As juniors, students learn about mental health and neurology, including neuroanatomy, traumatic brain injury, stroke, public health and prevention, mental illness, depression, suicide, substance abuse, stress, and coping strategies. Students identify which colleges they will apply to, and begin drafting their college admissions essays. Specific learning objectives are detailed in the session outline below.
At the end of the year, students' final projects demonstrate their understanding of health science content and allow their own voices to be heard on mental health issues that are important to them. Here are the 2016 junior cohort's final project videos:
- PTSD Presentation/Lyrics & Song
- OCD Presentation/Lyrics & Song
- Bipolar Presentation/Lyrics & Song
- Anorexia Presentation/Lyrics & Song
Learning Objectives
Session 1: Traumatic Brain Injury
- Explain how the brain is affected by an injury even when covered by a helmet.
- Define a “concussion” and understand “Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy” (CTE).
- Identify the most common causes, symptoms, and consequences of traumatic brain injury.
- Evaluate the causes and dangers of distracted driving
- Practice being an advocate for safer driving.
Session 2: Introduction to Stroke and Public Health
- Define Stroke.
- Identify the risk factors for stroke and death from stroke (both modifiable and non-modifiable risks). [Include brief explanation of social determinants of health as it relates to this lesson]
- Define public health, and understand the different levels of prevention as used in examples (primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention).
- Recognize signs of stroke and the importance of responding quickly and calling 911.
- Discuss how we can all raise awareness about risk factors for and signs of strokes within our community, family, and friends.
Session 3: Signs and Symptoms of Stroke
- Relate brain structure to function by connecting the location of a stroke to stroke syndrome or results
- Be able to apply knowledge of risk factors to outline a prevention plan
- Respond appropriately to someone having a stroke by using the “Think FAST” mnemonic.
- Be able to explain “Think FAST” mnemonic to family and friends.
Session 4: Introduction to Mental Health
- Recall at least 3 misconceptions and stigma around mental illness and how these contribute to barriers for those who need access to mental health resources
- Describe the broad spectrum of mental illness
- Name at least 3 risk factors of mental illness
- Identify the signs of anxiety and understand when anxiety becomes problematic
- State appropriate ‘next steps’ in the event that he/she and or their loved ones begin to demonstrate behaviors associated with depression or anxiety
- Discuss success stories of those who are currently living with mental illness
Session 5: Depression and Seeking Help
- Identify the characteristics of major depressive disorder, and use the SIG E CAPS mnemonic.
- Distinguish between depression and general sadness.
- Recognize possible signs of depression in themselves, friends and family, and strategies for suicide prevention
- List and identify at least 3 resources dedicated to seeking professional help in the areas of mental health
Session 6: Substance Abuse, Stress, and Strategies
- Recognize signs of substance abuse
- Understand how stress can affect our mental and physical health
- List several good mechanisms for dealing with mental health issues
- List some bad coping mechanisms for dealing with mental health issues, and identify what makes them bad coping mechanisms
- Practice strategies for increasing happiness
Session 7: Review and Final Project Preparation
- Select a final project topic
- Review general background information on their project topic
Session 9: AHEC Allied Health Careers Presentation
- Learn about the many career fields and options within Allied Health Careers
- Write an educational song based on group’s topic of choice
Session 10: Final Presentation Preparations
- Work as a team to rehearse and perform a song
- Present a PowerPoint slideshow