Senior Honors Project 2026

The living body, Addressing Important Aspects of Mental and Physical Health:

By Samuel Riley

From the Pueblos of Acoma and Laguna

Fig 3.”( Pueblo of Laguna)” Welcome to the Pueblo of Laguna.(Kawaika.)pueblooflaguna.org

Fig1.Samuel.(me.) “School dance” 4/24/26

fig 2.”( Pueblo of Acoma)” Welcome to the Pueblo of Acoma.(Haaku.) puebloofacoma.org

IDENTITY:

Samuel Riley(ME) "Hike journey " 11/16/25

“Sharing one skin” from Oklangan Community- Jeannette Armstrong talks about the earth being your body, as the river being your veins, plants being a connection to your growth, and how the earth is all connected to you. What I connected to her article was what she was saying, how we as Indigenous people will connect to the earth as well, and will treat the earth like our mother. When this meaning is brought up to Indigenous people, we know the meaning of why the earth is connected to us and why we call the earth our mother. From different stories we told, we were born from the earth some random day, as we were all one big nation, like brothers and sisters. When we pray, we pray for the earth, for the elements not to be mad, to help us as well as they are connected and born from the mother, even pray to animals, as well as they were brought from the mother earth. We are one, and if we show respect to one earth, others will show respect back to us and give us or guide us what we may need or do as an Indigenous person. When Jeannette Armstrong said, “How you treat yourself is also how you treat the world, as it’s like taking care of souls connected to you.” This stuck out to me as this is very important to us as Indigenous people, representing the earth isn’t just an earth but our mother, and how we are connected to her.

Suina, Joe. (1985). And then I went to school: Memories of a Pueblo childhood. New Mexico Journal of Reading, 5(2).

“How place names impact the way we see landscapes for Native people is the name we give to the landscapes.” This article by Toastie, B., talks about how just about places have names, which also implies that everything that might have names for things as well. Even for people who may not understand why indigenous naming is so important to us is because we see everything with a purpose, as a proper part of its creation, rather than just a name. Even if a name is just a name to a person who is of a different race or culture. The author who wrote this article wants to understand why Indigenous names are more important, and how even Indigenous names have stories about some names and how they earned that name or were given that name. Even with secret Indigenous land they have names and why they could be so important is they may have been a birth place of something, they may have been a place where peace was happening or may have belonged too, and the reason why it was named could be so many different reasons but with its name Indigenous people will know the history behind it why it earned or why it's even called it that way. Throughout the article, Toastie B. even compares his sharing and knowledge with regular modern names. As modern names even outshine Indigenous cultural names, not many people will know it by that phrase of our language, but by modern language names instead. What I’d like to connect with this as well is the factor of our language playing a big part. This can be the plants, herbs, and animals, as they all have a meaning in the Native American language. This even includes medicine as well, helping communicate where we may need to head or go to find these things, or even meet people to gather stuff.

Toastie, B. (May 1, 2022). “How place names impact the way we see landscape.” High Country News, 1 May 2022,

https://www.hcn.org/issues/54.5/people-places-how-place-names-impact-the-way-we-see-landscape/print_view. Accessed 27 October 2026

