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Kurgan, Rebecca
Professor: Howard Ingle
March 28
th
, 2014

A father and son were on a road trip together. The son asked dad to stop at
lookout point. The son made a run for the edge of cliff, father was able to stop and grab
him, son looked up and said I have to do this and he ran and jumped of the edge. This
mans son was struggling with a mental illness. An uncontrollable mental illness, can
sometimes make a person feel as if they are standing on a slide of a cliff edge with the
urge to jump over. This father did not lose his son to an edge on a cliff, he lost his son to
a mental illness. Mental illnesses and disorders effect many individuals, families, and
communities. The medical system is aware of the need for care of the mentally ill
persons, however cannot control the outcome and care of treatment for them. Mental
illnesses and disorders do exist in the health care system, the criminal system, mental
illness can exist anywhere.
Mental illnesses are medical conditions that disrupt a persons thinking, feeling,
mood, ability to relate to others and daily functioning. Many people may not be aware
that one in every four adults is currently suffering from a mental illness. That one person
out of every four, may not even know that they are suffering from a mental illness or
disorder. A reason for this could be because they have not yet been diagnosed. Mental
illnesses and disorders are sometimes difficult to detect. They are considered to be a
complex condition, with overlapping diagnose, including developmental disorders. It is
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very difficult getting the mentally ill patients through the medical system. There simply is
enough resources to help these individuals. This is reason why so many mentally ill
patients feel like giving up on their life or their disorder. Some may feel lost with what
the medical services can provide. Between the doctors, treatment programs, and
medications, a patient can become extremely confused and frustrated. They may even
feel overwhelmed and not know whom to turn to or what to do.
Another concern of treatment for the mentally ill patients, is expenses. To seek
the best treatment and care for individuals is extremely expensive. Functioning for
patients can also be a difficult process when suffering from a mental illness or disorder.
Maintaining a household, maintaining a career, even maintaining a daily diet is
something a person with a mental illnesses may find very challenging. A person with a
mental illness may do anything to survive. To that individual it is considered to be
survival of the fittest.
There are many continuous issues and conflicts in the world of mental health.
Mental health illnesses impact peoples lives in many different measures. It has become
very difficult and a challenge for a person to manage a mental illness when diagnosed.
Many people can also respond very differently to mental illnesses.
I attended a series of Symposium lectures conducted by students at Salt Lake
City Community College. Each student that presented a lecture, was very educated
within the diversity of mental health illnesses. The students each picked out a different
topic that regarded mental illness in our Western societies, of America.

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Symposium Discussion Lectures

First Presentation:
First Study: The student presented a presentation on stereotypical cues affect a
womens sense of belonging in computer science classroom. The study was conducted
by the student because she feels that most women dont fit in the field of computer
science. The student believes that society has classified the computer science world, as
a mans world. The students conclusion from her research found that minor
environmental cues can cause interest and fear such as a study of computer science.
The student also concluded from the study, that women feel as if their more vulnerable
and they feel as if they dont belong.
Second Study: The student researched a test and experiment with upper-level graduate
students. This experiment tested the womens abilities and interests in computer
science. The study was conducted by a short conversation, survey within the computer
science field. The students conclusion from this study found that interacting with
females versus males, role models did not affect womens interest in computer science.
The student also concluded from the study, that stereotypes affect performance within a
sense of belonging.

Second Presentation:
Childhood Obesity: Factors and Treatments
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Hannah gave a very interesting and informative presentation. Childhood obesity is a
major issue in concern within children, living within the United States. Hannah defined
(BMI), as body mass index. Twenty to thirty pounds overweight is considered to be
obese. Out of 25% of children that are overweight, 11% of these children are
considered to be obese. Hannah reflected on the many serious physical and
psychological factors that can take place with a child that is obese. She believes that
children maintain obesity because of inconsistencies of treatments. She taught us that
to start children off from early ages with healthy eating habits and positive motivation.
Hannah believes that positive motivation is what a child needs to stick to a diet.

Third Presentation:
Bionic Limbs
I really enjoyed this presentation because Ive learned so many new facts about how a
bionic limb can change and amputees life. The two students that presented this
presentation, demonstrated the history, evolution, new developments, and the
drawbacks of prosthetics. They gave great examples of how modern-day medicine is
creating miracles. The first bionic limb was used in 1500 BC in Egypt, 424 BC Rome,
1500 A.D., 1700 A.D., 1900 A.D., up until 2014. The students explained to us how the
bionic limb has played a role between biology and technology. They are the new future
of bionics. The bionic lamb actually has living skin that is personalized to look like a real
body part. There are sensors inserted either within the fingertips if it is a hand, or the
bottom of the feet if it is afoot. The amputee is able to even personalize the bionic limb
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with something such as a real tattoo. The students explained to as the drawbacks of the
bionic limb can be extensive. An average cost of a bionic limb is $509,275. The patient
also have to consider the hospital bills, rehabilitation, physical therapy, and
maintenance. The average bionic lamb life expectancy is only 3 to 5 years minimum.
However the positive side of the drawbacks are there in many organizations and
fundraisers people can donate to allow the amputees to have an opportunity to pursue
this medical miracle. The students concluded that explorers and researchers continue
every day growing nerves and conducting experiments to create my skin cells and
muscle cells. This presentation was excellent with demonstrating a large amount of
information about bionic limbs, within a short amount of time.

I gained much knowledge and education from attending lectures from the
students. I found it amazing how each students lecture with completely on different
topics but all of them related to psychology, mental illnesses, and disorders. The
students topics were: from women having a sense of not belonging, childhood obesity
factors and treatments, to the development of bionic limbs. These lectures taught me
that mental illnesses and disorders can come in all shapes and sizes. One of the
ultimate keys for treatment for mental illnesses is to continue moving forward with in a
positive direction of your life. Distinguishing between mental illnesses and disorders can
create distress, discomfort, and elevated sensitivity.
In conclusion, the most informative information that I learned was that mental
illnesses and disorders each have an individual treatment process. Some of the
different types of treatment processes are: insight therapies, behavior therapies, and
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biomedical therapies. Insight therapy, is often a lengthy verbal interaction with the
therapist. Behavior therapy, is based on the principles of learning, instead of
emphasizing personal insights, behavior therapists make direct efforts to alter automatic
responses. Biomedical therapy, approaches involving interactions into a persons
biological functioning. There are many different methods of treatment to pursue different
kinds of mental illnesses and disorders. Through treatment and therapy, mental
illnesses and disorders can become controlled.