KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE UNSEEN KILLER Anna Dodson Ms

KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE UNSEEN KILLER Anna Dodson Ms. Mclean December 4, 2013

WHY THIS TOPIC? • Personally- Family History Interest in the Brain and its complex processes • Socially- There is a negative stigma surrounding psychological disorders. Not many people truly understand mental illness and the vastness of the problem.

THESIS STATEMENT Information and treatment for psychological disorders should be made more available to the general public because the majority of the populace is ill informed, underinsured, and inaccessible for the appropriate precautions to be taken.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION • Patients with mental illnesses once were forced to undergo torture and other various degrading testing. • Seventeen Percent of US citizens suffer from mental illness within a given year. • Almost forty-five percent of people are affected by psychological problem at least once in a lifetime. • Legislation

Expansiveness of the Problem In a given year= 17% of population at any given time… Nearly half of the entire population… One in five adolescents 50% Do not seek aid

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS? Guilt, Worthlessness, Apathy, Mood swings, Confusion, Exhaustion Over achieving Excessive Happiness Outrageous Ideas https: //encrypted-tbn 2. gstatic. com/images? q=tbn: ANd 9 Gc. S 9 wbsg 5 bxf. ESEuyt-Di. V_43 ohz 3 vn 8 Hn- Decreased Performance Separation Anti-Social Behavior http: //guardianlv. com/2013/09/can-religion-and-spirituality-cause-

The Stigma

Lack of Monetary Capabilities Underinsured Overly Denied Out of Pocket Costs can reach Insurance companies are more likely to $2, 000 -5, 000 deny someone who claims mental Private Insurance pays for illness because of the extremely high approximately 35% costs it would take to sufficiently Public Insurance covers only 19% provide for them. Limited Coverage 85% of the homeless have psychological illnesses. 12 Days of paid treatment

ACCESS DENIED Long Waits Closed Door Policy… “Non- Over Capacit y Emergenc y” https: //encrypted-

Physical Ailments Suicide The Consequenc es Violen ce Homelessness

CONCLUSION • Providing more information and treatment for those with mental disorders would not only improve their own lives, but those of society as a whole because it would eliminate the negative stigma, provide more accessible facilities, and more affordable options so that all citizens could live in equality. http: //www. google. com/imgres? start=202&sa=X&rlz=1 C 1 ASAC_en. US 560&espv=210&es

MENTOR - Allison Mitchell - Day Treatment Program Advisor at Long Mill Elementary School - Works hands on with students suffering from mental illness

Product Map of North Carolina Represents the vastness of the problem within our own state. Intended to make people aware of the reality of the issues. Information was gathered from numerous websites in order to maintain accuracy.

Project Process Prepared me for college research. Learned a lot about my personal learning style. Developed and improved many skills. Found something I am really passionate about.

Successes and Challenges Successes Challenges Writing a long paper was Time management far easier than I had imagined. Developing concrete points and conclusions I found research fun and from a wide rang of enjoyable. information.

Plans For the Future UNC Chapel Hill Duke University Wake Forest University Pursue medical degree- Pediatrician Specialization in Neuroscience www. istockphoto. com/stock-photo-5623222 -stethoscope. php&docid=j. LJUCBCc. Uo