MINI MAG! CURRENT AFFAIRS IN A WAY YOU'LL LOVE MENTAL HEALTH EDITION
Sahithi Lingampalli
founder tech and design co-director art co-director
vice executive layout co-director
Kavya Gurunath
Shrawani Pradhan
vice executive science co-director
Geethikaa Tarra
art & media, opinion codirector
Inchara J
science, layout co-director
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Vrinda Gandhi
vice executive marketing/finances director
Neve Walker
politics & world events director
Samita Pandit
lifestyle co-director
Taruni Manam
vice executive lifestyle co-director
Manushri Bapat
art & media director
Nivi Chozhan
tech co-director
Evelyn Chen
art co-director
Harvi Karatha
editing co-director
meet the directors @theaffairmag theaffairmag@gmail.com Published monthly by The Affair. All Rights Reserved.
Uday Lingampalli
COVER ART BY EVELYN CHEN
editing co-director
Aathmika Radhachandran public relations co-director
Ashmita Annamalai
public relations co-director
Cindy Zhang
opinion co-director
Tiffany Fang
podcast director
Parker McElroy
politics co-director
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WRITERS: Alda Nasywa Ameya Aneja Anvitha Mattapalli Ashmita Annamalai Grace Yoon Mridula Divakar Neve Walker Parker McElroy Puja Suthar Sahithi Lingampalli
EDITORS: Aarav Navani Alice Fan Ameya Aneja Anvitha Mattapalli Ashmita Annamalai Dominique Samantha Geethi Tarra Harini Akurathi Harvi Karatha Jason Liu Kavya Gurunath Laya Vijayanand Mridula Divakar Parker McElroy Taruni Manam Uday Lingampalli
LAYOUT DESIGNERS:
Arushi Patil Harini Akurathi Inchara J Karen He Leesha Pillai Sahithi Lingampalli Shoffana Sundaramoorthy Sierra Tan Tristan Castro Vrinda Gandhi PUBLIC RELATIONS: Aathmika Radhachandran Ameya Aneja Ashmita Annamalai Dominique Samantha Grace Yoon Manushri Bapat Sahithi Lingampalli Vrinda Gandhi ARTISTS: Evelyn Chen Juee Deshmukh Sahithi Lingampalli Thejo Tattala
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ART & MEDIA
35 LIFESTYLE
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COVID CURTAIN CALL
36 LIVING WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER
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MUSIC THERAPY AND MENTAL
37 HEALTHY DIETING
HEALTH
39 HOW TO HELP SOMEONE WHO IS
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POLITICS
SUFFERING FROM A MENTAL
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INDIA'S COVID-19 CRISIS
ILLNESS?
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AAPI HERITAGE MONTH
41 OPINION
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MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS
42 SOBRIETY VS HAPPINESS
MONTH
43 HAS THE CURRENT MODI
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JEWISH IMMIGRATION AND WORLD
ADMINISTRATION WORSENED THE
WAR 2
HINDU-MUSLIM DISPARITY IN INDIA?
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TECH & DESIGN
45 QUESTION OF THE MONTH
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DOES TECHNOLOGY IMPACT
47 WELCOME TO "PANDEMIC" BY GEN Z
MENTAL HEALTH
49 MEMBER OF THE MONTH
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ASIAN HATE IN THE TECH INDUSTRY
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NIJEER PARKS
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MARS ROCKET
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SCIENCE
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THE SCIENCE BEHIND MENTAL
51 SPONSORS
HEALTH 30
LIBERALS VS CONSERVATIVES: HOW DO THEIR BIOLOGIES DIFFER?
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THE FERMI PARADOX
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HOW DOES GOOD SLEEP PREVENT ALZHEIMER'S?
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ART & MEDIA
COVID CURTAIN CALL
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Broadway has been closed for over a year now, but plans are being made to reopen it. Is this a good idea amidst the Covid-19 pandemic?
MUSIC THERAPY & MENTAL HEALTH
Music is much more than a tune playing on your phone or in the back of your head. It can help you get past the worst of times and improve your mental health. Music therapy uses this idea to help those with mental illnesses.
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COVID CURTAIN CALL
On March 12th, 2020, Broadway shut down due to the rising COVID-19 cases. . The closure was supposed to be temporary, only for about one month, but the pandemic caused the opening date to be pushed back. This resulted in a major setback for New York’s economy as Broadway provides approximately 97,000 jobs and $14.7 billion per year. Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York City explains that, "Broadway needs to come back, and we will move heaven and earth to bring Broadway back.” Broadway is scheduled to reopen on September 14, 2021, 18 months after it first closed. Tickets are currently being sold at 100% theater capacity.
To manage the spread of Covid-19, New York is taking necessary precautions. The new maximum capacity for theaters now is 150 audience members. All audience members must be fully vaccinated or provide proof of a negative Covid-19 test taken before the event. This means that nobody can simply drop into the theater and get a ticket like earlier. Wearing masks is mandatory for everybody. . For workers in Broadway, there will be a Covid-19 vaccination site in midtown, and they will need to wear masks. Within the theater, social distancing guidelines will be enforced and compulsory. Various hand sanitizer booths will also be placed around the theater.
By Anvitha Mattapalli
Edited by Ameya Aneja, Geethi Tarra, & Mridula Divakar
Layout by Sahithi Lingampalli
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Crowds have always been a problem for Broadway. Theaters are often overcrowded due to lack of space on the streets nearby. New York is working on plans to manage this, including staggering the arrival, departure, and show times. There are 30 shows planned to be shown before the end of 2021, 15 of which will begin in September. Some of these shows include Hamilton, The Lion King, Wicked, Aladdin, Chicago, and Come From Away. Since these shows are already popular and wellknown, marketing isn’t required on such a high scale to be able to reopen. It will be harder for longer shows with intermissions to reopen soon, but shorter shows can reopen. One of these includes ‘Six’, which many are favoring due to its short length and small cast and team. Other venues of Broadway are looking towards streaming musicals online until they can reopen. No matter what happens in the future, Broadway is developing plans that are safe to the audience and performers. After all, the show must go on.
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Music Therapy & Mental Health Music is much more than a tune playing on your phone or in the back of your head. It can help you get past the worst of times and improve your mental health. Music therapy uses this idea to help those with mental illnesses. Music is all around us. It’s in nature, instruments, and, of course, in TikTok. Recent studies have shown that music holds the power to improve our mental health. Music therapy is a type of healthcare career where professionals therapeutically use music to help patients physically, emotionally, and mentally. Different applications of music therapy can help patients in different ways.
While certain kinds of music can help you relax, other kinds can help motivate you. An example of this is listening to an upbeat and fast song while you work out. According to a 2010 study where participants were exercising with a song playing in the background, those who listened to the song at 1.1x speed were able to exercise longer and harder than those who listened to the song at 1x and 0.9x speed.
Firstly, music helps de-stress and improve sleep. In a 2008 study, college students with sleep issues were separated into three groups: listening to classical music before bed, listening to an audiobook before bed, or not listening to anything. The study found that those who listened to classical music reported the best sleep as soothing music can calm your brain down, slowing your blood pressure, heart rate, and thinking. Listening to music can also be one of the easiest ways to reduce insomnia.
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Sometimes, it can feel great to listen to a song that matches your mood. However, if you’re feeling down, listening to a song that shares the same mood can worsen your emotions and mood. This is why music therapists often play music that matches the client’s mood before gradually changing to upbeat music. Aside from the tune of a song, other aspects of music can improve mental health. One aspect is the lyrics. People can find songs, analyze the meanings, and relate them to the difficulties they face in their lives. This becomes especially important when approaching topics that aren’t as easy to talk about. Studying the lyrics of a song offers a less intimidating opportunity to express emotions. On the other hand, people can write their own lyrics to a song, which both help them express themselves as well as gain self-worth by having tangible proof of their capabilities.
