AP Seminar 2020: Independent Written Arguments

Below are links to the student papers along with excerpts form their papers. Topics were chosen to align with the 2020 Stimulus Packet from the College Board.
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 Period 1

• Assessing the Mental Health of Incarcerated Prisoners and Institutionalization of Mental Health Facilities - Offenders with mental illness are one of our most at-risk populations and they are barely getting the support they need. Therefore we raise the question--Should the Federal  Government implement specialized mental health facilities for convicted criminals? To fully address this, the Federal Government should provide screenings for those who have been convicted of any crime and programs for the treatment of mental illnesses/health.

• Should a decreased materialistic standard be implemented by parents and education systems in order to benefit future generations’ mental health in the United States? -  Any child raised in a household or community focused on materialistic value versus emotional well-being will most definitely suffer from some sort of mental anguish, all because they were taught from a young age that physical objects fix emotional or mental pain. The only solution presented that seems to be the most effective, is monitoring and holding an important relationship with your mental health versus the objects you have around you. Every item a person owns can be replaced, but the person can not be. By weaning children and teens off the ideas to only have a job to make money, families can aid the next generations to truly chase their passions regardless of the paycheck that will result.

• Utilizing U.S. Laws to Establish a Safer Environment for Prostitutes -  In order to solve the problem of prostitution violence we need to ask ourselves, should the U.S. government adopt the policy of vigilance and decriminalization to increase the safety of prostitutes? An evaluation of the social, health and legal aspects highlights the importance of the U.S. adopting these laws to achieve prostitutes' safety.

 

• Social Media and Body Dysmorphic Disorder in Adolescents in the U.S - The obsessive thoughts caused by BDD often lead adolescents down a path of a number of different psychiatric disorders. With its debilitating effects in mind, should healthcare facilities in the U.S. implement targeted screening for BDD at annual physicals and make cognitive-behavioral therapy and serotonin-reuptake inhibitors the standard treatment for teenagers living with BDD influenced by social media? This course of treatment should be implemented in order to provide a treatment that does not give into obsessive thoughts, allows for a correct diagnosis, and helps treat and prevent other mental illnesses.

 

• How Social Media Stimulates Materialism In American Youth Today - Upon conducting research regarding materialism in social media, the question arises on the most effective way to address how social media promotes materialism to the American youth. In order to properly address this issue, the government must pass a law in which the people in charge of social media are required to keep materialistic posts away from the youth.

 

• Increasing Care to Battle the Opiod Epidemic - Is access to voluntary treatment services, treating the user rather than  punishing and increased physician training the most effective way to address the opioid epidemic in the United States? The best solution is what is called “Baker’s Bill”. In the fall of 2015, Governor Charlie Baker of Massachusetts proposed a plan in an attempt to control opioid abuse. The bill ensured prescription drugs were provided in a seven day supply, in hopes of reducing chances of addiction and overdoses (Pearlman). This is the best solution because it provides an increased access to voluntary treatment facilities, real treatment and not punishment and will expand physician training and experience.

 

• Helping Individuals in Need of Mental Health Resources - The passing of a loved one is an event that carries a large emotional burden. While researching, the question that came up was if the United States government should implement a universal healthcare system to provide the proper care for patients who seek mental health services. The United States Government should implement a fair universal healthcare system to effectively serve those who cannot afford healthcare because it will allow for more people to have access to mental health
  resources, save people money, and improve overall mental state.

 

• Utilizing Technology to Stimulate Student Engagement - A better education means a better job
  and a better chance at happiness. Therefore, American schools must increase their usage of
  technology to stimulate more engaged students.

 

• Media Manipulation: How Today’s Media Influences Women’s Body Image  - To solve
  the issue of companies continually using body shaming tactics to get women to invest in the beauty industry, should they incorporate ideals from zine culture —an inclusive environment created by self published journals that share an author’s personal experiences— into their advertisements to increase women’s body positivity and self-worth? To effectively rid women of the burdens inflicted by advertisements, advertiser’s goals need to shift to selling products by promising to enhance one’s natural beauty, rather than to create one’s beauty. Advertisers can do this by taking inspiration from zines and, more specifically, feminist zine culture. Zines are self-published journals in which authors share their own experiences regarding the cultures around them. Feminist zines include authors’ experiences with their relationships to their body, other people, mental illness, and many other topics. The effect of such open and honest conversation is a judgement-free community that gives authors and readers a
  sense of belonging.

