This final Honors class I took in the Spring was one of my favorites because I could tell how much effort the professor, Josef Mogharreban, put into designing and implementing the material. It integrated the concept of disability and military "identities" and their role in society through a lot of complex issues. I loved this class for breaking down even more constructs I didn't know I had and igniting compassion in me for populations I didn't realize I hadn't ignited that for yet. Because this class is still in progress, I don't have my final paper to post yet, but I've included below some of the course subjects and my outline for my final paper.
Course Description:
"Throughout human history, war has been a particularly devastating and violent precursor to much of the formulation of law, policies, and financial allocation for those killed or wounded in military action and their families. Veterans, wounded in combat, provide an important glimpse into the broader national narrative regarding people with disabilities. This course examines war and conflict in the U.S. as it relates to both public awareness and acceptance of veterans as they re-integrate into society, highlighting their influence on laws and policies regarding disability. Topics include representation of veterans and war in the media, historical models of disability, military culture with regards to individual disability and difference, cultural memory, as well as societal and governmental response with specific emphasis on advocacy from a human rights perspective." |
Thesis: Mental Health progress in the United States is historically fueled by the veteran population.
I. Introduction a. Mental Health progress in the United States can historically be attributed to being largely fueled by the veteran population. b. PTSD as a symbol of mental health progress II. National Mental Health Act (NMHA) 1946 a. groundbreaking act for the United States to take i. the closest US had gotten to bringing Mental Health into the Fed government was Bill for the Benefit of the Indigent Insane that was vetoed in 1854, almost 100 years earlier! b. Enacted by Trumann and inspired by WWII vets who were suffering a myriad of mental illnesses c. Effects of the act i. Established National Institute of Mental Health to initiate and fund research (1949) III. PTSD—Disability? a. History of PTSD recognition b. How PTSD was treated after Vietnam i. Left a legacy of disturbed veterans who didn’t get help c. Comorbidity i. PTSD is most often associated with other illnesses, physical and mental ii. PTSD and Chronic Pain—one example of a disabling combination d. Effects on home life i. More domestic violence ii. More behavioral issues in children IV. Where are we now? PTSD a. Recognition in the DSM b. More research i. Discovering long-term effects and co-morbidity c. Evidence-Based Treatments i. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy US a. How far we’ve come: OEF/OIF studies i. Having learned from Vietnam vets, the US conducted studies 2 weeks after veteran arrival back home ii. Congress funded 2 years of free mental health care for veterans injured in deployment (recently extended to 5 years) b. How far we still have to go: i. D mental health rating in the US ii. The obstacle of stigma c. Strides being made toward future i. VA is first in integrating Mental Health and Primary Care |