occur to anyone at any age, sudden changes in life that are unexpected can't determine rather you're weak or not. Here are five factors that can influence depression for elders. Which is much different from adults because they still have family and friends that can help overcome these obstacles. When you are at an older age, you usually are on your own.

• Health problems – Illness and disability; chronic or severe pain; cognitive decline; damage to body image due to surgery or disease.
• Loneliness and isolation – Living alone; a dwindling social circle due to deaths or relocation; decreased mobility due to illness or loss of driving privileges.
• Reduced sense of purpose – Feelings of purposelessness or loss of identity due to retirement or physical limitations on activities.
• Fears – Fear of death or dying; anxiety over financial problems or health issues.
• Recent bereavements – The death of friends, family members, and pets; the loss of a spouse or partner.

Having a strong family, meaning your kids and grandchildren when you're older can be a HUGE influence to elders with depression. These will probably be the only support other than your spouse.  

 http://www.helpguide.org/mental/depression_elderly.htm

How can younger family members show more support to their Grandparents?

 By James Coulter
  In our class we talked about showing more love to our grandparents, and we discussed different activities they we could do, to show more love, and support. My grand parents are deceased, but I think its a good Idea to have a place where younger people could take their grandparents to have fun. A couple of suggestion that I have is taking them to a sewing class, or a bingo hall. Some grandparents probably just wants a phone call every so often, or just stop by to see how they are doing. According to www.medicinenet.com "good relationship between grandparents and their adult grandchildren can provide a psychological boost for both generations, according to a new study."



                            www.medicinenet.com › home › depression center › depression az list‎
                                                                      

Elderly people can struggle with many feelings, including: feeling useless, feeling like a burden, feeling lonely, feeling depressed, feeling sad, feeling forgotten, feeling unimportant, and feeling unloved.It can be very beneficial for your elder's health if you are involved and active in their life. The best way to help improve their mental health is to visit them. The face-to-face interaction and touch is beneficial. They get to experience the love and feel important. However, in some cases it is not always possible to visit your elders on a regular basis. For example, you may live out of town. However, it is always important to make time for them. Regular phone calls to your elders let them know that you care. These calls, however short or long they may be, must be genuine. Tell them about your day, and ask them about theirs. This lets them know that they have someone to talk to. You should also involve them in discussions. Involve them in decisions you make. This will make them feel important and worthy. By asking for their opinions about decisions or circumstances in your life, they feel like they are no longer a burden. They have found a reason to live and have found use in a time where they struggle with purpose.
These actions will make them feel important, happy, encouraged, worthy, useful, and more importantly, loved. All of these feelings and qualities help improve their mental health.

http://www.newsmax.com/FastFeatures/Grandma-birthday-cards-activities/2010/12/22/id/380732

does a single parent with out custody of their child still have the same family life cycle

The family life cycle is the emotional and intellectual stages you move through from your childhood into your retirement years as a member of a family.  It is becoming more and more socially acceptable to divorce at least once in your life.  The question of whether or not this could affect you family life cycle is dependent on a couple different things.  One of them depends on when it is in your life you have your divorce.  If you are to divorce after being newly married with no children, you are not likely to have much affect to your family life cycle.  This is because you still have time to make up or recreate this stage of the life cycle.  The most damaging affect of the family life cycle is when a couple divorces with young children.  There are stages of their children's life the may be more damaging that other.  Divorced couples that have children that are adolescents are the most impacting. This is because adolescents is a stage in a child's life that they are going through many changes physically and emotionally.  Most of these children have many problems emotionally because they have options that they can choose within this stage of their life.  Most teenagers, either have an increased risk for emotional problems and unwanted burdens or they can be forced to have parentified roles for siblings and have some kind of feeling of blame.  Each parent in this stage will have already created an everlasting relationship with their kids.  It is important for both of them to keep this relationship healthy ad strong to help both the parent and the child mentally healthy.






source: http://faculty.plts.edu/gpence/PS1012/html/divorce_in_the_changing_family_l.htm

how can having different (more than one) peer group influence your mental health

Peer groups can have a great effect on the behaviors that you portray in you life.  You begin to take on some of the attributes that you friends around you have and use them in your everyday lifestyle.  Peer groups have a greater influence on behavior the older you become.  Your parents can instill values and ways to act but it becomes very apparent that your peer group even have a greater influence than that of your parents.  The peer group serves as a measure for children examining themselves about their self and family.  Based on what we have learned in class, there could be a conflict in what different peer groups try to and naturally instill in each other and the way it effects them mentally.  The different values and norms that different peer groups create could have a negative effect in the matter that you could create some confusion in the mind of what is the proper way to live.  It is also a possibility that having multiple peer groups with different views can create a disturbance or an increase in obtaining a mental health disorder because of this.  Overall, there has not been any studies that show that multiple peer groups have a negative effect.  You can only take the knowledge of how a single peer group can effect the mental well being of someone and make inferences of how multiple would.

source: http://www.education.com/reference/article/peer-group-influence/

Does scientific research advocate hitting a child as a form of punishment at any point? When would it be okay?

Many of the articles I read contained interviews with parents, where they shared various situations where they found it necessary to spank or correct their child's behavior with physical contact.

• 94% of 3- and 4-year-olds have been spanked at least once during the past year, according to one study.

• 74% of mothers believe spanking is acceptable for kids ages 1 to 3, says another study.

Parents who support spanking often use one of the following arguments:

• Spanking is an effective way to manage behavior.
• Hitting children may increase misbehavior. A vast study showed that the more parents spanked children for antisocial behavior, the more that behavior increased. Hitting children teaches them that it is acceptable to hit others who are smaller and weaker. 
• I got hit when I was a kid and I turned out OK.
• Many adults look back on the times they were spanked and justify why it was done. It is difficult to believe that people that love us would intentionally hurt us. So we find a a reason to excuse that hurt by saying, "I deserved it". While many believed they, "turned out OK", research suggests not being spanked would have helped them turn out to be healthier. 
• If we don’t spank children, they’ll grow up rotten.
• The bible says, “Spare the rod and spoil the child”

The only place I found support for hitting children were on blogs or other non-credible sources. The fact is the research is clear and says that it is never okay to hit children as a form of corrective behavior. 

http://www.parenting.com/article/is-it-okay-to-spank?page=0,3

http://www.apa.org/monitor/2012/04/spanking.aspx

How can someone relieve stress if they are injured and can't sleep well at night?

Many people rely on the aspect of exercising and sleeping to help relieve stress when they are stressed out. But sometimes you can't do these things, which in turn causes you to become even more stressed! Here are a few techniques that can benefit yourself from becoming to stressed. Music therapy, laughter, and time management. When you listen to music this gives your brain another route to think on instead of keep thinking about the same struggles that are giving you stress. Laughter is a stress reliever because the physical act of this releases tension and brings positive physiological changes to your body. When you can effectively manage your time skills, the stressors in your life will diminish. Also, this will help you avoid certain tasks that aren't necessary for you at that moment. When you can finish your to-do list without rushing or forgetting, everything in life becomes a little bit easier.

    http://stress.about.com/od/tensiontamers/a/stressrelievers.htm

Does reframing your thinking combat ADHD in children?

The help guide provides parents with six tips in order to help their children deal with ADHD. The also discusses how ADHD effects the child, the family, and the siblings.  The first step is to make sure that the parents are positive and healthy. This is to show the children that you believe in them and know that they are capable of great things. The second step is establish structure in the home and the child's life. Having structure somewhat simplifies the child's schedule making it easier for the child to focus. Also, provide the child with an area designated for quietness. The third step is to set clear expectations and rules for the child.  The child needs consistency, but along with set rules remember to praise the child for good deeds. The fourth step is to encourage movement and sleep.  The physical activity helps the child burn energy and helps them to do it by learning structured movement.  The sleep part is about being consistent and sufficient sleep helps with ADHD.  The fifth step is to help your child eat right. Eating small meals helps a child with their ADHD. The sixth step is to teach your child how to make friends. Friendship is important in the adolescent stage of life.  With these steps, not primarily focusing on ADHD, but the steps are truly to live a balanced and healthy lifestyle.  Reframing your thinking as to what you can do to improve your life and your children; in turn helps to combat ADHD in children.
http://helpguide.org/mental/adhd_add_parenting_strategies.htm

Can you quickly change your way of thinking or is it a process that takes time?

