Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Strategic Use Of Wellness Ambassadors To Increase Attendance Of Initial Mental Health Appointments, Kaitlyn Blair, Mirna Law, Bettina Bernstein

Research Day

Background

Many adults and children with mental health conditions in the US do not receive treatment, and in Philadelphia alone, there were 174 suicide deaths in 2017. The shortage of mental health professionals and long wait times are significant barriers to accessing mental health care. Executive function difficulties can make it challenging for individuals to maintain a schedule for mental health appointments. A study found that reminder phone calls result in an increased rate of mental health appointment keeping. The goal of this project is to increase attendance of first mental health appointments by patients referred to mental health services …

Addressing Mental Health In The Medical School Setting Using A Peer Forum, Erica Stagliano, Christina Bascara, Bliss Rogers, Ruth Conboy, Denah Appelt

Research Day

Background: Medical students have a particularly higher incidence of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation compared to the general population. Consequently, there is a need to address students’ mental health as a component of professional development. At a medical school in the northeastern United States, we utilize a student-led, medical student-only forum that focuses on mental health topics and experiences. The intent is to educate and advocate for mental health acceptance and treatment through open discussion among peers. It is anticipated that this forum results in professional help-seeking behaviors and continued mental health discussions both inside and outside of the school …

Assessment Of Patient And Employee Mental Health During Covid-19, Lanerica Rogers, Tammy Phillips, Aerial Petty, Gabriana Freire, Carline Denis-Barnes

Research Day

Background: Many individuals in the United States have anecdotally reported a decline in their mental health due to worry and stress over the COVID-19 pandemic. Although much research has been dedicated to populations across the country, patients and employees at community health centers have been overlooked in terms of the effect of pandemic conditions on their mental health. The present study seeks to understand how the mental health of these populations has been impacted and offer recommendations for what can be done to address any unmet mental health needs.

Methods: Survey responses were compiled from patients and employees of the …