 

• Inequity of Education for Women in Africa - Educational opportunities for women in many areas of the world have been stripped away from them. Research by the Human Rights Watch, an organization that conducts research and advocacy for human rights, stated that “more than 49 million girls are out of primary and secondary school in Sub-Saharan Africa, with 31 million of  them out of secondary education” (1). Additionally, “Eighty-five percent of all African women are illiterate” according to Nadia Sudarkasa, former director of the Center for Afroamerican and African Studies (4). Khitman Azaiza, Director of Instructional Design and Digital Media Production, mentions that “education opens the opportunities and choices for women to work and become more self-confident” (1). So, the question is what is the most effective way to increase women’s education in Africa? In order to sufficiently address this issue, the African government must enforce alternative learning opportunities to stimulate equity among the education system.

 

• Materialism Corrupting Youth: How Corporate Advertising Diminishes Happiness in Adolescents - Today’s modern economy has become heavily focused on promoting the idea that  happiness stems from material possessions.  To solve this issue, and suppress the spread of materialistic values in adolescents, should parents be encouraged to instill safe buying practices and abjure materialistic values in their children?  Parents can do this by
  teaching their children safe and responsible consumer practices. These responsible consumer
  practices can be as simple as teaching a child to save their chore money, or as intuitive as advising them to overcome the urge to buy unnecessary items.

 

• Benefits of outdoor play in early childhood learning - As cities and towns continue to grow, areas of nature are gradually shrinking and even disappearing altogether. The proliferation of technology has resulted in children being exposed to technology at a young age, and have become less likely to go outside and gain firsthand learning experiences.  It is essential to adolescent health that their parents understand the benefits of  nature. Nature and outdoor play are beneficial to children's physical fitness.

 

• The Battle to Sobriety - In order to combat the opioid epidemic in America, there should be insurance aided payment plans, if not full coverage implemented, along with supportive communities this will help OUD patients receive extensive inpatient rehabilitation centers and can help patients create an independent sober lifestyle avoiding incarceration, overdose or death.

 

• Addressing America's Teenage Mental Health Crisis - Is implementing social-emotional learning in schools the most effective way to address declining teenage mental health and damaging coping mechanisms? Incorporating social-emotional learning, similar to that of sexual education, will generally improve the mental state of teenagers by providing them with more outlets to discuss their troubles, giving them the knowledge they need to avoid worsening themselves and granting them access to proper coping mechanisms when they are struggling with their mental health.

 

• Effects of Retail Clothing Stores on Teen Girls in America - Clothing stores have mental-health impacts on teenage girls in the United States. From sizes varying between different stores to fashion models having anorexic tendencies themselves, many girls have low self esteem. To solve this should the reduction of “one size fits all” clothing brands be used to address the mentality of teen girls in the United States affected by retail clothing stores? The purpose of this essay is to discuss the impact of clothing on the body image of young girls.

 

• Parental Monitoring of Social Media Use - Should an application be created for parents to actively monitor their child's social media use to prevent negative outcomes? There should be an application for parents to actively monitor their child's social media because it will make children think twice about their social media content, parents would be aware of  communication with a possible child predator, and parents would notice signs of mental health problems.

 

• Malnutrition’s Effect on Psychological Disorders - Many researchers provide a surplus of evidence that answers the question: should nutrient-focused dietary plans be incorporated into cognitive therapy for adults with pre-existing psychological disorders in the United States? Dietary plans paired with increased locally produced food will prevent over and undereating, guarantee the consumption of proper nutrients, and make healthy foods affordable for any social class.

 

• Social Media and Declining Mental Health in Adolescents Across the U.S - Should cognitive behavioral therapy be available in high schools across the U.S to teens with poor mental health that are impacted by social media? It is vital that high schools make cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) available in order to target various mental health illnesses, provide an alternative way of helping teens instead of using drugs, and utilize an effective three-step process, ensuring proper therapy.

