Mental and Social Health Commons^™

An Essay On Trailblazing With Service Animals Langer, Pilot, Bowie, And Izzie: Preserving Non-Partisan Public Health And The Law, Gary C. Norman

Journal of Law and Health

A direct correlation exists among humans, their animals, and human health and wellness. This article will focus concisely on law students with disabilities and lawyers with disabilities and how they can be empowered to be trailblazers while remaining healthy and well. Salutogenic Model should be optimized by lawyers with disabilities working at the intersection of animal law, disability law, and public health law. Service animals have positive and salubrious impacts upon their handlers in several ways, including psychosocial health and wellbeing. The Grand Architect (or in my Cherokee tradition, "great spirit") continuously partners me with complicated but magnificent dog partners …

Identifying Compounds To Treat Opiate Use Disorder By Leveraging Multi-Omic Data Integration And Multiple Drug Repurposing Databases, Jeran K Stratford, Megan Ulmer Carnes, Caryn Willis, Melyssa S Minto, Logain Elnimeiry, Ravi Mathur, Matthew Schu, Bryan C Quach, Javan Carter, Tracy Nolen, Nathan Vandergrift, Thomas R Kosten, Eric Otto Johnson, Bradley T Webb

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Genes influencing opioid use disorder (OUD) biology have been identified via genome-wide association studies (GWAS), gene expression, and network analyses. These discoveries provide opportunities to identifying existing compounds targeting these genes for drug repurposing studies. However, systematically integrating discovery results and identifying relevant available pharmacotherapies for OUD repurposing studies is challenging. To address this, we've constructed a framework that uses existing results and drug databases to identify candidate pharmacotherapies. For this study, two independent OUD related meta-analyses were used including a GWAS and a differential gene expression (DGE) study of post-mortem human brain. Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) sub-networks enriched for GWAS …

Bridging Traditions: A Mixed Methods Systematic Review Of Yoga For Trauma Recovery In Indigenous People, Andreia Schineanu, Fredrik Velander, Julaine Allan

Journal of the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet

Objective: The aim of this mixed methods systematic review was to explore if Yoga can alleviate mental health issues for Indigenous people, and how participants experience the effects.

Methods: Peer-reviewed primary research published in English retrieved from 2002 to March 2024 was identified using the databases Medline, Scopus, Informit, ProQuest and PsycINFO. Qualitative, quantitative and mixed method studies with Indigenous populations, where the primary intervention was Yoga or mindfulness programs with significant yoga components that reported on mental health outcomes were included.

Results: Only 5 studies met the inclusion criteria. The studies demonstrated significant improvements in mental health outcomes, including …

Understanding The Lived Experience Of Mental Health Following An Alpha-Gal Syndrome Diagnosis: A Phenomenological Study Grounded In Maslow’S Hierarchy Of Needs, Heather L. Hargis

Dissertations

Alpha-gal syndrome is a tick-borne food allergy that triggers delayed allergic reactions to mammalian products and profoundly alters daily life. While growing research examines the physiological aspects of alpha-gal syndrome, little is known about its psychological impact. This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of individuals with alpha-gal syndrome to understand how the condition influences mental health through the lens of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Data was collected through semi-structured virtual interviews with adults medically diagnosed with alpha-gal syndrome. Thematic analysis revealed significant challenges in meeting Maslow’s lower-tier needs—physiological, safety, and love/belonging—due to dietary restrictions, medical uncertainty, social isolation, and …

Stigma And Barriers To Seeking Mental Health Care Among Emergency Department Providers – A Mixed Methods Study, Shannon C. White, Charlotte H. Harris, Ravindra Gopaul, Joshua M. Smyth

Student Papers, Posters & Projects

High levels of psychological distress and depression are common among clinicians working in US emergency departments [ED], yet treatment-seeking remains rare, contributing to burnout and negative well-being. Reluctance to seek care often reflects concerns about negative consequences (e.g., stigma, negative professional impact). We sought to characterize the availability of mental health resource availability, beliefs about seeking care, and barriers faced by emergency department healthcare providers. A sequential mixed-method design was employed. Phase 1 included a survey of ED physicians, advanced practice providers (APPs; i.e., nurse practitioners and physician assistants) and medical residents at an academic medical center. The survey assessed …

Parentcoach: Designing An Mhealth Parenting App To Enhance Parental Involvement In Adhd Support, Franceli L. Cibrian, Nancy Herrera, Jesus A. Beltran, Lucas M. Silva, Mikaela Pulse, Kayla Anderson, Cassie Zeiler, Luc Rieffel, Daniel I. Lee, Sabrina E. B. Schuck, Kimberley D. Lakes

Engineering Faculty Articles and Research

Introduction: Parents play a vital role in supporting self-regulation and managing behaviors in children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). However, many face barriers to accessing consistent, evidence-based support. Mobile health (mHealth) technologies offer a promising way to deliver flexible, low-burden guidance for parents on best practices and strategies to support their children's self-regulation. However, designing them is non-trivial.

