Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Perspectives On Finances And Mental Health Status Among Low-Income Los Angeles Latinas, Luisa R. Blanco, Jessica A. Baker, Julie A. Friedman, Karen T. Singh, Arleen F. Brown, Sierra D. Moon, Savanna L. Carson, Audree Hsu, Janet Pregler

Journal of Financial Therapy

Abstract

Research has established a link between financial challenges and mental health outcomes. Understanding this linkage among low-income Latinas who face unique experiences and challenges in relation to managing their household finances is important. This study utilized a community-based participatory qualitative research method to explore perspectives on financial and mental health among Latinas residing in Los Angeles County. The implications of this study are applicable when conducting a culturally responsive financial therapy program. Three focus groups were conducted with mainly immigrant, Spanish-speaking, low-income Latinas (n = 37). The study found that though participants face financial stressors tied to managing finances, …

Mental Health In U.S. Schools: Problems, Interventions, And Future Directions, Emma Rumpf-Snavely

Journal of Critical Issues in Educational Practice

The psychological well-being of American children has been a concern due to the rise in mental health issues. Efforts have been made to tackle some of the issues that are most prevalent among youth such as stress, depression, bullying, substance abuse, suicide and self-harm. Attempted solutions include legislation at the state level, school-wide regulations, and individualized supports. Despite these efforts, there are still discrepancies with implementation and regulation of policies and programs. These inconsistencies have resulted in the continual decline in the mental health of American youth. The United States can gain a more focused direction for their mental health …

Mental Health Of Students: A Teacher Resource, Kathryn Seguin

Honors Projects

Mental Health of Students: A Teacher Resource is a professional website regarding the four main types of mental health disorders, which are anxiety, depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and substance use. The website also includes both a detailed list of legal responsibilities of teachers and a list of school personnel to be involved in improving the mental health of students. The objective is for the website to be used for the educational basis of teachers regarding mental health issues in their students and is a compilation of research information collected from several sites.

Trends And Factors Associated With Suicide Deaths In Older Adults, Eada Novilla-Surette

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Suicide in older adults is a significant overlooked problem worldwide; particularly in Canada where a national suicide prevention strategy has not yet been established. This population-level study utilized and analyzed linked administrative health care databases (from 2011-2015) that were available at ICES (provincial health care administrative data steward), to build a better understanding of suicide (rate; trends; risks/preventive factors) in older adults living in Ontario, Canada. The findings suggest that suicide remains a persistent cause of death in older adults (with an average annual suicide rate of 0.1 per 1000 people over 5 years; the risks include being male, living …

Attitude Of Gratitude: Evaluation Of A Wellness Program To Improve Dispositional Gratitude Among Medical Students, Amelia C. Phillips, Farina A. Klocksieben

Journal of Wellness

Introduction: Medical students face significant mental health challenges as they matriculate through medical training. Research has emphasized the need for more interventions that promote physician trainee well-being and resilience during the early stages of training. Recent interventions have shown to be effective in promoting mental health and well-being; however, no interventions have examined the impact that daily gratitude practice, which is linked to increased well-being, may have on dispositional gratitude levels among medical students.

Methods: In Spring 2019, medical students at the University of South Florida were invited to participate in a gratitude program. Participants logged three good things that …

Who Will Care For The Early Care And Education Workforce? Covid-19 And The Need To Support Early Childhood Educators’ Emotional Well-Being, Mark Nagasawa, Kate Tarrant

Straus Center for Young Children & Families

This brief report describes issues and opportunities related to early childhood educators' emotional well-being that emerged from a survey exploring how the COVID-19 was affecting early educators across New York City and New York State (n=3355). Among our key findings were: (1) that mental health support was the most frequently identified need (n=910); (2) professional mental health was the least reported approach to coping (n=216); and (3) how those teaching and caring remotely were approximately one-and-a- half times more likely to rate their emotional well-being as lower than those whose sites were closed (CI 95% 1.157, 1.896). We argue, given …

Mitigating Suicide Risk Post-Discharge From Inpatient Crisis Stabilization: Safety Planning Intervention, Leighia M. Mcghee

Dissertations

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this program evaluation is to evaluate the effectiveness of a newly implemented safety planning intervention (SPI) tool, comparing patient outcomes relating to suicide attempt rates, emergency department (ED) encounter rates, and inpatient rehospitalizations rates pre and post its integration to care in a suburban behavioral health hospital.

