Digital Commons Network^™

The Importance Of Mental Health In A Post Pandemic Society: The Impact On College Minority Students, Jerry Wallace

Tapestry: Journal of Research in Education

The mental health of collegiate students, specifically minorities increased during the pandemic. The death for all minorities increased as well as financial burdens and mental health trauma. Black students were already faced with being a part of a general demographic with higher death rates, challenges with a variety of diseases, and financial concerns. The pandemic further exposed and increased those challenges which in turn created more mental health concerns. Collegiate institutions were faced with student enrollment concerns and students were determined to seek resources in a variety areas to support the added trauma. This article will explore the impacts of …

Mental Health Applications As A Resource For Reducing Access Disparities? A Case Example From A Disaster Mental Health App, Laura Perez-Villagomez

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Past research indicates Latinx individuals underutilize mental health services when it comes to addressing their mental health concerns, but often fail to mention the barriers to underutilization. Systemic barriers to seeking care largely fall under two larger umbrellas: cost and availability. A focus on whether disparities observed in traditional mental health services persisted for a trauma-focused app that recruited participants from the 2017 Hurricane outbreak provides us a unique outlook on a comparative analysis of utilization and engagement between the applications, Bounce Back Now (BBN) and Enhanced Usual Care. BBN is made up of four major components including tracking, …

Metal/Emo Music And Their Effect On Millennials In The United States, Kevin Mcpherson

Masters Theses

The goal of this paper is to understand the relationship between two related genres and a generation. Both genres have different interpretations, some catharsis, and others self-destruction. Finding modern and historical evidence of a need for sad music revealed a need for music that empathizes with a person’s current state. These genres did have the potential to engage in self-destruction, however, it was found this was due to external factors far more than the cause itself. When music is involved in destructive behavior it gives the individual permission to do so, rather than be the motivator towards it. As art …

Mental Health Needs And Services Utilization Among Undergraduate And Graduate Students In Texas During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Alice P. Villatoro, Vanessa L. Errisuriz, Melissa J. Dupont-Reyes

Public Health

COVID-19 created a global crisis, exacerbating disparities in social determinants of health (SDOH) and mental health (MH). Research on pandemic-related MH and help-seeking is scarce, especially among high-risk populations such as college/university students. We examined self-rated MH and psychological distress, the perceived need for MH services/support, and the use of MH services across the SDOH among college/university students during the start of the pandemic. Data from the COVID-19 Texas College Student Experiences Survey (n = 746) include full- and part-time undergraduate/graduate students. Regressions examined self-rated MH, psychological distress, perceived need, and service use across SDOH, controlling for pre-pandemic MH, age, …

Psychometric Properties Of The Suicide Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised (Sbq-R) In American Sign Language, Jared A. Embree, Amanda M. Hinson-Enslin, Kathy Taylor, Josephine Wilson

JADARA

Limited research has focused on the risk of suicide within the deaf community, and no published studies to date report SBQ-R scores in deaf populations. The purpose of this study was to adapt the Suicide Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised into American Sign Language (SBQ-R-ASL). After the translation protocol was completed, the SBQ-R-ASL was field-tested with 340 deaf individuals in a national sample. Data analysis indicated satisfactory validity and internal consistency, and a Principal Components Analysis resulted in one factor. Field-test data revealed a mean SBQ-R-ASL score of 8.76, which is above published cutoff scores for suicide risk. These findings demonstrate a crucial …

Utilizing Mixed Graphical Network Models To Explore Parent Psychological Symptoms And Their Centrality To Parent Mental Health In Households With High Child Screen Usage, Piper F. Stacey, Nicholas C. Jacobson, Damien Lekkas

Computer Science Senior Theses

Especially among adolescents, screens are being used more than ever. In conjunction with this trend, mental illness is increasingly prevalent among both adults and children, and parental psychological problems are shown to be associated with children's TV watching, video watching, and gaming (Pulkki-Råback et al., 2022). This study aims to approach parent mental illness symptom by symptom to explore which specific symptoms are most central to parent psychological problems in households where children show high screen time behaviors. We draw from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study (ABCD Study®), a nationwide sample of 11,875 children aged 10-13 collected by …

Picking Up The Pieces Of The Dentist Mental Health Puzzle, Chester Gary Dds, Jd

The New York State Dental Journal

Dentistry: A dream profession only for those willing to accept its professional challenges and able to manage the inherent stress.