Usually changing the way you think is a timely process.  First, you need to realize how negatively you think before you can initiate the process of starting to think positively.  Next, you need to realize when you are using your negative thinking the most.  Is it during a time of high stress? Is it in a time when you are faced with a challenge? The next stage is replacing the bad with the good.  You have to actively realize when you are utilizing negative thinking and replace it with positive thoughts.  An example might be "There is absolutely no way I can do that," when you should be thinking "I know this may be challenging, but I'm going to give it my best shot."

To recap the steps to changing your thinking include:
1. Recognize
2. Be aware
3. Slowly change and introduce a new thinking pattern
4. Keep working on all your destructive thinking patterns

Source: ww.stevenaitchison.co.uk/blog/8-destructive-thinking-patterns-and-how-to-change-them/

What effect does the stigma surrounding mental health have on young adults? How can we change the stigma?

The stigma placed on mental issues does effect young people. Young adults have the highest risk of developing a mental health illness. However, this age group is also subject to peer pressure, peer judgement, criticism, and the longing for acceptance. The stigma placed on mental health illnesses place labels on those affected. They are "crazy" or "weak". Young people are taught by society that these illnesses are bad, or even the fault of the person afflicted.This discourages them from realizing or accepting they have a mental illness. They don't want to be "different" or thought of as "weird". In addition, the stigma discourages them from seeking the help they need, whether that is medicinal or therapeutic. 

Over half of the people in the United states will develop a mental illness in some point in their life. It is nothing to be ashamed about!

We can all do our part to change the stigma. Be supportive of those who suffer, or may suffer from an illness. Be aware of what you say. Don't use "crazy" or "insane" derogatorily when dealing with mental illness. Listen to your friends and family if they are struggling. Incorporate mental wellness into your every day life. Promote mental health and be aware of the problems that are out there. And lastly, practice empathy.

References:

Mayoclinic.com

National Alliance for Mental Illness

Are children that actively play everyday happier than those that do not?

This question is a simple question to answer and most of the information would work for adults.  Playing connects children to other peers.  Playing helps to build friendships and helps us to learn to share with others.  Playing also helps with a child's imagination, creativity and even  problem solving skills.  Playing is said to help lift spirits of one self.  It triggers endorphin's to help us become excited and energized.  Playing also lets kids know that they are not alone.  Someone is usually there playing with them or is close by watching them. I think when kids do play everyday whether it is inside or outside, it helps them to be happier.  This is true for adults as well.  It helps adults use there creativity, imagination and problem solving skills that they may not have used in awhile.  It helps them to relieve stress even.  Just the joy of playing makes a person happy!

www.health.usnews.com

What line has to be crossed for authoritarian, or authoritative parent to be viewed as abusive?

Sometimes parents need to step in and somewhat have control over their children's life. But there can be instances when parents are going way over board and causing their kids to suffer. From a parenting action-guide website it says, "Authoritarian Parenting does not allow our children to think for themselves and actually retards and delays a child’s ability to develop critical thinking and emotional interaction skills, both of which are necessary for success in the modern world"
With that said, it is viewed to be the best idea for parents to be authoritative over their children so they can have an understanding or a word from their parents on why they are acting that way.

 http://www.preteen-thru-teenage-parenting-action-guide.com/authoritarian-parenting.html
(Parenting Action-Guide)

How can different parenting styles reduce anxiety?

Most parents grasp the fact that the same parenting style does not work on every child.  That being said, in a recent study, researchers found that the correct parenting style matched with a child's personality led to half as many anxiety and depression symptoms in school aged children. However, if they were mismatched, the child had twice as many depression and anxiety symptoms. 

At the end of the three-year study, the researchers found that:

• Children with greater effortful control had fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression compared with other kids in the study, and those symptoms usually remained low regardless of parenting style;
• When children were higher in effortful control but their parents used higher levels of guidance or provided little autonomy, those children showed higher levels of depression and anxiety;
• Children with low effortful control had less anxiety when mothers provided more structuring and less autonomy;
• Children low in effortful control doubled their anxiety symptoms if they had mothers who provided little control.

For some kids, particularly those who have trouble regulating their emotions, more help is good. But for kids who have pretty good self-control, too much parental control can lead to more anxiety and depression.

Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology

How Can Parenting Styles Affect Single Parent Households?

Coming from a single parent household where my mom had to take the role of mom and dad, it really interests me to try and understand how my moms parenting styles had to change throughout the years and even in a day. It cannot be easy to have to play the role of mom and dad because in a household where two parents are present you have two people trying to fulfill the role instead on just one. According to the Abstract of Natalie C. Ernst and her article titled "The Psychology of Parenting Styles and Stress Levels: A Comparison of How Home Life Effects Stress in College Students" she talks about how stress levels in intact homes were lower than stress levels from non-intact homes. I can see where this article hits the nail on the head because I remember times when my mom was unusually stressed from having to take care of both sides of her emotional bank. It has to be draining and cannot be easy. My mom is much of a laid back and go with the flow person and with a kid, she could not always be that way. She had to find a way to switch gears and also have authority and put her foot down.

http://www.mckendree.edu/web/scholars/summer2013/ernst.htm

Does uninvolved parenting lead to ADHD in children?

To begin with, an involved parent is one who is indifferent to their children. More often than not, the parents are unconcerned with what is going on with their child causing difficulty in relationships for the children.  Sometimes the children of these parents can be classified as neglected. Although the parents are with their children, they rarely have time for them.  Therefore, the children of uninvolved parents have the most problems dealing with the world.  The children have little to no emotional control and have more trouble establishing and maintaining stable relationships.  The children are more frustrated than others, delinquency, and academic issues.  The article does state that a child's behavior is not solely based on the actions of the parent, but it does say that the parents who are more involved have a better chance of behaving.  Little parenting skills could also have an effect on whether or not the children have an issue with a behavior. Children who have resiliency are able to overcome behavioral issues. College students who plan to have kids, but suffer from depression re encouraged to get help before having kids. This will help combat the issue of uninvolved parenting.

http://www.udel.edu/PR/UDaily/2005/mar/style050305.html

Do kids grow up to have the same parenting style as their own parents?

I wanted to know if a child, for example, who was raised by an authoritarian parent, would they be more likely to also implement an authoritarian parenting style? I could not find any statistics on this type of question, however, some sources do reveal the effect certain parenting styles can have on children. This in turn will effect the child's personality and sense of what a parent should be.
Authoritarian parenting generally leads to children who are obedient. However, these children are often less happy, and have lower social skills. These traits could effect their parenting skills. They often have lower social skills, making it more difficult for them to be responsive to their own children.
Authoritative parenting most often results in happy and capable children. These children are more likely to be able to problem solve. They often have good social skills, making it natural to be responsive to the needs of their children.
Permissive parenting results in mostly unhappy children, with a problem with authority. These children are likely to be permissive parents themselves. However, since they are accustomed to being the authority in their lives and situations, they can also be authoritative parents.
Neglecting parenting result in children who are unhappy, have low self-esteem, and low social competency.

The Huffington Post sums it up by saying that most parenting styles are unconscious. They often are formed through how we were raised, what we've been taught, and what we've witnessed.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/peggy-drexler/when-parents-have-differe_b_1925090.html
http://psychology.about.com/od/developmentalpsychology/a/parenting-style.htm

How Do People Stop Mind-Reading?

