Mental and Social Health Commons^™

The Importance Of Nutrition Education As A Recovery Component For Individuals With Severe Mental Illnesses, Emily Martinez

Master's Projects and Capstones

In efforts to challenge the Western medicine’s determination of nutrition as a holistic approach, this paper represents the intent for mental health facilities in California to improve or implement nutrition education curriculum by enhancing interprofessional teams with dietitians as an important component of recovery for severe mental illness patients. There is concrete evidence proving that individuals who are in facilities recovering from mental illnesses have benefited from optimal nutrition consumption. Nutrition education has become a component among the toolbox of recovery options, but unfortunately it is not encouraged enough. Pharmaceutical companies advertise drug therapy as the most effective way to …

Mindful Mind Project, Toussaint Campbell

Capstones

Mindfulness includes the methods one takes to care for themselves by acknowledging and accepting one’s feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations while conducting daily tasks. Mindfulness can manifest in unique actions and activities depending on an individual's needs. However, many lack education on mental health resources as well as access to the tolls that could be beneficial to them. This collection of opinion pieces takes a look at themes in a society where mindfulness can be incorporated and how practices can impact communities of color.

Link to capstone: https://mindfulmindproject.com/

Workplace Violence: An Urgent Call For Integrated Staff Education In Acute Care Hospitals, Nicole Bellisario

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Problem: Type II workplace violence (WPV) in acute care hospital settings has become an epidemic of costly proportions in the United States. Regulatory mandates and healthcare accreditation standards increasingly require healthcare employers to provide a safe and healthy healing environment for patients and a safe work environment for staff. Implementation of a comprehensive WPV prevention program depends largely on organizational culture, participation and commitment from key stakeholders, and readiness for change.

Context: The patient-clinician relationship has drawn urgent attention, as healthcare organizations around the world implement key components of WPV prevention programs. The clinical management of patient aggression …

A Pilot Study Of Mindfulness-Based Music Therapy In An Intensive Outpatient Program For Adults With Co-Occurring Mental Health And Substance Use Disorders, Jennifer Rebekah Hicks

Theses and Graduate Projects

This pilot study was designed to explore the use of mindfulness-based music therapy in an intensive outpatient program for adults with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. All participants completed the Brief Serenity Scale (Kreitzer et al., 2009) as a pre-test prior to their participation in this study. Participants took part in four monthly 50-minute mindfulness-based music therapy groups. At designated points throughout each music therapy session (including the beginning, end, and after each specific experience), the participants marked on a Likert scale where their thoughts were, in relation to the past, present, and future. Post-test measures of the …

The Role Of Paraprofessionals In The Mental Health Structure Of India, Amy Abraham

Senior Theses

The mental health treatment gap in India is part of a growing public health crisis, with over 95% of those in need of services never receiving them. Over 197 million Indians suffer from at least one diagnosable mental health disorder, and this number continues to grow given the treatment gap. The treatment gap is a result of four major factors: lack of government support, stigma, limited treatment facilities, and the dearth of professionals able to provide treatment. The current study aimed to analyze several factors of paraprofessional led mental health interventions including setting, treatments delivered, treatment models, and client outcomes. …

Implementing Innovative Mental Health Supports And Services At A Post-Secondary Institution, Adam K. Lawrence

The Dissertation in Practice at Western University

In 2020, the Government of Ontario published a report entitled In It Together: Foundations for Promoting Mental Wellness in Campus Communities. This document outlines that the priority of post-secondary institutions should be the health and well-being of students by ensuring that students receive the supports they need to be successful. Most importantly, the document outlines a community approach needed for students to access mental health supports and services on their campuses. Many post-secondary students are becoming increasingly aware of their own mental health needs prior to enrolling at university or college. This has resulted in a culture on post-secondary …

Program Evaluation: Bring Change To Mind High School Club, Rachel Goldberg

Master's Projects and Capstones

Introduction. Mental illness (MI) stigma is common and causes adverse consequences such as reduced self-esteem and discrimination in housing and employment. Bring Change to Mind (BC2M), a national non-profit organization, strives to reduce this stigma through their high school club program. The evaluation goals were to assess the program’s operations and measure club members’ and advisors’ attitudes and perceptions around mental health (MH) and MI.

