Digital Commons Network^™

Wellbeing @ Work: The Holistic Development Of On-Campus Student Employees, Matthew Mciver

M.A. in Higher Education Leadership: Action Research Projects

In this action research project, I sought to learn how on-campus student employment affects students’ academic success, their leadership development, and their mental health. This project worked with current student employees in the Campus Recreation department at the University of San Diego (USD) to learn both how day-to-day responsibilities and commitments affect a students’ ability to succeed academically, and how it relates to their mental health. The project also sought to help depict whether the department’s student development system successfully or unsuccessfully develops students’ transferable and leadership skills. Participants completed a survey and participated in a one-on-one interview to share …

Reinventing Educational Spaces, Angel Coleman

Masters in Architecture Program: Theses

Problems always existed in our educational system, but many issues intensified in the pandemic. One of the biggest is the mental impact on the children, with those in high school tripling in numbers. The spaces these students spend their time has a great impact on their mental well-being. Our schools need to create places for the students to make communities and feel a sense of ownership. Giving students a place to belong and making them proud of their work helps build their self-esteem, relieving some mental health issues.

My thesis is redesigning these environments to create classrooms, schools and a …

Factors Affecting Emergency Department Mental Health Visits, Logan Daul

Honors Thesis

Research has shown that current quantities of emergency department visits for mental health and substance use are increasing at a startling rate. These increases are acknowledged in quantitative studies and some important information can be gathered from qualitative studies however determining specific causes for these emergent visits are difficult. The purpose of this study is to derive findings from statistical analyses focusing on quantities of emergency department visits for mental health and substance use disorders. Comparisons will be drawn at the state level between the per capita quantity of emergency department visits and poverty rate, climate, psychiatric healthcare infrastructure, urban …

Preventing Self-Harm Among Adolescent Victims Of Adverse Child Experiences Integrated Review, Irene Tsimba Zenga, Trinette Radasta, Julie Maxworthy

DNP Qualifying Manuscripts

Background: Evidence shows a clear connection between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and mental health disorders in adolescence. If not treated, adolescent victims of ACEs could develop maladaptive behaviors such as self-mutilation and suicidal ideation. The standard therapies to treat this population are psychotropic medications or cognitive behavior therapy.

Search Methodology: Ten studies from a literature search on CINAHL, PubMed, APA PsychInfo, and Joanna Briggs databases were selected, appraised, and reviewed.

Integrated Review: Studies were grouped into six types: (a) screening for ACEs, (b) usual care and alternative therapies, (c) ineffectiveness of usual care, (d) comprehensive treatment that included trauma-informed therapy, …

Promoting Mental Health Of Middle And High School Students Using Universal And Targeted Strategies, Alyssa E. Brown

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Background. The number of children and adolescents with mental health disorders is continuing to rise. Children with and without disabilities may experience mental health challenges. Children spend a significant amount of time at school, and therefore, it is important to address mental health in this setting. Purpose. My capstone project aimed to promote children and adolescent’s mental health using universal and targeted strategies. Methods. Students in grades six through twelve had the opportunity to participate in a seven-week cafeteria program. Students in grades nine through twelve participated in a seven-week leisure program. I distributed videos and mental health resources to …

Effects Of Tiktok On The Mental Health Of Men's And Women's Soccer Teams At One Institution, Hayley Suchland, Erika Smith-Goodwin, Eric Dick

Journal of Sports Medicine and Allied Health Sciences: Official Journal of the Ohio Athletic Trainers Association

OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the social media platform, TikTok, on the mental health of Division III Men’s and Women’s soccer players at one institution.

MAIN.OUTCOME.MEASUREMENT
Likert scale survey.

Mental Health In Rural Communities: Barriers And Solutions To Access, Andrea Ducharme

Counselor Education Capstones

Rural communities encompass a unique culture and a way of life difficult to find anywhere else. Unfortunately, barriers to mental health services exist more frequently in rural than urban and suburban areas. These barriers include stigma, cultural factors, financial concerns, as well as lack of resources and providers. Solutions to these barriers exist in some part, but also present their own challenges. This literature review explores the problem, causes of the problem in the form of barriers, and solutions to accessing mental health resources in rural areas of the United States. A discussion with suggestions for further action and study …

Implementation Of Phq-2 Screening Tool In A Telemedicine Based Setting, Joanna Luong

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background Major depression is one of the most common mental health disorders in the United States, affecting nearly 17.3 million of the population. As cases continue to rise throughout the ongoing pandemic of COVID-19, telemedicine has become a popular modality for accessibility to mental health care. Adequate screening, availability of resources and services, prompt treatment, and simple follow ups can contribute to treatment success rates and higher positive outcomes.