This is a tough topic for me, on one hand I know that I struggle with mind-reading in the sense that I "know" what people are thinking about me and on the other hand I do not mind-read enough and end up making a situation worse. It has stopped me from pursuing new jobs, new relationships and even slowed me down in my class work because of the belief that a professor will not like my work as much and I tell me self, "what's the point?"

One of the biggest ways to over come this thinking is to work on your self consciousness and even work on you timidity. This makes sense to me, if we work on the thought that "You know what? Not everybody is going to like me, why do I need to worry about this?" I think myself is missing the point that my self confidence can be so low that it actually stops me from taking a risk or even being friendly to someone. It is not a healthy mind set to worry about the negative feelings that people can have towards you and it is important to work on getting your confidence levels up so you can perform at your best. http://www.anxietyguru.net/if-you-dont-stop-mind-reading-now-youll-hate-yourself-later/

Why was lobotomy used to treat mood and anxiety disorders, such as, depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia? What did Dr. Freeman believe the lobotomy did to the brain that would cure these patients? Why did the popularity decline?

Dr. Freeman believed that an overload of emotions led to mental illness. He believed that cutting certain nerves in the brain could eliminate much emotion. This, in turn, would stabilize a personality. A lobotomy focused on the prefrontal cortex. It would alter the physical state of the cortex, or even sever nerve fibers. These nerve fibers that were cut were often the two bundles that connected the prefrontal cortex to the thalamus. The prefrontal cortex is responsible for decision-making, reasoning, understanding, and personality expression. The thalamus is responsible for relaying sensory information. Dr. Freeman believed that by altering these portions of the brain, the personality of the person could be changed or stabilized.

In many cases they were a “success”. By success, I am referring to reports stating that the patient felt less intense emotions, felt less anxious, and less paranoid. However, there were many cases in which lobotomies were performed unnecessarily. In addition, risks ran high with this procedure. A famous incident of this surgery gone wrong is when Dr. Freeman performed a lobotomy on President John F. Kennedy's sister, Rosemary. The operation left her incapacitated at the age of 23. She lived the remainder of her life in an institution. Other risks included infection, bleeding, seizures, a child-like mentality, and even death. These all contributed to the decline of the use of lobotomies. As well as the introduction of anti-psychotic drugs to treat patients with such disorders. These were often called “Chemical Lobotomies”.

Sources:

http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2011/03/21/the-surprising-history-of-the-lobotomy/

http://scienceblogs.com/neurophilosophy/2007/07/24/inventing-the-lobotomy/

http://curiosity.discovery.com/question/what-is-a-lobotomy

What is the modified form of lobotomy?

The bilateral cingulotomy is now the modified version of the lobotomy. Aside from treating mental illnesses, the surgery is now used to help relieve the pain of cancer patients.  Like the lobotomy, the surgery should only be used in extreme cases. Doctors still prefer that use of all non- surgical treatments should be attempted before trying this out. Luckily, the procedure isn't as aggressively blind as it used to be. The surgeons use stereotactic magnetic resonance imaging, which is a process used by computers. This technique allows the surgeons to see where they are guiding the electrode. The electrical currents burns in a small lesion. There is also an option where a mama knife sends beams of radiation towards the brain, and a lesion is formed.   Once again, the best option is trial and error of non-surgical treatments before opting to such an extensive and life threatening surgery. 


http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Trans-orbital+lobotomy

How Do You Keep College Students Engaged In the Classroom?

As college turns more to a "serve us" mentality, rather than the service mentality, the questions keep coming up "How do you keep college students engaged in class?" After sitting through some pretty bad lecture classes and some times even worse lab classes, the realty of the situation is students are becoming bored in class and quickly losing interest in the material presented in class. More and more students are bringing laptops to class to surf the web or skipping class altogether. As the culture of what is acceptable in class it is always a battle between bored students and the professor. How do professors help keep students engaged throughout a class? Here are some helpful tips that I found that can help keep the classroom fun and interactive:

• Jigsaw group problems/questions/puzzles
• Class worksheets, individual or group
• Given a table of data/observations
  - interpret and analyze
  - find trends, generalize, make rules
• Students predict, instructor demonstrates, students observe and explain
• Students experiment and explain
• Multimedia/simulations: do and explain, predict and test, use or construct an animation or simulation
• Write a one-minute paper
• Discuss questions in a small group, report back to class
• Teach someone else what you have learned
• Group problem solving: work a difficult problem together

As you can see, I chose ones that had a group mentality and had a high amount of student interaction. I firmly believe that the more you have students interact the more learning that takes place inside the classroom and the more engaged your students become. If you are interested in knowing more check out the link below. https://apps.carleton.edu/campus/ltc/services/faculty_services/resources/tips/engaged/

What is a way to motivate college students to perform classroom activities?

Many college students become overwhelmed with college soon after school starts. Even the best students experience high levels of stress.  The best way to succeed in college is to motivate yourself through simple tasks, which will help to encourage others around you as well as increase classroom performance.  Being motivated and committed are two of the main concepts which help students to excel in a classroom setting and throughout college.  The strategies in which the Huffington Post explains are in four steps.  The first is to visualize the short-term and long-term benefits of achieving that goal/dream. The second is to create a healthy competition with yourself.  The third is to build in rewards for yourself along the way. Finally, have a theme song or a collection of theme songs to get you psyched about the opportunity and the process towards the goal. I tried over a weekend to use these strategies to complete two separate classroom assignments.  I began by using my short term goal as saying I did not want to busy myself with work  all week or at the last minute. The goal was to finish all of the work over the weekend. My healthy was competition was being able to take a nap after a finished a portion of my work.  My reward was some type of snack that I had been craving.  Lastly, I did not use a theme song I just watched a tv show and when the show went off it was time to start my work. With these strategies, I was able to keep myself encouraged and finish all of my work. You can do it too!!!

www.huffingtonpost.com/sarina-tomel/how-to-motivate-yourself_b_3608373.html

How can a student get more motivated to learn in a class that isn't interesting to the individule?

By James Coulter
  Sometimes students take classes to fulfill their course requirements, and some people select certain classes because they are interested in learning more about a certain subject. But what happens when a student is enrolled in a course that they think is boring? My answer is that a student must learn to (adapt) to any class that they might have to take. All classes are not the same, but each class is unique in there own way. According to the source Big Future, "To succeed in high school and college, you have to do your best at all times; but sometimes it’s hard to stay motivated, even when you really care about the work you’re doing ." So as college students we need to be respectful to the professors at all times because they have a stressful job as well, and if a professor has a disrespecting student that acts out in a (childish) way; this type of attitude puts more stress on the teacher. I like my course KHP 509, I think the professor is very intelligent, and the class is filled with good information. I know college isn't easy but in the end it will all (pay) off.







                       https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get...classroom/tips-for-staying-motiva...

How do college students learn best? What are the best methods of teaching?

Engaged learning is the best way for students to learn regardless of their age.  Engaged learning involves group activites, projects, participation and as little isolated activity as possible.  Through research it is suggested that faculty members take the following steps when coming up with lessons:

Identify course objectives up front.
Emphasize concept relevance. Build in plenty of examples to explain each concept and relate new ideas to previously covered ones
Quiz students frequently. Give them regular assignments and tests so they can tell how well they're learning material.
Tie feedback to key concepts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQra4baNwP8&feature=player_embedded

Source: http://researchguides.dartmouth.edu/studentEngagement

Is fasting beneficial?

Fasting can be very beneficial to your health. However, it is important to keep in within context. I will refer to "fasting" as fasting two days a week. Less than this may not produce such high effects, and more than this may be detrimental to your body. One should always talk to a doctor before beginning to fast.
However, when done correctly, fasting offers a wide array of benefits. In the short term, one can get better sleep, gain clearer skin, lose weight, give digestive organs a break, and give the body a chance to detoxify.
In the longer term, there are even more benefits. Studies suggest that fasting can help people with cancer, as well as, reduce one's risk of developing cancer. It can also reduce the risk of diabetes. It can guard against heart disease and dementia. Fasting can help control Parkinson's diesase. And even help control asthma. The cardiovascular system greatly benefits from fasting.
In addition to physical benefits, someone who fasts may also feel betterr emotionally. They can feel calmer, clearer, happier, and refreshed.

http://www.allaboutfasting.com/benefits-of-fasting.html
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-01-16/lifestyle/sns-201301151500--tms--premhnstr--k-i20130116-20130116_1_mark-mattson-calorie-restriction-calorie-intake/3

Is art used as a part of treatment for mood and personality disorders?

