Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Community Psychology's Impact On Public Health And The Experience Of Marginalization, Katie Hudick

Richard T. Schellhase Essay Prize in Ethics

Vulnerable and marginalized populations face a series of risks and dangers throughout their daily lives. This is not simply limited to explicit forms of discrimination and hatred, but systemic forms of oppression and discrimination which limit those not belonging to more privileged and affluent socioeconomic or sociocultural groups. Community psychology operates as a means of analyzing how environmental and social factors impact specific demographic groups within a larger population and by extension the experience of mental health specific to these groups (Townley, Brown, & Sylvestre, 2018). In the application of this field, it is critical to understand the dynamics of …

Take A Hike – No Really, It’S Good For Your Health, Nathan Weller

BU Well

Mental health and its treatment remain prevalent concerns across the United States. As such, the importance of activities that promote mental well-being cannot be understated. One such example includes the use of nature to minimize negative, depressive thoughts while promoting their positive counterparts. This new area of focus, often known as ecotherapy, will be detailed in the following article.

An Aching For Affection, Tj Quinlan

BU Well

As humans, we’ve needed companionship from the beginning of time. Therefore, what does a true relationship look like in today’s society? In this world of newly emerging relationships, many people have either experienced, seen, or heard of a toxic relationship. This article dives deep into what makes a toxic relationship, how to notice the red flags, and how to ultimately fix or end it.

Get Your Head In The Game: On And Off The Field, Katelyn Le

BU Well

Mental health has recently become a popular topic on college campuses. New resources and programs are being implemented to ensure the mental wellbeing of students, however, on-campus athletic programs seem to be lagging behind. Athletic departments have trainers and methods to track physical wellness, but often do not have tools to measure mental wellness. This article not only explores the transition and challenges of student athletes, but sheds light on the intense mental aspect of college athletics.

High-Risk Pregnant Patients In The Third Trimester: Comparing Mental And Physical Health, Megan Maxwell

MSN Capstone Projects

The purpose of the paper is to compare physical and mental health in high-risk pregnant patients in their third trimester who are managed in an inpatient setting compared to an outpatient setting. This paper looks at specific high-risk pregnancy diagnoses.

The Role Of Diet In The Onset Of Depression: A Biochemical Connection Between Nutrition And Mental Health, Katlin Wildeman

Senior Honors Theses

Depression is a major clinical concern, having a complex onset and the presence of multiple, often unidentifiable causes. Depression affects millions of individuals worldwide, with a high prevalence in regions of the world with a Western-style diet as compared to regions with a Mediterranean diet. A Western-style diet consists of foods high in sugar, fat, and processed meats and grains, whereas the Mediterranean diet contains significantly more vegetables, fruits, lean meats, and whole grains. The link between diet and mental health disorders has implications for individuals of all ages who are hesitant to turn to medication. In addition to presenting …

Hoarding: Beyond The Mess, A Training For Mental Health Professionals, Kelsi Mcclaflin

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

This literature review examines hoarding disorder with a close lens. This is a diagnosis that is new to licensed professionals across the helping professions. This training will allow participants to better understand what it means to be diagnosed with hoarding disorder, assessments that aid in detecting severity, best practices that are continually emerging, and the impact it can have on clients, their loved ones, and the community. This training takes a collaborative approach as an integrated way of treatment for all individuals involved in the process.

Keywords: hoarding, behaviors, treatment

Abstracts From The 26th Annual Health Care Systems Research Network Conference, April 8–10, 2020

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

The Health Care Systems Research Network (HCSRN) is made up of community-based care delivery systems with a shared mission to improve health and health care through research. The network’s annual conference serves as a forum for attendees to disseminate study findings, stimulate collaborations, and share insights about conducting research in real-world care settings. Although this year’s live conference was cancelled to help slow the spread of COVID-19, the oral and poster abstracts accepted for presentation at HCSRN 2020 are published in this open access supplement to Volume 7, Issue 1 of the Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews, the …

Teaching And Researching With A Mental Health Diagnosis: Practices And Perspectives On Academic Ableism, Ann Green, Alyssa _, Lucia Dura, Patrick Harris, Leah Heilig, Bailey Kirby, Jay Mcclintick, Emily Pfender, Rebecca Carrasco

Rhetoric of Health & Medicine

Abstract: Nine people with mental health diagnoses wrote a dialogue to discuss how we navigate our conditions and ask for accommodations within an academic setting. We cogitate on the challenges of obtaining a diagnosis, how and when we disclose, the affordances and challenges of our symptoms, seeking accommodations, and advocating for ourselves. We consider how current scholarship and other perspectives are changing the conversation about mental health in the academy. We conclude that while the 2008 revisions to the Americans with Disabilities Act have addressed necessary accommodations, that those with mental health conditions are still seeking access.