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• Cyber bullying’s Effects on Vulnerable, Female High School Students in America - Female high school students’ brains allow them to be highly vulnerable and susceptible to serious mental health concerns, which cyberbullies use against their victims on social media platforms. Using this information, it is important to ask this question: What is the most effective way to address
  cyberbullying’s negative effects on vulnerable, female high school students in America? Social
  media platforms need to censor possible harmful words in their private forums to prevent all the negative mental effects on America’s female youth.

 

• Effectively Addressing Consumerism Media That Negatively Targets Children - Many options toward addressing consumerism media have potential, but a functioning solution would be for the FCC and FTC to regulate the content of advertisements. More specifically, what this would mean for consumers would be that these organizations would focus their regulation toward reviewing children’s ads. This will inform children of which advertisements are being broadcasted against their well being. The push for real regulation from these  organizations has been a long time coming and, with real power, they will be able to put an end to
  negative consumerism.

 

• Media Bias: Defamation, Slander, Libel, and other American Attractions - Should the
  Anti-Defamation League support a Muslim run organization to decrease the amount of
  Islamophobia in the media? This multi-faceted problem can only be solved with education about muslim cultures, inclusion in the media and reprove of Islamaphobic rhetoric.

 

• The Vaping Epidemic: How These ‘Sticks’ are Affecting America’s Teens Today -  After
  researching the dangers of vaping, the question arises on the most effective way to address
  teenage addiction to vaping in the United States today. In order to properly address this issue, the United States government needs to regulate vape marketing and put more strict laws in effect to prevent these devices from falling in the hands of teens.

 

• Child Obesity In the US - Should insurance companies implement optional maternal classes for men and women who are interested in or are planning on having children that teaches them of the nutritional and physical balance that their children should be kept under? This research paper goes into depth of the many causes and factors surrounding child obesity, ways that we can try and prevent some of those factors, and the best solution surrounding the problem of child obesity in the US.

 

• Adolescent Depression - A better way to treat depression through psychotherapy could prevent relapse or severe depression that could lead to suicide. Should the US Dept. of Health implement Depression prevention programs to detect adolescents in early stages of depression and prevent relapse? In order for the US Dept. of Health to develop a  depression prevention program, many perspectives should be taken into consideration including Psychological, Scientific, and Ethical perspectives to develop a better treatment method.

 

• Cognitive Therapy for Social Media Induced Depression - Social media is common among adolescents, but constant use produces mental disadvantages, isolation, and sometimes death. This issue raises the question: should the Board of Education in every state encourage cognitive therapy programs in schools for adolescents to help fight social media induced depression? The Board of Education in every state should encourage cognitive therapy programs in schools to adolescents as it will raise awareness, provide access to therapy, and produce long lasting results.

• Faulty Marketing To Children -  Should the Federal Trade Commission be forced to further limit and regulate advertising that is targeted at children? The most effective way for the commission to go about this would be to create a new act, one that is more structured and safer than the one created in 1914. This will help make browsing certain websites and advertisements safer for younger children, and also help many smaller businesses, as there will be more to offer for particular products. With the passing of a new act, advertisements and the internet will be safer to browse and shop in for people of all ages.

Period 5

• Resolving Healthcare Disparities in the United States​ - Research highlights the effect of personal health and healthcare access on emotional well-being and happiness, which forces the question if a Medicare for All policy should be instituted to guarantee quality healthcare services to all Americans. This paper examines multiple perspectives and the policy’s necessity. A Medicare for All policy should be approved and instituted by the federal government to guarantee equal, quality healthcare services to all Americans. A single-payer plan will ensure access to healthcare for all Americans, promote fiscal responsibility and cost-effectiveness, and eliminate corporate influence on Americans’ health.

• Reducing Isolation and Improving Quality of Life for Elderly Care Recipients Institutions made to better health may be detrimental to one's quality of life. Akyil and Pullum from Aydın Adnan Menderes University state social inclusion is a factor in psychological and cognitive well-being of seniors, and a lack of social inclusion may lead to increased alcohol or tobacco consumption, as well as a decrease in physical activity. (Pullum, Akyil). Other care options exist, such as assisted living, group homes, respite care, home care, and day-care for the elderly. However, these may not be accessible for many elderly people due to cost issues, even under Medicare or other healthcare plans. The federal government should focus medicare policies to promote various types of care to create the best environments possible for recipients, this will prevent elderly isolation and depression, and improve quality of life.