Vincent Van Gough struggled with bipolar disorder throughout his life. He was able to deal with his disorder and express himself through his art. How does art help one cope with such disorders? Is it used as a part of treatment today?
Art is used as a  treatment for bipolar disorder; these treatments are popular with children who struggle with the disorder, as it does not negatively impact the body. These treatments are favored because there are no hormones or chemicals involved.
Art can help a patient visualize their symptoms and express their feelings. This is ecspeically helpful because it is nonverbal. Many people  who sruggle with bipolar disorder also struggle to verbalize how they are feeling and what they are going through. This technique can be self-calming. It can also help raise their self-esteem and  feeling of self-worth. This is very important during their "low" periods.
Music is another form of art; rather auditory than visual. This treatment can also allow the patient to vent and release their energy and feelings. The music they make can stimulate good feelings such as pleasure, comfort, and self-esteem.

What affect does a parent suffering from bi-polar have on their children?

Parents suffering from bi-polar has a big affect on a child.  A child needs their parent there mentally and physically.  A parent may not be present enough for the child because they are having an episode.  A parent may push the child away.  Leaving the child without mental stability.  The child need their parent there for moral support.  When the parent suffering bi-polar is depressed, they may not be worried about if their child eats, drinks, has clean clothes to wear, if their homework is completed, etc.  The child may feel abandoned at this point.  There is no guidance.  If the parent commits suicide, the child could be traumatized.  The child may turn to drugs and alcohol.  Their behavior may be disturbing in school and with friends.  I think it can always help a child if there is another parent or adult figure in their lives to help them understand that what there other parent is going through is not their fault.

www.bipolardisorderscenters.com

How can one deny the supernatural associated with religions other than their own?

Imagine the following story:

• I was in my room one night.
• Suddenly, my room became exceedingly bright.
• Next thing I know there is an angel in my room.
• He tells me an amazing story.
• He says that there is a set of ancient golden plates buried in the side of a hill in New York.
• On them are the books of a lost race of Jewish people who inhabited North America.
• These plates bear inscriptions in the foreign language of these people.
• Eventually the angel leads me to the plates and lets me take them home.
• Even though the plates are in a foreign language, the angel helps me to decipher and translate them.
• Then the plates are taken up into heaven, never to be seen again.
• I have the book that I translated from the plates. It tells of amazing things -- an entire civilization of Jewish people living here in the United States 2,000 years ago.
• And the resurrected Jesus came and visited these people!
• I also showed the golden plates to a number of real people who are my eye witnesses, and I have their signed attestations that they did, in fact, see and touch the plates before the plates were taken up into heaven.

This is the story told by Joseph Smith, the creator of The Book of Mormon. Many people would read this story as a fairy tale as that is what it most aptly resembles, but Mormonism is one of the fastest growing religions on the planet. No one outside of little kids believes in Santa. No one outside the Mormon church believes Joseph Smith's story. No one outside the Christian faith believes in Jesus' divinity, miracles, resurrection, etc. Your rational mind knows with certainty, yet 4 billion others believe in something different with that same certainty. 
http://www.talkorigins.org/origins/faqs-evolution.html  

how does the depression level of a mother affect the depression level of their child?

For many single mothers in the world, they may experience depression to some extent due to the substantial living situation that many single parent endure.  What many people don't know is that the same depression they endure can be environmentally picked up by their children and picked by the actions of the mother. Many people also don't realize that this does not only occur in single parents. The depression level of a married mother can also affect the depression level of their child. The depression that the mother is going through is called postpartum depression (PPD).  There are many symptoms such as:

• sadness
• hopelessness
• low self-esteem
• guilt
• exhaustion
• emptiness
• decreased sex drive
• low or no energy
• a feeling of being overwhelmed
• inability to be comforted

If any of these symptoms are notices or recognizable, they should be treated to immediately.   When a child is born, this is the most important time for the mother to spend and bond with their child as much as possible.  They are able to give the child a feeling of security an warmth.  If the mother is depressed, the connection between the mother and child are unstable and this could negatively affect the child's early development. PPD can lead to mothers being inconsistent with childcare and they often only focus on the negative parts of childcare and this results poorly for their relationship.  

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

http://health.howstuffworks.com/pregnancy-and-parenting/pregnancy/postpartum-care/postpartum-depression-affect-infants1.htm

how can vulnerability positively affect the mental health of a person?

When a person is vulnerable, they open themselves up to mental illnesses that most people don't even realize could occur.  At the same time, vulnerability can allow people to strengthen psychosocial skills and self-determination.  This can allow people to have a clear mind and a realization of reality giving them a decreased chance of ever inheriting a mental disorder.  Now for people who are already experiencing a mental disorder, they have their own set of vulnerabilities and risk.  These vulnerabilities can increase the likelihood of experiencing disability and premature mortality, social stigma and discrimination, social exclusion and impoverishment.





http://www.who.int/mental_health/mhgap/risks_to_mental_health_EN_27_08_12.pdf

What is the differenance between a vivid dream and a hallucinations?

There is a constant conversation and debate on defining the line between a hallucination and what is reality. Who are we (those outside the experience) to say the individual experiencing the hallucination is not experiencing some sort of reality. We do not know what is exactly going through that persons mind. How can we say they are suffering from a mental illness. Which then brought me to my question, if hallucination is not clearly define as a sense of reality, depending on who is experiencing such, then what is the difference between a vivid dream and a hallucination? As far as experiencing both, only the individual can really tell. But as far as a technical definition a dream is defined as which the dreamer knows he or she is sleeping and a hallucination is a false sensory perception occurring in the absence of any relative  external simulation of the sensory morality. So once again, the difference of the two is determinate upon the individual who is experiencing such. So will there ever be a clear defining line of mental health. I really think not.




http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hallucinations_in_the_sane#Dreams_and_lucid_dreams

Is it healthy to exercise while fasting?

Exercise is important in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. While fasting, it depends on how long you are fasting and what type of exercise you are attempting. It is more reasonable to consult a doctor or dietitian before beginning a fast. If the fast is less than 72 hours for a healthy adult should not hinder high intensity exercises at short bouts. As long as you are able to drink water, you should be fine. If the intensity is moderate exercise can be done longer, which may be more productive. As an athlete, consulting a coach or athletic trainer would be the best situation. Fasting helps maintain weight and keeps routine while exercising. Unfortunately, if you plan to have a long period of fasting, high intensity exercise is not recommended. Your body may not be able to handle the high intensity of moderate intensity for that matter. In all, it would be very helpful to take into account what type of fasting and exercise you want to do before beginning.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/500051-should-i-exercise-while-fasting/

What Can Fasting Do For Our Mental Health?

Fasting can be a strange, mysterious and for most people a new experience. When people usually think of fasting they think of strongly religious people sitting around in a quiet setting, sometimes doing chants and trying to become closer to a spiritual being.  Fasting can actually have a good effect on our mental health and when life gets busy, can give us a slight break to focus on certain aspects that may be dragging us down. I found it interesting that many people actually fast for many different reasons than being a religious person. People can fast to work on big projects or even writing papers. Fasting can also help us understand different emotional aspects of our lives that can become easily clouded. Fasting many times is used to clarify situations that may be hard to work through because it frees up the mind and allows for our thoughts to become more clear.
http://www.allaboutfasting.com/benefits-of-fasting.html

How specifically can hallucinations and delisons affect your mental and physical health?

