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Learn and Practice Deliberation

It's important to discuss tough problems. Practice deliberation through considering perspectives, listening with empathy & respect, & weighing trade-offs of possible actions. Register for Zoom link.

This session is intended for anyone who wants to learn and practice deliberation, including librarians, educators, and community members.  Everyone is welcome.

What is deliberation and why is it important?

The discovery of a shared direction, guided by what we value most. 
 
Deliberation is an unbiased kind of talking that starts where the problem starts—with your experience of it. It’s not a bunch of abstract backroom negotiations, but real, genuine, human struggles of which we are a part.

Unlike debate, or lecture, or an airing of grievances, deliberation asks us to begin with what we hold most dear and share our personal experiences with a given issue. It’s not about reaching agreement or seeing eye-to-eye. It’s about looking at the costs and consequences of possible solutions to daunting problems, and finding out what we, as a people, will or will not accept as a solution.

Learn more from the National Issues Forum.

We will use this issue guide about mental illness for our deliberation, while also revealing the elements of a successful deliberation during our conversation.

Mental Illness in America: How Do We Address a Growing Problem?
One in five Americans will have mental health problems in any given year. Unaddressed mental illness hurts individuals and their families and results in lost productivity. In rare cases, it can result in violence.

This issue guide presents a framework that asks: How can we reduce the impact of mental illness in America?

The issue guide presents three options for consideration:

Put safety first

This option holds that more preventive action is necessary to deal with mentally ill individuals who are potentially dangerous to themselves or others. We should identify those who need help and intervene where necessary to prevent them from harming themselves and others. These individuals should be sought out and their needs addressed.

Ensure mental health services are available to all who need them

This option holds that people should be encouraged to take control over their own mental health and be provided the tools to do so. We should make sure that everyone who wishes can get the needed help.

Let people plot their own course

This option holds that we should not rely on so many medical approaches. We should reduce our dependence on drugs and allow people the freedom to plot their own course to healthy lives. In many cases, simple changes to lifestyle can improve mental health.

Learn more about deliberative conversations at the library. Download the issue guide for this topic.

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