 

• Bullying and its Direct Impact on Teen Anxiety - What can be done to reduce the amount of
  bullying done in schools to reduce the rise of teen anxiety? To help schools deal with the  problem of bullying to reduce anxiety levels, schools should start to implement anti-bullying programs to deal with this problem.

 

• Correctional Education to Reduce High Recidivism Rates in the United States United States
  prisons are not giving prisoners the tools for a successful release, which is leading to overcrowding of prisons and extreme incarceration numbers. Is correctional education an effective way to reduce high recidivism rates of incarcerated individuals in the United States? The answer lies in decades of research on mass incarceration in the criminal justice system. Correctional education is a solution to high recidivism rates in the United States because it increases chances of getting a job after prison, directly lowers recidivism rates, and decreases the cost of incarceration.

 

• Should The U.S. Government Implement Better Regulations To End Racial Preferences In Adoption - Should the U.S. government implement better regulations to end racial preferencing in adoption? In order for this problem to change, the government must require better regulation.

 

• Implementing the Fairness Doctrine to Reduce Political Polarization - What is the most
  effective way to address political polarization in the U.S? The nation must once again  implement the Fairness Doctrine to reduce media bias, combat political polarization, and assist in the improvement of political conversation among congress.

 

• The Cost of Happiness - Humans have been programmed from a young age to prioritize material items to achieve happiness. So, how should marketing strategies be altered to realign human priorities to reduce the desire for a materialistic lifestyle? Again, there is not a simple and direct answer or solution to this complex problem, but, recognizing the different marketing strategies used to target children, and shifting some consumption habits to selfless acts, can help to alter materialistic lifestyles and achieve long term happiness.

 

• Cyberbullying is on the rise - Before the rise of social media and cyberbullying, kids who were bullied in school were able to escape reality when they went home. They were removed from the hateful comments and they were free to be themselves. Now this cannot happen because the hate follows them home since it exists on social media. Moving forward an important question is, how can we resolve this problem and reduce the effects of cyberbullying on students? The most effective and well-balanced solution to reduce cyberbullying is to revise the state legislature to require schools to have more than four school counselors with expertise on cyberbullying.

 

• Changing School’s Schedules and Start Times - Schools in the United States have flaws that are detrimental to students and causing them to become unmotivated. Two significant issues with our schools are the start times and scheduling. High schools in the United States should have block scheduling with a 8:30 a.m. or later start time.

 

• Combating the Rising Rates of Depression in American Teens - Knowing that there are both genetic and cognitive causes of depression can help find the most effective treatment, and it begs the question should healthcare professionals encourage teenagers diagnosed with depression to consider cognitive behavioral therapy as well as prescribed medication to treat their disorder? Based on current research, healthcare professionals should encourage teenagers diagnosed with depression to seek cognitive based therapy along with prescribed medication for the best treatment path of depression.

 

• Instilling a Growth Mindset to Prepare Students for the Future - Anyone should be able to accomplish their goals, if they want it badly enough. The American Dream is a goal that should be available to everyone but according to Professor of African-American Literature at Howard University, Sandra Shannon, it is “difficult for non-whites to also realize their dreams in this country” (Shannon). By implementing more confidence and motivation in students, everyone will be able to reach their goals. My research question is should parents and educators work to instill a growth mindset on students to prevent lack of motivation and confidence? By instilling a growth mindset in adolescents, parents and educators can improve students' confidence allowing them to accomplish their goals.

 

• Using Grief Counseling in Elementary Schools to Help Bereaved Children -  My research question asks, should elementary schools provide grief counseling for students who have lost parents? Incorporating grief counseling in elementary schools would benefit young children facing the reality of the death of their guardian.

 

• Implementing Social Media Policies to Increase Better Work Habits in Businesses Across the
  United States - Should the US government implement required social media policies in businesses across the United States? Indeed, social media policies need to be implemented into businesses across the US to benefit employees and their businesses.

