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As part of my health beat, I spoke with French Professor, Dr. Laurent P. Monye, from the English and Foreign Languages Department to gain insight into current health concerns and how the media influences public understanding of health. Below are the questions I asked and the key takeaways from his responses.
Interview Questions & Responses
Q: From your perspective, what are the most pressing health issues affecting students today?
In my opinion, the most urgent health issues facing students today are mental health problems, including anxiety, depression, and stress-related disorders. These issues often go unspoken or undisclosed for a long time, sometimes months or even years, until the students develop full-blown depression or experience severe anxiety attacks that significantly impact their daily functioning and academic performance.
Q: What health issue or topic do you think deserves more public attention right now?
Mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia, are of great importance and require increased attention and action from both the public and government entities. Some individuals experience severe anxiety attacks that significantly impact their daily functioning and academic performance.
Q: Have you noticed any emerging trends or shifts in how people approach health?
I wouldn’t say I’ve noticed any significant emerging trends in how people approach health and wellness lately. However, there’s still a pervasive sense of dullness and complacency when it comes to preventive care, as many individuals tend to be less proactive and casual about basic health measures, like regularly updating their vaccines and getting screenings. This lack of attentiveness can lead to increased health risks and missed opportunities for early intervention.
Q: How do you think media coverage impacts the way people understand health issues?
I believe media coverage can sometimes be confusing and alarmist, especially when reports are sensationalized or lack context. For example, during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, numerous conflicting reports from various news outlets and social media platforms—ranging from pro-vaccine advocates emphasizing the vaccines’ high efficacy and safety to anti-vaccine groups highlighting rare side effects—caused some people to question the overall effectiveness and safety of the vaccines. This proliferation of mixed messages contributed to public confusion and vaccine hesitancy at a critical time.
Talking with Dr. Monye gave me a valuable perspective on how mental health continues to be one of the most overlooked public health issues, both among students and in the wider community. Additionally, his opinion surrounding preventive care stood out to me, as he made excellent points about how people view health issues. It also piqued my interest in learning how to encourage communities to adopt more proactive healthy habits. Lastly, his last point on media coverage and its impact reminded me to focus on clarity, balance, and accuracy when reporting on health stories.