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An interesting case of music therapy is in curing lost speech. When the left side of a person’s brain is injured, they lose the ability to speak. Research shows that since singing occurs due to the right side of the brain, people with lost speech can gain their speech by first singing what they feel and then slowly getting rid of the tune. Overall, many different types of music therapy are used in different situations. Right now, you can protect your mental health by listening to music to relax, motivate and express.
written edited layout art
by by by by
Anvitha Mattipalli Taruni Manam & Geethika Tarra Leesha Pilla Evelyn Chen
REFERENCES COVID CURTAIN CALL News, E. (2021, May 6). Back on Broadway! Great White Way gets date to restart shows. ABC7 New York. https://abc7ny.com/broadway-new-york-city-entertainment-theater-capacity-returns/10584076/. Tsioulcas, A. (2021, March 25). NYC Mayor Promises To Help Broadway Reopen By September. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2021/03/25/981165943/nyc-mayor-promises-to-help-broadway-re-open-by-september. Thomas, S. (2021, May 18). How will Broadway reopen again in 2021? New York Theater Guide. https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/news-features/how-will-broadway-reopen-again-in-2021. Lunden, J. (2021, May 3). Broadway Shows Can Reopen In May, But That Doesn't Mean They Will. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2021/05/03/993213067/broadway-shows-can-reopen-in-may-but-that-doesnt-meanthey-will. Hurtado, J. (2021, May 6). When Broadway Reopens, What Theater Fans Can Expect in 2021. TickPick Blog. https://www.tickpick.com/blog/will-broadway-reopen-in-2021/.
MUSIC THERAPY & MENTAL HEALTH 5 positive effects music has on your mental health. Open Minds. (2020, February 13). https://www.openminds.org.au/news/5-positive-effects-music-mental-health. Cherry, K. (2019, December 10). 10 Surprising Psychological Benefits of Music. Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/surprising-psychological-benefits-of-music-4126866#citation-7. Julia Lehrman, L. C. S. W. (2017, February 9). How Music Can Boost Your Mood. Psych Central. https://psychcentral.com/blog/how-music-can-boost-your-mood#1. Warren, M. (2016, December 19). The Impact of Music Therapy on Mental Health. NAMI. https://www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/December-2016/The-Impact-of-Music-Therapy-on-Mental-Health.
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Politics pg 12
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India's COVID-19 Situation India faces the worst Covid-19 situation yet and is struggling to support its citizens and keep the country running as hundreds of people die everyday.
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AAPI Heritage Month Written as a collaboration between The Affair Magazine and ColorForEmpowerment, we are featuring it in this issue!
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Mental Health Awareness Month
Jewish Immigration and World War 2
The background between Mental Health Awareness Month, how it came to be, its impacts on society, and what we can do to support people with mental health and continue to raise awareness.
The refugee crisis created by the Nazis made many countries question whether or not they should let these refugees in. This dilemma helped pave the way for modern immigration policies, but it came at a cost.
India’s COVID-19 Situation written by Alda Nasywa
The number of cases in India continues to grow. The second wave of Covid-19 caused main cities in India to have very high losses. The subcontinent located in South Asia is included in the top 5 of the list of countries with the highest increase in Covid-19 death cases. India has had a spike in recent days, with more than 250,000 deaths. On the subject of Statistik Data, some analysis specialists are nonetheless debating the original number of Covid-19 infections. Some of them feel that the virus must have reached the interior of a country that has difficulty accessing virus testing and trancing tools. They worry that because it is very difficult to trace the scale of the pandemic in faroff areas of the country, it could be that the true number of deaths and infections is five to 10 times greater. Because of the many gliding cases of COVID-19 infection, hospitals in India have a deficit of beds, medical oxygen and medicines. Additionally, there's less than one doctor for every 1,000 people, and that figure is decreasing even more in rural areas and less populated states. Seeing the increasing number of cases, more than 40 countries are dedicated to helping India in
overcoming the outbreak. If the case goes uphill, a national crisis with global impacts will be created. This potential outcome will endanger the development of other countries to overcome this pandemic. In dealing with this case, the Government of India has rejected calls for a National Lockdown. In addition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government allowed religious festivals and election rallies across the country at the start of the year. The Indian Prime Minister left most of the responsibility for fighting the outbreak to the state government, which, of course, has drawn a lot of criticism. The Indian government says there is an adequate supply of oxygen, but the dissemination is hindered by transportation problems. United Arab Emirates, Germany, Singapore, France and multinational companies such as Amazon and Google are taking part in the distribution of this sufficiency.
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In terms of vaccinations, at the start of the pandemic, India was the largest vaccine producer in the World. They continue to produce more than 80 million doses a month. Even then, India was a major player in COVAX. In the past, India was obligated to supply 200 million doses of COVAX which were distributed to 92 poor countries. Seeing the current situation, India switched it and made the country a top priority for getting the COVAX dose. Because in reality, a country that is experiencing this critical state is not balanced with an adequate number of vaccines. So far, nearly 10 percent of those in India have received the first vaccine but only about 1.5 percent have received both doses as needed.
The Indian government has prepared an application for vaccination. So, Indian citizens who are over the age of 18, can register through the application. However, the app crashes due to overuse, and this, of course, is flooding Social Media. Seeing that the Government has not commissioned vaccines in time, Adar Poonawalla, chief executive of the Serum Institute, stated that India's harsh shortages will carry on for months. It can be concluded that getting out of the pandemic soon is beyond India's reach.
edited by Taruni Manam, Neve Walker, & Parker McElroy
layout by Vrinda Gandhi art by Thejo Tattala
Why May?
Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage (AAPI) Month, celebrated during May, pays tribute to the generations of contributions Asians and Pacific Islanders made to American society.
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The month of May was chosen because the first transcontinental railroad wouldn’t have been possible without the efforts of Chinese immigrants on May 10, 1869. Before that, the first Japanese immigrant came to the United States on May 7, 1843, which are two of many reasons why the month of May is dedicated to Asians and Pacific Islanders. In May of 1979, the President signed a resolution that proposed the first ten days to be Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week, but recently in 1992, Congress turned the week into a month.
Who was behind the creation of Asian Pacific Heritage Month? Jeanie Jew, a former Capitol Hill staffer, witnessed the Black History Month and Hispanic Heritage Week celebrations of 1976 and was concerned about the lack of recognition given to Asian Pacific Americans. And for Jew, the lack of recognition was very personal: her great-grandfather, M.Y. Lee, had come to the U.S. from China in the 1800s and had helped to build the transcontinental railroad. He and his peers had played a key role in American history but had suffered greatly for it. Jew and Ruby Moy, Horton’s Chief of Staff, spearheaded the efforts to gain support for a proclamation and fought for the creation of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month (Moon, 2019).
How has Asian Pacific Heritage Month benefited our society in the past? Boeing’s first aeronautical engineer,
Wong Tsu, was Chinese. The airplane he designed was Boeing’s first financial success, and on top of that, he introduced Boeing China as well. Even local Asian Pacific Americans have developed fields and worked in fisheries of factories that helped build our economy to where it is today. Asian Pacific Americans were active in the civil rights movement, defended passengers facing the Muslim ban at airports, and are currently standing with the Black Lives Matter movement regarding justice and police accountability as well as the Stop Asian Hate movement, which reflects recent hate events and fights back in support of the safety and well-being of the Asian population.
Ways to Celebrate Asian Pacific Heritage Month! Raise awareness by spreading the word on social media. Donate to AAPI organizations, such as the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund. Dive deeper into AAPI heritage sites. Check out AAPI art museums and exhibits, like the Asian Art Museum and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art. Get familiar with Asian history and culture (literature, art, food, clothing, etc.). Try out some of these cool Asianrelated activities!