Methods. Qualtrics surveys were used to gather information from general club members (GCMs) (N=645), club advisors (N=97), and graduating seniors (N=57). BC2M staff held 52 small group discussions with club leaders. Data analysis was conducted …

Exploring The Geography Of Neighborhood Mental Health Vulnerability In The Context Of Racial/Ethnic Residential Segregation, Donghee Koh

Doctoral Dissertations

Mental health matters because it affects all aspects of our lives. There is a growing body of literature about neighborhood effects on mental health. These studies argue that individuals living in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods are more likely to suffer from mental illnesses due to the higher prevalence of chronic stressors and their inability to cope with such problems. A neighborhood, however, is much more than just the sum of its socioeconomic characteristics, and I argue that there are many other important contextual factors that need to be considered to better understand the impact of neighborhood environment on mental health. Hence, …

Coping Self-Efficacy As A Potential Moderator Of The Relationship Between Sexual Orientation And Negative Mental Health Outcomes, James M. Macchia

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Sexual minority individuals (i.e., those who identify as a sexual orientation other than heterosexual) have consistently been linked to an increased risk of negative mental health outcomes. The process of coping can impact the content and severity of said outcomes, and one’s ability to cope is often predicted by the concept known as coping self-efficacy (i.e., one’s belief in his or her ability to cope). This study aimed to assess the effects of sexual orientation, coping self-efficacy, and their interactions on mental health by looking at different aspects of coping self-efficacy as potential moderating variables. Self-perceptions of coping skills were …

Effectiveness Of Ashtanga And Vinyasa Yoga: Combating Anxiety, Depression, Stress And Sleep Quality., Kati Street

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: This lack of rigor in yoga research methodology hinders the understanding of yoga components and best practices. This study implements two yoga interventions with recommended adequate structure, one more physically demanding (Ashtanga Vinyasa) and a less physically demanding (slow flow vinyasa). The instructor, who is also the lead researcher, developed a slow flow vinyasa sequence and modified the set sequence of Ashtanga Vinyasa for beginners. Both yoga interventions cover domains suggested by Sherman (2012) for meticulous methods in yoga research.

Methods: This study implements two styles of yoga with university students over the course of eight weeks, meeting twice …

Impact Of Heat-Related Illness And Natural Environments On Behavioral Health Related Emergency And Hospital Utilization In Florida, Natasha Kurji

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Behavioral health disorders are the leading cause of disability in the United States and are known to have multidimensional effect on wellbeing. Several environmental factors are known to impact behavioral health such as weather (i.e. heat) and access to natural environments (i.e. parks and beaches). The study goals were to identify contextual factors that increase the co-occurrence of heat-related illness and behavioral health disorders, illustrate the re-utilization patterns of these co-occurring cases in Florida emergency and inpatient settings, and explore the association between behavioral health disorders such as anxiety and depression, and natural environments such as parks and beaches. The …

Family Response To A Diagnosis Of Serious Mental Illness In Teens And Young Adults: A Multi-Voiced Narrative Analysis, Douglas J. Engelman

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Narratives are stories, stories persuade, persuasion is necessary to develop social problem consciousness, and social problem consciousness is a necessary element of mobilization toward social change. Thus, narratives are intrinsic to social change, both in the form of policy and legislation, and as evidenced by transformations in culture and consciousness. In this dissertation I analyze narratives about mental illness in families because they reflect what we think of as common, everyday understandings about these experiences. Through these analyses, I hope to learn how individuals and families understand the diagnosis of mental illness through stories they tell about how they cope …

Exploration Of Physician Attitudes About Self-Care And Personal Mental Health: Possible Barriers To Physician Well Being, Candich Farrar

