Oklahoma Institute for Diversity in Journalism

Category archive

2019 Archive - page 2

For women, balancing act of career and home can tax mental health

by
Bella Iovieno with Norman Mayor Breea Clark. Photo by Kiami Whitfield

By Bella Iovieno For generations, women were not valued as viable workers. Their gender automatically determined their abilities. Through perseverance in the last century, women have been elevated from housewife to CEO to candidates for president – their gender no longer a measure of competency. Still, working women face many pressures including performance at work and social expectations that come with being a woman in a patriarchal society. This creates a balancing act that is an ever-present struggle for some women as they try to maintain their professionalism and home life. Balancing personal, social and professional responsibilities is something that…

Law enforcement taking steps to better meet those with mental health issues

by
Members of the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office attend Mental Health First Aid Training as a part of the ‘Stepping Up’ initiative. Photo credit: Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office

By Michayla Tate In January 2018, a Norman man with mental illness died in police custody after being removed from medical care. Marconia Kessee displayed signs of a serious medical condition, according to media reports, yet he was still sent to jail. Kessee was unable to walk or put his shoes on, which resulted in Norman police officers dragging him across pavement. As they watched him shake and convulse, the officers did not identify his situation accurately. Efforts to eliminate such incidents between law enforcement and people who have mental illness are taking place, but as Kessee’s death shows still…

Fear of speaking in front of crowds may be a disorder

by
Bailey Coyle models signs of stress and anxiety in a bathroom mirror. Photo illustration by: Alyssa Dalley-Schofield

By Alyssa Dalley-Schofield Speaking in front of a large crowd can be terrifying for some people, resulting in a fast heart rate, sweaty palms and dizziness. If you are experiencing this type of fear, you may have glossophobia, a social anxiety or social anxiety disorder — also known as the fear of public speaking. A social anxiety disorder is a mental health condition where social interactions cause irrational anxiety.   “Anxiety is about wanting to do well…. (there’s) nothing wrong with that,” said Charlotte Lankard, who helped establish the James Hall Center for Mind, Body and Spirit at Integris Hospital…

Media’s portrayal of mental health improving but still problematic

by
Media and shows like 13 Reasons Why have played an important role in how viewers perceive mental health. Screengrab courtesy of Netflix.

By Mariah Wheeler With media becoming more prevalent in daily life, more movies, television shows and news outlets are covering a variety of issues, including mental health. People’s perceptions of mental illness are formed in part by dramatic scenes and characters that the media portrays. Movies like Split (about a kidnapper with dissociative identity disorder), and shows like HBO’s Euphoria (highlighting the life of a 17-year-old girl with mental illness) and NBC’s This is Us (examining the mental health of male characters), have been the focus of discussion about how Hollywood shapes ideas of mental health in audiences. Michelle Strain,…

J.D. Baker proves even natural-born leaders need time for self-care, too

by

By Silas Bales J.D. Baker pushes for people to understand mental illness because he knows how important it is. So important that the special assistant to the mayor of Oklahoma City watches ’80s sitcoms like “Golden Girls” to wind down at the end of his day. This allows him to relax. “I always say take one day at a time,” Baker said, noting that “managing stress is important.” Baker’s roots in community and mental health awareness trace to his time as a radio announcer for his church. Baker said that time in radio was the most influential in his life.…

1 2
Go to Top