Cicely,
I really liked reading your post, because I had the same passages and I think it was good to read them both from another point of view. I think this goes to show how many different ways in which Shakespeare can be interpreted. The thing that I found was best for me to read from yours was which literary devices you selected from the passages and what you defined them as. Thanks so much for posting this and for sharing.
Sophie G Gross

Cicely, I really liked how you distinguished the difference between correlation and causation. I very much agree with you that we need to better educate the public. How do you think we should go about doing this? Should it be a part of health class in schools or a required course? When should we start talking about mental health?

Hi Cicely,
I too think mental health has a role in gun violence. But we should not only talk about mental health when a mass shooting happens. I believe mental health should be more researched for treatments. From this article, it states that Trump’s response to one of the biggest mass shooting in modern America history is that “…mental health is your problem here.” Why do you think people go to blame mental health over guns? Is it gun owners wanting to protect their rights of owning guns or a reminder about mental health? I am interested in what more you find about this topic!
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/06/us/politics/trump-guns-mental-health.html

Cicely,
I was attracted to you post because you were discussing mental heath, which is often a topic that is avoided in society. I think the first step to normalizing mental health is talking about it. I agree with you in that the biggest problem against normalizing mental health is, “Associating violent crimes with a person’s mental health often leaves the idea that all people with mental health disorders are criminals and dangerous and should be feared and locked up.” The stigma behind crimes and metal health leads to the decline of the topic being talked about. I found your facts interesting and agree that treatment is necessary. I found this article interesting, you should check it out: https://www.theodysseyonline.com/all-about-conscious-discipline

Cicely,
I think this is a very interesting post on a topic that many people neglect thinking about. I think that people dont believe in mental illness until somebody does something durastic and then they are labeled as “sick” or whatever else. I think that we need to start treating mental illness as any other serious disease and normalize it. I think that every group of people has individuals that do bad things and often we choose to pin that on the whole group which isnt fair. I think educating people on mental health and mental disease is the best way to combat this.

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/dustin-demoss/combating-the-stigma-of-m_b_6834980.html

Cicely, I find that your research topic on the Church’s attitude towards mental illness is compelling as nobody seems to be talking about it. I found it surprising when you said that “her normal doctor advised against it”, was he in fact religious in any sense? I also took the liberty of researching and finding an interesting source concerning this topic, and I’ll leave the link below. Thank you for sharing.

https://www.vox.com/identities/2017/10/6/16395772/christian-faith-communities-churches-mental-health-care-anxiety-depression-mental-illness-awareness

Hey Cicely, I really like your post because it is a huge eye opener. I agree with you about the fact that mental health should be talked about me so people can be open to asking for help.

Cicely, great topic, I think this is super relevant right now. Living in Utah we can see so many people being affected by SAD, and most of us are close to someone experiencing it. Recently, I have seen a lot more people opening up about their mental health with people they trust, and I think that is a great first step to getting rid of the stigma that we shouldn’t talk about how we feel. I hope more people read your article so that you can help raise more awareness. Great job!

Hi Cicely-
I love this topic. As a person who is personally affected by mental health and has witnessed the stigma that arises from it, I am constantly asking what we can do. As milenials, we are the future of our country and the representative voice. Like you, I want to know what we can do/ if there is anything we can do. I found this article interesting, and I think you might too: https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/our-changing-culture/201510/are-mental-health-issues-the-rise

Dear Cicely, I appreciate you for talking about mental health, it is such a big topic that many other people might not see it as an issue. But in fact it is, where there are people having to cope with their mental health issue. Now a days there are many people dealing with anxiety, I can say I am one of those people. But I am glad you were able to brig this up for others to read and be aware of the stigma behind mental health.

Hello Cicely, I was really touched by your post after reading it. Many people ignore the fact that they are dealing with a mental illness. It is important for a person to be willing to do something about the situation so that they can be able to make a positive change in their lives. Your post really address the main issues of mental health, you take the time to explain how it is important to do something about this issue and that is important.

Cicely,
I am happy that you brought up this issue. I am shocked to see the statistics that you brought up about Utah being the 5th highest nationally ranked state for teen suicides. I truly believe that the way to stop something sad or awful is to openly discuss it with a large group of individuals. I also believe that the school systems should discuss issues of suicide directly to the students. I feel that school administrators are tentative about directly addressing suicide and so that instead, some of the best ways school systems have addressed the issue is by putting up posters. One website that may help your interests on this matter is, https://www.brookings.edu/blog/brown-center-chalkboard/2017/06/08/why-schools-need-to-step-up-suicide-prevention-efforts/. Thank you for your post.