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Written by Alda Nasywa Edited by Harini Akurathi, Neve Walker, & Parker McElroy Layout by Tristan Castro May has been named Mental Health Awareness month since 1949. The existence of Mental Health Awareness Month aims to raise awareness of the importance of mental and emotional health for children, adolescents, and adults. Being aware of trauma and its effects is the most important thing. The types of mental disorders in question include depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, and dementia. According to data from?, suicide is the second reason of death for adolescents aged 15-29 years old. Research conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) states that Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALY); meaning the burden of disease in 2020 placed depression in second place in the world while being predicted to rise to rank 1 in 2030. Particularly with the COVID-19 pandemic, depression has a massive impact on people of all ages. Isolation, anxiety, and the attachment
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to the future are things that are being felt by many in the midst of the pandemic. Coupled with social media, which isvery much a time absorbine for humans, more and more people are being consumed by a bad stigma. Because of this, WHO demanded that every country increase their support for mental health services. This process certainly requires assistance from governments, especially the preacher of health. They must quickly organize a movement on this issue. Those who have the right to make decisions speed up decision making and direct decisions. Because mental disorders cause a huge burden on society and block the development of health and growth of the country, it is important to convince politicians to make Mental Health a priority. We can explain that mental disorders are so debilitating and painful that it is necessary to treat people with psychiatric illnesses. Not to mention its significant death rate. With the integration of mental
health, basic training needs to be improved, continuing education in assessment, diagnosis using guidelines such as the WHO primary care guidelines. This integration is certainly aided by communication. Even though the country is proclaimed a 'Developed Country,' people with impaired mental health often experience gross human rights violations, discrimination, and stigma. We urgently need to build capacity to tackle stigma and promote human rights. The World Health Organization (WHO) issued 4 criteria which indicate
that we are mentally healthy:
1) Every individual realizes his or her own potential 2) Can cope with the normal stresses of life 3) Can work productively and fruitfully 4) Able to make a contribution to her or his community Urgently need political assistance at the domestic level, to support mental health in public policy. It's not difficult, but keep working to improve and promote mental health.
After World War 1, the United States saw a substantial decrease in the number of immigrants coming into the country. The government took advantage of this period by introducing new immigration laws, ones that would preserve the good name of America by stopping certain people from coming into the country. These groups included people of color and Jewish people. These policies were further enforced when The Great Depression hit, as the president did not want “economic burdens” coming into the United States.
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Once Adolf Hitler became the chancellor of Germany, many German citizens applied for US visas only to be turned down due to lack of money for them. Of the 82,787 Germans who applied, only 1,241 received visas (despite 25,957 visas being available). This gross unfulfillment of the visa quota only worsened as Hitler’s reign continued. Approximately 100,000 German citizens were on the waitlist for a US visa, but from 1934-1937 only an average of 7,053 were ever issued. After the German invasion of Austria, approximately 140,000 people were put on the waiting list, but only 19,000 visas were issued. Written by Parker McElroy Edited by Harini Akurathi, Neve Walker, Taruni Manam
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After World War 2 ended, the visa quota system was upheld and postwar racism was as prominent as it was after World War 1. As different events happened that affected the need for immigration visas for different countries, policies were put in place to allow exceptions to the quotas. The Civil Rights movement saw the annihilation of the quota system, which ended up emphasizing different preferences, like family reunification.
It took many years, but the US immigration system was finally amended into something that took into account the reason for immigrating rather than who. The system is still far from perfect, but the changes made in the aftermath of the Second World War provided drastic improvements to what once was there. Although the system is better, it is important to understand the racist and antisemitic principles that the system was originally based upon so that we never repeat our mistakes. Layout by Karen He Art by Juee Deshmukh
References India's COVID-19 Situation
Choudhury, S. R. (2021, May 7). India reports over 400,000 daily cases for the third time in a week as a second wave hammers country. CNBC. https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/07/india-covid-crisis-daily-cases-rise-above-400000-again.html. Images), (I. A. M. G., Images), (I. G., & PA), (I. (2021, April 29). India Covid crisis: Cases surge as nation faces hospital bed and oxygen shortage. Manchester Evening News. https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/world-news/what-happening-india-covid-cases-20486827. Safi, M. (2021, April 26). Mutations, politics, vaccines: the factors behind India's Covid crisis. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/26/mutations-politics-vaccines-the-factors-behind-indias-covidcrisis. Sangal, A. (2021, April 30). Analysis: India's Covid-19 crisis is a problem for the world. CNN. https://edition.cnn.com/2021/04/29/india/india-covid-crisis-world-problem/index.html.
AAPI Heritage Month
8 Ways to Celebrate Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month With Kids – Connecticut Children’s. (2021, April 16). Connecticut Children’s. https://www.connecticutchildrens.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion/8-ways-to-celebrate-asian-pacific-americanheritage-month-with-kids/ Asian Pacific American Heritage Month 2021. (n.d.). Asianpacificheritage.Gov. Retrieved May 14, 2021, from https://asianpacificheritage.gov/ May Is Asian-Pacific Heritage Month: 12 Ways to Enrich Kids’ Appreciation of Asian-Pacific American Culture. (n.d.). U.S. Department of Education. Retrieved May 14, 2021, from https://www2.ed.gov/free/features/asian-pacific-heritage.html Moon, K. (2019, May 23). How One Woman’s Story Led to the Creation of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Time. https://time.com/5592591/asian-pacific-heritage-month-history/ Wong Tsu. (n.d.). Cnac.Org. Retrieved May 14, 2021, from https://cnac.org/wongtsu01.pdf
Mental Health Awareness Month
World Health Organization (2019 November 28) Mental Disorders https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-disorders Jenkins, Rachel (2003 February 2) Supporting governments to adopt mental health policies https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1525068/ Jenkins, Rachel (2013 October 12) How to convince politicians that mental health is a priority https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3799258/
Jewish Immigration and World War 2
United States Holocaust Museum (2019) How Many Refugees Came to the United States from 1933-1945? https://exhibitions.ushmm.org/americans-and-the-holocaust/how-many-refugees-came-to-the-united-statesfrom-1933-1945#:~:text=After%20World%20War%20II%20began,the%20German%20quota%20in%201940. National Park Service, Immigration and the Great War https://www.nps.gov/articles/immigration-and-the-great-war.htm Council on Foreign Relations, U.S. Postwar Immigration Policy https://www.cfr.org/timeline/us-postwar-immigration-policy
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technology
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Does Technology Impact Mental Health?
Asian Hate in the Tech Industry
We’ve all been told that too much technology is bad for you, but is it really that bad? And how? This article will go into just how technology affects mental health and if it’s worth the risk.
Asian hate can be seen internationally, yet it is most common in the Tech industry. This is an issue that must come to an end.
Njeer Parks
The Mars Rocket
A black man gets arrested due to facial recognition gone wrong, leading to his arrest for crimes he did not commit.
Scientists have been trying for decades to send humans to the Moon and Mars. A recent successful SpaceX rocket landing has brought us closer to reaching this goal.
Does Technology Impact Mental Health I have a confession to make; my phone’s screen time may or may not be 7 hours. My parents soon confiscated it, telling me that it leads to eyestrain and back problems, but these are all physical health issues. What about mental health? Does technology impact mental health? The answer is yes. It does affect mental health for the better and for the worse.
pros
For people experiencing problems in real life, finding advice can be a challenge. Online support groups can help them find answers to their questions and gain advice on how to move forward. We can’t always be face-to-face with our friends and family, so we can use technology to stay in touch and increase social interaction. This increase in social interaction allows for a more positive mood and outlook, ultimately improving mental health. For people struggling with mental illnesses, technology provides a variety of resources to help. If you’re questioning whether you have a mental illness or not, you can take a certified mental illness quiz online in the comfort of your home before reaching
out to a healthcare professional for future steps. There are also many mental health apps online that are being researched by professionals. They can help you track your progress, remind you to take medication, go to therapy/doctor appointments, manage stress and even predict real-life mental health crises. Doctor appointments for mental health can also be arranged online, which could help in increasing access to mental health care.
cons
As with most things, there are some cons. When you overuse technology, you isolate yourself from others. You spend more time having one-word conversations and sending memes rather than sharing meaningful relationships and face-to-face interactions. According to a Stanford study, girls who spend more time on technology had trouble with selfesteem and interacting with others as compared to girls who don’t spend as much time on technology.
