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Serious Mental Illness And Rural Primary Care: Provider Training, Attitudes, And Opinions, Lydia Eisenbrandt

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Healthcare resources are especially limited in rural regions of the US. The lack of Primary Care Providers (PCPs) and mental/behavioral health services is problematic, as there are high rates of behavioral and medical concerns within rural populations. Special populations, such as rural persons with Serious Mental Illness (SMI), are medically complex and represent a vulnerable and underserved population. Healthcare outcomes for persons with SMI are poor compared to the general population and commonly lead to premature death. Various barriers prevent this population from accessing optimal healthcare, especially in rural areas, due to negative perceptions/stigma, a lack of understanding from PCPs, …

Social Consequences Of Obesity: Case Study Of Bariatric Population At Ellis Hospital, Kara Leyden

Honors Theses

Despite the fact that the majority of adults living in the United States are overweight or obese, obesity remains a highly stigmatized physical condition. Society often sees obesity as a physical manifestation of personal faults such as the lack of self-control and laziness. Obese individuals thus experience discrimination in places of employment, have lower educational attainment, are underrepresented in popular culture, and often have difficulty finding and sustaining intimate relationships. For individuals with extreme obesity (BMI greater than 40), bariatric surgery is the most effective strategy to improve health and lose weight. Individuals who have undergone bariatric surgery typically experience …

Psychosis, Spirituality & Expressive Arts Therapy: A Literature Review, Julie Sousa

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This literature review explores varied treatment modalities for individuals who experience psychosis, carrying diagnoses such as schizophrenia, schizoaffective, bipolar I, or bipolar II. These individuals frequently experience marginalization and stigmatization in society. Unfortunately, this is often mirrored within the health care systems that provide treatment. These systems tend to focus heavily on symptoms, highly pathologizing client’s experiences, which can cause resistance to treatment. While psychopharmacology and traditional talk therapy are shown to be effective, they are not always sustainable. Varied treatment modalities are necessary. In order to promote more holistic treatment for these individuals, this literature review highlights recent global …

Difference In Stigma Between Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, And Binge Eating Disorder, And The Effect Of Eating Disorder Symptomology On Stigma In College Students, Ashley A. Matkins

Senior Honors Projects, 2020-current

Background: Eating disorders (ED) are mental illnesses characterized by unhealthy eating and exercise habits. These disorders are common in college students and, like other mental illnesses, eating disorders are highly stigmatized.

Objectives: This study evaluated how college students perceived anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder, and the effect of eating disorder symptomology on stigma.

Methods: Participants were randomized to receive one of three vignettes depicting an ED. The study used the Universal Stigma Survey (USS), the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDEQ), and demographic questions to evaluate stigma, symptomology as well as their familiarity with, and diagnosis of eating …

Assessing The Need For Mental Health Interventions Within The Law Enforcement Community, Lizzi Varga Reinard

Art Therapy Counseling Final Research Projects

This research explored mental health interventions within the police. There is a need for mental health in law enforcement (O’Hara, 2018; Blue Help, 2019; Waters & Ussery, 2007; Mohandie & Hatchert, 1999; Miller, 1999; Violanti, 2010). Having been a law enforcement officer myself, I have experienced the stigma and the need of mental health care. I used a cross-sectional survey design to obtain further information on police officers in a Midwest county in the United States to assess the need for mental health interventions. I created response artwork prior to obtaining the survey results (to help assess and sort through …

Associations Of Sex, Gender, And Gender Role Beliefs With Mental Health Attitudes, Ariel Erazo

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Mental health stigma is a strong deterrent for individual with mental illness utilizing mental healthcare. Individuals living with a mental illness experience shame and marginalization due to stigma. Stigma is perpetuated through stereotypes created and used by people in the majority. Studies have been done to assess individual’s attitudes toward mental healthcare seeking in regards to gender, age, race, and profession. This study aimed to look at traditional gender role beliefs, sex, and gender expression as predictors of individual’s mental health attitudes and individual’s views of mental health norms. Using a cross-sectional survey, 392 participants completed scales that included the …

Mental Health And Student Athletes, Meghan Shaye Barrasso

Community Engagement Student Work

The purpose of this study is to gain a better understanding of the relationship between mental health and collegiate student athletes. The participants of the study were Merrimack College student athletes and those strongly associated with Merrimack. The purpose of this study was to educate and bring awareness to mental health issues in collegiate student athletes, as well as topics associated with mental health; such as social stigma, personal stigma, social support, referral skills and resources. Participants participated in an online workshop that included three activities focused on stigma, social support and help seeking. Student athlete participants were asked to …

Barriers That Influence The Underuse Of Mental Health Services By African Americans Diagnosed With Schizophrenia, Pamela Gail Stackhouse-Hinsey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African Americans diagnosed with schizophrenia have longer wait times to be treated by mental health care professionals, resulting in their underuse of mental health services. This problem has motivated medical professionals to reexamine the ways in which services are rendered and then make appropriate improvements. The purpose of the study was to explore the lived experiences of African Americans diagnosed with schizophrenia and identify the reasons for their underuse of mental health services. A phenomenological research design was used to understand and explore the participants’ lived experiences of the phenomenon. Participants were recruited from an independent living facility. Purposive sampling …

Experiences And Challenges Of Social Workers Working With Transitioning And Postmilitary Service Members Who Have Mental Health Issues, Joyce M. Hewitt

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Active duty service members, veterans, and their family members are faced with a myriad of problems including mental health issues, substance abuse issues, traumatic brain injury, suicide, family integration issues, and family distress. Understanding the organizational, environmental, and person-centered factors that affect the delivery of mental health care treatment to active duty service members, veterans, and their families is urgent to this unique population for social work practitioners (licensed master, advanced, & clinical). This project explored the experiences and challenges that social work practitioners (licensed master, advanced, & clinical) have in providing effective services for mental health care treatment to …

Utilization And Impact Of Peer-Support Programs On Police Officers’ Mental Health, Beth A. Milliard

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Police officer suicides rates hit an all-time high in the province of Ontario, Canada, in 2018. Sadly, this statistic is somewhat unsurprising, as research has shown that police officers suffer from higher rates of mental health disorder diagnoses compared the general public. One key reason for the elevated levels of suicide and other mental health issues among police officers is the stigma associated with seeking help. In an attempt to address these serious issues, Ontario’s police services have begun to create internal peer-support programs as a way of supporting their members. The present research explores the experiences of police officers …