A Salutogenic Approach To Wellbeing: The Smu Resilience Framework, Paulin Tay Straughan, Alvin Sim

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Research has shown the inextricable relationship between resilience and wellbeing – resilience not only reduces mental ill-being; it actually enhances positive mental health. Resilience has been shown to be positively correlated with positive indicators of mental health, such as life satisfaction, subjective well-being, and positive emotions. As such, resilience can be conceptualised as both a protective and preventive factor that is associated with healthy development and psychosocial stress resistance. Departing from the dominant pathogenesis approach, the Singapore Management University (SMU) has adopted salutogenesis in its whole-of-university approach to health and wellbeing promotion. Through the operationalisation of the SMU Resilience Framework, …

Computer Brain Gym: A Rehabilitation Program For Individuals With Alzheimer's Disease, Chih-Kuan Wu, Yin-Chou Lin, Chih-Kuang Chen, Chung-Chih Lin, Alice M.K. Wong

Rehabilitation Practice and Science

Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. This randomized control trial investigated the effects of the newly developed computer brain gym (BG) system on the cognitive function and mental health of patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Materials and Methods: Twenty-three participants with AD who were exhibiting mild to moderate cognitive impairment were recruited and randomly divided into two groups. Group 1 received computer BG training, whereas Group 2 received conventional occupational therapy (OT). The patients underwent treatment for 12 weeks, with treatment sessions occurring twice per week for 45 minutes per session; additionally, they received assessments at …

Association Between Modifiable Social Determinants And Mental Health Among Post-9/11 Veterans: A Systematic Review, Nipa Kamdar, Sundas Khan, Diana P Brostow, Lia Spencer, Sharmily Roy, Amy Sisson, Natalie E Hundt

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Introduction: As U.S. Veterans reintegrate from active duty to civilian life, many are at risk for negative modifiable social determinants of health. The prevalence of mental health conditions among Veterans is also high. Awareness of the associations between these two factors is growing. This systematic review provides a comprehensive analysis of the current state of knowledge of the associations between modifiable social determinants and mental health among U.S. Veterans.

Methods: The authors systematically searched four databases and identified 28 articles representing 25 unique studies that met inclusion criteria. Findings from the studies were extracted and synthesized on the basis of …

Designing A Coloring Book As A Tool To Introduce Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (Mbsr), Billie Beth Charles

Critical and Creative Thinking Capstones Collection

This paper explores the design process of developing an illustrated coloring book, as a tool to introduce Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) techniques to young adults experiencing heightened levels of anxiety, panic, and depression. The MBSR coloring book, is being developed based on a theory, and supporting evidence, that engaging in an artistic activity like coloring, can make MBSR techniques accessible to young adults seeking help for anxiety and panic-related symptoms. The author discusses the challenges young adults face in the current societal context and highlights the need for effective and accessible strategies to manage mental health issues. Through research, experience, …

Potential Occupational Therapy Interventions For People With Borderline Personality Disorder: A Scoping Review, Annette Leep, Darcie A. Shaw, Meghan E. Lloyd, Stephanie M. Voelck, Hannah R. Ghneim

Masters Projects

There is limited research highlighting occupational therapy (OT) interventions utilized with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). This scoping review analyzes current literature by data-charting psychosocial interventions that are or could be applied by OT practitioners for BPD treatment. Five health sciences and psychology databases were searched; the search strategy included keywords and subject headings related to BPD and psychosocial interventions. A variety of evidence-based interventions applicable to the BPD population were identified for OT implementation. Themes included awareness of behaviors and skill training for functional performance. There is a need for training and professional development opportunities for OT practitioners treating this …

Elizabeth Fitt, Oral History Interview, 2023, You Li

Collective Memory of Women Journalists in COVID-19

Elizabeth Fitt is a freelance photographer based out of Beirut, Lebanon. Her work has been published with various media outlets including the Guardian, the Sunday Times, Forbes, Foreign Policy, the Telegraph, CNN, ABC Australia, The National, Middle East Eye, The New Humanitarian, The New York Post, and the New Scientist. She also writes on environmental issues for Mongabay.

