Tomorrow, we're having a quiz during the first part of class. Then, we'll discuss Chapter 8 on mental illness and families. Questions are from Group A; as they come in, I'll list them below...

What do differences in gender, age, ethnicity and socioeconomic status have to do with rates and types of mental illness? How do these differences play into the treatment or support that may be sought?

Why might African Americans, Latinos, and Native Americans make up a large percentage of those homeless, incarcerated, or drug-addicted? (pg. 83-84) Do you think these populations may be overrepresented in these areas because of racism?

Here's a link to the article about the research of sociologist William Julius Wilson, which I alluded to during the discussion.

On page 192, the authors write, "Stigma is especially problematic for mothers who are suffering from severe mental illness because they must often be separated from their children... to receive treatment, even though mothering remains an important role for them." In recent years, the number of young adults diagnosed with a mental illness has dramatically increased. These young adults, especially women, may struggle with the option of deciding whether to have children. Keeping in mind the stigma against mental illness, the role of genes in transmitting vulnerability, and the role of stress in triggering episodes, what policies or programs could our society create to help ensure that these young women have a good chance of being successful parents?

During the discussion, I alluded to a New Jersey law requiring health care providers to screen new mothers and pregnant women for postpartum depression (or the risk thereof). Here is the article link.

On page 193 of our text, the Milan model is discussed which deals with the blaming that occurs when a family member has a mental illness. The authors state, "A more recent version of the Milan model holds that much of the blame for mental disorders in individuals resides in the 'dirty games' that family members play with each other in the course of their interactions'" (Schock & Gavazzi 193). What are some examples of these "dirty games" that are played and do you feel that one's family can be blamed for the development of some mental illnesses?

As I also mentioned during the discussion, this topic reminded me of a form of therapy called "paradoxical intervention" (see the "potato chips" example in this linked document). Paradoxical intervention may actually be effective under some circumstances.

On page 190 of Families and Change it is stated that "heredity can provide an individual with a predisposition to a mental illness, but the likelihood that the illness will manifest is largely determined by environmental and family influences." Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not? If you do agree, what types of environmental and family influences can lead to the development of a mental illness. If you would like to share any personal stories to help illustrate your point, feel free to do so.

Why do you think it is that adolescents and younger people are being diagnosed with mental illneses and committing suicide more and more frequently, at "abnormally high rates", in the recent past -- as compared to decades before? Do you think it has
anything to do with the way, or the criteria, by which people are diagnosed with mental illnesses today? Or the influence of the increasing number of prescription drugs developed to treat different kinds of "problems" or mental illnesses? Or maybe the way in which society today more frequently seeks to put a label on and diagnose "problems" that people have? Or perhaps society today applies a lot more pressure and such on adolescents and younger people today than decades ago?

How do the EE and ABC-X models relate to each other? How can the level of EE change the course of ABC-X?