Samuel RIley (me). "Connecting with Nature" 10/24/25

Samuel Riley (Unknown) "Buffalo Dance" May 12, 2025

“And Then I Went To School”, written by Josphen Suina, talks about his experiences growing up with his grandma in the Cochiti Pueblo and his being taken out of his home to attend the boarding school in Santa Fe at 6 years old. He had to adjust to the white man's way of life. Not only could he not speak the only language he knew, but he couldn't practice his tradition, or he would get disciplined. In the end, he felt bad because he had gotten used to the white man's way of life, but he still missed his home and participating in his cultural life. How this feels so connected as an indigenous person, he is right. We, as the younger generation, have to go to the modern world to get our education, learn modern knowledge, and understand what’s even going on in the real world. This is also beneficial to our Indigenous communities as well, as we can bring back the knowledge we gained to help with our community. We can give medical treatment to the elderly, the young, and even adults who are struggling with anything medically. This knowledge can’t stop there, as we can even support ourselves with land, financially, and understand what is out in the world to gain that knowledge, leading us to come back and grow our community stronger. Sadly, there is a negative effect that is included as well. We can’t practice our Indigenous culture as often as we would like to. As this can even lose the connection between our people, between the land, the animals, the spiritual ways, lose everything, and not feel united as a community, not strong. We may not deal with the same punishments as back then, but we also struggle with losing touch with our people. As we mainly gain knowledge and useful information to keep us strong, we also lose a part of our souls, our history, our own knowledge of doing everything in our own Indigenous communities to feel that connection with one another, human, animal, or nature.

Armstrong, Jeanette. (1996) “Sharing One Skin: The Okanagan Community.” Pp.460-470 in Jerry Mander and Edward Goldsmith (eds.), The Case Against the Global Economy, San Fransico, CA: Sierra Club Books.

HISTORY TIMELINE:

“Therapy as a tool for coping with complex medical conditions | Parkview Health.” Parkview, www.parkview.com/blog/therapy-as-a-tool-for-coping-with-complex-medical-conditions.

Nurturing the Present: A Comprehensive Exploration of Mindfulness-Based Interventions and Their Impact on Mental and Physical Health. This article talked about how Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have become increasingly popular for their potential benefits to both mental and physical health. Originating from Buddhist traditions, MBIs are now used in various settings to address conditions like stress, anxiety, depression, chronic pain, and cardiovascular diseases. These interventions typically involve meditation, body scan practices, and mindful movement, which help individuals focus on the present moment without judgment. Studies have shown that MBIs can improve emotional regulation, reduce rumination, and enhance overall well-being. They work by altering brain activity and increasing awareness of bodily sensations and thoughts. While generally safe, MBIs may not be suitable for everyone, especially those with severe psychiatric conditions, without appropriate modifications and professional guidance.

Azizoglu, Sena Inal, et al. "Nurturing the Present: A Comprehensive Exploration of Mindfulness-Based Interventions and Their Impact on Mental and Physical Health/Simdiyi Beslemek: Farkindalik Temelli Mudahaleler ve Bunlarin Ruhsal ve Fiziksel Saglik Uzerindeki Etkilerinin Kapsamli Bir Arastirmasi." *Journal of Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapies and Research*, vol. 14, no. 1, KARE Publishing, Mar. 2025.

Physiotherapists Lack Knowledge in Mental Health: A Survey of Knowledge and Attitudes of Physical Therapists about their Role in Mental Health.* The problem: Physiotherapists may not have enough knowledge about mental health.The method: A survey was conducted to assess the knowledge and attitudes of physical therapists regarding their role in mental health.The focus: The study aims to understand how physical therapists perceive their involvement and understanding of mental health issues. In essence, the paper likely explores the gap in mental health knowledge among physiotherapists and examines their attitudes towards addressing mental health in their practice.

Alotaibi, Madawi, et al. "Physiotherapists Lack Knowledge in Mental Health: A Survey of Knowledge and Attitudes of Physical Therapists About Their Role in Mental Health." *Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare*, vol. 17, Dove Medical Press Limited, June 30, 2024. Clinical report, http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/JMDH.S461746.

Imagine by Northpoint. “Family Therapy Program in Lincoln, Nebraska | Imagine Lincoln.” Imagine Lincoln, 25 July 2024, lincolnimagine.com/treatment-programs/family-therapy.

Riley, Samuel. "Snowboarding" January 14, 2026

This article discusses sports injuries, highlighting their prevalence among young athletes. It mentions that millions of young people participate in school sports annually, with many sustaining injuries. The article provides statistics on emergency department visits for sports injuries and identifies football as the sport with the most injuries per teen athlete. It also notes that head and face injuries are the most common across all sports. What we also don't see with the younger generation is them telling us the truth about these issues affecting them with their own mental and physical health, as not just football, but even other sports require children to push their own limits mentally and physically. With this issue, the kids have frequent injuries in their bodies, and this can cause long-term effects when they are older. Another issue as well is athletes not communicating with their parents or coaches, reporting their own injury, as this is with the younger generation.