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This can cause you to be addicted to technology. Recent studies have shown that an addiction to technology plays with brain cells in the same way that heroin does. Using more technology also allows for cyberbullying: bullying through technology. This can include sending insulting emails, posting private images/videos and messaging threats.
Technology comes with its positives and negatives regarding mental health. We hope that you choose technology for all the right reasons and protect your mental health.
written by Anvitha Mattapalli edited by Dominique Samantha, Harvi Karatha, & Jason Liu layout by Vrinda Gandhi art by Evelyn Chen
Asian Hate in the Tech Industry Asian hate can be seen internationally, yet it is most common in the Tech industry. This is an issue that must come to an end. Over the past year, we’ve seen an influx of anti-Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) hate crimes in almost every aspect of our lives. Unfortunately, the Tech industry is not an exception to this. The model minority myth fuels this hatred against the AAPI community. Hiring decisions are highly skewed by race. Google, for instance, has recently paid almost $4,000,000 when claims were made that they had discriminated against over 1,200 Asian engineering
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Written by Anvitha Mattipalli Edited by Harvi Karatha & Taruni Manam Layout by Shoffana Sundaramoorthy Art by Sahithi Lingampalli
applicants. A startup called Aptude did not let the Asian application process even go this far, making it one of the requirements that applicants be “nonAsian”. There are more cases of discrimination amongst Asians. The effects of the Indian caste system can be seen when hiring Indians by interviewers asking questions that address caste and rarely ever hiring those of lower castes. Within the workplace, discrimination is highly prevalent. Often, colleagues choose to shorten the names of AAPI workers for easier pronunciation without their permission. There is a higher chance of AAPI workers in the Tech industry being sexually harassed as opposed to non-AAPI workers. Microaggressions against AAPI workers are also common.
Getting promoted and holding leadership positions in the workplace is quite rare for AAPI workers. In fact, according to the Harvard Business Review, “Asian Americans are the least likely group in the U.S. to be promoted to management”. This originates from the model minority myth. When we picture an Asian, we often picture a hardworking software engineer. They are not considered leaders or public speakers. It’s time to put differences aside. The AAPI community may seem like the most successful group of people, but this stereotype is only encouraging hatred against them to go unnoticed. There’s another stereotype on AAPI individuals: they’re too quiet and never speak up. Let’s change that stereotype around first. Let’s speak up about it.
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Written by Sahithi Lingampalli Edited by Anvitha Mattipalli, Uday Lingampalli Layout by Sierra Tan Art by Sahithi Lingampalli
Facial recognition. It can be used from anything as simple as unlocking your phone — to helping police find suspects from fake driver licenses. And in Nijeer Parks’s case, he was a suspect found from a fake driver’s license, accused of shoplifting candy and trying to hit a police officer. It was another case of facial recognition gone awry. Nijeer Parks, a 31-year-old Black man living in Paterson, New Jersey, was arrested in February of 2019 for serious charges: aggravated assault, unlawful possession of weapons, using a fake ID, possession of marijuana, shoplifting, leaving the scene of a crime, resisting arrest, and almost hitting a police officer with a car (General & Sarlin, 2020). After spending 11 days in the Woodbridge Police Department Jail and $5,000 to defend himself, he learned that the evidence that had him arrested was a facial recognition match from a fake ID left at a crime scene (Hill, 2020). At the time of the crime scene, Parks was sending money to his fiancée 30 miles away and even had
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a photo of the receipt’s tracking ID to corroborate his story (General & Sarlin, 2020). Despite a checked-out alibi, it still took a year to drop charges and Parks received no apology. The real man belonging to the fake ID has still not been found or identified. Nijeer Parks noticed that the man has what appeared to be earrings, while Parks himself doesn’t even have ear piercings. Parks believes that they don’t look alike at all and the only thing they have in common is their beard (Hill, 2020). Facial recognition, while increasing in accuracy, is extremely likely to make an error in matching faces of those with a darker skin color. A national study in 2019 of over 100 facial recognition algorithms found that
there was a higher rate of falsepositives for Black and Asian faces compared to white faces (Hill, 2020). Nijeer Parks isn’t the only case like this; Robert Williams and Michael Oliver are other cases of Black men being arrested due to faulty facial recognition matches.
There is currently no law against using facial recognition matches as evidence, despite actual arrests or cases based solely off these matches being extremely rare. Parks is currently suing the police, the prosecutor and the City of Woodbridge for false arrest (Hill, 2020). “‘You took being comfortable away from me. I see police, I'm automatically shaken up,’ Parks told CNN. ‘You proved to me that you can lock me up for anything, and there's nothing I can do about it’” (General & Sarlin, 2020).
Nijeer Parks on the right.
As Earth reaches its human carrying capacity, researchers have been searching for new planets to start settlements, in order to prevent human extinction. One of the most suitable planets for this is Mars, as it has the ideal temperature, gravity and water along with similar day/year lengths. SpaceX has been working on a rocket to send to the Moon and Mars. On May 5, 2021, one of their prototype rockets, called SN15, landed successfully in Southeastern Texas.
Written by Anvitha Mattapalli Edited by Dominique
Samantha, Uday Lingampalli, & Jason Liu Layout by Harini Akurathi & Vrinda Gandhi Art by Thejo Tattala
Mars Rocket 24
SN15, one of the versions of Starship, was the fifth attempt SpaceX made. The fourth attempt, SN11, exploded as it was landing on Earth, shooting shrapnel on a nearby beach. The third attempt, SN10, was able to land vertically on Earth as planned, but exploded soon after. SN8 and SN9, the first two attempts, were also unsuccessful with crash landings in December and February. SN12, SN13, and SN14 were never made as the company knew SN15 would be a significant change from SN11 in terms of technology and success. SN1 through SN7 were design prototypes that were scaled down and not launched into space. To send astronauts to the moon and Mars, we need to reuse the rocket in the future. To be able to reuse the rocket, a new technique of landing was required for Starship. It would descend horizontally, like a skydiver paralleling the ground and spreading out fins for balance. When it was approaching the ground, it would rotate back into a vertical position and land standing up. Compared to the previous attempts at Starship, SN15 also had variations in its electrical systems and engines to be successful.
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SpaceX was also given a contract of $2.9 billion by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as part of NASA’s Artemis program. In the next decade, SpaceX was planning to give a different version of Starship to send astronauts to and from the International Space Station (ISS) and the Moon. However, this contract has been put on hold, as rival companies Blue Origin and Dynetics protested against it. SN15 is just the beginning. SpaceX’s founder Elon Musk plans to include over 30 engines on the final Starship, much higher and stronger than the 3 engines that have been used on SN15. He plans to launch Starship into orbit within the next year. Success in doing so will allow humans to test out new technology, research biology on other planets and moons, and possibly live on Mars.
REFERENCES
Does Technology Impact Mental Health?
JourneyPure 12 Keys. (n.d.). Increased Digital Use and Mental Health: Pros and Cons. Retrieved from https://www.12keysrehab.com/increased-digital-use-and-mental-health-pros-and-cons/ UIC Online Health Informatics. (2020, July 10). 4 Important Mental Health Care Technology Innovations. Retrieved from https://healthinformatics.uic.edu/blog/4-important-mental-healthcare-technology-innovations/
Asian Hate in the Tech Industry Abell, M. (2021, March 10). End Anti-Asian Racism in Tech. TechEquity Collaborative. https://techequitycollaborative.org/2021/03/03/end-anti-asian-racism-in-tech/. Dickey, M. R. (2021, April 1). Asian Americans in tech say they face 'a unique flavor of oppression'. Protocol. https://www.protocol.com/asian-americans-model-minority. Gee, B., & Peck, D. (2018, May 31). Asian Americans Are the Least Likely Group in the U.S. to Be Promoted to Management. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2018/05/asian-americans-are-the-least-likely-group-inthe-u-s-to-be-promoted-to-management. Tiku, N. (2020, October 28). India's engineers have thrived in the tech industry. So has its caste system. The Seattle Times. https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/indias-engineers-have-thrived-in-silicon-valley-so-has-itscaste-system/.