Hallucinations and delusions are extremely detrimental to the mental and physical health for all individuals.  Because people with certain psych disorders typically have an imbalance of certain chemicals in the brain, there can be a variety of physical implications.  Some of these include:

- A blank, vacant facial expression. An inability to smile or express emotion through the face is so characteristic of the disease that it was given the name of affective flattening or a blunt affect.
- Overly acute senses- lights are too bright, sounds are too loud.
- Staring, while in deep thought, with infrequent blinking.
- Clumsy, inexact motor skills
- Sleep disturbances- insomnia or excessive sleeping
- Involuntary movements of the tongue or mouth (facial dyskinesias).
- Grimacing at the corners of the mouth with the facial muscles, or odd movements with the tongue.
- Parkinsonian type symptoms- rigidity, tremor, jerking arm movements, or involuntary movements of the limbs
- An awkward gait (how you walk)
- Eye movements- difficulty focusing on slow moving objects
- Unusual gestures or postures
- Movement is speeded up- i.e. constant pacing
- Movement is slowed down- staying in bed (in extreme cases, catatonia)

There are also various mental and emotional affects including:

- The inability to experience joy or pleasure from activities (called anhedonia)
- Sometimes feeling nothing at all
- Appearing desireless- seeking nothing, wanting nothing
- Feeling indifferent to important events
- Feeling detached from your own body (depersonalization)
- Hypersensitivity to criticism, insults, or hurt feelings

http://www.helpguide.org/mental/schizophrenia_symptom.htm

How can someone open themselves up to be vulnerable in a relationship?

Being vulnerable is a very good concept, however, it can be hard. How can someone open themselves up to be vulnerable in a relationship?
In this case, I defined "relationship" as a romantic relationship. Dr. Ellen Wachtel gives several tips about opening up and being vulnerable with your partner.
First, and most importantly, you must accept who you are and your faults. Once you accept yourself, it becomes possible for others to accept you as well.
Do not "idealize" your partner. Accept that they are human, they have faults, and they make mistakes. This will allow you to gain a sense of togetherness. You will be more willing to open up, and have less fear of making mistakes. Once you realize that no one is perfect (even the people you love), you will be more willing to be vulnerable.
In addition, trust yourself and your decision to be with this person. Trust that they will accept you and love you for who you are. You must be confident in your decision to be with this person. Once you know that you care for this person, and they care for you, you can be sure that opening up will not cause them to run away. If you trust yourself, and trust your partner, you will be willing and able to open up about fear, feelings, stories, quirky facts, expectations, and open with all other things. You will be vulnerable.

"We Love Each Other But...". Dr. Ellen Wachtel. Golden Books. 1999.

Why is vulnerability considered to be such a weakness?

The most common way most of us hear the word vulnerable used is, "That country is vulnerable to attack" or "that defense is vulnerable to the pass". This is the way most people view vulnerability and explains why they choose to build walls around themselves as a defense mechanism. If an individual has no areas of vulnerability, they have no areas of weakness and cannot be hurt. Vulnerability involves having the courage to be your true self. However, many people are not happy with their true self, and that is a problem with self-esteem. Many people believe it easier to battle the risks of vulnerability than to overcome their problems with insecurities. The fear of being rejected while displaying your true self always hurts more because you know that person is rejecting you for you. Which scares most people.
http://stronginsideout.com/2013/01/28/vulnerability/

What other qualities can be connected to people who are ruled to be vulnerable?

Being vulnerable can be scary to most of us, but it is said to be a secret to intimacy. An expert in social connection stated, "Vulnerability here does not mean being weak or submissive. To the contrary, it implies the courage to be yourself. It involves uncertainty, risk, and emotional exposure. Vulnerability is something we encounter frequently: calling someone who has just lost a child, asking a friend for help, taking responsibility for something that went wrong at work, confronting a family member about their behavior, or sitting by the bedside of a friend with a terminal illness. Opportunities for vulnerability present themselves to us every day, the question is whether we will take them." We fear vulnerability because we fear that if people can actually get exposed to the person we really are, that they will befriend us. She also stated that, "When people stick to the truth, not only does their well-being increase but their relationships improve also. Allowing ourselves to be completely open and vulnerable, we benefit, our relationships improve, and we may even become more attractive."

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/feeling-it/201209/vulnerability-the-secret-intimacy

What else can reduce stress besides sleep & exercise?

People that are stressed try to find ways to help ease their troubles and sometimes those ways aren't helpful enough. When someone tries to just sleep it away sometimes this isn't helpful. There are also people who try to exercise and get more stressed out because that technique isn't used by them often. Other ways to cope with stress that can be easier than exercising is by trying guided imagery.  "Practicing guided imagery is a fun and simple way to take a break from stress, clarify what you want, and build optimism. It's a relatively quick pathway to mental peace." Another practice that is close to the same as imagery is trying self-hypnosis. "Self-hypnosis provides a simple and relaxing route to changing habits, relaxing your body, altering your thought patterns, and more. Because all of these can be stress relievers, self-hypnosis is well worth the effort."

http://stress.about.com/od/tensiontamers/a/stressrelievers.htm

How effective is Tai Chi with stress reduction?

How Effective is Tai Chi with stress reduction?

   Tai Chi is a Chinese martial art.  The results of Tai Chi help with releasing energy, physical movement, meditation and breathing.  Tai Chi works on relaxing your nervous system, physical relaxation with releasing energy (breathing), emotional relaxation and mental relaxation.  All these items tie into stress/stress reducers.  After having a taste of Tai Chi, I can see where it can help with stress.  I was a little more relaxed after the short lesson.  My shoulders were not as tense as they usually are.  So for myself, I believe that Tai Chi is an effective stress reducer. 


www.hindawi.com/journals/com.2012

How Do I Know If I Am In Control of My Stress?

Stress can occur at many levels. Whether at work, school, home or even while you're out enjoying a relaxing day at the beach. When people become stressed they can respond in many different way, one can either fly off the handles from the most little stressor or can keep themselves cool and collected while the stress piles on them. Stress is always bound to happen, it can been seen coming a mile away or can sneak up quickly. Knowing if you are in control of your stress is an important thing to know and understand. here are some simple steps to help you understand if you are in control of your stress.

- A support network
- A sense of control
- An attitude and outlook
- Your ability to deal with emotions.
- Your knowledge and preparation

http://www.helpguide.org/mental/stress_signs.htm

Does being courageous increase mental well-being?

The idea of being courageous uses the phrase of being mentally and emotionally prepared.  According to essential life skills, courage is not something you are born with, but something that can be taught  to someone.  In this case, if people are taught to be courageous then their mental well-being will follow.  Courage is the ability to confront so if people are taught to be courageous, they will be able to handle certain issues.  Issues may be danger, fear, pain, or uncertainty.  Courage develops empowerment of self, and is a "psychological muscle."  In conclusion, being courageous does increase mental well-being. 

http://www.essentiallifeskills.net/courage.html

What is the best scale/source to test your stress level?

After much research, there is not necessarily a "best" option to test your stress level, however there are a variety of types of tests/scales to choose from.  Depending on your type of stress, each scale can vary from individual to individual.  Listed below are the links to some of the different types of stress tests, which can help you in assessing your needs regarding stress management.

Holmes-Rahe Scale: http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTCS_82.htm

Depression/Anxiety Stress Scales: http://www2.psy.unsw.edu.au/groups/dass/

Percieved Stress Scale:
http://www.mindgarden.com/products/pss.htm

MacArthur SES:
http://www.macses.ucsf.edu/research/psychosocial/stress.php

Life Change Index Scale:
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~eap/library/lifechangestresstest.pdf

Life Event Stress Scale:
http://www.pluk.org/training/Stress_Management.pdf

How to make stress your friend?

Psychologist Kelly McGonigal believes stress is only a bad thing if we perceive it to be. She states that if people do not view their stress in a negative way then it will not have a negative affect. She states that when people are introduced to a stressful situation your heart pounds, your breathing quickens and your forehead may sweat but this is just the way your body prepares you to face the problem you are facing.
http://www.ted.com/talks/kelly_mcgonigal_how_to_make_stress_your_friend.html

Stress seems to be a reoccuring issue in our class. How can this affect our overall health?