Objective: This paper introduces ParentCoach, a mobile application designed to support parents of children with ADHD through brief daily lessons, reflection prompts, and skill-building activities.

Methods: ParentCoach was developed in two phases: (1) secondary analysis of qualitative data from over 30 families …

Increasing The Likelihood Of Using Mental Health First Aid: Applying The Theory Of Planned Behavior, Alexander E. Chan, Cheyenne Schad, Julie Slivka, Elise Young, Ghaffar A. Hurtado Choque

Journal of Extension

This study applies the Theory of Planned Behavior to examine what may drive intentions to help others after receiving Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training. The study is unique in its application of theory to understanding MHFA outcomes, as prior studies tended to be atheoretical. Logistic regression was used to analyze the results of post-program surveys completed by MHFA participants. Results showed that participants who reported positive changes in subjective norms and attitudes were significantly more likely to report increases in intentions to help. However, when analyzed in a model containing all predictors, only attitudes remained significant.

Incorporating Behavioral Health Strategies In Primary Care To Improve Outcomes Of Depressed Patients, Amy L. Brummett

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem: Depression, otherwise known as major depressive disorder, is a mood disorder characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, loss of interest, sleep disturbances, changes to weight (both gain and loss), difficulty concentrating, and in extreme cases, suicidal thoughts, and/or attempts (Mayo Clinic, 2022). An estimated 8.3% or 21.0 million adults in the United States have experienced at least one episode of depression. Primary care clinicians are often the first to recognize the symptoms of depression. Depression was very prevalent in the clinic where this DNP Scholarly project took place. The owner/nurse practitioner found that she was increasingly treating depressed …

Introducing Neuro Sscial Work: A Brief Reflection On Neuroscience And The Profession, Priscila Llamosa

Social Work Faculty Publications

This reflection introduces and contextualizes the term Neuro Social Work, which I coin to name a specialized practice area at the intersection of social work, neuroscience, and neurodiversity. Drawing on my experience as a social work educator and practitioner, I discuss social work’s uneasy relationship with neuroscience, marked both by the opportunity to deepen our understanding of trauma, development, and healing, and by the risks of using brain‑based evidence to individualize structural harms or justify surveillance of marginalized communities. I outline, in broad strokes, what distinguishes Neuro Social Work from general neuroscience‑informed practice. The note is intended as a concept …

Latine Doctoral Student Experiences In U.S. Counselor Education And Supervision Programs, Nayara Aparecida Da Costa Silva Beall, Lizbeth Duran Oden, Isabel C. Farrell, Mariaimeé Gonzalez, Stephanie Thorson-Olesen

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

This study explored the experiences of Latine doctoral students in Counselor Education and Supervision programs in the United States. The consensual qualitative research yielded five domains: cultural values, representation, racialized experiences, support, and social justice. The findings are discussed with direct applications for programs and recommendations for future research.

Counselor Education: Digital Delivery With Confidence, Nicole Marie Arcuri-Sanders, Alisha Davis

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Counselor education programs are required to demonstrate a clear framework, effective implementation, and overall program effectiveness. The pandemic’s surge in online instruction influenced CACREP’s (2024) digital delivery (DD) standards, addressing ethical and legal implications alongside student outcomes. Guidance from digital health initiatives, telemental health ethics and legal practices can be invaluable in clarifying DD protocols for counselor education programs. Understanding the parallels between DD and digital health regulations (e.g., HIPAA, ACA [2014], and NBCC [2023] ethical codes) provides a solid foundation for protecting both students and programs. Integrating technology and modeling digital health practices can enhance counselor education, benefiting both …

“For Haitian Culture, Being Older [Is] A Blessing”: Perceptions Of Aging, Elderhood, And Dementia In A Haitian Born Sample, Melissa K. Eustache

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates how first-generation Haitian immigrants in the United States understand and interpret dementia within the intersecting contexts of culture, migration, and biomedicine. While dementia is constructed as a pathological “loss of self” and a public health epidemic, in American biomedical and popular discourse, this study examines how Haitian-born individuals—socialized within a non-Western cultural and spiritual framework—make sense of cognitive decline and impairment in ways that diverge from Western biomedical narratives. Guided by theoretical orientations from medical anthropology, including Mark Nichter’s idioms of distress, Margaret Lock’s local biologies, and neuroanthropology, this research explores how cultural models of illness, aging, …

