Topic: Mental Faculties

During his NBC interview, President Biden pushed back against concerns regarding his debate performance, claiming he is "on the horse" and in command of his faculties. He cited his hour-long press conference during the NATO summit as evidence that he does not require notes or a teleprompter to answer questions. Despite his confidence, critics continue to point to verbal slips, such as misidentifying world leaders, as signs of cognitive decline.

A discussion on university mental health policies explored whether faculty should be trained to identify suicidal ideation in students. While some administrators worry that talking about suicide might encourage it, psychiatrists argue there is no evidence that asking patients about self-harm implants the idea. Critics of this approach suggest that constant focus on mental health "experiences" may inadvertently use the power of suggestion on vulnerable youth.