 

• Teen’s Mental Health in Relation to Social Media - Teens crave the lifestyle that others portray and the more they feel they have it, the more they want it. It creates a never-ending cycle that is damaging to the mind. After looking at all of the data on this subject, the question was raised about whether the United States should implement mental health screenings in doctor’s offices to decrease mental health issues in teens? This led to the conclusion that mental health screening should be implemented in doctor’s offices because it is specific to all patients, is an easy and efficient way to identify symptoms, and is accessible to everyone.

 

• Limiting Vaping Products in America Will Save High School Students - This written argument
  analyzes the increase in high school students that use vaping related products. It questions the
  continuous use of vaping products by considering the medical causes and potential solutions. A careful evaluation of the research on the medical aspects of this issue highlights the importance of unnecessary addictions, major health risks, and may lead to other types of addictions. The main solution to begin solving this huge pandemic across the nation should be to limit the accessibility of these vaping products to these teens.

 

• Test Anxiety - The overwhelming anxiety that overpowers the test taking ability of many students may be referred to as test or examination anxiety. This form of anxiety can be a minor inconvenience for some students, but a crippling shadow that burdens other students’ academic ability. Schools have not addressed the issue of test anxiety, yet this needs to change. Public schools should implement study skills programs to reduce test anxiety. The implementation of these programs will improve students’ mental health, improve academic performance, and prepare students for life challenges.

 

• Using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to Improve the Mental Health of Children After Divorce - My research question asks, should cognitive behavioral therapy be provided to children thirteen and under who have experienced divorce to improve their mental health? Cognitive behavioral therapy should be implemented to help children’s mental health following divorce because it allows children an outlet to address their trauma, and addresses the disinterest in school by helping children learn how to deal with those feelings. 

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• Implementing Congressional Acts to Improve Veterans Affairs Post-traumatic Stress
  Disorder Healthcare - With the doubling of the patients with mental health disorders, the “overburdened treatment systems can cause difficulties with appointment scheduling and follow-up that lead to discouragement among traumatized individuals” which also leads to the “exhibited lower rates of attendance and higher rates of dropout” (Currier). To better improve the mental health services offered by the U.S federal veteran facilities or (VA). Congressional Acts such as the Capacity Enhancement Act, Services Enhancement Act, and the Integration of Family Systems should be enacted to meet the needs of returning veterans from Iraq/Afghanistan with PTSD.

 

• Restrictions On Photoshop And Only Hiring Healthy Weight Models to Eradicate Anorexia Nervosa - So, my research question asks: should the federal government implement a law regarding restrictions on photoshop and require the fashion industry to only hire healthy weight models to eradicate Anorexia Nervosa in American women that is caused by the inaccurate representation of a healthy body image in the fashion industry? The federal government should implement these laws because it will force action, other countries are implementing these laws, and it will reshape society’s ideal to be thin.

 

• Implementing Cognitive Therapy and Pharmaceuticals for Adolescent Patients with Poor Dietary and Mental Health Habits - It is clear that overconsumption of food is a concerning issue in American teenagers. Pietro Cottone is the co-director of the Laboratory of Addictive Disorders, he states that forms of obesity and eating disorders are like drug addictions and require intensive treatment to work through relapses and periods of abstinence until an individual can overcome the addiction or disorder. By requiring pediatricians to implement cognitive therapy treatments and pharmaceuticals for patients with poor dietary and health habits this problem could be significantly reduced. 

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• Reducing Childhood Obesity in America With Regulations - Childhood obesity is a growing issue in America that possesses many health risks that are dangerous and are expensive to treat. An overall analysis of the problem questions what can be done to reduce the childhood obesity rates in America? Based on a medical, economic, and political lens; stronger government regulations in school lunches are necessary to reduce childhood obesity. School lunches are widely available to most American students and have the greatest impact on reducing childhood obesity on a national scale.

 

• Implementing An Adolescent Empowerment Program in Local Nigerian Communities - Should
  local Nigerian leaders implement an empowerment program for adolescent girls to help abolish child marriages? An analysis of the medical, economic, cultural, and social aspects of early marriage calls for an empowerment program to raise awareness, enhance knowledge, and deter unplanned pregnancies to prevent additional victims.

 

• School Guidance Counselors and Child Abuse Trauma - Should school guidance counselors undergo yearly training to properly address student victims who have suffered from traumatic abuse?  By creating an environment for counselors to reflect on their work, improving their work ethic, and valuing decision making through the use of yearly training, school guidance counselors will be able to properly address students suffering from child abuse trauma.