Nijeer Parks General, J., & Sarlin, J. (2021, April 29). A false facial recognition match sent this innocent Black man to jail. CNN. Retrieved from: https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/29/tech/nijeer-parks-facial-recognition-police-arrest/index.html. Hill, K. (2020, December 29). Another Arrest, and Jail Time, Due to a Bad Facial Recognition Match. The New York Times. Retrieved from: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/29/technology/facial-recognition-misidentify-jail.html. ABC7 San Francisco. (2020, December 30). Black man in New Jersey sues after false facial recognition lands him in jail. ABC7 San Francisco. Retrieved from: https://abc7news.com/criminal-facial-recognition-racial-bias-intechnology-man-falsely-arrested-nijeer-parks/9197215/.
Mars Rocket Mars One. (n.d.). Why Mars, and not another planet? - A Mission to Mars. Retrieved from: https://www.mars-one.com/faq/mission-to-mars/why-mars-and-not-anotherplanet#:~:text=After%20the%20Earth%2C%20Mars%20is,system%20due%20to%20several%20reasons%3A&text =Gravity%20on%20Mars%20is%2038,cosmic%20and%20the%20Sun's%20radiation News Wires. (2021, May 6). SpaceX successfully lands Mars rocket prototype on fifth try. France 24. Retrieved from https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20210506-spacex-successfully-lands-mars-rocket-prototype-on-fifthtry Wattles, J. (2021, May 5). Success! SpaceX lands Mars rocket prototype for the first time. WAPT. Retrieved from https://www.wapt.com/article/spacex-lands-mars-rocket-prototype-first-time/36345322 Wattles, J. (2021, May 6). Success! SpaceX lands Mars rocket prototype for the first time. CNN. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/05/tech/spacex-starship-sn15-test-flight-scn/index.html Chang, K. & Roston, M. (2021, May 5). SpaceX Successfully Lands Prototype of Mars and Moon Rocket After Test Flight. The New York Times. Retrieved from: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/05/science/spacex-starship-launch.html
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Science Behind Mental Health This article will go into what mental health is from a psychological view, what factors affect mental health and how they affect the brain, and the psychology behind good mental health.
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Liberals vs Conservatives: How do their biologies differ?
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A recent study showed that there are various differences between brain functions of liberals and conservatives.
The Fermi Paradox The Fermi Paradox is the speculation between the consistent lack of proof there is for Extraterrestrial Life (ETI/aliens) to exist in the universe. This article would discuss the various possibilities for life to survive and what could probably already be out there in space which we haven’t noticed.
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How does good sleep help prevent Alzheimer's? Alzhiemers which is an irreversible and progressive disease in your brain destroys memory, thinking skills and potentially even the ability to do everyday tasks. During the sleeping stage of REM, your body cleans toxins in the brain that contribute to Alzheimer's disease.
The Psychology Behind Mental Well-Being The Complete State Model (CSM) identifies mental well-being and mental illness on a high-to-low spectrum. The interaction of mental well-being and mental illness determines a person’s overall mental health. “The CSM identifies mental health as having a high level of wellbeing and low level of mental illness (e.g., depression, anxiety, stress). The spotlight here is not on ruling out the mental illness, but on suggesting that well-being and mental illness are separate issues that together structure our mental health” (Chowdhury 2020). Positive psychology, or the scientific study of what makes life most worth living, plays a huge role in personal well-being and recovery. It works with the concepts of happiness, hope, motivation, empathy, and self-esteem,
all of which directly contribute to bettering our well-being. “It promotes authentic happiness and describes that a ‘good’ life can come in four forms” (Chowdhury 2020): ‘The Pleasant Life’, ‘The Engaged Life’, ‘The Meaningful Life’, and ‘The Achieving Life’. The desire to intrinsically acquire a ‘good’ life can greatly support one’s mental health by providing motivation and assuring happiness. However, when positive psychology is excessively and irrationally applied, mental illnesses occur as a result of a chemical imbalance in the brain, which is caused by extreme stress and anxiety.
The Neuroscience Behind Mental Illness The development of most mental illnesses is caused by an imbalance of neurochemicals. It inhibits the brain from communicating effectively with
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the body, hindering a healthy response to various stimuli. Listed below are various neurochemicals that can be unsafe if processed in extreme amounts and are associated with several mental illnesses: Adrenaline/Epinephrine – A hormone that helps regulate muscle contraction, heart rate, and blood pressure. It also triggers the body’s stress response, or the fight or flight response (The Science Behind Mental Health, 2018). too little adrenaline/epinephrine = cannot react properly to stressful situations too much adrenaline/epinephrine = chronic stress, difficulty concentrating, dizziness, fatigue, anxiety [disorders] Dopamine – A neurotransmitter that helps control the brain’s reward center. It enables our minds to perceive rewards and take steps towards them. It also helps regulate our emotional responses to numerous stimuli (The Science Behind Mental Health, 2018). too little dopamine = addictive behaviors (e.g. alcohol, drug use, cravings, compulsions), depression, loss of motor control too much dopamine = attention disorders, autism, mood swings, psychosis (a symptom often associated with schizophrenia)
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Norepinephrine – A hormone that helps mobilize the brain and body for action. It does so by affecting blood flow, increasing alertness, regulating heart rate, and speeding up reaction time (The Science Behind Mental Health, 2018). too little norepinephrine = lack of energy or focus, symptoms frequently associated with attention disorders and depression too much norepinephrine = anxiety, hyperactivity, stress Serotonin – A neurotransmitter that helps regulate mood and social behavior, appetite and digestion, sleep, memory, and sexual desire and function (The Science Behind Mental Health, 2018). too little serotonin = fluctuating hormones, high stress, insufficient nutrients too much serotonin = anxiety [disorders], depression, obsessive actions and thoughts (a symptom commonly associated with obsessivecompulsive disorder (OCD)) Ashmita Annamalai Kavya Gurunath & Taruni Manam Shoffana Sundaramoorthy & Vrinda Gandhi
Liberals vs. Conservatives How do their biologies differ? Political ideologies are broadly divided into two groups: liberals and conservatives. For decades now, we (as a society) have assigned certain characteristics to each of the groups based on how we perceive each faction. An example of this is assuming that all conservatives are against same-sex marriage, or that all liberals want abortions to be accessesible. We do this in order to identify the people preaching their own belief system. However, a culmination of recent studies have shown that the two groups differ biologically and psychologically. A 2013 study conducted by the University of Sydney showed that brain development is highly dependent on the person's beliefs and values. For example, conservatives tend to have a more active right amygdala compared to liberals, which makes them more vulnerable to feelings such as fear. Another study conducted by Yale in 2017 showed that people who were convinced that they were safe were more left leaning. Therefore, it is evident that one's emotions are
dependent on their own personal belief systems as a result of the effect they have on one's brain development. Additionally, a 2016 study conducted by Northwestern University showed that conservatives are more prone to have an ordered way of thinking as their brains are conditioned to point out patterns and abide by them. On the other hand, liberals are more likely to have their “aha” moments by simply thinking out of the box. This does not make one group smarter than the other, but it highlights how different the thinking processes are based on a person’s political beliefs. Even music and art tastes are influenced by belief systems. For example, conservatives are more likely to go for classical art or straightforward music since they tend to shy away from ambiguity; liberals do the exact opposite. This is because their brains find these particular aspects appealing due to repeated conditioning. Lastly, a study in 2015 revealed that conservatives performed better in a cognitive test known as the Stroop color and word test. The name
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of a color was written, but its font color was different from the color the word resembled. This required the candidate to quickly name the color mentioned rather than the color in the background. While this suggests that conservatives have a better hold over their sense of self control, the study also tested their ability to perform well under more harsher conditions. This led to them performing worse than their liberal peers, suggesting that their cognitive abilities are at their best only when they are at ease (Insider 2020).
