Digital Commons Network^™

Women Serving In Special Operation Forces: Practical Recommendations For Mental Health Providers, Kashvi Khanna, Jessica Salaz, Nicholas Boyd, Alexandra Reeves, Kaethe Hoehling

School of Leadership and Education Sciences: Faculty Scholarship

Women have faced limited access to needed and appropriate services in many professional and societal conditions. Military Special Operations Forces (SOF) is one of these domains. However, despite recent changes that have allowed the inclusion of women into these units, they continue to endure cultural and systemic barriers as well as several subsequent mental and physical health issues. Experiences of gender discrimination, sexual harassment, nonacceptance, and the unique demands of SOF roles can create various health concerns for women in SOF, including PTSD, depression, trauma, and reproductive health issues. These significant concerns highlight the need for clinical and practical recommendations …

The Impact Of Social Media Comparison On Mental Health Among The Youth, Sezim Zheembaeva

Digital Literacy & Scholarship Collection

Presentation on the impact of social media on mental health among the youth

Occupational Therapy In Psychiatry: A Safe, Affordable Approach For Better Care, Isabelle G. Cassada

Honors Theses

Occupational therapy (OT) is a therapeutic practice designed to enhance independence in individuals’ activities of daily living (ADL) across all age groups. While widely recognized for its role in physical rehabilitation, it is less commonly applied in mental health care. This underutilization can be attributed to a significant gap in the literature regarding the effectiveness of OT in improving occupational function (OF) for individuals experiencing the negative effects of mental illnesses. Notably, OT in mental health care is not a new concept and dates to before World War I (WWI). This thesis conducts a literature review of fifty-one sources to …

Identifying Adolescent Depression In The Public School System, Laura Lee Griffith

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Problem Statement: Twenty percent of United States adolescents experience major depression at some point. Elevated school dropout rates, substance abuse, chronic disease, mortality and morbidity rates, and impaired growth remain because 60 % of adolescents with unidentified depression do not receive treatment. Purpose: This evidence-based project identified adolescents aged 16-19 in a South Carolina high school who had symptoms of depression. Counseling and resource information were provided for students with scores of 10 or greater, or thoughts of self-harm on the PHQ-9. Method: Students were screened using the PHQ-9. Data was organized in Excel and analyzed using the T-tests and …

The Undergraduate Engineering Mental Health Help-Seeking Instrument (Ue-Mh-Hsi): Development And Validity Evidence, Joseph H. Hammer, Courtney J. Wright, Melanie E. Miller, Sarah A. Wilson

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

Background: Undergraduate engineering students experiencing distress are less likely than peers to ask for professional help. A population-specific instrument to facilitate the identification of factors that influence mental healthcare utilization could guide development and testing of interventions to increase help seeking.

Purpose: We used mixed methods guided by the Integrated Behavioral Model (IBM) to develop and evaluate the Undergraduate Engineering Mental Health Help-Seeking Instrument (UE-MH-HSI).

Method: First, we adapted existing measures of mental health help-seeking intention and mechanisms (i.e., attitudes, perceived norm: injunctive, perceived norm: descriptive, personal agency: autonomy, personal agency: capacity). Second, we coded qualitative interviews (N = 33) …

Seeking Solutions: The Impact Of State Policies On Mental And Behavioral Health, Angela Shoulders

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines the impact of state-level policies aimed at improving access to mental and behavioral health treatment in the United States. Using rigorous quasi-experimental methods and a variety of data sources, the three manuscripts analyze the effects of distinct but related policies: naloxone co-prescription laws, psychologist prescription privileges, and mental health parity laws mandating timely access to care. The findings suggest that naloxone co-prescription laws lead to unintended consequences, including an increase in opioid overdose deaths among certain demographics. The analyses of psychologist prescribing privileges show expanding prescribing privileges to psychologists increases the availability of mental health providers without …

Mental Health And Quality Of Life Following Breast Cancer Diagnosis In Patients Seen At A Tertiary Care Hospital In Nairobi, Kenya: A Qualitative Study, Innocent Abayo, Noureen Karimi, Karishma Sharma, Isaiah Omedo, Sehrish Rupani, Mansoor Saleh

