Prob/Solution speech outline PDF

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Summary

For this speech, we had to identify a problem and propose a solution. I focused on the stigma around mental illness and how we can reduce it....

Description

Alison Overcash- problem/solution speech Intro I.

How many of you know somebody with a mental illness? a. Actually, almost ALL of you probably know somebody who is struggling with a mental health issue whether you know it or not. Mental illness is not always visible, and it’s more common than we like to think.

II.

Today I’m going to talk about the stigma around mental health and what we can do to reduce it.

III.

I’ve struggled with mental illness throughout my life, so I can also speak from my personal experiences and how this has affected me and my friends/family.

IV.

Main points a. What is mental health/mental illness b. Common misconceptions and discrimination mentally ill people face c. How to reduce this stigma

Body I.

About mental health a. Mental illnesses affect people’s thoughts, mood, and behaviors, and can be caused by biological factors, life experiences, and having a family history of mental illness b. In 2014, 1 in 5 Americans experienced a mental health issue. 1 in 10 young people experienced a period of major depression, and 1 in 25 had a serious mental illness (such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, etc) c.

Treatment such as medication and therapy is available, but often people don’t get treatment

d. suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the US II.

Stigma around mental illness- common misconceptions and discrimination

a. Many people perceive those with a mental illness to be dangerous and unpredictable (especially those with schizophrenia, alcoholism, drug addiction) b. Many people believe that mental illnesses such as eating disorders and substance abuse are self-inflicted i. Often people will tell me to just “stop being sad,” “look for the good in life,” they don’t understand that it’s an actual chemical imbalance in my brain and I can’t just make it go away c. Media portrays those with mental illnesses, especially schizophrenia, to be violent i. In a study of movies from 1990-2010, it was found that most characters with schizophrenia displayed violent behavior, one third of these violent characters displayed homicidal behavior, and a quarter committed suicide. This reinforces stereotypes about mental illness d. These misconceptions about mental illness lead to discrimination in many forms- social exclusion, increases feelings of shame, leads to less effective treatment or failure to get treatment at all, harder for mentally ill people to get a job III.

How to reduce the stigma around mental health a. Talking openly about mental health b. Education- increase awareness of mental health in schools at a younger age, point out when someone makes a discriminatory comment or enforces a stereotype c. Try to be understanding of those with a mental illness and be willing to learn

Conclusion- Hopefully now you have a better understanding of why we need to change the way we think about and talk about mental illness.

Sources: Mentalhealth.gov Psychology today

National Alliance on Mental Health...