As much as I would like to cover the Coronavirus, I feel it is the obvious choice and will probably be covered extensively in the coming weeks by both individuals in this class and elsewhere. That being said, I am still interested in the health and well-being of individuals, and as a psychology major, I tend to like to focus on mental health.

One thing I don’t think is talked about enough is childhood trauma, especially as it pertains to familial structures. I feel there is a lack of support from the surrounding community, the government, and other legal systems in regards to extracting individuals from these potentially life-threatening or psychologically damaging situations, especially for minors who have no say in the matter. I think the cause of this is mostly inadvertent and mechanical. People often turn a blind eye to these issues unintentionally because they don’t want to interfere, they believe it isn’t their place, or they don’t know how to help. The mechanical aspect comes in when the criminal justice system remains biased an inconsistent from case to case and judge to judge.

This topic is close to my heart, as I was raised in a tumultuous and emotionally manipulative and abusive household, with threats of violence and little sense of stability. Due to this, it took many years for me to get my mental health under control, resulting in alternating anxiety and depression that affects me at times to this day, even though many of my previous stressors have been eliminated for quite some time. There are many people who have it way worse than I did, with regular physical abuse or extreme neglect.

Therefore, I would like my issue brief to center on policies that enact more avenues for easier access to resources for families, especially minors, without the interference of other authority figures unless the family opts for this, or it is a dire emergency. This could be done on a local level, in schools where teachers inform their students that they can ask for help, or even at a school assembly where common threats are discussed, and then children are asked to come forward at a later time if they are dealing with these issues and would like counseling or other resources. Each school could be required to set aside a few hours on a particular day, perhaps inviting a speaker who is also a mental health professional. This would serve as a capacity builder, educating both school faculty and children on what to look for in their own home or among their peers.

As for the mechanical issues with the criminal justice system, more care needs to be taken to base the decision not just on those 18 and older, but all individuals involved. In my opinion, as soon as you are willing and able to offer your voice to a discussion, you should have that right, and that includes standing in trial if need be. Also, judges that handle familial cases should all be on the same page. They should be placing the needs and safety of children before the “right for parental visitation.” For these issues to be addressed, there would need to be major system changes.

I hope I’ll be able to do this issue justice. It’s really important to me, so I’m willing to put in the research and the time and energy necessary (: