WSSU honors Philip Morris for support
LaMonica Singleton
Voters
from page AI
tial voters. The coalition has
worked with the NAACP in
recent years and continues to
focus on African American
communities where voter
turnout has historically been
low.
"We've targeted two
precincts ... that we're trying to
increase the numbers substan
tially," she stated. "We're trying
to find people, volunteers to be
Block Captains... and check to
see that everyone on their street
gets registered and has trans
portation to the polls."
In celebration of Voter
Awareness Month, the coalition
is putting together a handful of
public service announcements
to encourage people to regis
tered by Oct. 10, the get dead
line for the hotly-contested Nov.
" lental health
n page A7
things that aren't there, and
usions and paranoia, such as
ieving that an outside force is
strolling their thoughts and
ions. They may have disoigan
d behavior and thought pat
tis and may decline or stop
taking or showing emotion.
Ire are many other symptoms,
h as catatonia (lack of move
lit) that are associated with the
^less. and there are subtypes
fferent "kinds" of schizophre
fla) that may manifest differently
tian others. There are many other
syigggj^gfrand nu^pces; a health
care provider can provide further
inforrtEation, or you can visit
nimhJiih.gov.
Is there a disparity in mental
. illness in the African American
community?
While there is no definitive
| evidence regarding whether men
tal illness occurs more frequently
in racial and ethnic minorities ver
sus Whites, there is evidence that
all people who suffer from these
diseases do not receive the sair
treatment. Research has shown,
for instance, that African
Americans are mo*- likely to be
misdiagnosed (diagnosed incor
rectly) with sch) -phrenia, where
as mood dr rders (such as
depression aix bipolar disorder)
CHRONICLE STAFF REPOBT
Winston-Salem State University named
its Career Services Library in honor of one
of its most dedicated corporate friends.
The library, which is on the third floor
of Cleon F. Thompson Student Service
Center, has been name<f for tobacco giant
Philip Morris USA (PM USA), which has
actively and successfully recruited WSSU
studeqts for a number of years.
"We are very excited about the (career)
fair and the continued support of Philip
Morris USA for our students," said
LaMonica Singleton, WSSU interim direc
tor of Career Services. "The library is at
the heart of the career services unit. It
serves as a resource for our students to
come and explore career options, spend
time on computers researching fields or
various industries, get Walk-in resuml cri
tiques -and advice, evaluate and discuss
their future goals and skills."
Richmond, Va.-based Philip Morris, the
cigarette-making wing of Altria Group,
Inc., is known for brands like Marlboro,
Virginia Slims and Benson & Hedges.
Recently, WSSU's Office of Career
Services secured a $25,000 Leadership
Investment Fund grant managed by Philip
Morris that supports programs that help
develop students.
At WSSU, the grant will support the
Career Services Student Ambassadors, a
?new student organization, and it will spon
sor today's (Sept.ll) 1st Annual 2008
Career and Cooperative Education Career
Fair Breakfast at the school.
El-Amin
4 election. Those who miss the
October deadline can still vote,
but they will have to register and
vote at an early voting site
between Oct. 16 - Nov. 1 .
Getting voters interested in
the political process has been
easier this year than in past elec
tions, Sutton said.
are inadequately assessed. As a
result, these patients may receive
inappropriate medications. Other
studies have demonstrated that
African Americans are more like
ly to be involuntarily committed
than are Whites, even when the
exact same symptoms are present.
Moreover, African Americans
may be less likely to receive anti
depressant medications than are
Whites. These findings are fright
ening and appalling, especially
when one considers that there is
no evidence that schizophrenia or
any other mental illness occurs
more frequently in this popula
tion! Nevertheless, if you or a
loved one ace experiencing symp
toms of a mental illness, it is so
important to seek care. We can
empower ourselves by learning
more about these medical condi
tions. One great place to start is
the NIMH website listed above.
Moreover, your primary care doc
tor can refer you to a reputable
and qualified mental health pro
fessional in your area. It's impor
tant to have a ' am of health care
profession?'., who can work as
pa; jiers with you in developing
the best care possible for you.
Myths associated with
mental illness
Unfortunately, people living
with mental illness do not only
live with their conditions, but also
"Everybody's excited;
everybody's wanting to do
something, and that's a good
thing," she declared. "I just
hope the same enthusiasm con
tinues to Election Day." <5
Leaders of the local political
organizations are also hopeful
that the electorate's fervor con
tinues to build.
Forsyth County Democrats
Chair Fleming El-Amin says the
county has seen record numbers
in voter registration. According
to his calculations, Forsyth
County ranks third in the state
for new voters registered, with
more that 700 registrations this
election cycle collected by local
Democrats alone.
Other groups, like members
of the local Obama for America
team, have also made significant
contributions to the numbers,
El-Amin added.
The Forsyth County
live with the stigma and ignorance
that frequently surrounds these
conditions. People with mental
illnesses are not weak or helpless.
Their illness does not make them
"less of a person," and having a
mental illness is no more their
fault than cancer would be. They
cannot "just snap out of it." It is
not "just in their head"; there are
physical issues that underlie these
illnesses, such as imbalances in
neurotransmitters (chemicals in
the brain). Mental illness will like
ly not go away on its own. In fact,
untreated mental illness frequent
ly only becomes worse over time.
Mental illness is not some
thing that should be taken lightly
or "shrugged off"; it is just as real
as cancer, diabetes, or cardiovas
cular disease. Some mental ill
nesses can be cured, while others
cannot. However, all are treatable.
With proper treatment and vigi
lance, however, people living
with mental illness can live full,
healthy, and stable lives.
How is mental illness treated?