 

• Addressing the Causes of Polarization in American Politics - Should the United States take action against ‘unfair’ and polarizing media by either installing media legislation or baring down on campaign financing and lobbying, while installing more severe punishment. This paper will assess how political polarization amongst parties and individuals can be decreased in an effective, beneficial, and idealistic way.

Period 6

• Addressing Trauma Care in the Child Welfare System - what is the most effective way to address methods of improvement with trauma in the child welfare system today? In order to properly address trauma care improvements in the child welfare system, the government needs to make mental health specialists in foster care more primarily focused on trauma care, and have healthcare be improved for children in the system as well.

• Anorexia Nervosa Among Adolescent Females - “Should local governments implement media literacy programs in US schools to decrease anorexia nervosa among adolescent females?” Media literacy programs in US schools should be implemented because they increase awareness of consumed media, reduce body dissatisfaction, and focus on prevention of anorexia nervosa.
  
  
• Opioid Usage in The United States - After researching I asked the question would the mass production, training, and availability of naloxone be the best way to stop the current opioid epidemic in the United States? Naloxone is the best solution because not only is it efficient at reversing symptoms of overdose, but paired with buprenorphine it can help fight opioid dependence. Naloxone is more efficient and a better solution than other current options.

 

• A Free Press Debacle -  The solution for political rifts in America is to create unbiased media outlets that are not incentivized to tell a story. This is difficult to implement into American media as the large conglomerates are already established. On the other hand, a media outlet whose mission is to provide unbiased and fact backed journalism would be very popular amongst many.

 

• Should Public Schools Implement Service Learning to Teach Gratitude and Selflessness, to Loosen the Grip of Materialism on Children? - This paper questions whether public schools should implement service learning to teach gratitude and selflessness to loosen the grip of materialism on children. A careful evaluation of research on the social, psychological and economic aspects of this issue highlight the effects materialism has on children and how altruism is the remedy.

 

• Overdose Deaths Among the Lower Class in America - America has been fighting the war on drugs for multiple decades now. There has been a lot
  of loss and the country has not gotten very far with this issue. The true “antagonist” here is
  addiction. No one can help to become addicted to something, and there is not just one factor that would predict who will end up being addicted to a substance. There is an insurmountable number of things that will influence the disease known as addiction. The dangers of substance abuse are far too great and there has to be something done to change this.

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• Poor Funding from The Department of Veterans Affairs Effect on Veterans - This problem affects many people so it is important to ask the question: Should extra funding for the Department of Veterans affairs (VA) be implemented to decrease homelessness among veterans? This written argument analyzes lack of awareness and resources available to veterans. It proves more funding for the VA should be implemented to lower the rate of veterans becoming homeless by considering the psychological, medical, and economic causes and effects that it has on veterans. It proves that all returning veterans should be made aware of and have access to mental health care while considering the limitations of this solution.

 

• Materialism and its Impacts on the American Workplace - Materialism in the workplace
  specifically is an issue of note as, “highly materialistic values are associated with a lower quality of work life (Deckop et al. 2010) and increased work-family conflict” (Deckop et al. 788). This then raises the question, Should American businesses implement policies to reduce materialism in the workplace to improve employee mental health and reduce workplace deviance?

 

• Should the United States Ban Direct to Consumer Advertising to Limit the Neoliberal
  Pharmaceuticalization Of Society that Targets Consumer Health? - ​Americans rank fifth among 151 countries in high levels of stress (Kahneman and Deaton 17). This raises the question of whether DTCA and other forms of advertising are involved inducing stress in Americans. This argument questions whether the United States should ban direct-to-consumer advertisements to prevent consumers from acquiring information that could be false or misleading. A careful evaluation of the research on the social, economic, and medical aspects of this issue calls upon the need to ban direct-to-consumer advertising.

 

• The Negative Impacts of Social Media on Mental Health - Although depression and poor mental health have many  influential factors, today's teenagers are predisposed from the numerous hours spent on social media that influence their mindsets and morals. This will continue to affect current users and impact future users if something is not done. Should the number of hours children and teenagers spend using a screen be reduced and monitored to prevent negative impacts on their mental health? Limiting hours can account for better offline relationships and effectiveness in reducing poor mental health that prevails from social media use.

