Month: February 2019 (Page 2 of 2)

According to Helen Epstein, social cohesion is “…the tendency of people to talk openly with one another and form trusted relationships” (Epstein 116). I had explored the Safe Space Radio website and had looked through all of the tabs at the top. I think it is very important to see the variety of topics that are talked about on this show. It shows the significant amount of important topics that are silenced in today’s society. I believe Safe Space Radio may lead to social cohesion depending on the situation and the person that is listening. I had listened to the episode called “Silence in the Body with Matthew Sandord”. In Matthew’s case, he had gotten in a car accident at the age of 13 and lost his sister and father. He wanted to overcome the silence in his body. Eventually he became a yoga instructor in teaching others to listen to their bodies to experience the movement and strength of your body. His story was extraordinary how he could be so positive after having done through a life changing trauma. Although, this story is so uplifting, it could cause others to feel shame for not going through a trauma and still feeling depressed in which could discourage them from sharing their stories. On the other hand, Matthew’s look on “living in your body” is such a unique way to live life. Some may benefit from learning about his outlook on life. I believe it all depends on the person and what they have been through. Seeing someone who has gone through something as awful as Matthew have such a positive outlook on life could either inspiring or discouraging to a viewer listening.

In Eptstein’s Aids Inc the fact that differences in a culture will have effect on major health problems in their country. Uganda approaches the idea of aids in significantly different way than the citizens in South Africa. Epstein states, “…Ugandans come to terms with the reality of AIDS, care for the afflicted, and change their behavior. This in turn led to declines in HIV transmission” (Epstein, 116). People in Uganda make sure it is part of their daily lives to talk about AIDS so that people understand the severity of the disease, rather than fear the unknown like South Africans may do. Hallward makes a similar claim in her TedTalk in that  talking about the “silenced” topics in today’s society, such as mental health, will help heal and minimize feelings of shame.

• Mental health is not talked about enough today
• When it is brought to light people acknowledge it more
• The more people know, the less they will judge
• Sharing equals healing
• PROOF: Aids epidemics is declined when it is normal to be talked about.