Mental and Social Health Commons^™

Mental Healthcare Differences Between The United States, Costa Rica, And Sweden, Michaela Diehm

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Countries such as the United States, Costa Rica, and Sweden differ in the ways that they approach treatment of mental health disorders, which is due to the structure of their healthcare as well as the culture, affordability, accessibility, and type of treatment that is available to the people of that country. A literature review did not reveal a comparison of the three countries related to the topic of mental healthcare, nor use of the three selected countries to review their structures to determine the best approach to combating mental disorders before. Costa Rica and Sweden are both countries with universal …

Mir-574-5p Activates Human Tlr8 To Promote Autoimmune Signaling And Lupus, Dianqiang Yang, Yida Xing, Shulin Bi, Yan Zhang, Tao Hu, Yunyun Zhang, Shuang Dai, Zhiqiang Shao, Dahan Chen, Jinpao Hou, Esteban Ballestar, Jianchun Cai, Feng Zheng, James Y Yang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Endosomal single-stranded RNA-sensing Toll-like receptor-7/8 (TLR7/8) plays a pivotal role in inflammation and immune responses and autoimmune diseases. However, the mechanisms underlying the initiation of the TLR7/8-mediated autoimmune signaling remain to be fully elucidated. Here, we demonstrate that miR-574-5p is aberrantly upregulated in tissues of lupus prone mice and in the plasma of lupus patients, with its expression levels correlating with the disease activity. miR-574-5p binds to and activates human hTLR8 or its murine ortholog mTlr7 to elicit a series of MyD88-dependent immune and inflammatory responses. These responses include the overproduction of cytokines and interferons, the activation of STAT1 signaling …

Effects Of Time-Restricted Eating Patterns On Cardiometabolic Parameters And Mental Health Status In Young Adults., Mohammad Aleef Mohd Bakri

Student Works (2020-2029)

Cardiometabolic diseases, such as obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease, along with mental health disorders like depression and anxiety, are closely linked to disruptions in circadian rhythm. Time-restricted eating (TRE) is an eating pattern that aligns with the circadian rhythm by restricting food intake to an 8–12-hour eating window during the daytime. Ramadan fasting, a form of TRE characterized by a nighttime eating window from dusk to dawn, offers a unique perspective as it contrasts with the typical diurnal eating pattern. However, no studies have directly compared TRE protocols with diurnal (daytime) and nocturnal (nighttime) eating windows within a single …

Health Care Professionals’ Stigma Toward People With An Opioid Use Disorder: Preliminary Findings On The Effect Of Amount Of Contact Has On Stigma, Gabriela Murza, Cris Meier, Lily Ward, Sydney O'Shay, Rachel Myrer

Transforming Communities

Opioid-related deaths are the leading cause of injury deaths in Utah. Individuals who seek treatment for opioid misuse report stigma from healthcare professionals as the leading barrier to accessing treatment. Health professionals provide a variety of treatment options in efforts of combating high rates of opioid misuse. However, these professionals may not be properly trained in stigma reduction strategies, thus leading to poor client care and outcomes. The current study examined the association between contact with individuals who misuse opioids and stigma perceptions among healthcare professionals. A one-time survey was administered to healthcare professionals who practice in Utah using convenience …

Unlv Mental Health Initiatives: Unifying Through Innovation And Collaboration, The Lincy Institute, Unlv Practice, Behere Nv, Unlv Department Of Psychology

Lincy Institute Events

Nevada persistently ranks at or near the bottom in the country for overall access to mental health services despite the need (Mental Health America, 2015-2023). UNLV faculty are developing initiatives to change this unacceptable situation. The Lincy Institute, in partnership with UNLV PRACTICE, BeHERE Nevada, and researchers from the Department of Psychology, offered a community forum showcasing three mental health initiatives harnessing faculty collaboration and innovation to drive overdue changes in Nevada’s mental-health landscape. Following the presentations policymakers engaged in open discussion with UNLV presenters and the audience. The three main initiatives showcased in this forum …

Human Brain Glycoform Coregulation Network And Glycan Modification Alterations In Alzheimer's Disease, Qi Zhang, Cheng Ma, Lih-Shen Chin, Sheng Pan, Lian Li

