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KiNE1020 Guest Lectures 2022

When going to three of the guest lectures about mental health indeed changed my views on

mental health and mental illness. Firstly, when I was watching the lecture, it made me realize

that mental health is something everyone has and it’s a hard thing to manage it. With that comes

the stigma that mental illness has on the mainstream public. This is why it makes it hard for

people to express how they truly feel. Especially men who are socially constructed to be tough

and hid their feelings it was even shown on a PowerPoint that men are more likely to have a

mental illness and commit suicide as a part of their mental illnesses. I feel like going to this

lecture makes me more comfortable as a man to open up about my issues.

During quarantine I was very depressed because of a lot of factors firstly my friends were far

away, I didn't get to enjoy my high school year for real and I had a lot of relationships that

weren't going my way mainly because I couldn’t see them and go outside. I was lonely and I

needed help and I just needed to explain how I feel but I had no one to go to so I just kept it to

myself and let it eat me up inside. Now, this lecture helped me understand it's ok to have these

issues and to feel this way but most importantly it helps me understand where to go for help

since coming to York, I have identified people and resources for me to get help when I need it.

Such as the mental health specialist on the basketball team, my friends that I've newly met, and

upperclassmen who take me under their wing.

I learned a lot about anorexia as it helps me view it more as a problem that is hard to address

rather than just someone trying to lose this helps me be more open to people in public and
understand that they are struggling which is important to know too. Overall, this Guest lecture

taught me and helped me positively view mental illness and health as it helped me understand

that everyone has their issues and it's okay to open up.