Question

Compile 3 articles dealing with personal health issues from a magazine, professional journal or internet website. The originals, or copies, must be attached to a short paragraph (5-7) sentences summarizing each article.

The assignment must include:

An abstract of the article.

A description of your view of the article’s balance. Did the writer address both sides of the issue? Was there bias involved and slanted towards which side? What is your evidence of this bias or imbalance?

A description of your opinion of the article’s quality and your own position. Did the writer do sufficient research? Is the article technically correct? Are there elements of the argument that could have been enhanced with more detail or more argumentation? What would a follow-up article contain to be useful to this one? Did you agree with the article? Did it support or change your opinion? If not, then why?

Answer 1

ARTICLE - 1

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5424587/Social-media-websites-causing-mental-health-crisis.html

Social media and its effect on the lives of youngsters and college going students is a sensitive issue of debate. Social media is used to serve many purposes such as sharing details of ones's life, connecting with friends and family, uploading pictures, broadcasting one's thoughts etcetera. Apart from all these uses, social media does have a dark side to it. It facilitates negativity, peer pressure, reduces closeness and causes distraction.

The article above talks mainly about the negative effects on social media and its increasing threat to youngsters who are having to put a tragic end to their lives due to the ill effects of social media. Now this is a hugely debatable topic. Although it is true that there have been people who are taking their lives due to unhappiness, because they feel their lives are not as perfect as the lives of others seem to be. Social media is seen to set unrealistic expectations and goals on the quality of life, activities, way of life and happiness.

The article seems slightly biased as it indicates social media to be a dark place that is responsible for causing mental health issues. This might only be partly correct since social media is thriving to be a better place with influencers telling people that they're not alone and everybody has to deal with their fair share of problems and challenges in their lives and that there is no such thing called 'perfect'.

Quoting Professor Brady from the above article - ‘It’s not OK to have a bad day,’ he said. ‘In the world of social media you have to look like you’re happy even when you are not.’

I partly concur with what Prof. Brady has to say because it is a very generalized comment to make that one has to pretend in the world of social media. In reality, people are meeting more and more individuals like them on the internet which is making them realize the values of brotherhood, unity, and love.

Coming from my personal experience, social media is a fun environment where you can choose what you see and what you do not. I think the writer should have done a tad bit more research since social media is emerging to be a place with more compassion and empathy in today's world. The part where the article talks about how a social media detox should be implemented, should have had more clarity like what exactly is to be done and what are the alternative ways to replace social media if you choose to stay away from it.

There are apps on social websites that help with people with depression and mental health issues. A follow-up article on this should be talking about how well the idea of pastoral care that is being launched is doing, and how effective it is, in preventing suicides caused by social media.

I do not agree with the article completely because I think individuals suffering with personal health issues do not find social media as a threat, and even if they do, they should not be doing so. It changed my opinion on social media since I was not aware that it caused such grave issues in the lives of youngsters.

In conclusion, personal health issues should be treated with care and dedication. We must try and do our best to help individuals who are in distress by raising awareness about it.

ARTICLE - 2

http://theconversation.com/more-academics-and-students-have-mental-health-problems-than-ever-before-90339

Academics and university students have to deal with many challenges in their day to day life. To learn that they are facing mental health problems than ever before is a serious issue.

In my opinion, this is a very well written and balanced article. The writer addresses all sides of the issues, talking about what he thinks should be done to improve the overall mental well being of students and academics. There is no bias nor is this article slanted because on one hand, it talks about details like helping students and academics. Whereas on the other hand, it explores the underlying issues that may be causing the problem such as silent stigma. Unfortunately, there is still a lot of stigma attached to the concept of mental health issues and not doing anything about their personal health issues is only making the condition worse. This shows the considerable amount of research done by the writer in trying to find out why personal health issues are increasing.

There isn't much that could've been enhanced with more details since the article also sheds light on the possible measures on treating personal health issues by improving mental health literacy, and by introducing physical activity.

An article that interviews the students and academics on the stigma attached to mental health issues and what exactly is acting as a hindrance in the treatment of their issue. I agree with all the key points in the article that talk about the academics' well being, stigma and changing beliefs. It supports my opinion since no problem is worth ignoring. It is always for the better that one strives to overcome their issues and has no mental health issues.

ARTICLE - 3

http://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore/polyclinics-help-early-detection-mental-health-issues

Even though the importance for mental health awareness is increasing day by day, there are still cases that are contrasting. We see people who suffer from personal health issues but do not wish to seek treatment since they have prejudices and biases, all due to a lack of awareness.

The writer has brought to light the importance of detection so that the issue does not affect the patients' function. In my opinion the idea of bringing mental health treatment to polyclinic setting is a very good idea. There is no bias involved in the article as far as one can see, but there is a lack of detail. According to the research that the writer has done, the lack of detection led to the expansion of the area. It would have been more comprehensive if more facets of the situation would be mentioned.

A follow-up article talking about how exactly are the polyclinics effective in treating mental health disorders, and what methods are being employed for treatment. I agree with the article that one must have an as many resources as possible to get help with their personal issues.