Stress can have a huge impact on your health. The stress response of the body can have negative impacts on the body, including but not limited to, headaches, muscle pain, chest pain, fatigue, upset stomach, and sleep problems. The body also releases hormones as a fight-or-flight response, these chemicals, such as cortisol, can raise blood sugar, and blood pressure. Stress can also lead to long-term health problems. These include heart disease, obesity, digestive problems, skin problems, and autoimmune diseases.
Stress can also effect your mood. These include restlessness, lack of motivation. lack of focus, depression, anxiety, irritability, and sadness. These effects on your mood can cause problems with inter-personal relationships.
Stress can also effect your behavior by causing over or under-eating, drug or alcohol abuse, angry outbursts, tobacco use, and social withdrawal. These behaviors affect emotional, mental, and social health.
Stress is a common problem in today's society, however, when untreated or ignored, can cause serious physical, emotional, social, and mental health consequences.


http://www.helpguide.org/mental/stress_signs.htm
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/stress-symptoms/SR00008_D
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/11/28/7-surprising-ways-stress-affects-your-health/

Even when your own life is facing multiple obstacles, is is possible to uplift your own joy purely by helping others?

This question was arose during the presentation of one of my classmates during class. It did so in the manor of the professor asking the class if helping others in this manor can truly lead to and benefits of health roles in your self. It was answered by the statement of "Well the whole point in doing the Personal Growth Project was to change something in your life and do it for the betterment your happiness. And if helping others truly made yourself happy then it was a good project to pursue." This then leads to the golden question of "Does mental health and improvement lead to improvements in physically health?" And to find any evidence of such one must dive into specifics and in the perspective of volunteering. I know for myself as I volunteered for community service through my fraternity on one early Saturday morning, I was energized and felt great through out the day, and even week after. Knowing that I had sacrificed my Saturday morning sleep to help children of autism is one of the best things I've done. It nearly eliminated my physical tiredness and I felt great physically. So yes I do believe that helping others out of the kindness of your heart can lead to physical health improvements.


http://cms.carepages.com/CarePages/en/ArticlesTips/FeatureArticles/Contributors/Improve-Your-Health-by-Volunteering.html

Is Self-Reflection Important?

In today's fast paced world, things seem to fly by us without even noticing. Decisions have to be made sometimes with none or little thought. Whether it is an important business decision after you graduate or what job to take, we all should have time to sit back after a decision is made and think about if it was the best one. Self-reflection is not easy to do, it could very well show that you either made a wrong decision or made the right one. Self-reflection in and of itself is a powerful tool to begin practicing. Happyscience.org states that "through self-reflection we can learn from our mistakes, release attachments, increase our enlightenment, and allow our divine nature to shine brilliantly." Through self-reflection, we are able to reflect on the decisions of the past and the mistakes that we may or may not have made and take those reflections to help better ourselves now and in the future. http://www.happy-science.org/the-principle-of-self-reflection

Does speaking in public on a regular basis decrease anxiety?

Many people have a fear of public speaking, and it does not go away easily.  The Calm Clinic has devoted much time in order to help others overcome their fears.  To begin with, the reasons why the fear of public speaking are so evident because people spend less time in public and have less interaction with others in the working field.  People do not want to be judged, therefore they choose not to speak with people.  The article goes on to give several ways to reduce the anxiety caused by public speaking.  The first is that when most are speaking, they tend to focus on the mistakes that go on during their speech.  Therefore, when speaking focus on what you are saying not the small mistake you may make.  Practice thoroughly in order to minimize the mistakes that could distract.  While practicing the lines, over-preparing will be the most beneficial.  Visualize a crowd of angry and disgruntled faces, think about how you will overcome them. After you reach this visualization, relax and overcome this by thinking that the angry faces love your speech. If you imagine that someone loves your speech you will continue to speak.  Lastly, the way to reduce anxiety is to get used to embarrassment and make yourself vulnerable.  In conclusion, much practice can help you to decrease the anxiety from public speaking. Visualization and relaxation will also help you to overcome public speaking.
http://www.calmclinic.com/anxiety/types/public-speaking-anxiety

How can helping others/serving others reduce stress and anxiety?

The feeling an individual gets when they are helping someone out is referred to as the "helper's high," which comes from released endorphins.  In addition to the "helper's high" feeling, serving others can increase your self-esteem, decrease feelings of social isolation (make you feel part of a social group) and improve your support system.  The types of volunteering that have been linked to improving health include those that involve personal interaction.  Individuals who cultivate a one on one relationship with a person that they are volunteering for are more likely to have the "helper's high" feeling. Committing small acts of kindness can also help improve your health.  Holding the door open for someone, sending a thank you note, smiling, helping someone lift something and sending anonymous gifts can all serve as these types of simple acts. While volunteering can assist in improving your overall health it is important to remember to pace yourself and know your limits.  Don't over commit yourself to the point that you end up adding stress to you life as opposed to decreasing it.

 "Patient Education Online." - MD Anderson Cancer Center.Web. 25 Sept. 2013.

How do people that have good protective factors still have low mental health?

    There have been studies that showed the wealthier you are the less likely you are to have compassionate feelings for others to decline. When you don't have respect for others, it is shown that your own mental and emotional health will decline. A study was conducted about what drivers would do when coming to a four-way stop, here are the results, "They found that luxury car drivers were more likely to cut off other motorists instead of waiting for their turn at the intersection. This was true for both men and women upper-class drivers, regardless of the time of day or the amount of traffic at the intersection. In a different study they found that luxury car drivers were also more likely to speed past a pedestrian trying to use a crosswalk, even after making eye contact with the pedestrian."
This comes to show that the reason for wealthier people to have low mental health is because they have ZERO feelings for the people they are around, which in turn can lead to them only thinking about their self.  

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=how-wealth-reduces-compassion

Are more of our youth lacking the understanding of mental health, which then leads to depression and failing to exercise, or should physical health be focused on more?

        Many kids do have problems with depression and this comes from many types of issues. Found from webMD, "As in adults, depression in children can be caused by any combination of factors that relate to physical health, life events, family history, environment, genetic vulnerability and biochemical disturbance. Depression is not a passing mood, nor is it a condition that will go away without proper treatment."
Most kids aren't just diagnosed with depression but also bipolar is coming more and more common with our youth. Preventative ways to help children stay away from these diagnoses are counseling and medication, similar to ways to treat adults. Even though these cases are with younger people the ways of overcoming them are the same.  

 http://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/depression-children

how can spirituality starting at a younger age (because of parents being church goers/enforcers) have an effect on mental illness as you get older

Spirituality can be very helpful in maintaining mental health and help avoid mental illness.  Even though this is true, spirituality is directly important in the diagnosis, symptomatology, treatment and prognosis of psychiatric disturbances. Losing an interest in spirituality can create a disturbance in interpersonal relationships. for example, a lose in interest of spirituality or religious activities can lead to common characteristics of depression. mental illness can be effected from to much or an overwhelmed attention to religion or spirituality.  Another example of spirituality having an effect on your mental health is Too much and distorted religious practices are common in schizophrenia patients.  


http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2755140/

How Does Spirituality Influence Health and Healing?

Everyday people are consumed with health problems and complications. A lot of times being treated for physical problems just is not enough. People often need more and find themselves looking to a Higher Power. The question becomes, does having faith and religion aid in health and healing? According to a study from Duke University, individuals who attend a regular church service tend to have better immune systems. It is known that people with healthy immune systems tend to be healthy individuals. Spirituality can influence cardiovascular, neurological and emotional health. 

While healing is possible from God, some people are not healed the way they would like or as fast. However, studies have shown individuals with AIDS, who had faith in God and were religious, lived longer than those who did not. Several studies have also shown that those who have strong religious and spiritual beliefs will heal faster from surgery and will have a decreased sense of anxiety and nervousness. http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/treatment/spirituality

Why do many people have to be at rock bottom in order to "find God"?

