Blog 19: Third Answer

1. EQ

What are the primary factors to consider when approaching someone who may be experiencing suicidal ideation?

2. Answer #3 (Write in a complete sentence like a thesis statement)*

Among the biggest factors in approaching someone, is having the proper support for yourself and the person who are helping.

3. 3 details to support the answer

Having the proper emotional support as the helper will ensure that the person who are trying to move away from suicidal tendencies. According to the American Psychological Association, social support is a crucial factor in how one will respond to social situations. That is without saying, how one will use the opinions and resources another provides to help them be a stronger individual.

During the period of approach and assistance, the individual at risk is very delicate and requires constant communication, this having their own support, as in a therapist, friend, relative, support group of even hotline to talk to will provide sufficient support until they see their main support next.

4. The research source(s) to support your details and answer

Source 17

Interview 3

Source 48f

5. Concluding Sentence

Support plays a major factor in the interpretation and development of how one progresses from suicidal ideation.

Blog 12: Holiday Project Update

This break I took a lot of moment of self-reflection  where I realized how my mind is not that different of those who I want to help. This has given me a better understanding of the importance of caring for oneself before trying to save the world. 

1.  It is important to consistently work on your senior project, whether it is break or we are in school.  What did you do over the break with your senior project?

Over the course of the break, I dedicated time to go in and help my mentor, worked on my independent component and lastly began researching different associations and groups that could train me to be a suicide prevention counselor (which could serve as my second independent component).

I went in to help my mentor for a total of eight and a half hours over the break primarily to help input patient information and reports of progress into an online database for future reference, and also to begin mapping out a project my mentor wants to begin of creating a youtube channel to educate the general public about the brain and introduce facts about how physical health can affect mental health. In addition to this, we discussed different factors that could lead into depression from overworking oneself, as we went over the schedules that each one of us upheld.

I felt that this break allowed more personal construction tied in with a realization of how different factors that I am currently researching are directly tied into my own life. This simple acknowledgment has pushed me to focus on helping myself grow while also motivating me to want to help others.  

As for working on my independent component, I published several of my blog posts that I had been holding back. Gennesis (my partner) furnished the rough edges that we both found in my blog posts and I furnished several of hers which we both hope to finalize soon. In addition to this, I began to post on our Instagram and Gennesis also concentrated on our Pinterest account.

Lastly, for my second independent component I had hoped to take a Psychology Class at Young Scholars, however, the classes were either out of my schedule or could not fit me in the class. As an alternative, I began to look at different trainings on suicide which I could take which through seminars and lessons add up to just about 30 hours! There are a series of programs (eSuicideTalk, safeTalk, ASIST) which all focus on suicide prevention at different levels, ranging from students to medical professionals and what I am aiming to do is be able to participate in these programs, even as an observer. At the Didi Hirsch Suicide Prevention Center in Santa Ana they offer these trainings, and my mentor is also pulling a few strings to see if it is possible.

ASIST is the most extensive form of suicide prevention training and I am keeping high hopes that I will be allowed to at least observe. I remain with my fingers crossed. 

2.  What was the most important thing you learned from what you did, and why?  What was the source of what you learned?

The most important thing I would say that I learned is that the mental health of an individual cannot be determined by their knowledge of the human psyche and those involved in helping others are also very much susceptible to falling ill. Simply knowing about a topic does not make you invisible and it isn’t until you begin to apply what you know to your life or on those around you that it becomes useful. I learned this from a mixture of personal challenges along with a talk with my mentor on stress, and knowing when to “stop.” Reaching mental breaking points is preventable, and knowing your limits is essential especially if you are trying to help others.  

3.  Your third interview will be a 10 question interview related to possible answers for your EQ. Who do you plan to talk to and why?

There are currently two people I have in line: Patricia Harness-Overley M.S. who is a counselor with Hope After Suicide in Chino and Rick Grant Coons, PsyD. the leader of the Suicide Prevention Center at the Didi Hirsch Facility. I hope to get at least interview one of them because they are experts in suicide prevention — one focuses on helping families after a suicide attempt has been completed and the other focuses on preventing suicide before an attempt is made — which would provide me with a different perspectives on suicide that I currently do not have.   

Blog 1 - Senior Final Lesson/Interview Reflection

1. What three lessons were most helpful for you to see, and why?

The lessons that were most helpful for my to see would have to be the Fashion Design presentation by Alexandru Andronescu, the Criminal Profiling Presentation by Justine Solorio and lastly, the Network Marketing presentation by Christopher Figueroa. These presentations each held one common aspect, and that is passion.

Each of these presentations were individually crucial to my understanding of senior project because they each demonstrated the knowledge and the fascination that an individual should have with their chosen topic.

Take the presentation on Fashion Design, which was one of the lengthiest presentations that I attended should have lost my attention past to 30 minute mark but in fact did the exact opposite. On a personal level, fashion has never interested me because I have never had time to develop my own style, but the enthrallment that Alexandru Andronescu expressed for the art of designing garments, left me to eager to design my own fashion line.

In Criminal Profiling with Justine Solorio, the topic was fully covered and all important terms were broken down showing that she had a strong understanding of her topic, but most importantly she was able to take that topic and make it her own by focusing on one main aspect, serial killers, which not only captivated herself but her audience as well. Similarly, Christopher Firgueroa’s presentation on Network Marketing was a simple presentation with an emphasis on the “why” behind actions and success, which brought out his inner fascination in success by moving up in what is a pyramid.

The passion expressed in that one presentation allowed for me to understand how much more interesting one can be when they venture into a topic they are passionate about over a topic that would be more convenient.    

2. List one thing that you learned about the senior project in interviews that will help you get off to a good start?

One of the most important things about senior project that I learned from in the interview would have to be the concept of “passion over convenience” tied together with adventure.  Although the concept of passion is one that I explored above, it once again renounced itself during the senior interview.  

According to several of the seniors I interviewed, it is better to put more effort into finding a mentor within a field you are interested than simply choosing a topic because a relative already works in that field. By choosing a topic that you are already interested in, spending hours with a mentor or spending a year attached to that topic will not seem as time consuming as it is. However, the idea of adventure also should be intertwined because if you know a topic so well that you do not learn much from your experience, then the excitement from that topic would have been exhausted and may result in getting tired with that subject.

3. What topic(s) are you considering, and why?

The top topics that I am considering are criminal profiling and psychology. As s personal choice I would rank criminal profiling as my top choice because the career that I want to consider as an adult would be in the position of Supervisory Special Agent for the FBI in the Behavioral Analysis Unit. By spending a whole year being the shadow of someone already in a similar field I can decide if this is a career that I want to pursue.

Psychology would be my second choice because the development and function of the human psyche has always interested me. It astounds me how inside a big ball of neurons lies the reason for every action an individual can make. From nature vs. nurture to Pavlov’s theories on conditioning, all of these concepts and theories continue to consume my mind.    

4. What EQ do you think might be interesting to consider in guiding a project like this? (Please don't worry about any sort of formula...we want this question to come from your genuine interest).

Criminal Profiling:

What is the best way to ensure that a profile is as close to precise as possible?

Psychology:

What is the best way to assure that a patient’s psychological diagnosis is accurate?

5. What are some ideas you have about finding summer mentorship?

Several ideas that I have for possible summer mentors would be a detective in the Investigation Unit for the Ontario Police Department because of a connection I have through friends who work in that station already. If that does not work out I plan on similarly contacting private investigators in my area to see if anyone would be willing to allow me mentor below them.

In the case that I have not found a mentor in the criminal profiling field, then I will contact a close family friend who is a full time therapist and mentor under her.