In this interview, Fitt recalled the ground situation in Lebanon and the extreme caution and effort it took her to photograph vulnerable communities during lockdowns. Her projects depicted the overwhelming and devastating scenes in the ICU Wards, the food distribution among the …

Exercise As A Prescription For Patients With Depressive Disorders: A Quality Improvement Project, Sydney Roscoe, Rachelle Pace

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Purpose: The aim of this Doctor of Nursing Practice project was to increase exercise counseling rates in the treatment of depression by (1) implementing a focused educational training program and (2) understanding factors that impacted utilization of the practice change.

Background: Approximately 280 million individuals suffer globally from depressive disorders. Depression remains the fourth leading cause of disabilities, significantly contributing toward the global burden of disease by increasing morbidity and mortality risk. Psychopharmacology and psychotherapy are current gold standards of treatment; however, providers often overlook the significant role exercise serves in reducing depressive symptoms and severity, as it remains underutilized. …

Be Kind To Your Mind: The Use Of Mobile Based Applications To Reduce Stress And Improve Health Outcomes, Akira Hanson Finn

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Now more than ever mental health is in the spotlight on a global scale. Professionals from a variety of different disciplines are being encouraged to evaluate several different coping techniques in order combat the magnitude of societal crisis being discovered post-pandemic. At the top the list is Mindfulness-based interventions. The concept of mindfulness practices is nothing new. Evidence suggests it has existed for thousands of years; however, it is getting more notoriety in the past decade due to increasing expansion of mobile-based applications. These types of technology driven applications offer an easily accessible, convenient, and trackable way for individuals to …

Implementation Of A Shared-Decision Making (Sdm) Approach In A Community Based Outpatient Mental Health Clinic, Alexa Vuylsteke

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Purposes/Aims: The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project is to implement an evidence-based SDM approach in a culturally diverse community mental health clinic in order to increase patient-provider collaboration and improve patient autonomy and engagement in decision making processes of care in a mental health setting.

Rationale/Background: According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), shared decision-making (SDM) is a collaborative communication approach between patient and provider that aims to help people in treatment work together to have informed, meaningful discussions about their health care decisions. SDM is an evidence-based approach to encourage and …

Nerf This! Navigating The Accessibility And Inclusivity Of Video Games Through Expressive Arts Therapies: A Literature Review, Tiffany Golando

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This thesis explores the accessibility of video games to populations with disabilities, as well as the inclusivity of video game design, and how the application of expressive arts therapy (ExAT) can benefit in processing and navigating difficult feelings that may arise for a gamer in the video game community. Video games have evolved immensely since first being introduced in the 1970-s and come a long way to accommodate a diverse set of people, yet video games are still marketed toward and for ableist populations. This paper reviews literature on the limitations of video games for the player as well as …

Millenial & Gen Z Experience- A Meta-Analysis, Karrine S. Rahman

Student Theses and Dissertations

This meta-analysis highlights five subtopics that are imperative to understanding Millennials and Gen Z. The five topics include characteristics, Millennials becoming managers, the Digital Revolution, mental health, and finally a phenomenon pioneered by the two younger generations, quiet quitting. The aim of this research is to find what characteristics motivate professional Millennials and Gen Z. After learning the main attributes that define these two generations, it is crucial to understand the expectations they have and how employers should accommodate them based on their unique work ethic. This study analyzes the work of multiple authors and scholars who assert that embracing …