Neighborhoods And Mental Health: Understanding The Social, Environmental And Structural Factors To Better Support Our Youth And Communities, Meghan Murtagh

Community Engagement Student Work

The social, structural and environmental characteristics of neighborhoods can have a significant impact on the social, emotional, behavioral and cognitive development of children and adolescents. The Center for Disease Control reports every 1 out of 5 children (22%) living below 100% of the federal poverty level have a mental, behavioral and/or developmental disorder (CDC, 2019). Through the utilization of ecological frameworks and a “place” based framework called The Social Determinates of Health, research was conducted to examine the link between neighborhoods and health outcomes in children and adolescents. These findings were then shared through a workshop with the target audience …

Police Social Work In Minnesota: Starting The Conversation, Jenny Ellsworth, Taylor Fish, Alison Niesen, Natalia Pitts

Master of Social Work Student Policy Advocacy Briefs

Even with enhanced police officer training focused on improving responses to mental illness, chemical dependency, and other crisis-related calls, police officers remain ill-equipped to serve as trained mental health professionals. Officers respond to these service-related calls more frequently than crime-related calls, which is why community partnerships between police officers and social workers are needed to promote the safety and well-being of people in crisis.

Mental Health And Student Athletes, Meghan Shaye Barrasso

Community Engagement Student Work

The purpose of this study is to gain a better understanding of the relationship between mental health and collegiate student athletes. The participants of the study were Merrimack College student athletes and those strongly associated with Merrimack. The purpose of this study was to educate and bring awareness to mental health issues in collegiate student athletes, as well as topics associated with mental health; such as social stigma, personal stigma, social support, referral skills and resources. Participants participated in an online workshop that included three activities focused on stigma, social support and help seeking. Student athlete participants were asked to …

Change The Conversation: A Study Of Mental Health Education And College Aged Students Attitudes’ Towards Mental Illness, Bryan J. Landgren

Community Engagement Student Work

Researchers have found that public opinion of people who are mentally ill or struggle with their own mental health are often negative. This project was created in an effort to determine the most efficient way to engage people in conversations about mental health and the stigma that encompasses such a conversation. What happens when mental health struggles are visible and supported through open and honest communication? What happens when they are not? The workshop Change the Conversation: Attitudes Towards Mental Health aimed to close the gap surrounding mental health education on a college campus and promote the necessity of understanding …

Towards Wide Implementation Of Dance Therapy In Mental Health, Pin-Wen Chou

Dissertations and Theses

In recent years, Dance Movement Therapy (DMT) has been increasingly mentioned in the field of mental health counseling. Despite the progress of DMT in terms of studies showing its efficiency for various forms of mental health conditions such as depression and trauma, the implementation of DMT amongst mental health therapists is still not as widespread as other forms of therapies such as verbal and art therapies. In this project, we aim to determine the underlying causes of its low implementation by surveying a set of populations, specifically mental health patients, mental health therapists that do not specialize in dance/movement therapy, …

Economic Burden And Mental Health Of Primary Caregivers Of Perinatally Hiv Infected Adolescents From Kilifi, Kenya, Patrick V. Katana, Amina Abubakar, Moses K. Nyongesa, Derrick Ssewanyana, Paul Mwangi, Charles R. Newton, Julie Jemutai

Institute for Human Development, East Africa

Background: Eighty per cent of perinatally HIV infected (PHI) adolescents live in sub-Saharan Africa (sSA), a setting also characterized by huge economic disparities. Caregiving is crucial to the management of chronic illness such as HIV/AIDS, but the economic costs and mental disorders borne by caregivers of PHI adolescents often go unnoticed. In this study, we evaluated economic costs, coping strategies and association between economic cost and mental health functioning of caregivers of perinatally HIV infected adolescents in Kilifi, Kenya.

