Western treatment is how we would approach mental health illness here in the United States. Different countries may approach treatment differently. Western treatment for mental health it often medication based or may contain a number of therapy sessions. An Ndeup is the East African ritual that Andrew Solomon participated in and described in the talk. Mental health illnesses may include depression, anxiety, bipolar, schizophrenia and number of other illnesses. Topics to consider (you don't need to answer all of these questions, but they might give you some ideas): Are we treating mental health effectively here in the U.S.?

What are we doing wrong? What could we be doing better? What are your thoughts on using this treatment in the U.S.? What scientific procedures would need to be used to make this happen? Why might western professionals look down on the Ndeup? Compare current treatments, such as medication and therapy, to culturally based treatments, such as the Ndeup? What do they look like socially? How do each impact the individual getting the treatment? Is one better than the other? Are there treatments you or your family might use that may not be considered a traditional western treatment (this can be for mental health or medical illness)?