"Im Fine"

 In the final action project I will be posting from the first term of my junior year, I focused on the current topic of mental health in decline. Let me give more context; This unit has been full of ups, downs, and everything else. From interviews of potential alderman to reading about incorrect use of city funds to MLK and the freedom marches. The main focus with all of these topics was the influence and perspective of "op-eds". We started by talking to a man considered young when considering he tried to become to an alderman against a long-standing incumbent, his name, Ugo Okere. Ugo didn't appreciate the way his ward was being operated so he took it into his own hands to change for the better. We then reviewed an op-ed posted by Troy LaRaviere and looked at how op-eds are constructed. Probably the biggest thing we did though was meet in person for an FE to the memorial in Marquette Park, Chicago, for the freedom marches of 1965-6. With that very quick description of the unit lets get into the main piece.  

Time Magazine, 2017

  In June there was a break down of an op-ed posted on the Stanford Children's Health page. First lets focus on the op-ed itself. It was created in collaboration by Rachel Velcoff Hults, an equity and access attorney on the National Center for Youth Law’s Health team, and Steven Adelsheim, MD, director of the Stanford Psychiatry Center for Youth Mental Health and Well being.

  It seems to be a calling with good intentions (it seems) to support the children and youth stuck in quarantine. In the first paragraph mentioned, they try to describe a sudden onset of mental illness or instability due to COVID 19 and the bouts of racial inequality and discrimination. They seem to paint the picture as these events are causing intense, complicated emotions with no way to express. They also say this will cause difficulty in growing up. Through out the rest of the document they seem to describe why this is, and why the youth are so important right now. Later they seem to say that the youth who need to be most shielded or supported would be those in black and brown communities because the majority of racism is pointed directly at them. 

  Kate Trempe, a writer for Lucile Packard Children's Hospital in Stanford, broke down this op-ed, giving readers an easier understanding of it, started by introducing our two writers, names and titles, and gives a brief, cookie cutter explanation that the youth are in trouble, the youth in "communities of color". In Kate's next few entries an order is made clear about the op-ed, "here are some reasons mental health is in decline and here are some solutions to refer to". The possible issues include stress, substance abuse, and abuse at home. Some of the possible solutions include promotion of stress management techniques, expansion of emotional learning programs, financial support in these from our nations, and other examples for when we finally go back to school from quarantine. Finally Kate explains that their (the op-ed writers) ending wants people to recognize that there is inequity when it comes to resource distribution to black and brown communities. 

  Honestly I had doubts about the op-ed (not meaning the break down) when I read the first portion, it seemed as if they wanted to blame a lack of positive mental health on COVID when even if it worsened, most people had these problems long before quarantine. It seemed they wanted to blame worsening mental health in black and brown communities on "new realizations". It seemed that the meant racism is a new concept that is now making African-American youths fall into a pit of mental issues. At this point I still cant tell if that is what they intended but I hope anyone reading this knows otherwise. As a person who personally and indirectly deals with mental illness, a person who watches friends and family deal with mental illness, I think the best way to support someone like this is to be there with them, wade through it with them, and don't push it off and say something like "think of something else". Sure there are plenty of programs to help youth and they are valuable but a personal, genuine, closeness usually works best. 

Now I know that many people could say things like "I don't know how to help" or "I don't know how they want me to help" but frankly I see it as an excuse. I think that anyone who genuinely wants to help, support, and be there for someone else should go out of their way to talk to them, to ask them how they are and to make them happy. Even if you don't know what they want, ask them! If they don't know or don't tell you then do lots of things. Find what this person needs most. Be stubborn. Be persistent. Be loving.     

 Addendum:

It may have been obvious or very obscure but i'm targeting, correcting, and agreeing with all three writers. Though it may have been hard to see I tried to use ethos and pathos when talking about my experience with mental illness. Logos was kind of spread around but it was hard for me to implement different devices and have it flow well because of my writing style. But I was trying to use repetition several times. If you notice any other devices let me know because likely I didn't know it was even a rhetorical device.

 When thinking of what to write on I wanted to use something of great significance to me. I decided to use mental health because it is something I struggle with and also try to help others with. I chose the title with the thought that its something many of us say just to shrug off a potential conversation because either we don't want to bother or are hurting inside and don't want to open up. Please pay attention to the people around you. Please support those around you.

-CDH