Assault

A woman can reduce the risk of assault by never traveling without a buddy. It would also be important to not be caught alone in places that are sketchy or "the wrong part of town." The way a woman dresses can influence the way assailants look at a woman. If she is dressed skimpy, attackers would be more likely to attack. Taking classes that address the issue is another way to be prepared and learn about defensive and preventative tactics. Overall, it is never a woman's fault she is assaulted, but there are ways to reduce the temptation and take a safer approach to avoid the conflict.

Mental Illness

The stigma surrounding mental illness can be curbed by a change in the way we view the disease itself. Many people have misconceptions or beliefs that mental illness is a punishment from God or a demon who has possessed a person. This is simply a fact of nature that people are born with. Sometimes it only develops later in life, but cannot be seen as anything more abnormal that someone born with a cleft lip, for example. There are sever cases in which people cannot reach a level of sanity in order to interact with daily life, however, many people are able to live happy and fulfilling lives with the help of counseling, special care, and/or medications. People need to see that a person still exists behind the illness and we must move past our own insecurities to be more accepting.

Our Future in Mind?

Would we live differently with our future in mind? I am kind of split on this topic. I think it is easy to say yes, we definitely would change our behaviors. We could see the negative effects our choices have made on our bodies and the life we would end up with as we age. I think people would be motivated to maintain a healthier lifestyle in regard to diet, behaviors(smoking etc.), and life choices(like safety). However, these ideas are easily tossed aside in order to indulge in the pleasures of the "here and now." It is difficult to not live in the moment, especially when consequences can be years down the road.

Disease Prevention

Most disease prevention comes down to maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle. Academic institutions can provide the information on what constitutes a healthy lifestyle and list resources that people can use to achieve this goal. However, this does not do much to motivate people in my experience. I think the biggest motivator for masses of people is to show the consequences of their choices. This could include the side effects as well as the pain and suffering that comes with many diseases. Speakers could visit campuses and tell of their mistakes and the trials they have been through due to their poor choices. This makes the issue more personal and a plausible reality for the audience. Many people have the mindset that they are invincible or "it won't happen to me." I think if we move from textual information to personable experiences, we will have a more positive outcome.