It's very common to hear of drug addicts, prisoners and/or other people who are at figuratively the lowest point in their lives finding God and righting their mismanaged lives. But why does it take such hardships in order for these people to resort to religion for support? A common answer to that question is that these people who have gotten themselves into these seemingly unimaginably bad situations are weak. They can no longer handle the responsibilities of their lives and feel looking to religion will absolve them of their bad choices. They are not strong enough to make decisions on their own and need a laid out set of rules to help them make decisions. Many people believe they need their religious beliefs in order to be a good person or that their life has purpose. Why do people need to be at rock bottom in order to "find god"? They simply can't do it on their own and need the extra support and there's nothing wrong with that, some people need it.

How Does Spirituality Help Young Adults with Their Mental Health?

I know this question is probably a simple one to answer.  We all have our own thoughts I am sure on this subject.  Spirituality goes hand in hand with a few mental disorders.  Studies have shown that spirituality can help with stress and anxiety.  It can also help with those young adults who are depressed.  I feel spirituality is a good place to turn to when feeling depressed, stressed and even anxious.  Young adults and even any age group may join a spiritual group or religious group to talk with people and learn more about how to release their feelings without being harmful to themselves or others.  For young adults, even finding a church they would like to attend, could help with their lives.  They can meet people that have the same religious/spiritual views.  For my self I am glad to have a spiritual belief, but it could be better.  I think I might need to turn to it for mental help more that I do now.

http://psychcentral.com/news/2012/08/21/spirituality-linked-to-better-mental-health/

Relationship Between Religion and Mental Health

According to Dr. Harold G. Koenig, the co-director of the Center for Spirituality, Theology, and Health at Duke University Medical Center, a devoted religious person normally experiences better mental and physical overall health. He says religious people experience:

     - better coping mechanisms

     - more hope

     - more optimism

     - less depression

     - less anxiety

     - better immune systems

     - lower blood pressure

     - less tendency to drink/ smoke

It is important to remember that it is a person’s personal choice whether or not to immerse themselves into religion, however, we can present them with facts and information to help them make a more informed decision. The facts say observing religion will be beneficial to your mental and physical health. Whether or not someone decides to practice religion is their own choice.

Source: http://www.beliefnet.com/Health/2006/05/What-Religion-Can-Do-For-Your-Health.aspx#

Does increasing spiritual health help to better physical health?

The idea that spirituality effects physical health is continuing to be studied in today's society. People are constantly trying to find an alternative to medicine when dealing with life threatening situations. According to most studies, there is little to no effect that spirituality improves a person's physical health. However, researchers are adamant that the little effect it does have on people is a great enough to notice. They assume that because only single causes are studied for each case that is why the results are so small. By adding ore than one cause into the the study, the relationship between spirituality and physical health will be increased. For those who are suffering from a medical illness, the relationship of mental health and positive and robust mortality is high, but the church's beliefs do not always coincide with medical health. Therefore, at times lowering the physical health even though spirituality has increased. In all, the idea of increasing spirituality to help physical health is a logical idea, because during follow ups most appear to be healthier when they belong to a religous organization.
http://globalhealth.washington.edu/docs/Bezruchka%201.pdf

Can Religion have a negative impact on mental health?

It has been proven through countless studies that spirituality plays a role in mental health. However, it has been assumed to mean that having a religion and being spiritual will improve your mental health, while not having those things will hurt you. Can religion have a negative impact on your mental health? Yes.
Being religious can open oneself to other negative consequences. Someone who reads God's word and understands all of His sacrifices and love for the world may feel guilty. They may feel like they can never live up to His expectations and, therefore, begin to feel condemned. A person may also focus on scriptures about God's expectations and judgments rather than His love and forgiveness. These people may become depressed and suffer anxiety. They may become distressed about their life and their future. People can also suffer increased anxiety for others. They may fear for other friends or family members who do not share their beliefs. Their anxiety can also stem from worrying about prophecies and the Anti-Christ. These people may live it fear. Those people who focus solely on God and religion as an answer to everything may suffer other health consequences by delaying treatment for other mental or physical health issues. When this faith-based method of treatment doesn't work, they may feel disappointed and angry with their God. Others may become obsessed with their religion and push away all of their friends and family. This will cause a decline in social support, and therefore in their social health.
Spirituality has been proven to be beneficial to mental health overall, however, there are still some instances when this spirituality can negatively effect one's health.

Vulnerability is a good thing? Can it be bad?

Vulnerability is defined by Princeton as "the state of being exposed". Vunerablilty often gets a bad rap. Vunerability means that can leave you open to attack or you can seem "needy". Della Wilburs, a certified life coach, explains people often fear being vunerable because it is a time when all their inserurites arise. However, it is during this time when we come to accept our insecurities and grow. These insecurities cannot hurt us if we are willing to accept them. Being vulnerable is simply accepting ourselves for who we are and opening ourselves up to allow others do that as well.
Can vulnerability be a bad thing? Well, what if you admit you have an unfavorable characteristic to someone? What if that someone laughs or puts you down for it? Oh well, YOU already admit that it's unfavorable; they aren't telling you anything you don't know. Be vulnerable, take it in stride, and grow as a person.
In contrast, refusing to be vulnerable can be detrimental. If you refuse to allows you and others to see who you really are, then you are robbing yourself of the chance to grow as a person. Someone who refuses to admit their faults, can never grow for them.

References: http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=vulnerability, https://www.lovelifestyle.com, Della Wilburs

In what ways can spirituality actually decrease stress/anxiety?

Spirituality can be defined in several different ways, but ultimately exists to give your life a purpose.  It does not necessarily have to mean being religious or associated with a specific religion, but furthermore your connection to yourself and others in conjunction with the development of your morals and values.  The concept of spirituality can be beneficial in multiple aspects of life, but is particularly helpful in stress reduction and can assist with coping mechanisms. Specifically, spirituality can help you clarify what's most important to you and clear your mind.  With a clear mind, you can pay little attention to the unimportant things and focus on what means the most to you which can alleviate stress.  Spirituality allows you to release control and understand that you are not responsible for every element of life.  There is a greater power that has a greater plan for all of us.  It can also provide an outstanding social network and people who you can share the burdens and joys of life with.  The sharing of spiritual expressions can create very strong relationships that can grow and develop with time.  People who identify themselves as spiritual also commonly are able to heal from addiction and illness faster which ultimately leads to a healthier lifestyle.  Clinically, spirituality has been linked to the following conditions

• Less hypertension
• Less stress, even during difficult times
• More positive feelings
• Less depression
• Greater psychological well-being
• Superior ability to handle stress

Source:
"Europe PubMed Central." Spirituality and Stress Management in Healthy Adults.Web. 18 Sept. 2013.

How does an individule develop clinical depresson?

 Sometimes I wonder if some people know the difference between depression, and clinical depression. I didn't, so I did some research to find some answers. Some people would probably think the two terms are the same, but according to Web MD " clinical depression is when feelings become overwhelming and last for long periods of time, they can keep you from leading a normal, active life, and that's when it's time to seek medical help!" Some of the symptoms of clinical depression is,  difficulty concentrating, remembering details, and making decisions, fatigue and decreased energy, feelings of guilt, worthlessness, and/or helplessness, feelings of hopelessness, and/or pessimism Insomnia, early-morning wakefulness, or excessive sleeping irritability, restlessness, loss of interest in activities or hobbies once pleasurable including sex overeating or appetite loss. We all have experienced some bad times in life that ultimately made us feel down, but over time we was able to over-come our worries. People that struggle with clinical depression have no control over there mood swings, and they cant get over whatever is causing them to be depressed! As a result, of feeling depressed over a long  period of time, and the accumulation of damage to the persons mental health a person needs to go to the doctor to get some counseling, and medication if needed!

www.webmd.com/depression/guide/detecting-depression‎

Are teachers culturally sensitive/competent throughout the world.