Promoting Mental Treatment In The Arab World, Aya Emam Hassanein

Masters Theses

This study investigates why mental health has been neglected in the Arab world and what strategies could be used to promote it and break the stigma associated with mental disorders. The literature review reveals that the most prominent barriers preventing mental treatment in the Arab world are cultural stigma, poverty, illiteracy, false beliefs regarding the causation of the illness, conflicts in countries, and a scarcity of mental health services and research. The review also discusses the most common mental illnesses in the Arab world and how the culture affects the process of treatment. Additionally, it discusses the possible solutions proposed …

The Experiences Of Elementary General Education Teachers Working With Students With Mental Health Deficits: A Phenomenological Study, Jordan Cole Swineford-Johnson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of general education elementary teachers attempting to meet the mental health needs of students in their care. Ten teachers from an Eastern Virginia school district were selected to participate in this study. Individuals with experience working with distressed students were selected through purposive criterion and snowball sampling. The theories guiding this study were Maslow’s (1943) hierarchy of needs and trauma theory (Caruth, 1995). Data from survey/questionnaires, interviews, and focus groups were collected and analyzed per transcendental phenomenology procedures to identify emerging themes from the data. The following four …

The Mental Health Of Inmates: An Approach To Jail Reform, Courtney Isaac Anderson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The aim in this phenomenological study was to understand the impact the jail environment, policies, and procedures have on incarcerated individuals. Mental health problems are common among individuals in jail. Furthermore, the jail environment, harsh policies, and isolation from the public are believed to have a negative impact on inmate mental health. Elevated percentages of inmates experiencing psychiatric difficulties during their incarceration have been supported by research. It is suggested that the elevated percentages of psychiatric demands promote the lack of mental health assistance inside jails. A methodical analysis of literature was conducted to identify the circumstances of the jail …

Rural Mental Health Matters: Challenges, Opportunities & Resources For Communities, Joaquin Altoro, Paul Force-Emery Mackie, Kellie Kubena, Neil Tilghman, Thad Shunkwiler

Social Work Department Publications

This session will focus on resources and tools available to people in rural areas regarding mental health and community wellbeing. A Q/A – conversation will be hosted about its relevance with particular attention focused on the challenges of accessing help in rural areas, and why improved services, and investments in a robust workforce and infrastructure are needed to ensure the wellbeing and economic prosperity of rural communities.

Tackling The Complexities Of The Obesity Pandemic Among The Bame Population In The Uk Through Identification Of The Social Determinants Of Mental Health And Wellbeing: A Narrative Review, Johnson Mbabazi, Fiona Macgregor, Jeff Breckon, Dorothy Irene Nalweyiso, Alan Rhodes, Edward Kunonga, Barry Tolchard, Jennifer Teke, Lawrence Achilles Nnyanzi

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Obesity's multifaceted causes give rise to a complex and diverse range of health associated morbidities and comorbidities, including diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease, particularly among British Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) populations within in the UK. As found within the recent COVID-19 pandemic these can have wider reaching implications including increased risk of mortality within this population group. Understanding the potential social determinants of the causes of obesity is essential if effective strategies are to be developed to tackle this. A comprehensive search of the CINAHL, ASSIA and Web of Science databases was undertaken with 148 papers identified. Through application …

Utilizing New Technologies To Measure Therapy Effectiveness For Mental And Physical Health, Jonathan Ossie

Dissertations

Mental health is quickly becoming a major policy concern, with recent data reporting increasing and disproportionately worse mental health outcomes, including anxiety, depression, increased substance abuse, and elevated suicidal ideation. One specific population that is especially high risk for these issues is the military community because military conflict, deployment stressors, and combat exposure contribute to the risk of mental health problems.