Methods: A descriptive cohort design utilizing a retrospective chart review was completed over six months, three months pre, and three months post implementation of the SPI program. A convenience sample of inpatient charts was reviewed to assess the rate of suicide attempts, ED encounters frequencies, and hospitalization rates …

Analysis On Suicidal Ideation Among Adolescents (12-17 Years) In The Usa, Himani Raturi

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Suicide is one of the leading health concerns in United States among adolescents and the presence of suicidal ideation (SI) is quite high, with ~20-30% of adolescents reporting it at some point. Though we have seen growth and development in the prevention of suicide, there is limited research on the ability to identify the adolescents which might be at risk for SI. The objective behind the project is to identify adolescents with SI using machine learning.

The project shows statistics from different articles on adolescents in the U.S. For this study, adolescent data was taken from NSDUH 2018. Moreover, detailed …

African-American Mental Health Community: Information Needs, Barriers, And Gaps, Stephanie Jackson

School of Information Student Research Journal

This paper articulates the importance of African Americans regarding mental health: how they obtain information, lack of available resources, internal and external pressures of receiving help, and the gathering of their information from non-traditional sources in comparison to traditional. Historically, the community has faced stereotypical pressures, which they actively fight against to be viewed as equal. After segregation being abolished and many sources and organizations offering support for many different races, there is still an imbalance in what is offered and available for African Americans. A mix of current and dated studies and texts will be highlighted to discover findings, …

Perceptions Of Help-Seeking Likelihood For Depression: Examining The Relative Predictive Value Of Ethnicity And Barriers To Care, Linda Esperanza Guzman

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Latinx and non-Latinx White adults 18 years of age and older experience depression at proportional rates. However, Latinxs seek specialized care for depression at lower rates than non-Latinx Whites, suggesting these groups experience barriers in accessing care differently. This study sought to test the theoretical steps of help-seeking as informed by the Gaining Access and Treatment Equity model (GATE model; Bridges, 2018). According to the GATE model, successful help-seeking means navigating a series of barriers: sequentially, these are perceived need, attitudinal barriers, and structural barriers. Participants (N = 987) were either Latinx (n = 437) or non-Latinx White (n = …

Stress And Coping In Food-Insecure African Americans In Clark County, Nevada, Johanna Andrews

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

African Americans have the highest rates of food insecurity than any other racial/ethnic group in the nation as a result of poverty, low household income, unemployment, food injustice, food mirages, and racial segregation. This consistent uncertainty in food access demonstrably results in poor mental health outcomes for food-insecure African Americans. Thus, the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping provides a theoretical framework to investigate how African Americans cope with food insecurity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate processes of coping with food insecurity and determine their impact on emotional well-being for African Americans in Clark County, Nevada. A …

Mental Health In The School System: Providing Tools And Resources For Teachers, Hannah Skinner

Student Capstone Papers

This capstone project's aim was to look at the mental health needs of school aged children, and how Occupational Therapists can help to meet their needs in the school system. The doctoral student completed a background on mental health statistics and needs in children, and also completed a literature review on occupational therapy’s role in mental health and schools, mindfulness, and current practices in the United States.

A gap was identified after a literature search was completed: While the school systems understand mental health is an area that should be addressed, there is a gap in providing these tools and …

History Of The South Dakota Human Services Center 1879-2019: Trials, Trends, And Tragedies To Transformation, Kate L. Katterhagen

Honors Thesis

The history of the South Dakota Human Services Center (HSC), located in Yankton, SD, spans 140 years, from the Dakota Territory days beginning in 1879 to the present. The trials, trends, and tragedies promoting transformation of the state psychiatric hospital are the focus of this thesis, with an emphasis on significant events that shaped the facility. This research examines the challenges and changes in public administration, treatment methods, and psychiatric medical practices. My research was accomplished through identification, retrieval, and review of archived materials, reports, published newspaper articles, and personal accounts. Societal, political, legal, medical, and historical perspectives frame my …