Methods: We used a cost of illness descriptive analysis approach to determine the economic burden and Patient Health Questionnaire …

Addressing Transportation Barriers To Improve Appointment Attendance In Outpatient Mental Health Services, Tehut T. Tefera

Nursing Capstones

This quality improvement project aimed to reduce missed appointment rates in five outpatient mental health services through appointment reminder calls along with mitigation of transportation barriers. Studies have established the wide-ranging health and financial implications of missed appointments affecting patients and healthcare systems. During a one-month project intervention period, pre- and post-intervention missed appointment rates were compared, and providers’ sentiments were measured utilizing Likert scale questionnaires. A reduction in missed appointments by 1.1% was achieved collectively across all sites through the project duration. Additionally, provider satisfaction regarding missed appointment rates increased by 4.46%. Project cost analysis revealed that this intervention …

Mhpaea & Marble Cake: Parity & The Forgotten Frame Of Federalism, Taleed El-Sabawi

Dickinson Law Review (2017-Present)

No abstract provided.

Obesity Is Associated With Depression In Malaysian Schoolchildren: A Cross-Sectional Study, Mohd Said Nurumal, Rohulizzat Zainal Abidin, Wisam Nabeel Ibrahim, Muhammad Lokman Md Isa, Muhammad Kamil Che Hasan

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: Overweight and obesity, which may lead to depression, have become prevalent among children worldwide. Hence, this study aimed to measure obesity and depression among schoolchildren in Kuantan.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in three different primary schools in Kuantan by purposive sampling. With consent from their parents/guardians, participants were given a self-administered questionnaire. Demographics and anthropometric measurement data were self-reported on the basis of the school records. Furthermore, body mass index was calculated. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0, and chi-square and correlation tests were conducted for the variables.

Results: Among the 300 schoolchildren …

Recognizing The Need For Mental Health Reform In The Texas Department Of Criminal Justice, Kara Mchorse

St. Mary's Law Journal

The ways in which mental health care and the criminal justice system interact are in desperate need of reform in Texas. The rate of mental illness in Texas is higher than the current state of mental health care can provide for. While state hospitals were once the primary care facilities of those with mental illness, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) has taken on that role in the last few decades; and when the criminal justice system becomes entangled with mental health care, it often leads to “unmitigated disaster.” If Texas continues to allow the TDCJ to act as …

Don't Worry Alone, Aldis H. Petriceks

Journal of Wellness

No abstract provided.

Covid-19: Playing The Long Game For Your Mental Health, Mary Kate Schutt

Population Health Research Brief Series

This issue brief provides a new lens to view the pandemic of COVID-19 and offers simple, practical, and action-oriented ways to mange your mental health for the long term during this time of uncertainty.

As Schools Close Due To The Coronavirus, Mental Health Care For Children Must Be Protected, Xiaoyan Zhang

Population Health Research Brief Series

This data slice highlights the expansive nation-wide school closings due to COVID-19 and encourages providers and government bodies to support the mental health needs of students across the country.

Beyond The Food Pantry: Supporting #Realcollege Students During Covid-19, Sara Goldrick-Rab

Rebuilding the Launchpad: Serving Students During Covid Resource Library

Colleges and universities across the United States and around the world are scrambling to keep their students, faculty, and staff healthy, safe, and educated during the COVID-19 pandemic. As experts on the daily crises that derail #RealCollege students and prevent them from completing their degrees our team at the Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice offers the following considerations and resources to support your work.

