Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Our Early Years Of Life's Effects On Our Future Health And Well-Being, Claudia Gagliano

Nursing | Senior Theses

Many poor health outcomes later into adulthood have been triggered by adverse life events that have occurred during childhood. Most of the general population has experienced some sort of adverse childhood event that has negatively impacted their future health. Adverse childhood events include any traumatic event that has occurred during childhood including maltreatment (sexual abuse, mental abuse, and physical abuse), neglect, parental loss, and peer victimization.

Raising awareness regarding the opportunities to intervene in a child’s life as a means to prevent behavioral, psychological, and substance abuse disorders before they would typically manifest on their own is the ultimate ...

Smiling Mind: A Mobile Based Application To Reduce Stress, Agnes Rodrigues

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

It has been recognized healthcare professionals experience high levels of stress at work with many working in environments characterized by high productivity targets, overtime, customer aggression, continuous organizational changes, and employee shortages. Mindfulness-based interventions such as mobile based meditation applications have gained popularity in the workplace given their potential benefits in decreasing workplace related stress, their ease of use, and cost-effectiveness. The purpose of this evidence based project (EBP) project was to reduce perceived workplace stress and to increase mindfulness using a mobile meditation application. Employees of an outpatient psychiatric clinic used the mobile meditation application Smiling Mind to meditate ...

The Impact Of Exercise On The Mental Health Of College Students In The United States, Maryam Eltomy

Kean Quest

Student mental health and well-being are a significant and growing concern on college campuses across the United States. As a result, to better meet students' mental health demands and decrease strain on existing services, the current quantitative research focused on exploring the impact of exercise on a college student’s mental health. An online survey involving Kean University students was conducted and information was primarily gathered through an online questionnaire. Approximately, 40 students were randomly selected to participate in this research study. The results of the study revealed that participants felt that consistent exercise was beneficial in helping reduce their ...

Gap Analysis Of 2slgbtqia+ Curriculum In Counseling Programs, Erika Graves

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

The purpose of this paper is to propose additional curriculum specific to marginalized populations and communities for Clinical Mental Health Counseling programs. There is a systemic lack of purposeful education on marginalized communities that student clinicians will be serving, with an emphasis on expectations of being a lifelong learner, asking the student/counselor to educate themselves. This expectation is unsustainable in the context and acknowledgment of burnout among human service providers, and does not reinforce the lens of trauma informed care that is stressed in its programming. To build strong clinicians, support must be executed systemically within its programming as ...

Partial Hospitalization Programs And Adolescents: The Impact Of Brief Art Therapy Treatment, Andrea Sepe

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This paper evaluates partial hospitalization programming and art therapy practices with the adolescent population. The adolescent experience is a time of complex biopsychosocial development marking personal identity exploration and independence. Adolescent mental health challenges range from depressive, anxiety, conduct and mood disorders. Partial hospitalization programming is a means of acute integrative care founded in milieu therapy that caters to the unique mental wellness needs of the adolescent population. Among the most impactful psychotherapeutic interventions for adolescent mental health is art therapy, an evidence-based practice incorporating creativity and theory. This paper explores the adolescent developmental experience, current treatment methods of partial ...

Addressing The Phenomena Of Nursing Burnout: Seeking The Need For Mental Health Interventions To Support The Nursing Workforce, Cialina L. Moy

Master's Projects and Capstones

Problem: Nursing burnout has been an existing phenomenon, which the COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated. Burnout has contributed to escalated mental health concerns, increased staff turnover rates, and the nationwide nursing shortage.

Context: Studies indicate that depression, anxiety, and stress significantly correlate to burnout; studies also reveal that burnout consequently contributes to job dissatisfaction and organizational turnover. To reduce perceived burnout and increase nurse retention at the ambulatory COVID-19 clinics, nurses completed a pilot program that integrated two mental health tools.

Intervention: Nurses responded to a pre-survey to identify burnout factors and measure perceived burnout, using a modification of the ...

Advancing The Care Continuum For The Homeless: A Shelter-Based Care Coordination Project Focused On Mental Health, Alexandra H. Sain, Allyson Neal Dr, Deborah Nichols Mrs.

