Assault is a serious issue affecting women all over the world and being informed is a good way of limiting assault. Women needs to be more educated about different types of assault and preventive methods. If we are informed we can reduce the risk of being assaulted. We should avoid drinking too much and stay in control in every situation. We should be aware of our surroundings when we are out with friends and pair up at all times. We should watch what we drink in order to reduce the chance of being drugged. Women are vulnerable when dealing with abusive men therefore we should be prepared and take preventive measures.

People who are drug addicts and alcoholics should be placed in jail and also mandate a drug treatment program. These individuals can cause arm to others and themselves. It is hard for addicts to recover from an addiction and after a while they might go back to their behavior if they do not have the support they need on a daily basis such as family and friends. Sometimes providing a drug treatment program is not a enough to change the behaviors of an addict however it might work for some people but it is not enough for the majority of addicts we have in our society today. These individuals are ill and lack the necessary tools to improve their well-being. They should be educated, be provided with resources to help them stay healthy and practice healthier lifestyle to enhance their quality of life. With drug treatment program, jail and necessary resources i think they should be able to start the change process and recover.

Blog #12

Mental illness is a problem affecting people around the world daily and many people do not understand the symptoms, cause and effects of mental illness. Many people think you have to be crazy and locked up in a psychiatric ward to be considered mentally ill. There are different types of mental illness such as severe depression, panic attacks, schizophrenia, dementia, eating disorders and alcohol and drug addiction. According to Mayo clinic staff there are hurtful words such as 'psycho, schizo and jokes about mental health on television such as loony bins and characters in straitjackets' (Mayo clinic, 2007). These are perceptions that some of us have about mental illness. These jokes are shameful and painful to the individual and their family. Stigma includes labeling, Stereotyping, creating a division and discriminating (Mayo clinic, 2007). Educating each other and raising awareness is a great way to understand and reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness . The mayo clinic suggest some ways to erase stigma such as open discussions, coping with stigma, get treated, have the support of family and friends, share your experience and join an advocacy group. We should help eliminate the stigma about mental illness by learning, being supportive, be an advocate and participating in events to help people with mental illnesses.

Reference

Mayo Clinic Staff. (2007). Mental health: Overcoming the stigma of mental illness. Retrieved on April 24, 2009 from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mental-health/MH00076

Blog #11

If we were to live with our future in mind the world might be a better place. Medical staff would be limited because everyone would eat healthy and engage in physical activities daily. Their would be no crime and killing because everyone will get along. Many of the diseases that exist in today's society would not exist if we have the future in mind. Education would become priority for parents and their kids. If we were to think of the future their would not be global warming and illegal wildlife trade. A lot of occupations that exist today would not be available. Everyone would live different because our attitude, behavior and belief towards life would be different. The question is would that be a perfect society and is it realistic? In today's society a lot of people has the future in mind but certain barrier allows them from not reaching their goals such as poverty, diseases, lack of education, occupation and resources. Thinking of the future daily will enhance our daily life to do something positive at the present moment.

Blog#10

Academic institution can take an active role in disease prevention for women by offering a women studies class that deals with the cause of diseases that affects women. They can provide lecture and seminars for students to inform women about the health concern and ways to prevent these illnesses. A health fair is a good example of informing the students and the public. The institution can work together with hospitals or clinics to provide free or discount health screenings for women and also provide them with brochures or handouts to raise awareness about diseases affecting women. If the institution has a news paper they can develop a column targeting women about diseases that can affects them, provide prevention tips and locations and contact information of providers that specializes in that disease. These are some of the ways that an institution can educate women and students on campus.

Blog #9

Food and weight has always been discussed at home because i have a very big family and everyone cooks and eat whatever they want. Although as a family we know we are overweight and as an individual we each want to diet but can never keep it up mainly because of other responsibilities. In my family we consider being overweight a family thing. My grandparents and great grandparents are not overweight but my parents and uncles and aunt including us children are overweight. We are not obese but we sometimes talk as if we are. Weight has been a serious issue lately among my siblings and cousins because they are at that age that they feel like they do not fit in because they are 10 or 5 pounds over. Media influences my siblings and cousins a great deal because they want to fit into a certain size or they want to wear the same size the models wore in the magazine. I have been overweight since high school and i have lost weight by different types of diet and gain it right back. As an individual i have learned to love and accept myself as being overweight. I was recently sick and i realized that it was time for a change or i am at risk of illnesses that can be prevented through healthy eating and physical activities. It is hard for me to control my eating habit and i hate exercising, i rather stay on the bed and read a book or sleep. Although i use to participate in sports and other activities but when i became a college student control became an issue for me. My family has always called overweight being our family thing and they made it ok for us. They would make comments such as you need to exercise or you have gain more weight stop eating too much but they never encouraged physical activity as a priority. My family buys healthy and unhealthy foods in the house and they believe that being a little overweight is not a big deal. I could understand their prospective because in my culture being overweight mean evidence of wealth, good living, abundance and beauty. If you are not overweight you have a high chance of not getting married in my culture. We have recently changed our behavior, the children now participate in physical activities because their health is very important. My family has started purchasing healthier foods and has included physical activities with their daily plan. We participate in activities together as a family because our health is important and being overweight does not have to be a family thing.

Blog #8

Media plays a lot of role in how women perceive aging and the side effects that women face. young women ideas about aging has been modified by what they see and hear in the media. Some culture might consider aging and menopause to be a graceful change in a woman's life while other culture might consider menopause and aging to be a bad change because of the effects that it brings about. Women are affected by menopause differently and should not always rely on what the media thinks. The best way is to talk to your physician and find out all you can about menopause in order to prepare one's self. I feel that aging is suppose to be graceful and appreciated because not everyone experience that aspect of life. As an individual we should learn to love ourselves and acknowledge that aging is part of life. The way we take care of our body when we are young, shows when we start to age. We should eat healthy and engage in physical activities to limit problems that affects older women. Aging is part of life and if we could love how we look and stop trying to change ourselves by doing surgery or botox then society will view us differently.