Dissertations

The present study was designed to examine physicians’ mental health, attitudes, and behaviors toward self-care and the utilization of mental health services. As the medical field can be very demanding and exhausting, it is believed that many physicians suffer from mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression. However, it was theorized that many physicians do not engage in adequate self-care regimes or seek support and suppress their symptoms, which may further exacerbate their illnesses. A thorough literature review was performed to explore the following: possible barriers to physicians seeking mental health services to address high rates of mental illnesses, physicians …

Designing For Adolescent Mental Wellness: An Analysis Of Museum Education, Art Therapy, And Developmental Theory, Katherine Angela Himics

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Museums serve as therapeutic environments providing positive, arts engagement opportunities for visitors’ mental wellness and growth. Literature reveals that mental wellness programming in the museum environment predominantly serves adult audiences, yet the presentation of mental illness symptoms commonly begins during adolescence. In response, this study sought to provide an accessible, replicable structure for the design and implementation of adolescent mental wellness programming. Through a qualitative textual and content analysis, this study developed a series of recommendations for the development of said programming informed by the comparison of clinical art therapy practices, adolescent developmental theory, and the strengths of museum education.

The Efficacy Of Art Therapy As An Adjunctive Therapy For Psychosis: A Literature Review, Erin Tillquist

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Psychosis is a serious symptom of mental illness that is characterized by a detachment from reality. This can include experiencing visual, auditory, or tactile hallucinations, as well as delusions or false beliefs (American Psychiatric Association, DSM-V, 2013). Psychosis is a symptom of many disorders including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, substance use disorder, and dementia, among many others. Art therapy is often overlooked as a valuable treatment for psychosis, mainly due to a lack of research in the field and the difficulty of maintaining controlled research parameters with this acute population (Tamminga & Lahti, 2011). Likewise, psychosis is generally perceived as manageable …

How Can Art Therapy Be Utilized To Improve The Mental Health And Quality Of Life Of Pediatric Oncology Patients?, Emily Golubowski

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Pediatric oncology patients and survivors endure multiple obstacles related to physical health and recovery during and after their treatment time. In addition, mental health complications related to adjustment, anxiety, depression, and stress can complicate the overall quality of life and functioning of individuals who have endured this diagnosis and treatment. As an intervention, art therapy can provide relief from physical symptom management, relieve mental health symptoms and stressors, and improve overall quality of life. Art therapy directives and professional work can assist in teaching appropriate coping skills, enhance emotional intelligence, improve communication, restore a sense of control, and improve overall …

Zentangles For Mental Health Awareness, Rachel Immel

Honors Projects

The world is starting to see the rise of a stress related epidemic. Finding time to balance the struggles of everyday life, like academics, finances, careers and relationships, while also maintaining personal mental health is becoming increasingly difficult. This is what prompted me to use my project as an opportunity to help people relieve stress and create a community through the use of art, especially during a time where social interaction has been severely limited due to COVID-19.

My project is a series of live-streamed Zentangle art classes I hosted personally that were open to the public through Zoom. Zentangle …

Difference In Stigma Between Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, And Binge Eating Disorder, And The Effect Of Eating Disorder Symptomology On Stigma In College Students, Ashley A. Matkins

Senior Honors Projects, 2020-current

Background: Eating disorders (ED) are mental illnesses characterized by unhealthy eating and exercise habits. These disorders are common in college students and, like other mental illnesses, eating disorders are highly stigmatized.

Objectives: This study evaluated how college students perceived anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder, and the effect of eating disorder symptomology on stigma.

