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