Although several pharmacological approaches have been employed to combat this epidemic, their efficacy is mixed at best, which has led to novel nonpharmacological approaches. One such approach is Operation Surf, a nonprofit that provides nature-based programs advocating the restorative …

Animal-Assisted Therapy: A Program Evaluation Of One Substance Abuse Treatment Center, Erin Poore

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) has the possibility of enhancing health outcomes for those living with substance abuse disorders. Previous research primarily focused on individuals with a diagnosis of dementia and other cognitive related disorders. Prior research that did look at individuals with substance abuse focused on the use of horses rather than canines and were limited to small sample sizes. We used an electronic medical record system to identify eligible patients to volunteer to participate in two weeks of animal-assisted therapy at one substance abuse treatment center in southeastern United States. Volunteers completed pre and post survey questions measuring overall satisfaction …

Bibliotherapy With Children With Neurodiverse Profiles: A Literature Review, Jessica Piltch-Loeb

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Expressive arts therapy interventions are continuing to gain recognition as a means of healing for individuals with a wide range of diagnoses. Bibliotherapy is a particularly under researched modality of the expressive arts, leaving ample opportunity for future research on both reading and writing interventions. While bibliotherapy may not be a widespread subject of study, preliminary research shows that reading and writing therapies can promote emotional well-being for individuals dealing with mental illness. Children with neurodiverse profiles (NP) are more likely to be diagnosed with psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia, than neurotypical children. Although previous …

Preventing Military Suicide Through Dance/Movement Therapy: A Literature Review, Chae Reid

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

In 2022, 328 military members across the active component, Reserve, and National Guard died by suicide, the same as in 2021. In March 2022, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III commissioned the Suicide Prevention Response Independent Review Committee to evaluate existing suicide prevention programs and strategies across the entire Department of Defense. This literature review aims to highlight the use of dance/movement therapy and other expressive therapies within the military, and how the arts have been utilized specifically for suicide prevention. Due to the lack of research on the use of dance/movement therapy, the articles included various studies of other …

The Student-Athlete Dilemma: The Hidden Truth, Andrew Jenkins

Themis: Research Journal of Justice Studies and Forensic Science

This paper presents an in-depth analysis of student-athletes' challenges transitioning to college life. The findings indicate that many student-athletes struggle with adapting to the academic demands, navigating the social landscape, and maintaining a healthy work-life balance. To address these issues, this paper recommends that universities implement comprehensive orientation programs that provide students with the necessary tools, resources, and support to succeed. Additionally, universities should offer targeted interventions such as mentoring, tutoring, and counseling to students who may be at risk of falling behind academically or experiencing mental health concerns. By taking a proactive approach, universities can ensure that students have …

Therapeutic Gardening For Mental Health In Substance Use Recovery, Stephanie E. Schafer

Master's Projects and Capstones

Abstract

As the clinical nurse leader (CNL) in this project, I used the “[CNL]

Essential 1: Background for Practice from Sciences and Humanities” (Competencies and Curricular Expectations for Clinical Nurse Leader Education and Practice, 2013) and its competencies to focus on designing nursing care for a clinical or community-focused population based on biopsychosocial, public health, nursing, and organizational sciences and to synthesize evidence for practice to determine appropriate application of interventions across diverse populations. With the help of the CNL competencies and collaboration with the healthcare team, we created and implemented a therapeutic garden for residents in a substance use …

The Long-Term Psycho-Social Impact Of The Pandemic On People With Intellectual Disability And Their Carers, Alexandra Gabrielsson, Meissam Moghaddassian, Indermeet Sawhney, Sophie Shardlow, Samuel Tromans, Paul Bassett, Rohit Shankar

Peninsula Medical School

Background: People with intellectual disabilities (PWID) are at six times higher risk of death due to COVID-19. To mitigate harm, as a high-risk group, significant social changes were imposed on PWID in the UK. Alongside these changes, the uncertainty of the pandemic influence, caused PWID and their carers to encounter significant stress. The evidence of the pandemic’s psycho-social impact on PWID originates mainly from cross-sectional surveys conducted with professionals and carers. There is little research on the longitudinal psycho-social impact of the pandemic from PWID themselves. Aims: To examine the long-term psycho-social impact of the pandemic on PWID. Methods: A …