Methods: Participants were randomized to receive one of three vignettes depicting an ED. The study used the Universal Stigma Survey (USS), the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDEQ), and demographic questions to evaluate stigma, symptomology as well as their familiarity with, and diagnosis of eating …

Assessing The Need For Mental Health Interventions Within The Law Enforcement Community, Lizzi Varga Reinard

Art Therapy Counseling Final Research Projects

This research explored mental health interventions within the police. There is a need for mental health in law enforcement (O’Hara, 2018; Blue Help, 2019; Waters & Ussery, 2007; Mohandie & Hatchert, 1999; Miller, 1999; Violanti, 2010). Having been a law enforcement officer myself, I have experienced the stigma and the need of mental health care. I used a cross-sectional survey design to obtain further information on police officers in a Midwest county in the United States to assess the need for mental health interventions. I created response artwork prior to obtaining the survey results (to help assess and sort through …

The Effects Of Generalized Stress And Anxiety On Clinical Athletic Training Students: A Qualitative Study, Morgan E. Dumont

Masters Theses, 2020-current

Stress and anxiety are present and acknowledged on our society as seven out of 10 United States adults deal with moderate stress or anxiety on a daily basis (Beiter et al., 2015). Sport research has primarily focused on student-athletes, how they struggle, and the resources that can be provided to help this population cope and manage their stress. However, there is lack of research about stress and anxiety among those individuals who provide the care to student-athletes, specifically the athletic training students within their clinical assignments. Athletic training students lead similar schedules to student-athletes by devoting time to prepare for …

Mental Health And You, Sierra Salvatierra

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The Latinx community at the Epicenter in Salinas dealt with mental health illnesses, as well as were brought up with machismo attitudes. This population has a strong stigma against getting help with their mental health. Being faced with immigration, poverty, discrimination and inadequite conversations about health, drives a spike in anxiety levels. Consequences of not dealing with mental health illnesses include unresolved emotions are generational trauma, self harm, substance abuse, and unhealthy relationships. The project created to get in front of this problem was a dialogue series of conversation starters for people who want to open up. The purpose of …

The Moderating Effect Of Social Support On The Impact Of Perceived Loneliness On The Mental Health Of Long-Term Care Nursing Home Residents, Lindsay Nicole Stivers

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the present study is to examine the moderating effect of social support on the impact of loneliness on anxiety and depression in long-term care residents in nursing homes. Recent research suggests that a relationship exists between loneliness and rates of depression and anxiety in long-term care nursing home residents. The present study seeks to examine the buffering effect of social support and utilize the findings to provide suggestions for policy, practice, and research. A binary logistic regression and a series of multiple linear regressions were conducted to examine the relationships between the variables. The present study’s sample …

Effects Of Shift Length On Nursing Staff’S Productivity, Safety, And Well-Being, Victoria Sivesind

Nursing | Senior Theses

In this thesis the relationship between normal shift length for nurses and fatigue, burnout, intention to leave job, and patient outcomes and satisfaction. A review of literature has been done and conclusions have been made about the previous research reviewed in the thesis. A proposal for further research has been included and details how the author plans to provide further clarification to the questions at hand in order to better clinical nursing practice for the future. The proposed study includes sending out a survey to members of the Sigma Theta Tau Honors Nursing Society. It will inquire about shift length, …

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

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 …

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 …

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 …

Fall Reading Week: Exploring The Effects On Student Well-Being, Roobina Medhizadah

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Mental health is a concerning issue in post-secondary institutions across Ontario. Post-secondary students are challenged with many stressors such as time management and living independently for the first time (Wagner & Rhee, 2013). In an attempt to help students, maintain or improve their mental health, universities across Ontario have implemented fall reading week, a mid-semester break (Poole et al., 2017). Previous studies (Cramer & Pschibul, 2017; Poole et al., 2017) provided mixed results in whether fall reading week positively influences student mental health and well-being. To date, few studies have explored the influence of fall reading week on student health …

Depression And Awareness Of Mental Health Resources Among Minority And Non-Minority College Students, Henry David Browne

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Minority college students experience higher levels of psychological stress and depression, and lower utilization of mental health resources (MHR) compared to the general student population. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the association between self-reported depressive symptoms and awareness of mental health services among college undergraduate minority and non-minority students, controlling for sex, interest in MHR information, and history of mental illness. The self-determination theory guided the study. The study utilized a cross-sectional research design using secondary survey data from the National College Health Assessment (NCHA). The NCHA dataset included 354,262 respondents from 52 self-selected U.S. colleges …