Book Review: "Take Your Own Advice" By Jeffrey Marsh, Kristy Carlisle

Journal of Human Services Scholarship and Interprofessional Collaboration

This review examines Take Your Own Advice by Jeffrey Marsh as a teaching tool for cultivating ethical presence, mindfulness, and professional identity in human services and counseling education. Grounded in compassion-based, trauma-informed principles, Marsh’s eight guiding rules invite readers to shift from control and perfectionism toward authenticity, acceptance, and values-based living. These concepts directly reflect mindfulness and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) practices and expound upon self-compassion, boundary awareness, and cultural humility. Through workbook activities, students find ways to practice emotional regulation and ethical reflection. Drawing connections to the Council for Standards in Human Service Education (CSHSE) and Council for …

People Living With Hiv Became Influencers On Social Media: Breaking The Stigma, Charisma Asri Fitrananda, Yogi Muhammad Yusuf, Qisthy Rabathy, Yusuf Bahtiar

JURNAL KOMUNIKASI INDONESIA

This study examines the differences in stigma experienced by people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV) on social media and in broader Indonesian society. When PLHIV disclose their HIV-positive status on social media and attempt to break the stigma by becoming social media influencers, they receive both supportive and critical responses. Negative reactions arise when they are perceived as promoting risky activities, as burdens to the state, or when they face challenges securing sponsorship for their initiatives. This research employs a case study approach to explore the experiences of PLHIV use social media influence as a means to counter HIV-related …

Mitigating Screen Addiction In Early Childhood Using Value-Based Family Counseling In Ancient Javanese Texts, Fifi Khoirul Fitriyah, M. Ramli, Nanda Alfan Kurniawan, Baraka Manjale Ngussa, Nordin Bin Mamat

Jurnal Kajian Bimbingan dan Konseling

Gadget addiction is often associated with poor social interaction skills, anxiety, and physical health. However, few studies have addressed the issue of gadget addiction in early childhood. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a family counseling model that internalizes values from ancient Javanese texts to reduce gadget addiction in early childhood. The ancient Javanese text used was Kakawin Sutasoma, which describes the meaningful journey of Prince Sutasoma. This study was an experiment with a single-subject ABA design. The results showed positive developments in all three cases. In Case 1, reducing gadget time resulted in improved social skills in …

Selective Depletion Of Gut Gram-Negative Bacteria Attenuates Alcohol Binge-Induced Cardiovascular Dysfunction By Lowering Cardiac Anandamide Levels, Sarah E. Cohen, Meagan E. Donovan, Davin J. Gardner, Danielle Sambo, Seray B. Karagoz, Resat Cinar, David Goldman, Jason D. Gardner, Pal Pacher, Janos Paloczi

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

Binge drinking contributes to an increasing number of emergency department visits in the United States. Previous work demonstrated that an alcohol binge impairs cardiac performance and exerts complex hemodynamic effects through the activation of the endocannabinoid-mediated cannabinoid type 1 receptor (CB1R) signaling pathway. Anandamide (AEA), an endogenous CB1R agonist, is synthesized in response to various stressors and tissue injury. However, the role of binge drinking in increasing myocardial AEA levels, which leads to CB1R-dependent cardiodepression, remains unclear. This work studied how endotoxins from intestinal Gram-negative bacteria affect myocardial AEA levels, which further induce CB1R-dependent cardiac dysfunction following acute alcohol intoxication. …

Volume 8 (2025) The Spanish Language, Language Variations, Cultures And Responsibility

International Journal on Responsibility

This issue reflects an intentional and profound commitment to linguistic inclusion, cultural diversity, and the shared responsibility of scholars to broaden the scope of academic dialogue beyond the boundaries of English. The essays collected here invite us to reimagine bilingualism not only as a communicative skill but also as a moral, social, and institutional responsibility.

Esta edición representa un compromiso intencional y profundo con la inclusión lingüística, la diversidad cultural y la responsabilidad compartida de ampliar los horizontes del diálogo académico más allá de los límites del inglés. Los ensayos aquí reunidos nos invitan a reimaginar el bilingüismo no solo …

Timing And Mode Of Death Following Treatment Of Neonatal Symptomatic Tetralogy Of Fallot, Sara M Trucco, Yun Zhang, Andrew C Glatz, Michael L O'Byrne, Christopher J Petit, Athar M Qureshi, Jeffrey D Zampi, Shabana Shahanavaz, George T Nicholson, Allen Ligon, Jennifer C Romano, Shiraz A Maskatia, Jeffery J Meadows, Christopher Mascio, Jay Patel, Kathryn Stack, Asaad G Beshish, Mark Law, Sarosh P Batlivala, Jeannette Wong-Siegel, Kristal Hock, Sarah Speed, Hala Khan, Disha Goel, Courtney Mccracken, Bryan H Goldstein

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Neonates with tetralogy of Fallot and symptomatic cyanosis (sTOF) require early intervention, using a staged or primary repair strategy. Postprocedural mortality risk within this group is considerable. The mode of death and associated factors have been inadequately defined in early childhood mortality following treatment of sTOF. This study aims to describe the timing, cause, and associated risk factors of postprocedural death in infants with sTOF.