Haematology and Oncology, East Africa

Mental health challenges are common following cancer diagnosis, negatively impacting treatment and quality of life for breast cancer (BC) patients. This pilot study provides an understanding of the impacts of BC diagnosis and care experiences on the mental health of patients seen at the Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya. We conducted 40 in-depth interviews, including 10 women with newly diagnosed BC, 10 women with metastatic BC, 10 family members and 10 healthcare professionals. Data were transcribed, translated into English as needed and coded using Dedoose software. Following BC diagnosis, it was reported that patients faced various physical, social, …

Voices From The Classroom: A Qualitative Study Of Teachers' Perspectives On Student Depression, Naomi Brinton, Jacqlyn Zarabba, Linda Mcwhorter, Linda Knauss

Journal of Human Services: Training, Research, and Practice

Rising levels of depression among adolescents is an important issue to teachers and school administrators, as teenagers spend the majority of their time in the school environment. By analyzing individual interviews with 15 public high school teachers using a modified grounded theory approach, this qualitative study examines the role high school teachers might play in identifying and referring students who exhibit signs and symptoms of depression. Results provide guidance for high school teachers in connecting students with appropriate services and identifying common barriers and facilitating factors in this process. Specific recommendations are outlined to help aid schools in the identification …

Mixed Methods Study Protocol: Language Identity, Discrimination, And Mental Health Among Multilingual 1.5 Generation Asian/Asian American Immigrant Young Adults, Chulwoo Park, Mark Edberg, Janet Yougi Bang, Avizia Yim Long

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Language identity, an understudied factor, can influence isolation and discrimination, leading to disparities in well-being and mental health among immigrants. This study aims to investigate the role of language identity on structural racism and discrimination among 1.5 generation Asian/Asian American immigrants in a diverse U.S. state. We developed a three-step sequential approach: Stage 1—qualitative analysis (1A, focus group discussion; 1B, in-depth interviews); Stage 2—quantitative analysis (2A, language identity measurement scale; 2B, cross-sectional online survey; 2C, multivariate multiple linear regression); Stage 3—another round of qualitative analysis (3A, follow-up in-depth chronological interviews). Therefore, this study will contribute to the field by introducing …

Out Of Left Screen: Factors Impacting Well-Being In Digital And Physical Collegiate Athletes, Jessica Poskus

Theses and Dissertations

Competitive video gaming, or “esports,” has quickly become a popular college extracurricular. Its classification as a varsity sport on many campuses reflects a broader shift in cultural conceptualizations and perceptions of athleticism. As esports continue to evolve in today’s increasingly digital world, new professional leagues emerge, and viewership rivals that of traditional physical sports. Esports can be a gateway for unique opportunities for college students; however, it may also pose some challenges. This study explored differences between digital and physical athletes, who must balance their chosen activity with other collegiate responsibilities, including academic, social, and physical health. Physical sports and …

Exploring Depictions Of Mental Health In Popular Hindi-Urdu Cinema, Sara Ahmed

Journal of Critical Global Issues

Hindi-Urdu popular cinema, commonly referred to as Bollywood, largely reflects the evolution of various social attitudes in the Indian subcontinent. In order to better understand these films’ depiction of social attitudes surrounding mental illness and the implications for its treatment, this study creates and analyzes an anthology of Hindi-Urdu movies from the 1940’s to the present that portray some aspect of mental illness. These movies that depict mental illness were grouped into the various aspects of stigma that they portrayed: structural stigma, courtesy stigma, health practitioner stigma, self-stigma, and public stigma. I extracted and analyzed the attitudes towards mental illness, …

Increasing The Frequency Of Behavior Assessment To Reduce Physical Restraint, Breanne N. Ford

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this quality improvement (QI) project was to implement a system that routinely assesses for behavior changes in psychiatric patients presenting to the emergency department to improve staff intervention of escalating behaviors and decrease physical restraint use.

Background: The project was implemented in a 45-bed emergency department in a community-based hospital affiliated with a large hospital system in Houston, Texas.