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Despite the importance of protein glycosylation to brain health, current knowledge of glycosylated proteoforms or glycoforms in human brain and their alterations in Alzheimer's disease (AD) is limited. Here, we report a proteome-wide glycoform profiling study of human AD and control brains using intact glycopeptide-based quantitative glycoproteomics coupled with systems biology. Our study identified more than 10,000 human brain N-glycoforms from nearly 1200 glycoproteins and uncovered disease signatures of altered glycoforms and glycan modifications, including reduced sialylation and N-glycan branching and elongation as well as elevated mannosylation and N-glycan truncation in AD. Network analyses revealed a higher-order organization of brain …

Graphic Medicine For Library Outreach, Chanda Briggs, Claire Sharifi

Gleeson Library Faculty and Staff Research and Scholarship

According to a National Academy of Sciences working group investigating the mental health crises in higher education, student wellbeing is an issue that needs to be addressed at the campus level, not siloed in specified departments and units. University libraries can be an integral part of student wellness initiatives, and this poster presentation will present one academic library’s engagement in student wellness initiatives. This poster will:

• Highlight the ways campus partnerships facilitated streamlined library engagement in student wellness

• Identify student centric initiatives and acquisitions

• Identify funding sources used for those initiatives and acquisitions

• Discuss outcomes of library wellness initiatives.

Lingering Effects Of Covid-19 On Mental Health In College Students, Morgan Bodker

Scholars Week

This study examined whether severity of an individual’s COVID symptoms is predictive of a long-term risk for depression in college students. An online survey was completed by 123 students (M = 19.45; SD = 4.23) who had been diagnosed with COVID-19 at any time since the pandemic. Severity of COVID symptoms at the time of diagnosis was assessed using seven questions on a 4-point Likert scale. Current depressive symptoms were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Participants who had a COVID diagnosis reported significantly higher levels of depression than participants who have never had COVID. A linear regression restricted …

Knowledge And Implementation Of Tobacco Control Practices In Rural Louisiana Community Health Centers, Michael D. Celestin Jr, Ty-Runet Bryant, Tung Sung Tseng, Krysten Jones-Winn, Qingzhao Yu

School of Public Health Faculty Publications

Association for Clinical and Translational Science 2024; April 3 - April 5, 2024; Las Vegas, NV

Effect Of Aspirin Versus Low-Molecular-Weight Heparin Thromboprophylaxis On Medication Satisfaction And Out-Of-Pocket Costs: A Secondary Analysis Of A Randomized Clinical Trial, Gerard P Slobogean, Joshua L Gary, William T Obremskey, Rachel B Seymour, Joseph Cuschieri, C Daniel Mullins, Robert V O'Toole, Metrc

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Current guidelines recommend low-molecular-weight heparin for thromboprophylaxis after orthopaedic trauma. However, recent evidence suggests that aspirin is similar in efficacy and safety. To understand patients' experiences with these medications, we compared patients' satisfaction and out-of-pocket costs after thromboprophylaxis with aspirin versus low-molecular-weight heparin.

METHODS: This study was a secondary analysis of the PREVENTion of CLots in Orthopaedic Trauma (PREVENT CLOT) trial, conducted at 21 trauma centers in the U.S. and Canada. We included adult patients with an operatively treated extremity fracture or a pelvic or acetabular fracture. Patients were randomly assigned to receive 30 mg of low-molecular-weight heparin (enoxaparin) …

Does An Early, Balanced Resuscitation Strategy Reduce The Incidence Of Hypofibrinogenemia In Hemorrhagic Shock?, Mariela Sandoval

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

OBJECTIVES: Some centers have recommended including concentrated fibrinogen replacement in massive transfusion protocols (MTPs). Given our center's policy of aggressive early balanced resuscitation (1:1:1), beginning prehospital, we hypothesized that our rates of hypofibrinogenemia may be lower than those previously reported.

METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, patients presenting to our trauma center November 2017 to April 2021 were reviewed. Patients were defined as hypofibrinogenemic (HYPOFIB) if admission fibrinogen

RESULTS: Of 29 782 patients, 6618 level 1 activations, and 1948 patients receiving emergency release blood,

CONCLUSIONS: Low rates of hypofibrinogenemia were found in our center which treats hemorrhage with early, balanced …

In Silico Identification Of Small Molecule Agonist Binding Sites On Kcc2, Kenyon Mitchell, Alfred Amendolara, Ruth Hunter, Jaden Miner, Andrew Payne

Annual Research Symposium

Purpose: Potassium-Chloride Cotransporter 2 (KCC2) is a neuronal membrane protein specific to the central nervous system. It is responsible for removing Cl- ions from the intracellular space, maintaining a normal Cl- gradient essential for proper function at inhibitory synapses. Dysregulation causes an upward shift in the Cl- reversal potential resulting in a hyperexcitable state of the postsynaptic neuron. Existing literature indicates that KCC2 may be involved in the addiction pathway of a variety of drugs of abuse, including opioids and alcohol. This makes KCC2 an attractive potential drug target when treating substance use disorders. A novel direct KCC2 agonist, VU0500469, …

Testing A Clinic-Based Program To Reduce Risky Behaviors Among Teens, Reach Dissemination Committee, Maine, Usa

REACH: Research Evidence-to-Action for Community Health

Risky behaviors, including eating poorly, not getting enough sleep or exercise, using drugs, and not wearing a helmet or seatbelt often emerge during the teen years.

Is A Patient Navigation Program More Helpful Than A Referral Program For Reducing Depression And Improving Quality Of Life Among Women Living In Neighborhoods With Few Resources?, Reach Dissemination Committee, Maine, Usa

REACH: Research Evidence-to-Action for Community Health

The research team compared two programs designed to help women with feelings of depression who live in neighborhoods with few resources. Both programs lasted four months.

Health Leadership Perspectives On Challenges To Providing & Expanding Withdrawal Management Capacity In Maine, Sarah Mclaughlin Mph

Substance Use Research & Evaluation

Currently, the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (Maine DHHS) and the Cutler Institute’s Substance Use Research and Evaluation Team (SURE) are working together through the SUPPORT for ME Cooperative Agreement to monitor and assess Maine’s behavioral health system. As a part of this Cooperative Agreement, Maine DHHS and the SURE team have identified withdrawal management (WM) as an area of interest and have determined that more information is needed to understand the landscape of WM in Maine, especially as it pertains to non-opioid substances. Therefore, this project will involve collecting data through interviews with health care leadership from …

Qualitative Brief: Baseline Needs Assessment Treatment Experiences In Rural Vermont, Katie Rosingana Ba, Evelyn Ali Mph, Tyler Egeland Ba, Karen Pearson Mlis, Mary Lindsey Smith Phd, C. Peasley-Miklus, J. Shaw

Substance Use Research & Evaluation

This qualitative data brief provides findings from the Vermont baseline needs assessment, conducted in collaboration with research staff at the University of Southern Maine's Catherine Cutler Institute, with the goal to identify current and future opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment needs and barriers in rural Vermont. This data brief aims to identify current and future addiction treatment needs and barriers in Vermont with direct input from practitioners, community partners, and people impacted personally by opioid use. Preceptions included in this data brief are informed by semi-structured qualitative interviews conducted with people with lived experience (PWLE) with OUD, as well as …

Hooked On A Feeling: The Importance Of Fostering Emotional Intelligence In Adolescents, Annika Wirkkala

Classical Conversations

In the summer of 2023, CNN reported on a 14-year old girl who claimed to have several mental health issues. These included ADHD, depression, autism, and various phobias. After a specialist examined her, however, she was officially diagnosed not with her extensive list of illnesses but with severe anxiety. How did this 14-year old girl become so convinced that she suffered from all of these problems? Social media. Sadly, this girl is not the only victim of social media self-diagnosis. According to the CNN report, “A growing number of teens are turning to social platforms such as Instagram and TikTok …

Western Maine Addiction And Recovery Initiative's Substance Misuse Prevention And Wellness Day: Year 2 Feedback Survey For Ohchs, Tyler Egeland Ba, Evelyn Ali Bs, Mary Lindsey Smith Phd