All this together confirmed that liberals and conservatives do not only differ personality wise, but also differ genetically, as stated in the latest issue of the journal Behavioral and Brain Sciences (Mother Jones). Thus, it is evident that our genetic differences are the cause for this political and social division that is so apparent today.
written by Mridula Divakar
edited by Anvitha Mattapalli,
Harvi Karatha, & Aarav Navani layout by Vrinda Gandhi
i mre F
Paradox
The
Humanity stands on the edge of a cliff made of evidence and theories; facing a massive dark valley of the unseen. What the valley keeps, no one knows. Regardless of how potential proof develops, it is our duty to take the plunge to see what the universe has to offer.
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There are roughly twenty billion sun-like stars in the Milky Way galaxy, and figures suggest that one-fifth of them have an earth-sized planet in a habitable zone. There could be one million planets with life in the Milky Way Galaxy itself if only 0.1% of those planets harbored life.
In this vast universe, we must assume that civilizations begin millions of years apart and develop at different rates. If aliens should follow the same human progress is measured. Even though they haven’t reached Earth yet, the possibility of extraterrestrial intelligence thriving cannot be ruled out. Furthermore, it is believed that a collapsed civilization of aliens still exists. The ‘Zoo Hypothesis’ suggests that ETI (Extraterrestrial Intelligence) is observing Earth. One approach is to search for electromagnetic signals. Another approach is to locate terrestrial planets whose atmospheric composition promotes life such as the presence of 02, 03, or CH4. SETI (Search For Extraterrestrial Intelligence) recognizes that the probability of remote ETI discovery is at least as possible as interstellar ETIrules of physics as humans, progress can then be measured in terms of energy consumption akin to how transmissions. Additionally, it is
important to understand that a solar vicinity search could be more strategic than all sky hunts for encoded messages. A special biosignature on Earth is the red edge of chlorophyll, and settled extrasolar civilizations may also possess their own characteristic biosignatures. Is anybody out there? Are aliens just a science fiction idea, or do they actually exist? The answer remains in the realm of speculation. Further research and space exploration is the key to unravel the mystery of what the universe holds. The endless quest for our brethren in this universe shall continue!
Written by Ameya Aneja Edited by Harvi Karatha, Aarav Navani, & Laya Vijay Layout by Arushi Patil Art by Thejo Tattala
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How Does Good Sleep Help Prevent Alzheimer's? Written by Puja Suthar
Edited by Anvitha Mattipalli, Kavya Gurunath, & Laya Vijay Layout by Tristan Castro Art by Evelyn Chen
Many of us get minimal amounts of sleep, and for some people, it's okay. However, studies have shown that getting a full amount of sleep can help prevent Alzheimer's disease. This disease is an irreversible and progressive brain disorder that destroys memory and thinking skills and one's ability to do even the simplest tasks. So, how does this happen? During deep sleep, or the Non-Rapid Eye Movement (Non- REM) stage, your brain washes away any toxic products that can increase risk for Alzheimer's. This research has been done for decades through observations linking poor sleep and the long term problems it can cause in association to memory and thinking. Matthew Walker, a professor of neuroscience and psychology at the University of California, Berkley conducted research where they studied the sleep cycles of 32 people in their 70s. They looked for the slow electrical waves that signal deep sleep. The results showed that none of the participants had memory problems. Lack of deep sleep is associated with high levels of tau, which forms toxic
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tangles inside the brain cells of people with Alzheimer’s. Toxic tangles are abnormal accumulations of the tau proteins that collect inside of neurons. The toxin Tau is a protein that is mainly found in the Central nervous system. During deep sleep, the brain almost turns into a dishwasher. Things like tau and amyloid beta, this protein disrupts cell to cell communication and activates immune cells and these cells trigger inflammation which can cause brain cells to be destroyed. These proteins that are linked to Alzhiemers disease, seem to be removed faster from the brain when you're asleep. During deep sleep, your spine releases a fluid called cerebrospinal fluid, which is a clear fluid that bathes and “cushions'' the brain and spinal cord. It does this because CSF protects the brain from damage. It provides lubrication between the bones, brain and the spinal cord and when someone suffers from a brain injury the fluid protects it from the impact. Proteins such as tau and amyloid beta are linked to Alzhiemer’s. The fluid actually helps to clean out these toxins. This fluid, however, is only released during deep sleep. This is why it is crucial to get the ideal amount of sleep for your age.
Chowdhury, M. R. (2020, October 12). The Connections Between Positive Psychology And Mental Health. PositivePsychology.Com. https://positivepsychology.com/positive-psychology-and-mental-health/ The Science Behind Mental Health. (2018, September 15). WISE-Wisconsin. https://wisewisconsin.org/blog/the-science-behind-mental-health/
Brueck, H., & López, C. (2020, October 27). These key psychological differences can determine whether you're liberal or conservative. Business Insider. https://www.businessinsider.com/psychological-differences-between-conservatives-and-liberals-2018-2#conservativesbelieve-they-have-more-self-control-10 Scientists are beginning to figure out why conservatives are…conservative. (n.d.). Mother Jones. https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2014/07/biology-ideology-john-hibbing-negativity-bias/
Jacob D. Haqq-Misra and Seth D. Baum (2009, June 2). The Sustainability Solution to the Fermi Paradox. Popular Physics I arXiv https://arxiv.org/abs/0906.0568 Kurzgesagt - In A Nutshell (2015, June 4). The Fermi Paradox II — Solutions and Ideas – Where Are All The Aliens? https://youtu.be/1fQkVqno-uI Kurzgesagt - In A Nutshell (2015, May 6). The Fermi Paradox — Where Are All The Aliens? (1/2) https://youtu.be/sNhhvQGsMEc
Hamilton, J. (2020, November 17). NPR Cookie Consent and Choices. Npr.Org. https://www.npr.org/935519117 Hamilton, J. (2020, November 16). Scientists discover a link between lack of deep sleep and Alzheimers Disease. Npr.Org. https://www.npr.org/2020/11/16/935475284/scientists-discover-a-link-between-lack-of-deep-sleep-and-alzheimers-disease Spires-Jones, T. L., Kopeikina, K. J., Koffie, R. M., de Calignon, A., & Hyman, B. T. (2011). Are tangles as toxic as they look?. Journal of molecular neuroscience : MN, 45(3), 438–444. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12031-011-9566-7 Kreeger, K. (2013, May 7). Tau is its Own Worst Enemy. Penn Medicine News. https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.pennmedicine.org/news/news-blog/2013/may/tau-is-its-own-worstenemy&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1621532951649000&usg=AOvVaw3fEWAq10SbCQoWDUBWnFzw Beta-amyloid and the amyloid hypothesis. (2017). Beta-Amyloid and the Amyloid Hypothesis, 1–4. https://www.alz.org/national/documents/topicsheet_betaamyloid.pdf Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2020, September 3). Cerebrospinal fluid. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/science/cerebrospinal-fluid
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L I F E style
Living with Bipolar Disorder Learn what it is like to be a teenager with bipolar disorder.
How to Help Someone who is Suffering from a Mental Illness? Learn how to behave with someone who is suffering from a mental illness (easing into the conversation, recognizing limits etc.).
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Healthy Dieting Learn ways and tips to have a healthy diet that helps you lose weight without the usage of pills, starving, and such.
