The Opioid Epidemic

In Abnormal Psychology, we have been speaking about the issue of addiction. Of particular note has been what is being called "The Opioid Epidemic". The following article discusses more recent challenges regarding this ever growing problem...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/elephant-tranquilizer-is-the-latest-lethal-addition-to-the-heroin-epidemic/2017/04/25/4ee62efc-292e-11e7-b605-33413c691853_story.html?utm_term=.c4bda493ba7d

Prescription medication and popular music

Throughout the semester we have discussed the use of prescription medication in the mental health field. The following article discusses the proliferation of it into mainstream music and a different perspective on the use of it....

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/soft-smooth-and-steady-how-xanax-turned-american-music-into-pill-pop/2017/04/19/535a44de-1955-11e7-bcc2-7d1a0973e7b2_story.html?utm_term=.c5faf85fbf9b

MANAGING END OF SEMESTER STRESS

As we have talked about in a number of our classes, stress can have many effects on our psychological and physical functioning. As we begin to wind down the semester, many students begin to feel the impact of end of the semester stress. The following article gives some suggestions on how to successfully cope with the challenges of our final weeks.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/design-your-path/201304/6-tips-not-freaking-out-about-end-semester-stress

The Importance of Dealing with Mental Health Issues

Recently, Prince Harry has talked publicly about the impact of his mother's death on his mental health. There is always hope that such discussions will reduce the stigma associated with mental health issues and encourage those struggling with them to pursue help. The following article discusses these issues in more detail:

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/apr/17/prince-harry-grief-revelations-praise-mental-health-experts

FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT NEW NEW YORK STATE LAW REGARDING COLLEGE TUITION

As you may have heard, Governor Cuomo and the NYS Legislature have enacted a program for free SUNY/CUNY tuition for some New Yorkers which will be phased in over the next three years.  This program will be administered by the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (or HESC), the same agency that administers most state aid programs, including TAP. 

 

Details remain very sketchy, but the HESC website does have a good, but basic,  Q and A section on it.  I’m sending you the link directly to that section.    There is also a place for interested parties to enter an email address and “subscribe” to receive further information as it becomes available (though most of the SUNY staff trying to do so yesterday were unsuccessful). 

 

This award will provide up to $5500 per year and will be the “last dollar in” – at this point applicants and their families should be encouraged to file the FAFSA and TAP applications as they normally would.   The actual tuition discount will be higher than the $5500 at SUNY/CUNY schools where the tuition exceeds that amount but we won’t have to worry about that piece. 

 

We’ve gotten dozens of phone calls in the past two days, and we are referring people to hesc.com (though the website seems to be overloaded, we can only get on about half the times we try). 

 

More information will be shared as details become available.

 

https://www.hesc.ny.gov/pay-for-college/financial-aid/types-of-financial-aid/nys-grants-scholarships-awards/the-excelsior-scholarship.html

 

MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES IN PHD STUDENTS

A lot more focus has been put on the mental health challenges associated with pursuit of higher degrees in the healthcare field (i.e. M.D., Ph.D). The following article discusses some of the challenges associated with pursuing a Ph.D, the highest level degree associated with Psychology.

http://www.sciencemag.org/careers/2017/04/phd-students-face-significant-mental-health-challenges

PREVENTION OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

In Psy 201, we just finished covering how environmental factors can shape the physical structures of the brain through Neuroplasticity.

As research progresses, a slow shift from looking at age-related disorders such as Alzheimer's disease as a purely biological issue to one that is influenced by environment is occurring. As the following article suggests, this opens up the possibility of using environmental modifications as a means of prevention or possibly slowing down the progression central nervous system disorders.


https://undark.org/article/good-for-the-heart-good-for-the-brain/