Substance Use Research & Evaluation

As part of the evaluation of the Western Maine Addiction Recovery Initiative’s (WMARI) HRSA Rural Communities Opioid Response Program grant, staff from the Substance Use Research & Evaluation Unit, USM developed a survey to gather feedback from individuals who participated in the 2nd annual OHCHS Substance Use Prevention and Wellness Day. For more information, please contact Lindsey Smith at [email protected]

Comparing Long-Term Outcomes Of Two Collaborative Care Approaches For People With Depression, Reach Dissemination Committee, Maine, Usa

REACH: Research Evidence-to-Action for Community Health

People with depression usually get treatment in healthcare settings, such as clinics. In communities with few resources, people may also get help in community settings such as social services agencies or churches. Collaborative care brings together healthcare and community programs to help people with depression.

Treating Chronic Pain Using Approaches Adapted For Patients With Limited Reading Skills, Reach Dissemination Committee, Maine, Usa

REACH: Research Evidence-to-Action for Community Health

Patients with chronic pain may find some psychosocial interventions to be effective but for those with limited reading skills, it can be hard to understand and use these options.

Comparing Two Ways To Treat Serious Worry Among Older Adults From Underserved, Racial Or Ethnic Minority Communities, Reach Dissemination Committee, Maine, Usa

REACH: Research Evidence-to-Action for Community Health

Compared with other older adults, those with serious worry are more likely to have poor physical health, and often have depression, sleep problems, and trouble thinking clearly.

Comparing Universal Versus Targeted School Screenings For Depression Among Teens, Reach Dissemination Committee, Maine, Usa

REACH: Research Evidence-to-Action for Community Health

The US Preventive Services Task Force endorses universal adolescent major depressive disorder (MDD) screening in primary care; however, most adolescents lack preventive health care, resulting in worsening disparities in MDD screening and treatment.

Does A Parent Peer Support Program Help Parents Of Children Who Need Mental Health Services Support Their Child’S Care?, Reach Dissemination Committee, Maine, Usa

REACH: Research Evidence-to-Action for Community Health

The study aimed to assess the impact of a Family Navigator (FN) program developed to increase child behavioral therapy service utilization on parent and child outcomes.

Evaluating A Program To Lower Prescription Opioid Doses For Patients With Chronic Pain, Reach Dissemination Committee, Maine, Usa

REACH: Research Evidence-to-Action for Community Health

Patients who use opioids for a long time are at increased risk for addiction, care crashes, overdose, & injuries.

Helping Patients With Mental Illness Engage In Their Transitional Care, Reach Dissemination Committee, Maine, Usa

REACH: Research Evidence-to-Action for Community Health

Effective transitional care can keep patients from going back to the hospital.

Examining Health Outcomes For People Who Are Transgender, Reach Dissemination Committee, Maine, Usa

REACH: Research Evidence-to-Action for Community Health

The Study of Transition, Outcomes, and Gender was initiated to assess morbidity among transgender people in general and after gender-affirming treatments.

Does A Video Chat Referral Process Help Families With Children Who Have Medicaid To Initiate Mental Health Care?, Reach Dissemination Committee, Maine, Usa

REACH: Research Evidence-to-Action for Community Health

Many children with Medicaid and mental health concerns don’t get the care they need.

Using A Transitional Care Program To Prepare Patients To Take Care Of Themselves After Leaving The Hospital, Reach Dissemination Committee, Maine, Usa

REACH: Research Evidence-to-Action for Community Health

Some patients have difficulty caring for themselves after they return home from a hospital stay.

Peer-Navigator Support For Latinx Patients With Serious Mental Illness, Reach Dissemination Committee, Maine, Usa

REACH: Research Evidence-to-Action for Community Health

People who have a serious mental illness (SMI), are at higher risk for other health problems.

Does A Peer-Led Program With Wellness Coaching Improve Wellness Among People With Serious Mental Illness?, Reach Dissemination Committee

REACH: Research Evidence-to-Action for Community Health

People with serious mental illness, or SMI, such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia often also have long-term physical health problems.