Theoretical Framework

The expanded collaborative chronic care model theoretical framework translates to this project in that it approaches management of patients with a team approach for those who screen positive for …

Improving Depression Surveillance At The We Care Clinic, Kaitlin Springer, Emma Hanney

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Depression is one of the most underdiagnosed and untreated disorders affecting more than 16 million people in the United States each year (Henry et al., 2020). Unmanaged depression can lead to emotional suffering, decreased productivity, reduced income, impaired relationships, and an increased risk for comorbidities (Sinisalchi et al., 2020). It can affect anyone, however, individuals who are non-white, female, undereducated, disabled, pregnant or postpartum, have low socioeconomic status, or lack social support are at an increased risk (United States Preventative Services Task Force, 2019). The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville We Care Clinic provides primary care to minority patient populations who …

Thru-Hiker Mentality During The Covid-19 Pandemic: Implications For Mental Health, Brooke Fox

Masters Projects

Thru-hiking is where an individual hikes a long distance, end-to-end trail for an extended period of time. While the mental health benefits of hiking and being in nature is well known in current literature, there has been little focus on how the thru-hiker experiences contributes to overall wellness after a person completes their hike. This study investigates how thru-hiker experiences can have a lasting impact on how hikers handle future adversities. This case specifically looks at how thru-hikers have handled the COVID-19 pandemic through in-depth interviews with thru-hikers that have completed the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) and through blogs written …

Exploring Challenges And Triumphs Within The Transgender Community Through Comics-Based Research, Carly Caldwell

Art Therapy Counseling Final Research Projects

Transgender people are marginalized and pathologized within our society, which leaves transgender individuals vulnerable to numerous negative outcomes. The minority stress model describes the factors experienced by marginalized communities contribute to adverse outcomes (Meyer, 2015). Health care professionals are often not properly equipped to serve the needs of transgender individuals due to marginalization and pathologization. Used to challenge harmful stereotypes, as a form of cultural resistance, and to incite social change comic books and zines have been used as forms of expression for individuals with marginalized identities. Through the creation of a comic book, I aimed to educate others, encourage …

Impact Of Covid-19 Quarantine On U.S. Adults, Shelby Rubino

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

In 2019 a novel virus spread quickly and vastly throughout the world. The coronavirus was transmitted easily, resulting in a sudden increase in infection and death rates and overwhelmed hospitals. This sudden pandemic resulted in government and health officials mandating physical and social quarantines. These mandates were initially implemented to separate the ill from the healthy, and significantly limit physical contact between healthy and ill persons to decrease the spread of Covid-19. All these unexpected factors induced traumatic stress in populations across the world. The impact of this trauma is seen to date, as many studies reported adverse mental health …

Shining A Light On Mental Health, Mark Christians, Jon W. Moeller, Leah Mouw, Melanie Wynja

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"Each profession faces unique situations when it comes to serving those needing support with mental health, and it is important as Christians that we come together with a holistic approach."

Posting about care for individuals with mental health crises in the various professions from In All Things - an online journal for critical reflection on faith, culture, art, and every ordinary-yet-graced square inch of God’s creation.

https://inallthings.org/shining-a-light-on-mental-health/

Intelligent Relaxation System For Information Anxiety, Xiuyu Shi

Theses

The development of information technology has brought a lot of convenience to people's lives and changed the way we work. There are many people who use cell phones and computers every day, which has caused many health problems, and information anxiety is one of them. This paper discusses a project that proposed to help with the problem of information anxiety among workers and investigates the root causes of information anxiety among IT workers. After user testing and design, this project gives a potential design solution that uses sensory feedback. In addition, this paper gives some insights into the negative effects …

A Review Of The Current Literature Regarding The Effectiveness Of Psychedelics In Treatment-Resistant Psychiatric Disorders, Emmy Weisenberg

Harriet L Wilkes Honors College Theses 2020 - Present

In recent years, the numbers of psychiatric cases have nearly doubled. While some treatments options are available, an increase in the prevalence of treatment-resistant mental health disorders represent a need to develop other therapeutics for maladaptive behavioral management. Currently, the serotonergic psychedelic LSD, ketamine, psilocybin, and MDMA in the micro-dosing form are being investigated for their efficacy in the treatment-resistant individuals. Ongoing trials indicate that not only are psychedelics efficacious and safe in the micro-dosing form, but this form of medication may provide both immediate and long-term relief. There is evidence to show that all four aforementioned hallucinogens are capable …