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LIVING W I T H bipolar disorder Everyone has experienced good and bad moods. What makes people with bipolar disorder different is that people with this disorder have very extreme mood swings. A teenager who experiences bipolar disorder will experience drastic emotional changes; from manic to depressive. It also could be the opposite. In some cases, emotional changes can occur in the absence of a normal phase. People with Bipolar Disorder will experience a normal phase first. Bipolar sufferers can also experience feelings of mania and depression at the same time. Until now the cause of bipolar disorder is not fully understood; the most reliable cause is proper to genetic nature. Manic Episodes: These manic episodes often alternate between periods of depression. In this phase, the person feels increased energy, creativity, and euphoria. And, Mania can be mild, moderate, or severe. They generally last for weeks or months and are usually separated by episodes of health. Depressive Episodes: Depressive episodes that alternate with a less severe form of mania called hypomania. The sufferer will feel hopeless, sad, or empty. This person with bipolar disorder has a unique story, which means that every person with bipolar disorder experiences different things. Most
importantly, each person with Bipolar has made healthy choices for themselves. For those of you who are bipolar, you don't need to feel alone. More than 45 million people in the world also suffer from bipolar disorder, which indirectly means you have more than 45 million friends. What Bipolar Feels Like: One person with bipolar disorder says that when he is in 'Mania,' he has a lot of energy and doesn't want to stop. When they are in their 'Mania' phase, people with bipolar disorder are very dominant in a conversation, feel they can do anything, and act like clowns who entertain many people. But if the Bipolar person is in the 'Depression' phase, the Bipolar person often cuts ties with many people and chooses to isolate themselves. They don't say much, lose motivation, and get irritated easily. The person with Bipolar does this for nothing because they felt that at the time, whatever they do will be considered wrong by many parties. Remember, if you have bipolar disorder and are in a 'depression' phase, don't think about ending your life. This phase is only temporary and if you make it through it, you will find your ultimate happiness.
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Challenges as a person with bipolar disorder: 1. It is difficult to accept a diagnosis 2. Really hope to be in Phase 'mania' continuously 3. Using substances Tips for Living with Bipolar Disorder: Get involved in your treatment Progress monitor Take medication consistently Keep stress to a minimum Connect with a support group Know your limits Watch what you put in your body
Originally, dieting was created as a way to become healthy by losing a couple of pounds. However, with today’s impossible beauty standards, dieting has become very commonand even an obsession- for many. Since the early 1900s, dieting has become more prevalent, and most methods are not as healthy as you’d think. When you surf the internet for dieting methods, it can be hard to differentiate between unhealthy and healthy diets. The key to a healthy diet is sustainability: you should be able to follow through for a long time. To maintain your goal weight, you have to
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Overcoming Close Relatives Affected by Bipolar: The most important thing is to avoid asking or commenting on sensitive matters. Because it is very difficult for people with bipolar disorder to control their emotions, always support them and offer to help. written by Alda Nasywa
edited by
Harini Akurathi, Laya Vijay, & Taruni Manam
layout by Vrinda Gandhi
somewhat continue your diet even after you achieve your desired weight, which is why researching the longterm effects are so important. For example, despite the keto diet being a very popular and widely used weight loss strategy, there is little to no research that this type of eating habit is even effective or safe in the long term. Many unhealthy diets can leave people with negative side effects like headaches, menstrual problems, hormonal changes and more. Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a “perfect diet” with no side effects coupled with lots of weight
loss. However, there are certain habits you can implement into your life to lose weight more safely. For example, restricting your eating time from 11 am to 7 pm (8 hours) can help you restrict calorie intake, and intermittent fasting can help you lose 3-8% over a 3- to- 24 week duration. Besides changing your eating time, you can also eat more plant-based or Mediterranean meals, which are more environmentally sustainable. Additionally, there are the DASH and paleo diets that are known to be some of the healthier and sustainable diets. The DASH diet is an eating plan where you eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean meats. Its original purpose was to help treat and prevent high blood pressure, but many people reported losing weight by incorporating this diet. The paleo diet promotes eating whole foods, fruits, vegetables, lean meats, nuts and seeds while the consumption of processed food like sugar, cheese and grains is restricted.
But, at the end of the day, the most important thing in starting a healthy diet is doing plenty of research and staying safe. Everything should be done in moderation where you don’t eat too little or too much. In addition, no diet is suitable for everyone. If a diet does not work for you, even if you eat and exercise right, you should research different methods based on your preferences and lifestyle so that your diet is tailored to your needs.
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Written by Anvitha Mattapalli Edited by Ashmita Annamalai Layout by Karen He
It can be difficult to accept having a mental illness and reaching out for help. Read this article to learn how you can support people with mental illnesses.
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Uday Lingampalli
well as help you support them. Some of these effects are changes in sleep (e.g. duration, nightmares), lack of social interaction, changes in appetite, trouble with work and/or school and self-deprecating thoughts.
About 20% of all U.S. adults have a mental illness. For them, being able to accept their struggles and realize their need for help can be very difficult, which is why it’s important you know how to best help them.
Next, try to start a conversation surrounding their mental health. They may not be ready to speak yet, and that’s okay! Don’t pressure them into speaking. Instead, let them know that you care about their wellbeing and that they can always reach out to you.
First, educate yourself on the mental illness your loved one has. Knowing the causes, effects and possible triggers of the mental illness will help you determine if your loved one’s mental health is improving, as
If your loved one is ready to talk, you should be ready to listen. Do not interrupt them when they are speaking. It takes a lot of strength to ask for help, and it is your job to acknowledge that. Don’t smile or respond with humor either, as they might interpret this as mockery.
While they are speaking, do not try to challenge, belittle or compare their feelings. Saying things like “I understand how you feel”, “It could be worse” and “Get over it” sends the message that they should not be experiencing these emotions and that something is wrong with them.
Use “I” Messages over “You” Messages. Instead of saying “You’re being so moody”, say “I’m worried about your mental health.” This prevents blaming your loved one for their mental illness.
They can also be in immediate danger. If they are having suicidal thoughts, self-harming or harming someone else, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800273-8255 right away. People are not the mental illness they have. Each person is unique, so it might take some people longer to open up and/or recover. The future steps after a conversation depend on the person. Set up small, achievable goals for them, and encourage them to seek medical help. Lastly, remember to express your gratitude for them opening up about their mental illness.
REFERENCES Living with
Bipolar Disorder
Smith, M., & Segal, J. (2021, April 29). Bipolar Disorder Signs and Symptoms. HelpGuide.org. https://www.helpguide.org/articles/bipolar-disorder/bipolar-disorder-signs-andsymptoms.htm#:~:text=In%20the%20manic%20phase%20of,invincible%2C%20or%20destined%20for%20greatness. World Health Organization (2019, November 28) Mental Disorders https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-disorder Tartakovsky M. (2021, March 15) Living With Bipolar Disorder: What to Expect https://psychcentral.com/bipolar/living-with-bipolar-disorder#general-tips Smith M., Segal J. and Segal R. (2020, September) Living With Bipolar Disorder https://www.helpguide.org/articles/bipolar-disorder/living-with-bipolar-disorder.htm Krans B. (2019, December 6) In Their Shoes: Understanding What Bipolar Disorder Feels Like https://www.healthline.com/health/bipolar-disorder/what-bipolar-feels-like
How to Help Someone who is Suffering from a Mental Illness? American Psychiatric Organization. (n.d.) Helping a Loved One Cope with a Mental Illness. Retrieved from: https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/helping-a-loved-one-cope-with-a-mentalillness#:~:text=Try%20to%20show%20patience%20and,be%20more%20comfortable%20for%20them Markway, B. (2015, March 3). 20 Expert Tactics for Dealing with Difficult People. Psychology Today. Retrieved from: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-the-questions/201503/20-expert-tactics-dealing-difficult-people Mind. (2017 December). Seeking help for a mental health problem. Retrieved from: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/guides-to-support-and-services/seeking-help-for-a-mental-health-problem/helping-someoneelse-seek-help/
Healthy Dieting
Raman, Ryan, and healthline. “The 8 Best Diet Plans — Sustainability, Weight Loss, and More.” 5 August 2019, https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/best-diet-plans.
