Forgotten, Untreated, and Stigmatized - Mental Health (Post 9)

http://allafrica.com/stories/201110181046.html

This article from AllAfrica discusses an international health problem that is often overlooked: mental health.  Every part of the world is affected by lack of treatment.  The article states that in developed countries, only one out of three people who need treatment for mental problems actually receive it; in developing countries, the ratio expands to one out of fifty.  These number are outrageous and reprehensible, but several blockades exist that prevent better international mental health.  For one, mental health is not the top priority for many countries.  A disconnect exists between governments and the reality of the mental health gap.
Mental healthcare is also expensive and cost-effective programs are basically non-existent.  Also, if other health concerns are not addressed, such as malnutrition, the mental healthcare is basically useless.
Another factor to consider is how people suffering from mental illnesses are oftentimes ostracized or stigmatized in many areas, whether halfway across the world or in our own home country of the United States.  Many people with mental illnesses are discriminated against, and because their illnesses are not treated, they cannot find work or be productive members of society.  They become burdens to families and can oftentimes be victims of verbal, emotional, physical, or sexual abuse. 
Awareness for mental illness needs to be raised so that people who need help can get it.  Awareness is a necessary step so that people can rise in society and become as self-sufficient as possible and even bring in a source of income for their family.  Research needs to look into more cost-effective ways to rectify this diverse and wide-spread issue.

Drink Water to Give Water (Post 7)

http://www.10days.cc/

     October 10th marked the beginning of an event on campus called "10 Days".  For ten days, participants in the event drink only water for ten days.  They keep track on what they would have spent of coffee, sports drinks, pop, and other beverages, and at the end of the ten days, the money that would have gone to personal indulgences is instead donated to Living Water International, which will in turn use the money to build wells in rural areas of Rwanda.
     Living Water International (http://www.water.cc/) is a Christian organization that strives to create sustainable and community based change in water access. They operate in over 20 different countries around the globe, but they also connect people on the state-side to the movement and projects. LWI has ways to donate time and money, from events like 10 Days to trips where volunteers help in the actual drilling of wells.  Living Water was also featured on the site of Sevenly as their third cause (http://sevenly.org/past-causes).
     I decided to take part in this event because it is a simple way to raise money as well as awareness for a serious international health issue.  This event is changing college campuses across the United States and changing lives in places like Rwanda.  This event will change my perspective on how many resources I have at my disposal.  Not only do I have access to water, but it is clean; and water is not my only beverage choice, either.  This type of event is effective because it is not requiring students to donate money that they do not have.  It asks students to make a sacrifice for a mere ten days.  One shortfall is that because the event only lasts until October 19th, the giving will end soon after.  Students will go back to their daily coffees and will forget about how some areas in the world do not even have clean water to drink.  This event is great for short-term progress and awareness, but other methods are necessary for further commitment to the cause of giving everyone access to clean water.

Buy one, give one campaigns. (Post 6)

An easy and effective way to make a difference in world health are "One for One" campaigns.  Especially for people who do not have a lot of money to spend on philanthropy projects, like college students, "buy one and give one" business models are great because not only are people being helped, but the organization and effort are also being advertised, furthering awareness. Here are some examples of effective organizations with similar business models:

1.  TOMS Shoes (http://www.toms.com/)

For evidence of such effectiveness, one just needs to look at how pervasive TOMS shoes are now, even on college campuses. For every pair of shoes purchased, a pair is donated to a child in need.  TOMS is probably the most famous example of the "One for One" campaign, and they recently have expanded into clothing and glasses. 

2.  Roma Boots (http://romaprovisions.com/)

Roma Boots operates in a similar fashion to TOMS, but with rain boots.  This organization is also important because in many areas of the world, the canvas shoes that TOMS produces are not acceptable in colder and wetter areas.  

3. Warby Parker eyewear (http://www.warbyparker.com/)

Warby Parker makes a statement with its bold frames, but also with the affordable pricing.  All prescription eyewear is under $100, compared to the typical $300 plus.  For every pair of glasses, one is given to someone in need.  Warby Parker addresses a problem those in countries as fortunate as the United States do not realize - many people do not realize they need eyeglasses, have access to tests and glasses, or let alone afford them.  

How can t-shirts change the world? - Post 5

http://sevenly.org/

Around the world, there are hundreds of thousands of charities, which support causes from ending hunger to protecting women's rights.  But every year, about 74% of them go out of business because of either lack of funding, awareness, or following (according to http://sevenly.org/our-mission).
Sevenly has a way to end this cycle.  Sevenly is a site that started only a little over 15 weeks ago, but has already raised over $69,726 for various respectable causes, such as companies combatting human trafficking, such as International Justice Mission, Love 146, and Not for Sale Campaign.  Sevenly connects people to interesting and worthwhile causes that they may or may not have known otherwise.
Each week, they have an awesomely designed t-shirt for a different cause and focuses singularily on that cause for the entire week.  For example, this week's t-shirt is raising money for Convoy of Hope, a non-profit focused on feeding the world that I never knew existed until this week.
While Sevenly has only been up for a few months, they have already made big changes in the world, and their following is growing.  People like me find it easier to follow a website that prescreens charities and gathers them in a simple place than to look for them myself.  When buying a t-shirt, $7 goes to that cause.  While the percentage going to the cause may not be the highest of any organization, what the buyer gets in return is incredible.  The t-shirts Sevenly produces are opportunites for conversations and spreading more awareness for causes, which in turn gathers a strong following and increases funding.