Series of Forums:
1: Answer 50 words: how would you make recommendations for researchers doing this work in the future on the topic of how to best apply sociological reasoning to the impact of discrimination toward the LGBTQ community, what would those recommendations be, and why?
2. Reply with min. 100 words to this post (for AR):
I wrote about how to stop the stigma associated with mental illness in adolescents. Within defining this and researching the history, my study will also include the good and bad of psychotropic medications in teenagers and in-patient versus out-patient mental health care.
Some of the major findings have been the fact that although there are many anti-stigma campaigns against mental illness, there has not been a lot of positive outcome. While more stigma continues, more suicide continues in adolescents ranging in ages of 12 to 21 years old. The impact of stigma creates even further depression and isolation because these children are too afraid to face society.
The level of treatment available for teenagers is limited because psychotropic medications, while they may help some, have very serious negative effects on the growing brain and can cause cognitive issues. In patient treatment facilities are poorly funded as mental health care has been cut dramatically by the government, leaving these facilities unable to properly treat children and adolescents. Intense therapy such as psychiatric and cognitive behavioral therapy has positive outcomes for children and teens that have a mental illness.
In fact, as cognitive behavioral therapy has become more widely known, research is finding its affects to be more helpful than medication overall. Education in schools and at home on mental illness has been found to be an important factor, but it is not happening enough in schools or at home. While parents can be the harshest judge of those with mental illness, children many times follow their parent's beliefs one study found.
Many schools are trying to develop campaigns that will help stop stigma, yet as more school shootings happen, their efforts begin to go backwards as often times the shooter has a previous history of mental illness. While help for children and adolescents is the most important factor in my study, diminishing stigma towards them is the real issue that will help their recovery. While they are recovering from mental illness, support from their peers helps speed their recovery and well-being.
3. Reply with min. 100 words to this post (for AM):
The purpose of my study was to look at racism and discrimination in America to determine why it is still prevalent in our society and a way forwards. In my findings, I discovered that not only one group of people are facing these issues daily. African Americans often fear interactions with police officers (Lyle &Esmail, 2016), Muslims are categorized by the actions of Terrorism, and those in the LGBTQ community are still fighting for understanding and belonging in our society.
Additional, there was a common consensus that dealing with discrimination and racism impacts the overall health of the individual (Samari, 2016). The side effects can cause stress which may lead to depression and a sense of isolation in the community.
When looking at the main causes of racism and discrimination, media, lack of education, and nurture are key subjects identified. The media tends to show negative interactions or highlight the points that make the story fit their agenda. This can lead to perceptions of groups being created by those who do not have daily interactions with them.
The lack of education can be linked t to nurture when it comes to racial and discriminatory behavior. If you are taught to have negative opinions about a group, you will inherently continue that pattern. Unless you take the time to educate yourself on cultures or people who are different from you, you are more likely subject to having a biased opinion.
In order to reduce racism and perceived discrimination in America, there are key steps that should be taken. Within the law enforcement community, there needs to be better policies in place to hold officers accountable for actions. Additionally, training needs to be increased, not only to cover "counter bias" , but training on use of force. Next, there needs to be a shift in media policy.
We are country with free speech, yet it encourages negative discussion without fear of repercussion. Lastly, our youth need more positive role models that can fight the stereotypes that we have. When we see acts committed by a certain group, it is up to others to speak out against those actions (Alsayegh, 2016). Overall, we can make many suggestions to change, but it is each individuals responsibility to support that change.