"Sports Injuries." Teen Health and Wellness, Rosen Publishing Group, Inc, August 2024. teen health and wellness. Accessed 16 Oct 2025 Article Citation in APA Format: Sports injuries(n.d). Retrieved October 26, 2025, Bros https://tren hoal thand well-naos.com. STS • lam. orle, orgra. https://teenhealthandwomens.com 50's. Iam.ocle.org/artict/309/sportk Injurios

Current State Of The Issue

Global Mental Health: Where We Are and Where We Are Going

Focus: The field of global mental health (GMH) is concerned with promoting mental health, well-being, and treatment across the world, emphasizing transdisciplinary approaches and human rights. Historical Context: Over the past 15 years, the field has largely focused on addressing disparities in care between developed and less-resourced countries. Recent Findings: Mental illness disproportionately impacts vulnerable populations. Advances in integrating mental health care and task-shifting are accompanied by implementation challenges. Impact of Global Events: The article also addresses the impact of recent global events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, geopolitical events, and environmental changes. Coordination and Support: The article stresses the need to persist and require coordinated care approaches for those in need of psychosocial support. It also highlights the inequalities in funding for global mental health care programs and research. Inclusion: Lastly, the article mentions an increase in efforts to include people with lived experiences of mental health in research and policy-shaping efforts. The Lancet Commission: The article references a 2018 Lancet Commission that framed the field in terms of four foundational pillars: Mental health is a global public good; Mental health problems exist along a continuum; The mental health of an individual is a unique product of one's social and environmental influences along with their genetic and biological predisposition; Mental health is a fundamental human right and requires a rights-based approach. Greater Attention: The article notes that with the intensification of social justice movements in 2020, greater attention has been given to mental health equity and structural and political determinants of poor mental health.

Mortra, Modharmis et al. "Global Mental Health: Where we are and where we are going" Current Physical Reports, vol 25, no 7, May 2023.

“Physical Activity” Mary (Darrion Coriz) October 14, 2025

Brandon, J. (n.d.). Mental illnesses and disorders. Shark Attack

Nearly 1.8 billion adults at risk of disease from not doing enough physical activity:

The World Health Organization (WHO) released data highlighting the alarming prevalence of physical inactivity among adults worldwide. The report reveals that approximately 1.8 billion adults are at risk of disease due to insufficient physical activity. This means that nearly one-third (31%) of adults globally do not meet the recommended levels of physical activity. The WHO's findings indicate that this issue is worsening. If current trends continue, the levels of inactivity are projected to increase to 35% by 2030. To address this, the WHO recommends that adults engage in either 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity per week. Insufficient physical activity is linked to a greater risk of several serious health conditions, including cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, dementia, and certain cancers. The WHO emphasizes the need to renew the commitment to increasing physical activity and to implement policies to reverse this worrying trend.

World Health Organization: WHO, Physical Activity 17, May 2019, www.whoint/health-topics.

Personal Connections:

My personal connection with my topic about addressing important aspects of mental and physical health is a family dealing with health issues, causing his mental health as well to sort of drop down, like his self-esteem, even his diet sort of changing as well, looking out for what he even ate, but also struggling with the support of being active. We still showed love and support, which helped him, but we wish we could have given him that support even more and taken him out even more as well. This even includes me as well, facing a personal injury caused by football during my junior year, as it really affected me physically for a few months, and made me feel mentally weak as I struggled with self-consciousness, not having the right mindset for a healthy diet, and even isolation towards myself affected me. The reason I was able to get through was support, as my friends and family, like my mom and dad, stuck around, making me feel less isolated. My grandpa, as well, even though he had a good diet, was very active. Time went by, and old age sadly got the best of him, as it’s something you can’t fight against, but what we did was show the support we could to keep him around for a few days.