This was not the best question to ask because I could not find any sources to answer my question. I can only answer this solely on my personal experience. When I was younger I lived in Germany for a few years. The teachers were suppose to assist me with translating and making the process easier for me to adapt to the new culture. Unfortunately, I was an outcast and  all of my teachers throughout the few years failed to assist me. My older brother was going through the exact same thing who was a few grades ahead of me. I have heard of people studying abroad and having a great time but in my personal opinion the rest of the world is not culturally competent like the U.S. A good reason for this may be because the teachers have experienced the same students with the same culture their whole teaching career. Also teachers in the States have an better chance of coming across a different culture than other countries. I wish that I could have found some valid evidence to support my findings but I was unable to do so.

What Does Culture have to do with promoting health?

 We know that each individuals culture is different.  You must take into account ones religion, political views, ethnicity and even peer groups.  Knowing your own culture can help in promoting for your own better health.  For instance, religion, some may be christian and others may not believe at all.  But, if you are a christian you might turn to your church or even have a church group that helps you focus on everyday issues or situations, and even your own situations.  These groups may help you, so you want to help get the word out that it can help others as well.  Another example is ones heritage or background.  Maybe your dad's family is native american and your mom's family is polish.  Growing up might of not been great for them mentally.  Others could of made fun of where they came from.  Maybe you want to find a social group to learn more about your heritage and then you can let others know about your background.  It is important to understand your own culture to be able to be happy with your self and others.  Knowing your culture can help your mental health.

-anonamous

www.who.int/mental.health

What are the specifics of the mental health promotion profession? Is it for monetary value, or the "warm and fuzzy" feeling?

I was wondering if a job in mental health promotion is a high paying, available or growing job; or if the profession is more of a public service that requires a lot of schooling and low pay but makes people feel like they are making a difference. Some jobs in mental health promotion include behavior health plan coordinator (B.A. degree in psychology, $45,000 – $70,000), health teacher (Most have a Master's in Public Health, $48,000 – $64,000), public health planner (At least a BA degree in public health, $40,000 – $63,000) and mental health researcher (Most have a Ph.D. or M.D., $53,000 to $110,000). In the United States the average salaries of each of these professions is lower than the average annual income of other jobs that require the same level of education. Though the pay may not be as high as other professions, people currently working in mental health promotion report higher levels of importance and meaning on average than many higher paying jobs. The demand for more professional mental health promotors is also steadily increasing. http://www.mphonline.org/50-highest-paying-jobs-in-public-health/

do sports have an effect on an athlete's mental health?

Athletes to some extent are not the same as the general public but there are many issues that are the same.  Many people believe that because athletes appear very healthy physically, that athletes must be healthy emotionally.  This leads to the thinking that they will rarely experience mental illness.  In a sense, many people dont hear about an athletes mental issues because they see it as appearing weak, so they dont publicize the issue.

One of the main issues amongst athletes and their mental health is depression.  Some times this may occur once the athletes is done with their playing career but a lot of the time, it does occur during the time they are playing.  Many athletes end up being very depressed because they keep their emotions inside and they continue to "build" inside.  Athletes of high-caliber have a lot of added on pressure especially in very competitive environments that lead to them not being mentally stable.  Depression in athletes can lead to other mental disorders such as suicide, general anxiety, stress, obsessive compulsive disorder, and even eating disorders.

http://www.princeton.edu/uhs/pdfs/NCAA%20Managing%20Student-Athletes%20Mental%20Health%20Issues.pdf

To what affect can negative mental health lead to physical health loss?

According to the Harvard Health Publications and Harvard Medical School, the line of mental health affecting physical health is being changed almost daily. But there has clearly been a distinct correlation between the two. A lot of times stress, depression, and anxiety to lead to physical  health issues without the person being affected even knowing it. The most common physical health affects that occur or those of sleep deprivation, lack of energy, and digestive disorder. Since I am a full time college student I like to relate everything I learn to an everyday situation for a college student. And in the case of mental health affecting physical health is a common factor for most students. There is a tremendous amount of stress that college students face daily. There are all types of situations in which the student is merely thinking failure is not an option. In classes most students are not concerned with what they actually learned but rather the grade they get from the class. In light of this students sacrifice sleep and stress relieving hobbies to accommodate for getting good grades. And when the desired results are not achieved many suffer from depression which lead to a lack of sleep, a lack of work being completed, which then leads to more stress built. It is almost a never ending circle for college students which is why it is common, and the college student level, to see mental health leading to physical health.

Edmund Allen Jr.

Work Cited: http://www.health.harvard.edu/category/emotional-well-being-and-mental-health

How does acculturation help me as person living an everyday life?

First, let's start off with a definition to help us understand what acculturation is. Acculturation according to rice.edu is a process in which members of one cultural group adopt the beliefs and behaviors of another group. From my personal experiences, acculturation has helped me in my travel over seas by helping me adapt to the culture I was shortly submersed for a brief period of time. Before I left for my destinations I had to attend classes about the do's and don't of the country I was traveling to. For example, in one country we were told that while we were out and about town doing mission work that we had to wear long pants and most of the time a nice shirt. A lot of the time, at least from my understanding, this had to do with showing different social status' and also this was their custom. As a future health educator, I think about how acculturation can benefit me throughout my professional career and it boils down to me completely understanding how I best serve the community around me, and if I don't understand the norms and rituals of the ones I am serving then serving them becomes limited because of my lack of knowledge of what really makes them tick. As a non-health educator, acculturation can help by us understanding the people around us in our everyday lives. http://www.rice.edu/projects/HispanicHealth/Acculturation.html

Why are some people that live in low-income areas, develop bad mental/physical health problems at a greater rate compared to other people that live in different areas that have more money?

What are ways to effectively communicate with someone who has mental health issues?

Mental Health is such an important topic in a matter of public health, but yet the issue goes unnoticed. People who suffer from a mental health issue are so often ignored, because others do not know how to effectively communicate with them. In this blog, I hope that is will become clear to you that dealing with a mental health issue means being shunned from the world. Discussing mental health issues are not offensive if you are to communicate with the one who suffers from the issue. To begin with, being respectful to a person with a mental health issue will level and open up the opportunity for communication. Like anyone else, people who suffer from a disease want to feel respect. They do not want to be classified by their disease. Stereotypes are far from helpful in these situations. Furthermore, it is helpful to be aware of what type issue they are suffering with. Let them know that you understand, but do not mock them by saying that you experience the same feelings. After all, people who suffer from mental health issues are still human. Finally, the most important part of effective communication is to listen to their  thoughts and feelings. This is important, because the person may not completely understand where you are coming from so in that case you all would further be on different pages. The ways to effectively communicate with someone who suffers from a mental health issue is to be respectful, aware, and listen.

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/threat-management/201010/communicating-people-mental-illness-the-publics-guide

What is the main source of depression in children?

The main source of depression in children can vary from child to child depending on the circumstances and conditions.  Several causes have been closely associated with genetics and environmental factors.  There are also biological, social and psychological factors that can contribute to depression in children either separately or combined. For example, two children can be raised in the exact same environment with the same resources available to them and one may become depressed while the other one does not. Some of the most common factors linked to depression in children are as follows:

1. family history of depression
2. parents’ divorce
3. excessive stress
4. abuse or neglect
5. trauma (physical and/or emotional)
6. loss of a parent, caregiver or other loved one
7. loss of a relationship, such as moving away or loss of boyfriend/girlfriend
8. failure to accomplish tasks such as learning to read, or keeping up with peers in other activities
9. chronic illnesses, such as diabetes
10. other psychiatric disorders
11. other developmental, learning or conduct disorders

Source:
"Major Depression - Causes, Symptoms, & FAQ." Boston Children's Hospital. Web. 12 Sept. 2013. <http://www.childrenshospital.org/az/Site1268