Methodology: The project utilizes the Behavioral Activity Rating Scale (BARS) to assess patients' behaviors at routine intervals throughout shifts and a comfort cart that houses several non-pharmacological intervention items to use to de-escalate adverse behaviors. The staff …

Addressing Adolescent Suicide In South Korea, Alyssa Kang

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

Suicide is a prevalent issue that widely affects all demographics in South Korea. Among adolescents, it is the leading cause of mortality with an average rate of 7 deaths per 100,000 people. Some of the most significant factors that influence the risk of suicidal ideation and attempts are cultural stigma and academic stress. Other factors, such as bullying and family structure, also increase the likelihood of suicide, while specific characteristics including internet addiction, socioeconomic status, and substance abuse have been found to be predictors of suicide. Adolescent suicide attempts in Korea also increase the individual's risk for future attempts, and …

Case Study In Deaf Mental Health Care: Integration Of Therapeutic Attunement And Skills-Training, Julia Ball, Lindsey Sankin

JADARA

Deaf Mental Health Care (DMHC) is a specialty involving clinical expertise and self-awareness in therapeutic work with D/deaf people.1 Within the DMHC framework, this case report describes the psychotherapy of one Deaf individual, whose developmental experiences are common among D/deaf people. It illustrates how clinical models developed with hearing people informed the clinical team working with this Deaf individual. The treatment integrated focused skill-building with reparative emotional and linguistic “attunement.” In addition, the case illustrates how clinicians and their clients can use the intersections of their different languages and cultures as growth opportunities.

A Brief Review Of Zuranolone, Aubrey A. Jackson

Transformative Medicine

Zuranolone, a novel analog of allopregnanolone, has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as the first oral medication approved for the treatment of postpartum depression in adults. Developed by Sage Therapeutics under the brand name Zurzuvae, zuranolone was approved by the FDA on August 4^th, 2023.¹ Zuranolone is a modified version of brexanolone (sold under the brand name Zulpresso), an intravenously administered allopregnanolone formulation that was previously the only FDA-approved medication for postpartum depression. Zuranolone offers a more accessible treatment option for patients with efficacy established in clinical trials. Its approval expands the …

Mental Health During The Covid-19 Pandemic In Trinidad: An Analysis Of Depression, Anxiety, And Stress Among Essential Workers, Bernadette Marson, Gerard A. Hutchinson

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Research shows that some essential workers, such as healthcare workers, social workers, and first responders (including police officers, paramedics, and firefighters), are at greater risk for developing both short- and long-term mental health problems (Berger et al., 2012; Canady, 2022; Grey et al., 2020; Haugen et al., 2012; Mohamed et al., 2022; Petrie et al., 2018). The most prevalent of these include anxiety, depression, and stress, as well as other social and cognitive problems—with stress causing harmful effects on mental health and potentially resulting in anxiety and depression, which may then disrupt an individual’s social relationships, family life, and work. …

Perceived Anxiety Disorder Stigma: A Predictive Analysis, Shawn Nabors, Richard J. Cicchetti, Gary Michael Szirony, Craig R. Blum, Sri Banerjee

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Anxiety remains one of the most commonly diagnosed mental health disorders. Systemic barriers to mental health treatment persist. Research on anxiety is robust, although research on perceived anxiety disorder stigma is limited. The purpose of this quantitative analysis was to determine whether factors including age, gender, level of education, and presence of a diagnosable anxiety disorder condition would predict perceived anxiety stigma in a population of adults from the Midwestern region of the United States who were in treatment for anxiety. Based on Goffman’s framework, we used the Generalized Anxiety Stigma Scale (GASS) to determine the presence and level of …

Considerations Of Medicare Telehealth Services With Older Adults, Sonah Kho, Amanda Dediego

Adultspan Journal

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic set in motion a rapid expansion of mental health services offered via telehealth. With this rapid expansion came the need to examine how policy and practice should be shaped in a future where telehealth is considered common in counseling practice. For counselors to understand how to support older adult clients in using telehealth services, they must understand telehealth policy. Following the eligibility of licensed counselors to participate in Medicare, counselors need to stay abreast of regulatory changes regarding restrictions and regulations on use of telehealth for mental and behavioral health services, including video and …