The Effects Of Exercise On Mental Health, Xavier A. Pinex

Honors Thesis

Exercise is an extremely important aspect towards positive mental health. Multiple studies have been done previously that show one benefit or another that exercise has towards mental health, but previously there had been no attempt to summarize the findings of these studies. The benefits that exercise has to an individual’s mental health are numerous, but despite this exercise is an underutilized tool in the quest for better mental health. There are many variables that affect the benefits of exercise to an individual’s mental health and it is important to understand all these variables to understand how to properly exercise to …

Family Interaction Patterns And A Successful College Transition, Megan Elizabeth Six

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

This study explored the connections between family interaction patterns in a student’s family of origin and how those interactions related to their adjustment to college as defined by grade point average and mental health. The college transition stands out as a point where the individual gains more autonomy. Successfully completing college positively impacts the life chances of the student and thus, it is important to understand how the family of origin can positively or negatively impact the student. This research examined family cohesion and flexibility as outlined by Olson’s Circumplex model, and the effect that family interaction patterns have on …

The Impact Of Toxic Masculinity On Men's Mental Health, Amardeep Grewal

Sociology Student Work Collection

My project is about how toxic masculinity can affect men’s mental health. I discuss about how social norms of a man can negatively affect mental health.

Relationship Between Mental Health And Obesity In The United States, Lexie E. Barnett

2020 Symposium Posters

Rates of obesity have continued to grow in the United States, as well as the rates of mental illness. There appears to be a link between mental health and obesity. Obesity develops from a combination of environmental effects and genetics, both of which can present as heightened risk factors in people with mental illness. Obesity also brings with its higher risks of type two diabetes and cardiovascular disease, which can further affect psychological well-being. It has been discovered that an uneven number of individuals with mental health issues are obese compared to the general population. The research method that was …

The Impact Of Mental Health First Aid Training On Law Enforcement Officer Mental Health Literacy, Cindy J. Blankenship

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

An increasing number of juvenile offenders with untreated mental health issues are entering the justice system. Lack of adequate training of criminal justice personnel enhances the possibility of this population being arrested which is creating an overwhelming problem for stakeholders. This study sought to determine if the implementation of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Training impacted law enforcement officers’ (LEOs’) mental health literacy. This mixed-methods study used a quasi-experimental, one-group, pretest-posttest design, with a qualitative survey. Participants consisted of a sample of 28 LEOs from a rural Southeastern United States law enforcement agency. Study findings indicated that MHFA training increased …

Barriers To Mental Health Services Related To Stigma In Northern California, Kandalena Ary

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

California Senate Bill 1041 recognized mental health as a contributing barrier for individuals struggling to achieve independence from aid through the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program to meet the needs of the state's low-income families while reducing barriers to self-sufficiency. As mental health illnesses continue to increase, the engagement and utilization of services have not increased. The purpose of this study was to explore county policy infrastructure addresses making mental health services known, accessible, and increase participation to decrease barriers in utilization of available resources. The research questions were used to examine the effectiveness of processes …

Examining The Efficacy Of A School-Based Mental Health Program In Iowa, Karen A. Rodriguez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Evidence shows that treating mental health issues positively impacts academic and other life outcomes for students. However, there remains a gap in knowledge specific to academic outcomes and to rural school districts. It is important for mental health providers, educators, and third-party payers to gain an understanding of how treating mental health in the school setting affects student performance. The purpose of this quantitative study, which had contribution analysis as its theoretical framework, was to examine the academic and behavioral outcomes of participating in a school-based mental health (SBMH) program in rural school districts in Iowa. The specific focus was …

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 …

Veterans' Perceptions Of Behavioral Health Services For Posttraumatic Stress, Larence Kirby

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Behavioral health services exist for Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF)/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) veterans diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD); yet, untreated diagnoses may lead to the risk of compromised behavioral health. The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of OEF/OIF veterans regarding their decision to seek and retain behavioral health services for addressing PTSD. The research focus and questions were employed through the theoretical concepts of Heidegger’s hermeneutic phenomenological theory, Heider’s attribution theory, and Beck’s cognitive behavioral theory. In-person interviews were conducted to collect data from 8 OEF/OIF veterans who had encounters with behavioral …