 

• Delivering Mental Healthcare to Low Income Minority Communities - Should federal-funded social work outlets be implemented within low income minority communities to provide mental health treatment and evaluation? The issues within these communities harm the minority's well-being and demand a change. Federal-funded mental health evaluation and treatment through social work outlets should be implemented within low income communities because it would normalize mental health assessment in stigmatized communities, access to early intervention would allow mental disorders to be targeted quickly, and treatment would have a positive impact on low income families.

 

• Social Media’s Manipulation of Brand Image - The negative impact that social media has on a brand’s image and consumerism highlights the importance of using philanthropy and cause related marketing to improve a brand’s image. There are many ways a company can use philanthropy including co-branding with a charitable organization(15), or something similar to initiatives that sports leagues use like the NHL’s “Hockey Fights Cancer”(Walker). Philanthropy is a versatile solution that can be used by most companies regardless of what they sell. Philanthropy is the best solution because there is a large number of socially aware consumers, people are willing to pay more for socially responsible products, and philanthropy increases brand equity.

 

• Health Care Insurers Adopting the Federal Parity Law - People are not being supported by their insurance companies for mental health care. Making it a harder process for the forty three million adults already suffering from a mental illness every year (“Mental Health Facts in America”). In order to fix this problem we need to ask ourselves, should health care insurers be required to legally cover cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) treatments for people with bulimia through the federal parity law? An evaluation of the health, economic, and psychological aspects highlight the importance of health care insurers being required to legally cover treatments for people with bulimia through the federal parity law.

 

• Improving the Wellbeing of Children in Substance Abusive Households by Implementing Home Visiting Programs through the United States - Should more programs like MIECHV (Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program) be implemented throughout the country to help kids growing up in substance-abusive households? Implementing more home visiting programs throughout the United States would keep families together, improve parenting, and have better outcomes for children.

 

• Creating a Balanced Education for Students in America -  Should school funding be
  reformed in order to address the economic inequity in public schools, due to redlining, to create a balanced education for students living in urban areas? This written argument analyzes the economic inequity in America's public education system by considering the economic, educational and psychological causes and effects that it has on students. It proves the way that American public schools are funded should change and considers the limitations of this solution.

 

• The Perspective of Social Media and How it Affects Mental Health - Social media should be a tool for anyone who needs it to get support, not the opposite. To avoid the negative impacts social media has on mental health, users need to direct their intentions to a positive and supportive online community.

 

• Dialectical Behavioural Therapy and Its effect on Maltreated Children - Abundant evidence has shown that child maltreatment, including various types of child abuse and neglect, is prevalent worldwide”(Chan). This then raises the question, should implementing dialectical behavioural therapy treatment help adolescents from childhood maltreatment? To better the well-being of children that have faced maltreatment, Dialectical Behavior Therapy should be utilized for effective treatment, helps other mental disorders, and improves academics.

 

• Therapy Can Change A Child’s Life - Should families in poverty should be given access to family therapy to combat the negative psychological impacts of childhood poverty. If families in poverty were given access to therapy then their children will be aided physically, socially, and mentally.

 

• The Revision of the Second Amendment for the Mental Health of Students - The gun law
  most talked about would be the Second Amendment which is, “A well regulated Militia, being
  necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed” (U.S. Const. Amend. II, Sec 4). This was written in a time when there were no
  automatic guns, they used rifles. Now, anyone of appropriate age can purchase these  advanced weapons. All of this raises the question, is the revision of The Second Amendment an effective way to prevent school shootings that impact students’ mental health? This paper will examine the effect that a change to the Second Amendment would have on school shootings in the United States.

 

• Reforming a Male-Centered Criminal Justice System to Better Service Female Inmates - The current conditions for women in prison and their effects lead us to ask this: should a male-centered criminal justice system be reformed to better service female inmates? Given the fact that many are incarcerated due to minor drug offenses, and their health is often put second to a  man’s, the male-centered criminal justice system should be reformed to better service females by implementing drug courts, revising health care services, and providing programs to prevent recidivism.