Graduate Publications and Other Selected Works - Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Advances in the care continuum are crucial for those with serious mental illness, especially those homeless individuals in the community. Schizophrenia is a leading cause of re-hospitalization and disability, accounting for billions of dollars spent in the United States. A prominent city shelter reports the prevalence of schizophrenia among its guests, and the community recognizes homeless shelters as the greatest source of 911 calls with countless surrounding emergency department visits. This project’s purpose is to implement a shelter-based, internal process to identify these high-risk guests and increase their subsequent care coordination services. Outcomes reflect individual benefits with increased shelter-based ...

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 ...

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.

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 ...

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 ...

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

Culminating Experience 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 ...

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/

Helping Our Heroes: An Evaluation Of Mental Health And Organizational Policies Surrounding Suicide Prevention And Postvention Strategies For Nebraska First Responders, Maria S. Mickles

Capstone Experience

Suicide is ranked as one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Over 40,000 individuals die by suicide each year (Stanley, Hom, & Joiner, 2016; Vigil et al, 2021), and, in 2020, it was ranked in the top 9 causes of death for all ages (10-64), and second for those 10-14 and 25-34 years of age (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022). These statistics disproportionately reflect first responders (i.e., firefighters, dispatchers, law enforcement, EMS, paramedics, etc.), as they die by suicide more than the general public (National EMS Management Association, 2016). Within their line of work of ...

Exploring Occupational Therapy In Perinatal Care: Promoting The Mental Health And Well-Being Of Women During And After An Unplanned Pregnancy, Sydney M. Korn

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Unplanned pregnancy can have a significant effect on the health and well-being of both the mother and her child. Those who experience an unplanned pregnancy are two times more likely to experience maternal depression or stress than those who plan their pregnancies which can negatively impact the mother-infant bond. This capstone sought to explore occupational therapy’s role within perinatal care, specifically addressing the mental health needs of women in unplanned pregnancies by collaborating with already established programs at a pregnancy resource center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and incorporating the principles of occupational therapy. It explored the use of ...

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 ...

The Effects Of Hormonal Contraceptive Use On Perceptions Of Social Stress In Women, Ashton Jones

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Hormonal contraceptives are widely used due to their efficiency in preventing pregnancy. Although women are often informed of the physical effects of hormonal contraceptives, there is little emphasis on mental effects, such as increased rates of depression and changes in social perception. The current study examined perceptions of social stress among women before beginning hormonal contraceptives, and two months after using hormonal contraceptives. I hypothesized that women would experience increased social stress after beginning hormonal contraceptives, compared to a control group of women who were also assessed twice. Results did not support this hypothesis; there was no difference in interpersonal ...

Incorporating Trust-Based Relational Intervention In Occupational Therapy To Address Mental Health Needs Of Elementary Students, Maci K. Stouffer

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Background. The rate of children experiencing mental health issues is increasing exponentially. Many mental health conditions could be successfully treated in childhood, yet they are overlooked, with only half of the diagnosed cases treated and many others undiagnosed. Youth spend much of their day in school. Therefore, their mental health must be addressed within this setting. Purpose. This capstone project aimed to develop and implement a trauma-informed, occupation-based intervention program for elementary students. Equipping students with self-regulation skills, teaching appropriate calming strategies, and providing opportunities to practice the main components of building healthy relationships. The school staff was educated on ...

End The Stigma: Strategies To Improve Mental Health, Alexia M. Frantzeskakis

Honors Projects

The project discusses coping strategies that students can utilize to improve their mental health. A paper, along with five fliers that will be distributed to incoming freshmen were developed. Each flier discusses a different coping strategy on the following topics: physical activity, mindfulness, social media use, routines, and resources available to students in the community.

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 ...

Accessibility Of Mental Health Resources In Schools, Zitlaly Lizeth Cruz-Roman, Vianney Consepcion Sandoval

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study aimed to examine parents’ and staff’s perception of the accessibility and awareness of mental health resources in school. Mental health resources are made available in school settings; however, not all families and students are aware of the resources being provided. To address the accessibility of mental health resources, research needs to take place to understand why these resources are not being utilized. Individuals’ mental health will improve by creating awareness of the resources since they will be aware of the resources and use them based on their needs. The research project utilized quantitative research methods and descriptive ...

Pandemic-Related Caregiver Burden Among Public Health Workforce: A Mixed-Method Analysis, Tony Lee

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by a highly contagious novel virus called SARS-CoV-2, has led to significant global morbidity and mortality. The healthcare workforce (HCW) is disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and is more likely to report depression, burnout, moral injury, compassion fatigue, and post-traumatic stress. However, research among the public health workforce (PHW) remains limited. Given the burden of COVID-19 itself, coupled with the work-related pressure of rapid pandemic management strategies, risk of exposure, potential fatigue, etc., understanding the mental health needs of PHW and related professionals is critical. As such, the purpose of this study is to ...