-Thomas K.

Cicely,
This is a very important topic, especially in these winter months. Mental illness is far more vast than many people realize, and so awareness is key. We have to spread the word, and make people with mental disorders feel comfortable coming out and talking about them. If they do not have any outlet to do this, then the problem just increases.
I did not realize that Utah has such a high suicide rate. I had no clue so many kids took their own lives. I enjoyed this article (http://www.newsweek.com/2016/10/28/teen-suicide-contagious-colorado-springs-511365.html), and you should check it out.
Thanks,
Logan

This is a really well written article and I think it is really relevant topic that needs to be talked about. Many people want to look for solutions to the mental health issue in the United States, but very few people are willing to talk about it. It is really eye-opening to see people writing about this topic and I hope to see more people begin to start dialogues about mental illness around the world. This article on mental illness is really interesting so you should check it out!https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/why-we-worry/201308/mental-health-stigma

Cicely, I think your post is one that should be talked about a lot more than it is. Mental health has become a type of embarrassment where if you have it you hide it, because you are worried you will be made fun of. The statistic of Utah really hits hard home for me because I had two male friends who took their own lives. I believe we need to correct something in our schooling system and make people realize it is ok to talk about feelings, and it is not bad for a person to be sad sometimes. This is a topic we can not brush of our shoulder anymore, it is very real. We must make others realize this is a problem and that we need to find a safe place for people to be open about themselves.

Cicely,
I grew up around a lot of mental illness. My family has a lot of mental health issues, and so do plenty of my friends. While I grew up thinking it was a standard part of life, it surprised me later in life how uncomfortable so many people are with mental illness. In my experience, talking about it, or sometimes even joking about it, as me and my brother used to do, always helped reinforce the fact that I was there when they needed me. I had to make it clear that talking about it was no big deal. When I would ignore the issues at hand, as I tried to do once in awhile, it only made things worse. Mental health issues should never be embarrassing, as the last thing someone needs is alienation from their support system. Your article was cool and I’d like to see more.

Hi Cicely!
I thought your article was really interesting because of the facts you backed it up with. I agree that mental health is a huge issue in our society today, especially in Utah. I have a friend who moved from California and was diagnosed with SAD a year after her move. It is really difficult to understand for people who aren’t effected by these types of disorders because she can be totally normal in the summer, but depressed during the winter. I think a way to address this stigma is not making people feel guilty for taking medicine or getting help for their mental health issues. It seems we have made mental health sound negative in the past and it is time to change that assumption.
Good job!
Chloe

Cicely, I really love your research topic. I am really interested in all this information and I think it’s so important to understand and recognize with such a growing suicide rate. All the information you found is astonishing. It’s interesting that weather and seasonal changes has an affect on people with depression. I wish people would take mental health more serious. I found this article I really liked on seasonal mental health! (https://www.healthyplace.com/other-info/mental-health-newsletter/how-seasonal-changes-can-affect-our-mental-health/) Good luck with your research!

Hi Cicely! I loved your post because I think this is a perfect first step to treating mental illness and lowering the numbers. It is sad because my school’s administration will not let us talk about the kids in my class who have died from mental illnesses because supposedly it glorifies the illness. I believe the contrary that if we talk about them then they will be more easily prevented because others won’t be afraid to seek help. Also your topic on SAD was very interesting because now I am wondering if people in Alaska have adapted somehow to get more serotonin without sunlight, or if they are not at all affected by it. This article about depression in Alaska seems interesting and I think you would like it http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/18/national/in-alaska-darkness-and-depression-descend.html

Cicely,
I’m really happy you wrote about this topic because it is something that has such a stigma around it. This is an issue that has affected everyone in the senior class and is something that will remain with us forever. This issue is always relevant, especially at our age and location. The question posed at the end of your post really makes you think a lot; like what are some ways that I myself can help to open up the conversation and break the stigma. I found this article about the stigma you may find it interesting. https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/why-we-worry/201308/mental-health-stigma

Cicely, I think your post expounds on some of the most critical problems plaguing America. Although America was built on immigrants and foreign assistance, we have come to neglect our origins. The majority of the older population have become anti-immigration, and with the recent events on the news it would seem like America wants to shut its borders to all. This fear of immigration may extend to many European states soon, especially with their influx of middle-easterners as the population gradually developed a mistrust in the foreigners.
Here is an article with infographics and about the UN’s perspectives of immigrants due to the refugee crisis with respect to each nation.
This fear of outsiders could lead to a decline in national productivity when the population has shifted to be populated by more older generations that are in retirement.