Characteristics Of Natural Environment Use By Occupational Therapists Working In Mental Health Care: A Scoping Review, Ruth Bishop, Frazer Underwood, Fiona Fraser, Lisa Burrows, Jill Shawe

School of Health Professions

Objective: The objective of this review was to identify and characterize the use of the natural environment/outdoor space by occupational therapists working in mental health care. This included consideration of the characteristics of the environment used, interventions, mental health conditions being treated, and the outcomes being used. Introduction: Research has demonstrated the link between human health and the environment. The benefits appear to be particularly relevant to people with mental health conditions. Occupational therapists already consider the environment when assessing and developing interventions, and therefore are well placed to consider and use the natural environment in mental health practice. However, …

Job Satisfaction Among Generation Z And Millennials In The Mental Health Field, Terence Fleeton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Millennials and Generation Z perceive job satisfaction in different ways. The mental health profession requires a lot of time and sacrifice to meet the needs of clients, and the organization served. The diverse beliefs, ambitions, and work-related attitudes of these younger generations are critical in shaping the dynamics of the mental health profession for employers seeking to hire younger talent as the workforce increased. The problem in this study is that some employers don't understand how supervisory support affects job satisfaction in millennial and Generation Z mental health employees. Managers struggle to maintain an environment where work-life balance provides job …

Fatphobia In Ballet: The Impact Of Organizational Practices On Body Size And Mental Health In American Ballet Companies, Ashley Chenery

Proceedings of the New York State Communication Association

In American ballet companies, female dancers’ weights factor into decisions regarding hiring, casting, and promotions. However, female dancers are now using social media to speak out against fatphobic organizational practices. This paper analyzes personal accounts of size discrimination posted to Instagram and YouTube by high-profile veteran ballerinas of New York City Ballet. It also includes interviews with professional Gen Z ballerinas (in companies spanning the US), who discuss current fatphobic practices in companies and schools. Utilizing qualitative coding, this paper seeks to disarticulate thinness from artistry and to urge mental health as a priority in American ballet.

Dance/Movement Therapy: A Remedy For Burnout In Behavioral Health Professionals, Chelsie Greene

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This literature review takes a personal approach by identifying challenges as I grew in my clinical skills through education and internship. I will present burnout issues within the behavioral health professional field while intersecting with dance/movement therapy (DMT) as I experienced and witnessed it. In addition, DMT is proposed and supported as a useful tool to increase protective factors that prevent burnout.

Examining The Influence Of Students’ Mental Health Problems On Their Social And Emotional Health: Perspectives Of Counselors And Mental Health Therapists In A Post-Pandemic World, Brandi Leigh Newsom

Student Theses and Dissertations

Examining the Influence of Students’ Mental Health Problems on Their Social and Emotional Health: Perspectives of Counselors and Mental Health Therapists in a Post-Pandemic World This qualitative phenomenological study explored the influence mental health issues have on social emotional learning in the public-school setting. The problem addressed in this study was the increased need for mental health resources and awareness in the school setting. By assessing the perspectives of school counselors and mental health therapists, awareness and resources can help students who are struggling with social-emotional needs. The guiding theoretical framework that served as the basis for this study was …

The Prevalence Of Depression And Anxiety In Patients With Metastatic Disease To The Spine, Caleb Yeung, Jeremy Heard, Yunsoo Lee, Michael Mccurdy, Rajkishen Narayanan, Samantha Kolowrat, Liam Gibbons, Tim Hagan, Jose A. Canseco, Alan S. Hilibrand, Alex R. Vaccaro, Gregory D. Schroeder, Christopher K. Kepler

Rothman Institute Papers

Introduction:

The prevalence of depression and anxiety in cancer patients is approximately 15% and 20%. Unfortunately, depression has been demonstrated to negatively impact patients after spinal fusion surgeries and is associated with worse overall survival in cancer patients. The rates of depression and anxiety have yet to be reported in patients with metastatic spine disease. The objective of this study was to determine the rate of depression and anxiety in patients with metastatic spine disease.