Telepsychiatry Preferences Among College Students Diagnosed And Undiagnosed With A Mental Health Condition, Wendy Schuh

Health Sciences Publications

College health and counseling centers report an increasing demand for mental health services while students continue to experience barriers such as shortage of providers, transportation, or stigma. Telepsychiatry has been established in some environments to overcome these barriers, but little research has explored an effective higher education model. The purpose of this study was to identify differences in telepsychiatry preferences among college students who have and have not been diagnosed with or treated for a mental health condition in the last year. Students (n = 537; Mage = 21 years; 71% female) at a medium-sized Midwestern university participated in a …

Detection And Quantification Of Bacterial Species Important To Mental And Physical Health, David G. Leonard

Theses and Dissertations

The human gut microbiome contains an abundance of microorganisms which could influence mental health as well as physical health. These microorganisms produce chemicals which affect the brain and the body in various ways. Probiotic bacteria and yeasts have been studied to determine effects they have on mice, rats, and humans to illustrate the importance these microorganisms on health. Studies have shown that adding beneficial microorganisms to the human diet can have positive effects on mental and physical health, to include lessening symptoms of depression and anxiety, lessen gastrointestinal inflammation, displacing pathogens, and improving immunomodulatory response. A quantitative way to identify …

The Influence Of Light In The Built Environment To Improve Mental Health Outcomes, Nathanael T. Kohl

Theses and Dissertations

Current mental health statistics for US active duty and Veteran members justify research into the causes and remedies for those plagued with negative mental health outcomes. Recent research has suggested that the built environment is connected to our mental health. This study investigated this connection with active duty and Veteran populations across the US. A literature review was completed on what factors of light in the built environment affects mental health outcomes. An analysis of active duty and Veteran mental health symptoms and the natural light rating in their residence was completed to understand the design changes that can be …

Effects Of Weight Status And Sedentary Behavior On Depression Among Young Adults, Xiaoxia Zhang, Xiangli Gu, Samantha Moss

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

It has been a global concern that nearly one-third of young adults have persistent depressive disorder (Ibrahim et al., 2013). Engaging in excessive sedentary behavior coupled with the high prevalence of overweight and obesity among young adults have been known to be high-risk factors for depression (Tychenne et al., 2015). PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of weight status (normal weight vs. overweight/obese) and sedentary behavior (< 3 hrs vs. ³ 3 hrs) among male and female young adults, respectively. METHODS: A total of 139 young adults (96 females, 43 males; mean age = 22.44, SD = 3.71) were recruited from one public university in Northern …

Adolescent And Young Adult Mental Health Is Better In States That Mandate More School Mental Health Policies, Stephanie Spera, Shannon M. Monnat

Population Health Research Brief Series

Mental health problems and suicide rates have increased among adolescents and young adults over the past several years. This research brief shows that adolescent and young adult mental health is better in states that mandate more school mental health policies, including school-based mental health centers, professional development in suicide prevention, and social-emotional curricula.

Workshop On The Development And Evaluation Of Digital Therapeutics For Health Behavior Change: Science, Methods, And Projects, Alan J. Budney, Lisa A. Marsch, Will M. Aklin, Jacob T. Borodovsky, Mary F. Brunette, Andrew T. Campbell, Jesse Dallery, David Kotz, Ashley A. Knapp, Sarah E. Lord, Edward V. Nunes, Emily A. Scherer, Catherine Stanger, William C. Torrey

Dartmouth Scholarship

The health care field has integrated advances into digital technology at an accelerating pace to improve health behavior, health care delivery, and cost-effectiveness of care. The realm of behavioral science has embraced this evolution of digital health, allowing for an exciting roadmap for advancing care by addressing the many challenges to the field via technological innovations. Digital therapeutics offer the potential to extend the reach of effective interventions at reduced cost and patient burden and to increase the potency of existing interventions. Intervention models have included the use of digital tools as supplements to standard care models, as tools that …

Web-Based Graphic Representation Of The Life Course Of Mental Health: Cross-Sectional Study Across The Spectrum Of Mood, Anxiety, Eating, And Substance Use Disorders., Robin Leora Aupperle, Martin P. Paulus, Rayus Kuplicki, James Touthang, Teresa Victor, Hung-Wen Yeh, Tulsa 1000 Investigators, Sahib S. Khalsa

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Although patient history is essential for informing mental health assessment, diagnosis, and prognosis, there is a dearth of standardized instruments measuring time-dependent factors relevant to psychiatric disorders. Previous research has demonstrated the potential utility of graphical representations, termed life charts, for depicting the complexity of the course of mental illness. However, the implementation of these assessments is limited by the exclusive focus on specific mental illnesses (ie, bipolar disorder) and the lack of intuitive graphical interfaces for data collection and visualization.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to develop and test the utility of the Tulsa Life Chart (TLC) as a …