Dear Cicely,

I am fascinated by your post, “ Isolated America”, because your interpretation of the book and its similarities with our current society are accurate. One sentence you wrote that stands out for me is: “One of the greatest things about studying with students from other places is that they teach American students about the world. Participation in education allows for a more understanding” I think this is encouraging because diversity in learning does expand the mind and more people should come this realization which will teach us to better coexist with each other. Another sentence that I enjoyed was: “If we cut off the outside world, we may inflict more pain than anything else.” This stood out for me because this current isolation is in fact causing more pain which creates hatred for others. Lastly, thanks for your writing. I look forward to seeing what you write next because I appreciate the fact that the problem with isolation was clearly identified.

Mauro

Dear Cicely,
I am impressed about your post “Isolated America” because you compared America with the society of Oceania in 1984. And I totally agree with you about the similar things that it’s happening in our society because since we got a new president he is trying to make “America better again” by excluding others that come from another place. That is unfair because many people who have immigrated here are living here for a good reason. That connects to the book of 1984 of how the Party wanted their people to be under their control and make them believe that outsiders where dangerous and that they always wanted war. One sentence you wrote that stands out for me is “Many other countries look to America as a leader, but also for help” because that is true many people from other countries have come the USA for better living, and more opportunities and that is something good for our country too, but if we cut out the interaction that we have with others that changes the society of America. Another sentence that stood out to me is “One of the greatest things about studying with students from other places is that they teach American students about the world. ” because that makes us more united too as a whole world, and American stood get to learn about the needs of others to be able to help people that have come from other places. Thanks for writing. I look forward to seeing you write next because your post was fascinated to me. You clearly stated of how our country is starting to be Isolated and if it keeps on going like that we will be apart from other countries.

• Olga M

This is really interesting commentary, Cicely. One of the things that really fascinates me about our country is that many see our diversity as a weakness, while it is obviously one of our biggest strengths. Very few other places in the world have as much diversity as us, because we are a country composed almost entirely of immigrants, more so than almost any other place in the world. According to The Washington Post, diversity is almost unanimously accepted by the scientific community as being a strength,
not a weakness (https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/she-the-people/wp/2014/11/26/diversity-is-good-why-doesnt-everyone-agree/?utm_term=.085b6407b20b). I look forward to your next post.

Hi, Cicely Foley-

I am a student at Judge Memorial Catholic High School in Salt Lake City Utah. I thought that your post was very intriguing in that it addressed a topic that is greatly considered in pretty much all religions. I enjoyed reading this, because it brought the questions and ideas into my head on how one’s character is shaped through moral decisions. What to you is the most important moral principle? If you are religious, do you think that that would have any sort of effect on your opinion? I appreciated this post, and I hope to hear more from you on this topic.

Thank you,
Sophia Gross

Cicely,
If find the discussion and often argument surrounding the topic about morals and ethics very fascinating. I also wonder about how a society develops a view of morality and how a society should act, especially with respect to those morals. This site, http://www.vision.org/visionmedia/ethics-and-morality-moral-compass/3574.aspx , may hold some more insight in the way different people view values of morality and ethics. In addition, people may hold different moral values as different societies may hold different standpoints of ethical responsibilities. I would say that religion plays a pretty substantial role when differentiating the right and wrong of an action. This religious standpoint may be conflicting towards other religions as another religion might hold a different opinion on a moral conflict. An example of a moral issue is female infanticide and this source helps with addressing this: http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/India-loses-3-million-girls-in-infanticide/article12551293.ece
I really liked your topic and look forward to your next post.
-Thomas K.

Cicely,
I found your article to be very intriguing. It was very interesting how you used The Golden Rule as an example of how we as individuals view morality and our own morals. I really liked the connection you made between morals and ethics too. Here is an article that highlights the connection between those two values http://www.vision.org/visionmedia/ethics-and-morality/distinguishing-between-morality-and-ethics/731.aspx

Cicely-
I really liked this post. I can relate, since I’ve been going to Catholic and other denominational private schools for my entire life. I’ve always been dissatisfied with the answer of “everything happens for a reason”, and “God doesn’t give you anything you can’t handle”. If we are truly God’s children, why can’t some of us handle our trials?
I can’t speak specifically to any kind of answer, but this question has been so influential in my life that it caused me to lose my faith entirely. Loss is such a common human experience, and yet we cannot reason with it, nor can we accept it, a lot of times. I wish that I had these answers also, and I am glad knowing someone else can relate to the constant annoyance of not knowing.