Materials and Methods:

Patients >18 years of age at our institution who presented with metastatic spinal disease between 2017 and 2022 were identified through query …

Sexual Abuse And Neglect During Childhood Are Associated With An Increased Prevalence Of Mental Health Problems Among University Students In Surakarta, Indonesia, Ni Putu Dian Apriandary, Muthmainah, Rohmaningtyas Hidayah Setyaningrum, Debree Septiawan

Folia Medica Indonesiana

Highlights:
1. This study reiterates the long-term negative impact of childhood trauma on young adults' mental health.
2. This study contributes to the prevention of mental disorders through the identification of risk factors associated with mental health problems.

Abstract
The prevalence of mental health problems is a global public health concern. Young adults, such as university students, are highly vulnerable to the onset of mental health problems due to biological, psychological, and social factors. In particular, abusive and traumatic experiences during childhood may increase the risk of developing mental health problems during adulthood. The prevalence of child abuse cases in …

Developments In School Counselling Practice In Vietnam, Michael Hass, Hoang-Minh Dang

Education Faculty Books and Book Chapters

This chapter will examine the development and status of school counselling in Vietnam. As part of that, we will discuss research on Vietnamese school children’s mental health and academic needs, the history of the development of school counselling and related professions in Vietnam, and the process of creating formal educational programs in school counselling. Lastly, we will discuss school counsellors’ distinct roles in Vietnam and how they relate to various stakeholders, including children, teachers, administrators, and parents. In addition, we will discuss a survey of practicing school counsellors (Hoang-Minh & Hass, 2023b) and interviews of program directors of university training …

Engaging Farmers In Educational Programs To Improve Health And Emotional Outcomes: The Farm Family Health And Wellness Program, Karen L. Franck, Janet Fox, Heather Sedges, Matthew Devereaux

Journal of Extension

Farmers face unique occupational and interpersonal stressors that increase risk for poor physical and mental health outcomes. To educate farmers and their families about these risks, one state’s Family and Consumer Sciences faculty partnered with Agriculture and Natural Resources faculty with input from county agents to develop a series of online educational programs that were delivered as part of the state Agricultural Enhancement Program. Twenty-eight participants completed the pilot project and feedback surveys. Lessons learned include the need to have speakers from farming backgrounds, incorporate health topics that emphasize the connection with farming, and to include engaging visuals.

Pedagogy And Its Effects In Students’ Mental Health, Mona Muzammil, Muzammil Arshad, Washain Muzammil

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Chemistry)

The mental health of students has become one of the top concerns in higher education. The number of students reporting distress and seeking services has dramatically increased, and colleges and universities are struggling to address these challenges. A rich and growing body of research documents the scope of the problem and potential interventions to address it, but this literature is scattered across a variety of academic fields. This Book aims to bring coherence to this large volume of information through a detailed review of programs, services, practices, and policies that influence student mental health. The Book is organized around a …

Improving Educator Readiness To Support Student Mental Health, Anna Dabrowski, Michelle Hsien, Tamara Van Der Zant, Syeda Kashfee Ahmed, Amy Berry, Maya Conway, Yung Nietschke

Wellbeing

This project used a mixed-method approach to understand educator readiness to support student mental health across early childhood, school based, and tertiary settings. The study features educators and relevant support staff working with children, adolescents, and adults in formal learning settings. Relevant experts such as mental health care workers, youth wellbeing support staff, counsellors, psychologists, and other professionals involved in education settings were also invited to take part in the study. Three research questions guided the focus of the study: How does educator anxiety and worry impact on their ability to support student mental health? To what extent are educators …

Experiences With Coming Out: A Study Of Lgbtq+ Music Students’ Perceptions Of Music Education Pedagogy, Sid Adams

Educational Studies Dissertations

Because LGBTQ+ people are disclosing their non-heterosexual and/or non-cisgender identities at younger ages, music educators should consider how their pedagogical decisions impact an LGBTQ+ person’s decision to disclose their identity (come out). Previous research has explored how to create affirming and inclusive space for LGBTQ+ students to learn within music education spaces. However, past research has been limited on how those decisions impact the LGBTQ+ student’s decision to disclose their identity. I used data from five participants to discover how they perceived music education pedagogical practices and how those practices facilitated or hindered their decision to disclose their LGBTQ+ identity. …