Wallace 1

Brittanie Wallace Elizabeth Caruso English 1102 April 11, 2013 23 April 2013 Mental Illness Memo: For my speech I decided to reflect on an article written by the Mayo Clinic on mental illnesses. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mental-health/MH00042/NSECTIONGROUP and
also a article on myths and facts people have about the health issues. http://allafrica.com/stories/201304220162.html?viewall=1

Comment [BC1]: -- no research pre-writing

Comment [BC2]: Be sure to change the format of the date.

I am going to talk about keeping awareness for people with mental health issues. People need to learn about what is normal and what is not; learn what to do when someone you know or even yourself is not acting normal. Getting diagnosed early and being able to get treated makes an illness easier to overcome. I am also going to tell a story about a personal experience I have encountered with a loved one with a mental illness and how she was able to get through it. I believe that this is a strong subject to talk about and something more people need to be taught because these illnesses come in all different forms. Becoming more educated about them just makes it easier if one was to ever encounter a situation involving these issues with themselves or someone else. This speech will be given at a local library on October 10 which is National Mental Health Awareness Day; it only makes sense to give it on that day,
Comment [BC3]: Where will this speech be given? This will have a great deal of impact on how you address your audience.

Do you have a mental illness? Do you know anyone with one? How do you know for sure? Of course if you have been diagnosed by a doctor then it is certain, but what if someones actions are borderline between mental health and mental illness? Tonight I am going to talk to

Wallace 2

you all about the signs and symptoms of mental illnesses, how to discover one, and what to do if diagnosed. We are mainly going to talk about how to get help if you think you or a loved one is suffering from mental health issues. These issues are nothing to be afraid of but they are something people need to be aware of. Mental health conditions are diagnosed and treated based on signs and symptoms, as well as on how much the condition affects your daily life. (Mayo Clinic par.3) But what is a mental illness? According to Websters dictionary a mental illness is a mental or bodily condition marked primarily by sufficient disorganization of personality, mind, and emotions to seriously impair the normal psychological functioning of the individual. What changes in a person to where you can tell if something is wrong? When changes form in peoples behavior, feelings, or ways of thinking, there is a possibility that one may have a mental illness. If you know someone who has been acting different for a while maybe it is time to help them. What changes in a person? Their behavior; one may start to drink too much or their everyday actions may seem more unusual are a good indication that something is not right with them. For example, their feelings could change and they could be angrier than normal or they may seem sadder. For example, a persons feelings could change fro m the norm; they can act angrier or sadder than normal. Statistics show that the incidence of violence in people who have a brain disorder is not much higher than it is in the general population. Those suffering from a psychosis such as schizophrenia are more often frightened, confused and despairing than violent. (Joshi par.4) A good sign of an illness is ones thoughts. If they are attempting or talking about suicide, immediate help is a must. But what are other resources beside the internet and a doctor to figure out problems? DSM, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, is a guide that explains the signs and symptoms of the 300 types of mental health conditions. It
Comment [BC6]: The second half of this sentence doesnt parallel the first half. Be sure you are reading your speech out loud and that you are paying attention to exactly what is on the page. Formatted: Font: (Default) Times New Roman, 12 pt Comment [M7]: An example Formatted: Font: (Default) Times New Roman, 12 pt Comment [BC4]: If this is your main point, then keep this and condense what you say youll talk about above. This sentence seems to contradict the one before it. Comment [BC5]: Work to frame and blend your quote so it will be an easy transition.

Wallace 3

ranges in the broad varieties of mental issues from anxiety to depression to schizophrenia and tells about the appropriate treatments. This is just one of the many sources that people can use to find out information and I mentioned this source because it was mentioned in the article I was referring too, There is such a variety of mental illnesses and some may not have as serious symptoms as others, but that does not mean that someone does not need help. Each illness has its own signs and symptoms. People get multiple personality disorders mixed with sxhizophrenia; its easy to not know what someone has if you dont take care of them. It is easier for one to overcome an illness if they are treated in the early stages. If you or you know someone who is experiencing changes in daily activities, personality changes, substance abusers or anything out of the ordinary go see a mental health care provider. Sometimes you may not realize that someone has a mental illness. A couple of years ago my younger sister broke her tailbone. After a couple weeks we thought it had healed, but when it was time for her to go back to school full time the pain came back. Almost in a weeks time she became paralyzed from the waist down, she couldnt walk and was wheelchair bound. Her legs were in a constant pain and even the slightest breeze over her legs would cause her severe pain. No doctor could figure out what was wrong with her until we traveled to Philadelphia where a physician there diagnosed her with RND; reflexive neurological dystrophy. Basically, what that meant was This meant that her legs had fully healed but her brain was still sending pain neurons to her legs telling her that the tailbone was still broken. The reason her brain was doing that was because of the anxiety and depression my sister was going through from the bullying she had been experiencing at school. Neither my family nor my sister knew that she was suffering from either of those, we knew she had not been happy at school but did not realize the hidden
Comment [BC9]: Consider finding a transition that is less wordy and less conversational. Comment [BC8]: Whats good about this? How would one use it? What types of different information does it contain?

Wallace 4

traumatic affect it had on her. My sister was then treated with weekly therapy and medications and this goes to show you that mental illnesses can be overcame if treated properly. That goes to show you that if signs are approaching get help as soon as you can, dont wait until its too late and the illness gets worse because help is out there. Mental illness does not only affect that person, it affects their friends and families as well. Many people who have mental health conditions consider their signs and symptoms a normal part of life or avoid treatment out of shame or fear. (Mayo Clinic par.9) Do not be ashamed if you feel that you may be experiencing signs of an illness because they are more common than most people think.
Misconceptions about mental illness are pervasive, and the lack of understanding can have serious consequences for millions of people who have a psychiatric illness. Misconceptions about mental illness contribute to the stigma, which leads many people to be ashamed and prevent them from seeking help. . (Joshi par.1)There are plenty of ways to overcome these health issues and there is lots of
Comment [BC10]: Work to strengthen this statement by expanding the idea a bit. You certainly show the rationale for this point above, but there is a great deal that you could do here to give more weight to the idea.

support for these illnesses. Thank you all for listening and I hope you take my advice on becoming more educated on this subject.
Comment [BC11]: Brittanie, You mentioned in your memo that you couldnt give too many specifics in a single speech, but aside from your personal experience, you dont seem to give any specifics. Although you get your point across, there is still a great deal that you can do to show that you are both informed about this subject and can give advice to others. Based on the little evidence you give, it certainly does not show that you have been working for four months to develop your opinions on this subject. It is quite evident that you have had experience with the subject, but work to show your audience how you have exceeded the knowledge that you gained during your experience and that you have a much more situated view of the subject. -Ms. C Formatted: Left, Indent: First line: 0" Comment [BC12]: Keep in mind that it is very difficult to use only one source to show that you are an expert in the field.

Works Cited
Joshi , Rupa. "Tanzania: Myths About Mental Illness." All Africa. The Arusha Times. Web. 19 Apr 2013.

"Mental health: What's normal, what's not." Mayo Clinic. Medical Education and Research. Web. 19 March 2013.