Exploring The Mental Health And Burnout Among Educators, Kelsey Van't Zelfde

Master of Education Program Theses

This study examined the internal and external factors that contribute to stress and burnout among teachers in a group of denominational schools located in the United States. Thirty-one educators from these schools participated in a short survey to examine their personal experience with these factors and to identify areas of concern. These educators had varying years of experience. The participants were surveyed about their teaching careers and the results indicate that negative factors such as job satisfaction, workload, classroom management, lack of appreciation and support, and lack of self-care can have a detrimental effect on the mental health of teachers …

Postpartum Depression Among Adolescent Mothers In The United States, Susan May

Ballard Brief

Adolescent mothers are twice as likely to suffer from postpartum depression than adult mothers. In addition. teen moms are more likely to experience social stigma associated with teenage pregnancy and motherhood. Adolescent mothers also abuse substances at a higher rate than adult mothers, and teen dads are less likely to be involved in parenting responsibilities than adult fathers. These factors associated with teenage mothers cause an increased likelihood of teen moms developing postpartum depression. When mothers suffer from postpartum depression, their children are more at risk for child development problems. fathers are more likely to suffer from depression, and parents …

Understanding Law Enforcement Mental Health Communication And Police Officers’ Mental Health Support Preferences: A Grounded Theory Study, Erin S. Craw

Communication (PhD) Dissertations

Throughout the United States, police officers experience cumulative stress and their mental health-related concerns often remain unaddressed. Recently, police departments have begun to offer more mental health support resources in an attempt to mitigate this issue. However, the underutilization of such support is a serious problem. The overall goal of this dissertation is to develop a grounded theory of mental health communication in law enforcement. Employing a constructivist grounded theory approach, data were collected in two sequential phases. Phase one involved 48 in-depth semi-structured interviews with active and retired police officers to examine how the messages police officers receive from …

Addressing Mental Health Of Hospitality Employees: An Exploratory Study, Chase Izell

Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

Exacerbated by a global pandemic, mental health challenges within hospitality professionals are an area of growing prevalence and concern for the industry. Historically unaddressed, these issues are continuing to impact the morale of essential talent which is promoting a culture of turnover that defines the industry today. Aside from the direct costs incurred by voluntary employee termination, the indirect costs to workplace culture and guest satisfaction have furthered the overall financial impact of a largely untreated problem. The objective of this research is to provide evidence of declining mental health in the hospitality industry while illuminating the key contributors to …

Mental Health In Historically Black Communities: The Role Of Local Non-Profits, Cindy N. Ledat

2022 Spring Honors Capstone Projects - Archive

This study examined the role that local non-profit organizations play in bridging the gap to mental healthcare services in historically Black communities. With a focus on the Oak Cliff neighborhood of Dallas, Texas, semi-structured interviews were gathered from participants working for local non-profit organizations, specifically those that connect the community to mental health services. Utilizing a phenomenological approach to qualitative analysis, the key themes that emerged were those of combatting shame, building trust, and engaging with community stakeholders. Additionally, there were themes of helplessness in the face of systemic barriers as well as empathy towards a participant’s cultural community. Though …

Social Media As A Tool For Education And Awareness Of Mental Health, Mikaela Neubauer

2022 Spring Honors Capstone Projects - Archive

With the growing levels of awareness and discussion of mental health on social media, online social platforms provide a unique and powerful opportunity to reach people. Are social media campaigns effective avenues and tools for circulating educational mental health content and advertising mental health resources? This project uses content analysis to determine the efficacy of a social media campaign regarding mental health. The campaign was designed based off research on the target audience and other previously successful social media campaigns and run for the therapy platform Atlas Health Group Inc. This study found that women ages 21-32 are mostly likely …

The Effect Of Depression, Anxiety, And Length Of Stay In Neonatal Intensive Care Upon Maternal-Infant Bonding, Tori Shavon Young

2022 Spring Honors Capstone Projects - Archive

Bonding is important to establish an early relationship but a challenge to mothers with infants in NICU. The aim of this study was to determine if a longer length of time an infant requires NICU admission is associated with impaired maternal-infant bonding. A secondary goal explored associations and effects of maternal depression and anxiety upon bonding via the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire (PBQ), Edinburg Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), and a subscale of the EPDS for anxiety. A descriptive design was used to explore mental health and bonding among 45 NICU mothers who were at least 18 years old and could speak, …

The Health In Mental Health: Exploring Individualized Holistic Health Practices As A Process To Transform Mental Health, Craig Craig Keaton