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 ...

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 ...

Increased Risk Of Mental Illness Due To Epigenetic Alteration Of The Nr3c1 Gene After Early Life Adversity., Erin Mccue

Thinking Matters Symposium

Early life adversity (ELA), such as malnutrition, abuse, and economic disparity, is an issue commonly seen in adolescents, a group already facing increased risk for stress-related disorders. This review of current literature reveals that gestational stress exposure, as well as variations in maternal care during postnatal development, cause latent effects on the epigenome, specifically impacting the glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) encoded by the NR3C1 gene. GRs bind to glucocorticoids to regulate the body’s neuroendocrine stress response. However, in those with a history of ELA, the number of GRs is reduced, generating dysregulation within the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Rodent studies are ...

Consumer Experience Of Mental Health Services During The Covid-19 Pandemic: Evidence From An Australian Mental Health System, Sarah Kelshaw, Jason Boyd, Irene Gallagher, Grant Sara

Patient Experience Journal

COVID-19 has increased the need for mental health care but disrupted its delivery. We examined impacts of the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic on consumer experience of NSW hospital and community mental health services, compared to their pre-COVID baseline. We also examined whether increased telehealth use was associated with changes in the quantity or experience of community mental health care. Data were 73,488 Your Experience of Service (YES) surveys from state mental health services in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, grouped into three periods: pre-COVID (January 2018 to March 2020), early-COVID (April to June 2020) and stable-COVID (July ...

The Women Of Owen Clinic And Their Impact On Rural Mental Health, Mallory Stanley

Manuscripts

The mid-1900s was a pivotal moment in reforming mental health treatment in American Psychiatry. This movement becomes particularly clear when examining the championing work of two women, Dr. Thelma V. Owen and Dr. M. G. Stemmermann, at a rural mental health facility located in Huntington, WV: Owen Clinic Institute. While mental health stigma was at an extreme high among the general population, many factors aligned to allow for a new era of mental health care, including deinstitutionalization, World War II, and the advocation of professionals in the field. In West Virginia, no two people were more outspoken and active in ...

Protocol For An Ehub As An Systemic Intervention For Homeless Shelter Staff And Resident Psychosocial And Behavioral Needs, Celeste Sangiorgio, Cory Crane, Cassandra Berbery, Caroline Easton

Frameless

Homeless shelter performance is presently operationalized as shelter success in linking homeless individuals to housing; however, there is a cluster of individuals with co-occurring serious mental health issues who engage in chronic and episodic re-entry into homeless shelters. Persistent and chronically mentally ill individuals who re-enter shelters increase demands on staff, who are inadequately trained to de- escalate, manage their internal distress, and connect these homeless residents to appropriate services. This protocol outlines an alternative intervention mechanism for shelters that targets a key, untreated pathway where staff and resident symptoms and skills are linked to shelter performance. We propose that ...

Designing A Digital Interactive Emotion Measure (Diem) For Digital Media: Theoretical Foundations And Validation Protocols, Celeste Sangiorgio, Cassandra Berbary, Cory Crane, Caroline Easton

Frameless

Awareness of emotions is often a treatment target in psychotherapy, but it is difficult to assess emotions due to ambiguity in measurement or scale design. Lack of clarity in scale design may increase risk that participant interpretations of scale items may not align with emotion constructs those scales were designed to capture. Furthermore, emphasis on verbal or written cues leads to low scientific representation of patients who cannot read emotion scales (e.g., low literacy). Touch-screen applications provide a unique opportunity to create a visual emotion measure which has low barriers but can be used to assess a high level ...

Protocol For An Ehub As An Systemic Intervention For Homeless Shelter Staff And Resident Psychosocial And Behavioral Needs, Celeste Sangiorgio, Cory Crane, Cassandra Berbery, Caroline Easton

Frameless

This paper includes a proposal and outline for a one- stop, web-based eHub for homeless shelter workers and residents. The shelter eHub is proposed as a one-stop portal for staff and resident skills acquisition, shelter and community resources, and rehearsal of coping skills. The theoretical and empirical support for eHub contents is reviewed, as well as the structure for evidence-based psychological skills building and gamified and virtual skills rehearsal components.