If you or a loved one is living
with mental illness, it is critical to
ensure you have the help of a
mental health professional along
your journey. Such professionals
may include therapists, social
workers, nurses, psychologists
(PhDs or PsyDs), and psychia
trists (MDs). These professionals
Forsyth Jail and Prison Ministries
HOPE ON THE IN
Please join our prayer circle around the Forsyth County Ja-l
Friday, September 12, 2008, 6:00 p.m.
201 North Church Street, Winston-Salem
Democratic office is working
hard to turn the state of North
Carolina blue (or Democratic)
this year, El-Amin says. He
believes new voters may be the
answer the party is looking for
on Election Day.
Whatever their affiliation,
the El-Amin says all voters, and
especially black voters, should
take advantage of a right that
wasn't won easily.
"Please don't stay home," he
implored. "This is a historic
opportunity for us to answer the
call of our ancestors. Get out
and vote."
o
For more information about
voter registration, contact the
Forsyth County Board of
Elections at (336) 703-2800 or
visit
www. co forsyth .nc .us! elections!
default .aspx.
o
have a variety of treatment <
options at their disposal, and they
can work with you to help deter- 1
mine which options will work |
best for you and fit your lifestyle. I
Medication may or may not be j
needed, depending on your condi- i
tion and the severity with which it
presents. However, psychothera- i
py (or "talk therapy") is almost
always recommended. Research
has shown that therapy and med
ication work in-tandem to treat or
help you live with your illness and
that therapy can even increase the
effectiveness of medication.
While medication can help your
brain heal from the illness, thera
py can help identify strategies to
structure your life and help you
RAJ*.
from page A1
televised nationally on PBS.
Byron Hurt, the film's director
and producer, will be on hand
and take part in a post film panel
discussion.
Hip-hop producer and
Winston-Salem native 9th
Wonder will also take part. 9th
Wonder, born Patrick Douthit,
has produced artists like Jay-Z
and Destiny's Child. He also
teaches a class on hip-hop and
its effects on society at North
Carolina Central University.
De wanna Hamlin, coordina
tor of prevention and education
at Family Services, thinks that
the summit will allow the efforts
of RAP. to reach a larger audi
ence.
"We think that the R AP.
summit will bring together
males and females, people from
different generation^, to look at
what some of the issues might
be that are underlying sexual
assault," said Hamlin.
R.A.P.'s educational ses
sions for teens are currently held
at seven sites, including schools
and YMCA branches. The pro
gram relies on mentors from
local colleges and teaching tools
such as books with titles like
"May I Kiss You?" and "Safe
Dates."
Llyod said that participants
are given a pretest before they
start attending the sessions to
gauge their views on the oppo
site sex. The questions are bold
- one asks if sexual assault is
okay if the woman is wearing
provocative clothing - and so
are the answers. Llyod said he's
heard from young people about
lots of outrageous behavior -
from grade school girls being
;ope.
In addition to seeking help
from a qualified mental health
professional, there are other
things you can do to promote
good mental health. Taking care
of your body is one of them.
Scientific evidence demonstrates
that regular exercise and proper
nutrition can improve how you
feel mentally and emotionally in
addition to being great for your
body! Your provider may also rec
ommend complementary treat
ments like fish oil to promote a
healthy brain.
The most important thing to
keep in mind is this: Treatment is
available far mental illness, and
people with mental illness can
Hamlin
called "bitches" to 12-year-old
boys that think it's appropriate
to touch any girl who wears
tight pants.
"It really does start young,"
Llyod said of such negative
behaviors.
After the sessions, another
test is given and there is usually
gjeat improvement in the partic
ipants' views of women, which
makes Lloyd proud.
Targeting males for sexual
assault prevention is a different
approach, said Hamlin, who
said prevention - efforts such as
self defense classes - focus
largely on women. But such
efforts, she said, don't address
the fact that 73 percent of sexu
al assaults are perpetrated by
someone the victim knows.
Trying to stem attitudes that
could lead to sexual assault is
important, she says, and it's not
about blaming men.
"Eliminating violence in our
community is not about blame,"
said Hamlin. "It's about people
working together to look at what
societal norms have been
accepted for these kinds - of
things to happen, and really
starting from scratch." ,
live healthy, productive lives with
proper care. If you or a loved one
are living with mental illness, it is
critical to work with a health pro
fessional and adhere to the treat
ment regimen you develop
together.
c
- Contribution by Jaimie
Hunter, MPH, CHES
Do you need further informa
tion or have questions or com
ments about this article? Please
call toll-free 1-877-530-1824. Or,
for more information about the
Maya Angelou Center for Health
Equity, please visit our website:
k^:l/vsnv*vyvftUmtcjedM/ntU%ority
health.
WINSTON-SALEM SYMPHONY ROBERT MOODY, MUSIC DIRECTOR
BOB AND BIMA! ,
The Winston Salem Symphony joins forces with the Greensboro Symphony
Orchestra in a thrilling start to its 62nd season. Maestros Moody and Srtkovetsky
take turns on the podium and also as soloists on the program, and the combined
orchestras power up to perform Richard Strauss' monumental symphonic poem.
A Hero's Life. Don't miss this musical tour de force!
Copland
Old American Songs
Robert Moody, baritone
Corigliano
Su?te from The Red Violin
Dmitry Sitkovetsky. violin
R Strauss
Em Hekferteber, op.40
(A Hero's Life)
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2008, AT 3:00 P.M.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 200S, AT 7:30 P.M.
Stevens Center of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts
TICKETS: $l5-$55
For more information, call 336-464-0I4S or visit
(Bo* office open M-F, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.)
.wssymphony.org.
SYMPHONY
EOxP COUNCIL
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