Social Work Dissertations - Archive

Mental health problems are on the rise, especially among college students. Problematically, the two most common approaches - pharmacotherapy and talk therapy - are either grounded in a limited and suspect evidence base or is not an approach that reaches most people in need of and wanting mental health support. There is, however, a growing body of evidence supporting a health-based approach to mental health, including the application of nature, exercise, nutrition, and lifestyle. As well, with an expansive definition of health, there are even more practices, such as art, writing, and social connection to support better health and mental …

The Effect Of Covid-19 On Substance Use And Mental Health On A College Campus, Georgia Coffman

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

In this research the authors surveyed a university population to determine the impact COVID-19 has had on substance use and mental health. Current research provides significant data indicating worsening mental health and substance use. This paper looks at how applicable those trends are to a small, private university in Indianapolis, Indiana. The data included 261 respondents composed of students, faculty, and staff of the university. The results reveal college students, faculty, and staff experienced statistically significant increases in feelings of unhappiness, depression, loneliness, hopelessness, agitation, and irritability during the pandemic compared to pre-pandemic. Data analysis of survey responses reveals COVID-19 …

An Exploration Of Covid-19 Impact On Healthcare Workers’ Mental Health In China, Jenny Yang

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background

In December 2019, the first confirmed human case of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) or COVID-19 occurred in Wuhan, China. By March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) had classified the COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic due to the rapid spread of the virus to other countries. Many people have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in various aspects, especially front-line healthcare workers. Hospital working conditions are constantly changing to cope with the problems that arise from the pandemic. These problems can result in an unsafe patient-to-nurse ratio, understaffed healthcare workers in hospitals, equipment shortage, and increased …

Meeting Mental Health Needs Of Parents Caring For Children With Disabilities By Facilitating Occupational Balance And Well-Being, Emily J. Heumiller

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Parents caring for children with disabilities experience unique challenges which affects their well-being and occupational balance. The affects can contribute to further limitations within their family systems. The purpose of this capstone project is to explore the need and effectiveness of an occupation therapy-based program to address parents’ mental health needs. Needs assessment results and literary evidence supported the need for the proposed program, titled the Well Parent Program. Program development was guided by occupational therapy models and frames of reference. Three assessments were used to evaluate the effect of program interventions on parents’ perceived stress, perceived well-being, and goal …

Uncomfortable Conversations With A Psychiatric Survivor: Exploring The Paradigm Shift In Mental Health, Sean Gunderson

University Honors Program Senior Projects

This project focuses on the ongoing scientific paradigm shift in the field of mental health. It presents historical and current information as well as explores possibilities for the future in the context of a podcast series. Each episode has a specific theme. A different co-host participates in the episodes on the history, current circumstances, and future possibilities of mental health. The nature of the ongoing scientific paradigm shift is such that previously proposed medically based hypotheses for mental illness have not been supported adequately by subsequent research. A substantial internal controversy in the field of mental health has resulted, which …

The Influence Of Loneliness : Mental Health's Impact On Workaholism Among Graduate Students, Bhindai Mahabir

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Graduate students are the principal proponents of academia and its ecosystem. In addition to challenging curriculums, teaching and research responsibilities, caregiving demands, and lingering student loans, graduate students are also particularly vulnerable to stress. These factors all adversely affect graduate students' mental health. Using longitudinal data from 247 graduate students over the span of six months, this study examines how self-reported depression and anxiety may influence graduate students’ workaholism through increased loneliness based on the mood congruency judgment effect. Further, graduate students are often surrounded by students in the same program and classes who share similar experiences and with whom …

Stigma As A Barrier To Military Mental Health Services, Alicea Gray

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A psychiatric disorder is perhaps an uncomfortable topic that isn’t discussed enough in the military. However, the nature of the profession (i.e., the possibility of combat exposure) increases the risk of mental health disorders in the military. Despite the increasing awareness of the effects of untreated mental health conditions, a treatment gap still exists within the military culture. The present study aims to describe the prevalence of stigma in the military, as well as examine related factors, such as leadership behaviors and the associations between endorsed and anticipated stigma and treatment seeking intentions. Utilizing a questionnaire, this study investigated the …

Barriers To Mental Health Supports And Resources Experienced By Online Graduate Social Work Students, Joseph B. Camacho

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The focus of this qualitative exploratory study was to examine barriers online graduate social work (MSW) students encountered in obtaining mental health services. To obtain relevant data, the researcher interviewed online MSW students at a public university in southern California. This project employed bottom-up data analysis techniques by using open and axial coding to categorize and synthesize varied participant experiences. Relationships between axial codes were identified and analysis provided a window into the student experience for these online graduate social work students.

This study uncovered a phenomenon that this author calls the participants’ “student experience” as they pursue their online …