Action Plans:

Gllllobal Connections:

Mvacql. “Stress Under 18. It’s the Real Deal.” My Virtual Academy, 25 July 2019, www.myvirtualacademy.com/blog/advice/stress-under-18-its-the-real-deal.

Youth Suicide in Japan: Exploring the Role of Subcultures, Internet Addiction, and Societal Pressures:

The summary of this article talks about youth struggling in Japan. What is Japan's youth really struggling with? It's the cause of social pressure, but also an effect of the development of the youths' brains at a young age, causing issues such as rapid growth, a gap in mental health issues, as well. Throughout this article, it talks about young youth struggling with parents pushing them to their limits, like academic success, bringing stress upon the youth. Youth even stress about academic success as well, online usage in their life, or just being exposed to it, but also different types of stress caused by many other problems. With these problems as well, the youth's minds are set to develop in different ways as they will see the world differently, causing struggles in communication. This can also cause gaming addictions, sleep deprivation problems, even overdose can be caused as well. The article also brings up the impact of COVID-19, as it increased the issues of suicide, socializing, and poor communication.

Imataka, George, and Hideaki Shiraishi. "Youth Suicide in Japan: Exploring the Role of Subcultures, Internet Addiction, and Societal Pressures." *Diseases*, vol. 12, no. 2, 2024, https://doi.org/10.3390/diseases12020002.

Prevalence of mental health disorders and their association with chronic physical disease in Kuwait:

The summary of this article talks about the issues of mental health being tied to chronic physical disease in Kuwait. Reading through the article, the statement is true as studies have found that health issues, for example, like depression, anxiety, etc., can lead to chronic physical diseases. Around 40% to 50% of mental health issues are found to lead to chronic physical issues. What are chronic diseases? It involves diabetes, heart disease, cancer, arthritis, and many other physical issues as well. With the studies between women and men, it was found that women were more prone to getting a chronic disease, but just doesnt go for women, as both genders can still get chronic disease from not having a proper lifestyle. In the article, they mention how you can reduce the effects of having bad mental health, but also fix your physical health if you're struggling with chronic diseases. What they mention is talking to someone if you're struggling with problems, or even doing something physical, as it will clear the mind, but it also helps the body stay active and ready to go every day. How this even ties to other regions is the struggles of people not having that physical engagement and not getting help for mental issues.

Al-Ozairi, Abdullah, et al. "Prevalence of Mental Health Disorders and Their Association with Chronic Physical Diseases in Kuwait." *Frontiers in Psychiatry*, vol. 16, 2025, p. 1658457. *Frontiers*, doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1658457.

“Kuwait Could Deport 360,00 Expats to Address ‘Demographic Imbalances’ | | AW.” AW, thearabweekly.com/kuwait-could-deport-36000-expats-address-demographic-imbalances.

Blakemore, Erin. “Why Aboriginal Australians Are Still Fighting for Recognition.” Culture, 14 July 2025, www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/aboriginal-australians.

Impact of racism and discrimination on physical and mental health among Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander peoples living in Australia: a systematic scoping review:

This article reviews the assessment of the impact of racism on the mental and physical health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples living in Australia. The review found that racism is a significant health determinant contributing to health inequalities. The search used five electronic databases to search for relevant studies published between 2010 and 2020. The results showed that racism was associated with various negative health outcomes, child behavior issues, including smoking problems or drinking problems, but this includes unhealthy habits or addictions as well. The prevalence of health outcomes such as anxiety and depression was also linked to racism, although they were analyzed in a limited number. Through the article, there wasn't as much effect caused by racism towards physical issues, but more mental and psychological issues towards the person, causing the person to react a certain way towards situations to get by the racism.

Kairuz, Camila A., et al. "Impact of racism and discrimination on physical and mental health among Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander peoples living in Australia: a systematic scoping review." *BMC Public Health*, vol. 21, no. 1, 2021, p. 1302.