entry 1:capstone project statement of intent

As of right now, I plan on creating an informative video for my Capstone Project. This informative video will address/raise awareness on mental illness stigma and the importance of ending this form of stigma. The video will feature facts and statistics on mental illness, the stigma on it, what people can do to end it, and how people with a mental illness can do to combat the stigma’s effects; furthermore, I plan on recruiting a few (maybe 2-3) actual RCHS students who have dealt/are dealing with a mental illness and the stigma that may follow (either within themselves or from a person close to them). These students will help to advocate my idea that empowerment is a very effective way of combating the symptoms of stigma and maybe give a short testimony on how mental illness stigma has affected them personally. Mental illness stigma is an important topic to discuss because people everywhere, whether we know them or not, are dealing with a form of mental illness and its imperative that we understand how our words and actions affect them. These goals fit with my career objectives because I plan on becoming a physician’s assistant, and as a physician’s assistant I will most likely come into contact with patients who suffer from a form of mental illness and so I need to learn how to best interact with them. This message will contribute to society because mental illness is prevalent in our society and it’s important not only for individuals who suffer from it but for people who interact with them to know and understand the effects of mental illness stigma.