Mental Health Professional Perceptions Of Barriers To Fidelity For Empirically- Supported Treatments, Chris Streidl

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

It is estimated that one in five adults in the United State of America experience mental illness in a given year. When mental health organizations implement empirically-supported treatments but fail to maintain them, it can result in individuals not being provided the services that they need. The purpose of this study was to identify perceived barriers to maintaining fidelity for empirically-supported mental health treatments. The study utilized a quantitative cross-sectional correlational research design (N = 154) and the Perception of Barriers Scale (PBS) was developed to measure perceived barriers to maintaining fidelity for empirically-supported treatments. Bandura’s social cognitive theory as …

Evaluating Interpersonal Problems In Anorexia Nervosa Through The Lens Of Polyvagal Theory, Marika Morelan

CMC Senior Theses

Eating disorders are an increasingly prevalent issue, especially among young women. While they aren’t a new phenomenon, they are historically under-researched, and remain widely misunderstood. Without understanding the causes underlying these disorders or the mechanisms working to maintain them, treating them successfully has proved to be incredibly difficult. This is especially the case with Anorexia Nervosa. Out of the six eating disorders in the DSM-5, it has the lowest treatment success rate and an alarmingly high relapse rate. Treating the disorder through weight restoration and the extinction of compensatory behaviors alone does not fully resolve the disordered pathology; interpersonal problems …

Exploring The Association Between Nutrition And Mental Health In Adolescence: A Systematic Literature Review, Asia Walker, Andrea Mcdonald, Angela Branch-Vital

Pursue: Undergraduate Research Journal

Introduction: Throughout life, proper nutrition is important to the brain as it affects cognition and intellectual development. Studies have shown that a lack of certain nutrients can affect the body’s ability to perform mentally and physically. Annually, 14% of children in the United States receive mental health illness diagnoses. However, the link between nutrition and mental health is not clear. The purpose of this systematic literature review on mental health and nutrition in adolescence is to identify any gaps that require future research efforts. Methods: The Elton Bryson Stephens Company ( EBSCO), ProQuest, and Journal Storage (JSTOR) databases were used …

Coping Skills For Daily Life: Cost-Effective Strategies To Prevent And Address Mental Health Disorders, Shae Ian Rowlandson

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

Mental health disorders, along with their associated cost and negative outcomes, have continued to persist in Vermont and have become one of the largest, growing challenges to public health in the United States. Unfortunately, Vermont does not appear to have enough resources or providers to optimally address it. Concurrently, coping strategies of minimal cost that have the potential to prevent or address mental health disorders may often be underutilized or misconstrued by the population. A pamphlet providing information on evidenced, cost-effective coping strategies was designed and distributed to providers and patients to enable patients with the skills to help themselves …

The Experience Of Children's Mental Health Leaders During Times Of Constraint: A Narrative Study, Jody Levison-Johnson

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

Across the United States, each state has a public mental health system that is designed to support children and youth with emotional and behavioral challenges. This is critically important as recent estimates show that one in six children in the United States has a diagnosed mental health condition (Whitney & Peterson, 2019). The design and structure of these systems vary by state, but consistent across them is the presence of a state-designated leader who is faced with an array of constraining factors that influence their behavior and shape the resulting system. This study describes the experience of leaders in children’s …

National Guard Members With Suicide Ideation: The Impact Of Stigma, Mental Health, And Trauma History On Treatment-Seeking Outcomes, Amy Brown

Theses and Dissertations--Social Work

Background. Veterans are overrepresented among suicide deaths in the United States, representing 20% of annual suicide deaths but only about 1% of the U.S. population (Department of Veteran Affairs, 2010). Of all military suicide deaths in 2016, one-third (33.4%) were in the National Guard or Reserves (Department of Defense, 2018). Previous suicidal ideation or behavior (SIB) has been shown to increase risk of subsequent ideation or behavior in both active duty and veteran samples (Bryan, Rudd, & Wertenberger, 2016; Hazlett et al., 2016) but studies of SIB specific to National Guard service members were not found.

Access and Barriers to …