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Post-Secondary Students’ Perceptions Of Mental Health Messages Conveyed By Video Storytelling And Informational Approaches, Hung Quang Huynh

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This study’s aim was to examine how Western students perceive mental health messages conveyed by video storytelling and informational approaches. In focus group discussions, participants’ perceptions of help seeking behaviors were unchanged by either approach. However, discussions suggested that messages enhanced understanding and awareness, which potentially reduced stigma. Participants who watched the storytelling videos asserted that they were open and receptive to the messages and expressed perceptual changes. Four facilitators appeared to contribute to effective mental health messages: diversity; explicit instructions; shift toward understanding societal and biological causes of mental health conditions; and a combination of storytelling and information. Future …

Lgbt+ Teens, Social Media Use & Depressive Symptoms, Megan Curtis, Danielle Ryder

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

Sexual and gender minority youth are statistically more likely to face severe mental health challenges than their cisgender, heterosexual peers; they consistently comprise a disproportionate percentage of youth who report experiencing depression, suicide ideation and attempted suicide in the United States every year (e.g. Abreu & Kinney, 2018). The aim of this study was to fill a gap in the current literature base by investigating the effects of social media use on sexual and gender minority youth mental health. The researchers conducted an online anonymous questionnaire targeted toward American LGBT+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, etc.) youth ages 14 to 18, …

Girls Who Handle It: Transforming The Lives Of College-Aged Women, Jordan Rae Delfs

Journalism

Girls Who Handle It (GWHI) is an organization unique to San Luis Obispo, but hoping to expand in the coming years. The team recruited myself to begin the process of expansion beginning in Santa Barbara. Despite the success in San Luis Obispo, the lack of previous recognition in this new city proved to be a difficulty in executing this event. GWHI aims to create a community empowerment movement by allowing college-aged women to share their vulnerabilities on a public platform creating conversation surrounding difficulty. They also highlight the role social media plays in hiding these trials by often not accurately …

“I Want To Feel What They Feel”: Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Emotional Flow In Narrative Health Blogs, Sarah Elizabeth Sheff

Theses and Dissertations--Communication

Emotion has long been implemented in persuasive messages and campaigns to influence attitudes and health behavior. Research demonstrates that messages often evoke more than one emotion during and after exposure, and this was previously viewed as an undesirable outcome; however, the literature suggests that the intentional inclusion of multiple emotions, or emotional flow, could positively impact persuasive outcomes, such as attitudes and behavioral intention.

The proposed study employs the concept of emotional flow, the intentional inclusion of more than one discrete emotion, in the context of narrative health blogs addressing mental health topics relevant to college students. The study specifically …

'Stand Up To Suicide', Katherine Hickman

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This paper reviews the planning and implementation of a suicide prevention event titled ‘Stand Up to Suicide’ held at The University of Akron in September 2018. This project was designed in response to the rising suicide crisis. After reviewing various peer-reviewed articles, communication methods, and interviewing mental-health professionals, an event was created and implemented to empower students to speak up about suicide awareness and get connected to suicide prevention resources. While an average of 123 individuals die by suicide in the United States every day, suicide is preventable. With a space to enter into the tough conversation of suicide, this …