2. What is mental health?
A state of emotional and psychological well-being in
which an individual is able to meet the ordinary
demands in life.
Developed by prior exposure to environmental, social,
psychological and physical factors.
Mental illness is caused by chemical imbalances
between neurotransmitters in the brain which may be
controlled by therapy, medication etc.
3. How do we know?
Neurotransmitters (chemicals) are sent through the
synapse to transmit messages.
Includes: dopamine (mood, movement), serotonin
(sleep, aggression).
Malfunctions can occur due to little/excess
neurotransmitter or malabsorption of neurotransmitter
Research indicates that physical changes in the brain
commonly occurs in mental illness.
4.
5. Against: Stigma towards
Mental Illness
“Process by which reactions of others spoils normal
identity”
Worsens mental health – negative thoughts.
Barrier to treatment-seeking.
Stereotyping and removing individuality.
Reduce: Protest, education and contact.
8. Promotion: Mental Illness
Happy Hour
Weekly conversations via pod casts on the radio.
Battles in our minds:
Medically diagnosed conditions everyday
compulsive and negative thinking.
9. For: Insanity Defense
Criminal Trials: Insanity Defense
Evaluated to determine if they can be held criminally
responsible for their actions.
Held not-responsible for actions
due to mental health problems.
Raised 1% out of felony cases,
only succeeds ¼ of the time.
Testimonies of psychiatrists and
psychologists.
10. Perspectives on this defense
Through the patient’s eyes.
Public idea of a “get-out-of-jail-free card”
14. Trial of Billy Milligan
Evaluated by psychologists, having been found to have
Multiple Personality Disorder/Dissociative Personality
Disorder.
24 personalities were present in one body – sometimes not
aware of one another’s existence.
Sentences included accounts of rape and armed robbery.
Trial was stretched over a period of 3 months to validate
insanity plea.
15. Why?
For:
- Holds people responsible for their actions.
- Defense for the defenseless.
Against:
- Disables recovery.
- Social discrimination.
- Mental instability.
16. Ways of Knowing
Sense Perception: acknowledged differently by
different people – negative or positive response to
situation.
Language: acknowledged in judicial system and court
of law.
Emotion: Both ethically unreasonable and reasonable.
Logic: justifiable according to case.
