PART 1 Directions:

Discussion – Mental Health Disorders and Mental Health Stigma

In this module, we explore the world of mental health disorders and how they affect the lives of individuals and those around them. Students also learn how social stigma can interfere with an individual’s ability to reach out for needed help. For this discussion forum, students will further explore how social stigma affects people and their mental health, and how society can fight to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues.

Identify two celebrities or prominent social figures who have come forward to bring awareness to the stigma surrounding mental health disorders by sharing their stories about mental health.

Describe each person’s struggle with mental health illness:

• Specify their particular psychological disorder
• Describe the symptoms of their disorder
• Do you believe their stories help bring awareness to mental health issues? Why or why not?
• Give suggestions for how society can reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues.
• Instructions for reply post
• What did you learn about yourself and your mental health from hearing the stories of the celebrities in your peers’ posts?

What are your thoughts about your peer’s suggestions to reduce the stigma attached to mental health disorders?

Ask your peer a question about their post.   classmate #1

• Chadd Kasimatis
• This module discussed the importance of mental health literacy—knowledge and understanding of how to care for your mental health. Becoming a responsible steward of your mental health can improve how you cope with stress, relate to others, perform in class, and make life decisions. When we devote time to our mental health, we can enhance our overall health and well-being as well as have a positive impact on the lives of others.
  For this assignment, you will be taking on the role of the Keynote Speaker at Rasmussen University’s “Mental Health Matters” Conference. As a presenter, you will discuss the importance of mental health literacy—caring for one’s mental health. To accompany the presentation, you will create a PowerPoint highlighting the main ideas. The goal of your presentation is to bring awareness to mental health issues and encourage your fellow classmates and professors to do things that will help them improve their mental health and quality of life. Instructions
  Students will create a PowerPoint for this assignment. The PowerPoint will address the following topics:

Define mental health literacy and discuss its importance

Discuss how social stigma affects mental health

Provide some statistics that illustrate the importance of practicing good mental health

Discuss the effects of poor mental health literacy on our lives

• Discuss the benefits of practicing good mental health literacy

Offer strategies to improve our mental health (i.e., self-care)

• Provide resources for those struggling with mental health issues (i.e., national hotlines, governmental agencies, online sources, etc.)