Mental Health and the Brain: Home Page

Hello All,

Sorry that this is coming so late I had periodically forgotten my password to get into this site (seeing as I have taken courses with professor G. before and had my password already set up)! My name is Lisa Lamprou and I am a biology and political science double major here at Bryn Mawr, I am also currently pre-med and spent my summer finishing my last requirement: Orgo. I am extremely interested in mental health because it has affected both myself and loved ones throughout the course of my life. I am really excited about this course and all the ideas and conversations I will be exposed to while taking it.  

See you Monday and have a great weekend... 

Hi all,

I just graduated from Bryn Mawr with a major in bio and have taken a lot of classes I think relevant to mental health. My interest in the brain and mental health stems from various sources, including personal experiences and those of a close family member, as well as friends. I've worked with individuals in a group home setting before who've been diagnosed with developmental disabilities and psychiatric illnesses, and I've also interned at one of the Hedwig House psychosocial rehabilitation clubhouses in the area. I'll soon be working with individuals dealing with acquired brain injuries/and related mental health issues.

Looking forward to tonight's and future discussions,

Laura

Hi,

my name is Yona Silverman and I'm also a postbac ... I graduated in 2006 with a major in English.

I have long had an interest in the mental health field, though haven't had an specific experiences related to it. (Unless you count growing up on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, where everyone is in therapy from a very young age.) Still, one psychology course I took in college peaked my interest, and I have done lots of reading about various aspects of mental health and the brain in the ensuing years.

I am very excited for this course to begin ... See you guys tomorrow!

yrhs

Hi everyone, I'm Riki. I'm a sophomore at Bryn Mawr. I have yet to declare my major, but as of now I am thinking biology with a concentration in neural and behavioral science. I am also interested in philosophy. And film.

The only experiences I have in the field of mental health are from my own suffering. I have struggled with depression and anxiety for eight years. Even though I may be considered an expert in these areas, I am very interested in learning about them from a biological perspective and an "outsider's" perspective. In general though, I am interested in anything dealing with the brain and mental states.

See you tomorrow night!

Hi everyone,

I’ve always been interested in mental health, having family members and friends who have struggled with various mental health issues. Additionally, as a human, interacting with others, who are attempting to maintain their own mental health, or “balance,” I am interested in the full spectrum of human behavior. I have a family member who is a psychiatrist, and through him have learned another perspective about mental health, that of the person in the “helping” role. Another family member has grappled with a chronic illness and subsequent depression, so I am also interested in mind/body dynamism.

As a postbac, hoping to attend medical school, I am interested in all issues pertaining to human interactions, and the ways in which mental health issues are perceived both by the medical community and society at large; and how perceptions shape the ways in which we, as a society, deal with the care of those with mental health issues.

I’m looking forward to meeting everyone and enjoying the exploration that this semester will certainly be.

Sophie

Hello all,

My name is Meredith and I am a second year McBride at Bryn Mawr. I am looking forward to participating fully in this class and cannot wait to meet all of you tomorrow!

My life experiences include:

• Psychology major with NBS concentration
• Parent with mental health issues (including, but not limited to diagnoses such as bipolar and schizoaffective disorder) and brother with an aquired brain injury
• Mother of two daughters
• Co-Chair of Interweave (outreach program for the LGBTQ population in the UU church)
• Personal struggles with the deep, dark, black hole I call depression
• Member of the Brain Injury Awareness Assoc  of PA

I love people and the brain and cannot wait to begin a new semester getting to know all of you.

Meredith

Hello,

My name is Antonia and I'm a sophomore here at Bryn Mawr.

I've always found mental health really fascinating. Somtimes, though, I find some of psychology's explanations a little unsatisfying which is why I am interested to learn a bit more about neurobiology.

I spent two years as a hotline counsellor for children in the UK (ChildLine to be exact http://www.childline.org.uk/Pages/default.aspx - for anyone who is interested- it is an incredible organisation).

I love learning about people and their motivations and I hope that this class will be able to provide some perspective on this.

Hi everyone, 

My name is Ryan.  I'm looking forward to meeting you all tomorrow.  

 Interests/Experience

I was a psych. major in undergrad.  I haven't had any direct clinical experience in a mental health situation, but I've always enjoyed reading and learning about the relationship between the body and the mind.  I feel like most of my exploration so far has been on the philosophical/spiritual side of things.  So, I am looking forward to looking at things from a more biological perspective this semester.  

Also, I'm not sure if this will give me any unique perspective, but I got to be a brain surgeon for a week or two in undergrad.  It was a sheep's brain, but still very cool.

See you tomorrow evening.

Ryan