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opinion Alcohol and drug abuse is a growing problem throughout the world, but is it a problem if everyone is happy?
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India’s communal tensions are continuing to worsen under the administration, defeating the very purpose of the creation of the country- to celebrate diversity. As the secularism of India is under constant threat, it is clear that PM Narendra Modi has contributed to the disastrous conditions that have led to a rise in riots and death during a global pandemic.
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SOBRIETY VS HAPPINESS
Sobriety has been a hot topic in my family, and in many families throughout the world. With nearly half of all American families either knowing someone or being related to someone with addiction problems it’s important to focus on this question: should we ignore this problem as long as they are happy?
the full devastation addiction can have on a family.
Although someone who is under the influence of drugs may be happy at the moment, the people around them aren't. I have cried countless tears over my brother whenever I have found out that he has relapsed, and it still hurts the same every time. I understand the My brother is a drug addict. He has stress my parents have gone through, been to rehab three times and is still trying to control a teenage drug addict. not sober. I was so young when my brother, who’s 4 years older than me, began to have substance abuse problems. I was forced into maturity, but I didn't understand the gravity of the situation. I just understood that my mom was trying to control my brother and make him unhappy, as my brother would tell me. If you asked me then, as a 12-year-old, what was more important: sobriety or happiness? I would probably tell you happiness. However, I am 16 now, and I have seen
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As someone who has gone through risk for alcohol poisoning and drug being close to someone who struggles overdose. with substance abuse, I can say with absolute clarity that sobriety is more important than happiness. Sobriety Neve Walker should be the basis of your life, not your lifeline. Being under the influence, although you get the rush of dopamine, Laya Vijay & is not true happiness. There should Taruni Manam never be the argument, “at least they are happy,” when it comes to drug or Vrinda Gandhi alcohol abuse. Supporting happiness over sobriety promotes an unhealthy lifestyle and puts your loved ones at
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Worsened the HinduMuslim Disparity in India? Communal riots are not a new development in the world's largest democracy, but it is evident that the Modi administration worsened the tensions between various religious groups in the country. These tensions have been present ever since the British implemented their “divide and
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rule policy” in India to ensure maximum control. They aimed to highlight the differences between the varying cultures and traditions, a successful feat as it eventually led to the partition of India and Pakistanthe two countries emerged as a Muslim dominated and Hindu domina
India was progressing both ideologically and politically by slowly including Muslims and treating this large minority with the respect they deserved. However, this slow progress was offset by the Modi administration through the introduction of various discriminatory policies and government-sanctioned bloodshed. His most recent policy was the introduction of the Citizenship Amendment Act in 2019 that deliberately excluded Muslims from a fast track to citizenship. This, coupled with the National Citizen Registry, proved that Muslims will require additional documentation (unattainable since the records were not organized or digitized) to establish their citizenship (Counterview). Moreover, the Prime Minister has strong ties to the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh), a Hindu nationalist party that was banned for a few years by Prime Minister Nehru because of their ideologies. Prime Minister Modi has also been quoted saying that antinationalists and the rioters are those who are dressed like “thugs,” referring to Muslims in their traditional clothing. He has also expressed his support for the eradication of ”Love Jihad”, a
concept put forth by Chief Minister Yogi Adyanath to label inter-religious relationships as an attempt by Muslims to take over the country. This gives anyone the right to question any couple (violently) regardless of whether or not Jihadi sentiments are present (Al Jazeera). Most recently, he allowed various Hindu religious processions to take place despite the pandemic while simultaneously banning Muslim gatherings, even if they agreed to COVID-19 restrictions. This blatant discrimination on the part of the Prime Minister and his administration has proven to be fatal as the number of communal riots has increased specifically in the year 2020. The increase was so significant that a US-based nonprofit, known as Freedom House, designated India as a partly free nation (BBC). The most admirable thing about India was its ability to band together as one single nation despite such vast differences without any long-term foreign help. Today, the nation that preached democracy and wished for the same is under attack simply because a Hindu nationalist party is in power and has no compassion for the lives lost in the communal riots during the pandemic.
Written by Mridula Divakar • Edited by Taruni Manam, Geethika Tarra, & Ameya Aneja • Layout by Sierra Tan
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QUESTION OF THE MONTH HOW DO YOU COPE WITH [MENTAL] STRESS?
Ashmita Annamalai: “I mainly listen to music (mainly BTS) and sometimes I practice guided imagery which helps a ton. Oh also, dancing really helps calm my nerves.” Sahithi Lingampalli: “I usually draw or start doing stuff for the thing that's giving me stress because it kinda relieves my stress knowing I’m doing it.” Kavya Gurunath: “I try to hang out with my friends or family, watch TV, or read a book to stop thinking [about] what I'm stressing about.” Taruni Manam: “I like to listen to music, sometimes doing yoga, or I dance without a mirror in a free space.” Aarav Navani: “A lot of music, like my day, revolves around listening to music and it feels good.” Geethika Tarra: “I will play music in my earphones and dance around my room or go spend time with family to distract myself for some time.” Amna Uppal: “I organize stuff and make like charts and to-do lists. Taking a walk and a break helps. Sometimes sleep too.” Juee Deshmukh: “I Facetime a friend and just talk about life. Painting and journaling also relieve any stress that I might have.”
HOWMcElroy: WOULD SUPPORT A LOVED THATcopious IS Parker “Not YOU well. Just kidding, [I cope with] musicONE and reading GOING MENTAL STRESS OR HAS A amounts atTHROUGH alarming speeds.” MENTAL ILLNESS? Magazine Reader: “Exercise. If I’m feeling stressed I run on my elliptical and always feel better afterward.”
HOW WOULD YOU SUPPORT A LOVED ONE THAT IS GOING THROUGH MENTAL STRESS OR HAS A MENTAL ILLNESS? Ashmita Annamalai: “I’d listen to whatever they have to say and make sure that I’m being understanding. I wouldn’t rush them or raise my voice. I would try my best to help them as much as I can and let them know that I’m there for them.”
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Sahithi Lingampalli: “I’d try to understand what they’re going through and make sure that they know I am there for them and will do anything I can to help them get through it." Amna Uppal: I would listen and help them through whatever they are facing. If they are feeling down, I would try to cheer them up.” Juee Deshmukh: “I would empathize with them and reassure them about how I’ll always be there if they need :))”
QUESTIONS WRITTEN BY LAYOUT BY
Taruni Manam and Ashmita Annamalai
Vrinda Gandhi
REFERENCES SOBRIETY VS. HAPPINESS
Gramlich J. (2017, October 26) Nearly Half of Americans Have a Family Member or Close Friend Who’s Been Addicted to Drugs. Retrieved from: https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/10/26/nearly-half-ofamericans-have-a-family-member-or-close-friend-whos-been-addicted-to-drugs/
HOW HAS THE CURRENT MODI ADMINISTRATION WORSENED THE HINDU-MUSLIM DISPARITY?
Indian communalism – a deep dive: Downplaying the rise in incidences of violence. (2020, December 24). Retrieved from: https://counterview.org/2020/12/29/indian-communalism-a-deep-dive-downplaying-therise-in-incidences-of-violence/ India is now only partly free under Modi, says report. (2021, March 03). Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-56249596 Apoorvanand. (2021, January 15). India's 'love jihad' laws: Another attempt to subjugate Muslims. Retrieved from https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2021/1/15/indias-love-jihad-laws-another-attempt-to-subjugatemuslims
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We are “Pandemic” by Gen Z, a youth-led initiative working towards writing a book to the future about the COVID-19 pandemic through collective experiences of Gen Z. Through 8th12th grade student accounts, letters, art, photography, poetry, and medical field interviews, we aim to show the pandemic through the eyes of Gen Z.
Cont pandemicbyge Instag @pandem Shrawani Thapa Founder of "Pandemic" by Gen Z
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