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Interviews does by Fernando Luca Martinez

Luca conducted interviews with two of his close family members, first being Fernando M. Martinez who majored in Graphic Communications and English. He offers his view on mental health as well as his view of how it is perceived in society.

To the right of the page, Luca interviews his Mother, Tracey Martinez, a nurse with a major in the science of nursing with a certification in palliative and hospice care. She offers her insight and experiences both in her personal life as well as her profession.

1. "My major is Graphic Communications/English"

2. How has mental health impacted your life?
- “I have not had close contact with anyone with mental health issues—family or friends.”

3. Is there/What groups are disproportionately affected by poor mental health?
- “Yes—races, ethic groups, ages, genders, and sexual identities. ”

4. Do you think mental health is getting the attention and care it deserves in today’s society?
- “I’m not sure. However, I do believe there’s a general lack of awareness in society. Specifically, within the youth, they tend to struggle with mental health in the earlier years of brain development.”

5. What would you want to change to help improve mental health?
- “The way we look at mental health, in general, and how we respond to those issues. Also, increase the awareness of mental health issues.”

1. My major is:
- “Bachelor of science in nursing, with certification in palliative and hospice care.”

2. How has mental health impacted your life?
- “The impact of mental health in my life is multifaceted and it is both professional and personal. It is a daily part of the work that I do in hospice and advanced disease with people trying to manage and cope with many physical and emotional issues that impact their mental health so I am a part of helping them to access what they need. It is personal in the sense that I have been a part of mini therapy models and counseling sessions both in groups and (personal) that I have significantly enhanced my life.”

3. Why do you think certain groups are disproportionately affected by poor mental health?
- “I believe it is as simple and as complex of an answer as this— it is both about the recognition and education around the need for mental health that is often lacking in certain societal groups and it is about the difficulty in accessing the right help for persons who need it.”

4. Do you think mental health is getting the attention and care it deserves in today’s society?
- “I think in your more middle and upper class environments it certainly gets attention, but I don’t know if that equals getting the right “care“ it deserves. There is a lot of hype and talk about the need for mental health and yet in my experience I think that the resources and the funding for it are lacking sorely.”

5. What would you want to change to help improve mental health?
- “I think it would need to start being promoted from a young age that seeking help and asking for help are acceptable and also easily accessible. I think putting value in our school counselors who can make such a difference in a child’s life is a place that should never have cuts or minimal personnel. I know that many schools are starting to promote education around the dangers of social media and its impact on the mental health of young people. We need to find ways to protect young minds from the impact that social media has on their mental health.”