Methods: Neonates with sTOF who had an initial intervention from 2005 to 2017 at 9 centers of the Congenital Cardiac Research Collaborative were reviewed. Among nonsurvivors, details regarding timing, cause of death, and last …

What Are Equine-Assisted Services? A Practical Guide For Families And Communities, Makenna L. Pahlke

All Current Publications

Horses are very present animals, meaning they provide immediate, nonjudgmental feedback. Their nature and size can often encourage confidence, responsibility, and self-regulation. Families and communities considering equine-assisted services (EAS) for themselves or a loved one need to understand terms, as they will help guide them to the type of program best suited to meet their expected needs, as well as help them find quality programs.

Starting An Equine-Assisted Services Program, Makenna L. Pahlke

All Current Publications

Starting an equine-assisted services (EAS) program requires more than just access to horses and a passion for helping others. This fact sheet outlines the key considerations for communities and individuals interested in developing safe, sustainable, and impactful equine-assisted programs.

Alcohol And Metabolic Stress Synergize To Dysregulate Mitochondrial Health And Lipid Metabolism; Evidence From A Hepatocyte Spheroid Model, Eden M. Gallegos, Kaitlin Couvillion, Drake Darden, Keishla Rodriguez-Graciani, Patricia E. Molina, Liz Simon

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and alcohol-associated liver disease frequently co-occur, manifesting as MetALD. Understanding the hepatocyte-specific effects of alcohol and metabolic stressors is critical to uncovering mechanisms of synergistic injury. This study evaluated the individual and combined effects of ethanol, sugars, and saturated/monounsaturated fats on hepatocyte lipid metabolism, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial function using a 3D human HepaRG spheroid model. HepaRG spheroids were treated with ethanol (50 mm), sugar (glucose and fructose), and fatty acids alone or in combination for 10 d. The combination of ethanol (E) and metabolic (sugar and fat, SF) stressors (ESF) synergistically increased triglyceride content …

Moderators Of Peer Influence Effects For Adolescents’ Smoking And Vaping Norms And Outcomes In High And Middle-Income Settings, Jennifer M. Murray, Sharon C. Sánchez-Franco, Olga L. Sarmiento, Erik O. Kimbrough, Christopher Tate, Shannon C. Montgomery, Rajnish Kumar, Laura Dunne, Abhijit Ramalingam, Erin L. Krupka, Felipe Montes, Huiyu Zhou, Laurence Moore, Linda Bauld, Blanca Llorente, Frank Kee, Ruth F. Hunter

Economics Faculty Articles and Research

Background: Peer influence is central to adolescent smoking initiation, yet its impact varies depending on individual and contextual factors. Understanding which moderators (personality, contextual, cultural, and environmental traits) shape these processes can inform more effective prevention strategies. We investigated hypothesized moderators of peer influence for adolescent smoking/vaping norms and other smoking-related outcomes in high and low-middle-income countries (LMICs): Northern Ireland and Bogotá.

Methods: Across 12 schools (n = 1,344, age 12–13 years), participants completed novel behavioral economics experiments measuring social norms, and self-report surveys, before and after school-based prevention interventions (ASSIST and Dead Cool). We examined how peer influence …

Law Library Blog (November 2025): Legal Beagle's Blog Archive, Roger Williams University School Of Law

Law Library Newsletters/Blog

No abstract provided.

Economic Evaluation Of Screening, Treatment, And Prevention Interventions For Perinatal Mood And Anxiety Disorders: A Systematic Review, Sabrina Alam, Brian Christman, Emma Mcneill, Man Tang, Rong Rong, Qing Li, William Hillegass, Janice Hall, Laura Wright, Chisa Lanier, Xu Xiong, Lizheng Shi, Abigail Gamble

Preventive Medicine Publications

Objective

Methods

The Link Between Mental Health And Physical Health : A Study On Seafarers In Southeast Asia, - Dewi Balqis Binti Azfar

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Progression Of Deinstitutionalization And Its Effects On The American South: A Judicial Analysis Of 20th-Century United States Supreme Court Decisions, Eva-Marie V. Jones

Honors College Theses

This thesis explores the effects of four landmark Supreme Court cases on the deinstitutionalization movement in the American south. Previous literature frequently discusses the legislative implications of this era; however, no law is applicable without the interpretation and application of the judiciary, which so often contextualizes the greater public perspective. Rarely has an analysis of judicial decisions involving psychiatric care merged with regional focus, and certainly not in a format accessible to the average individual.

From unmarked graves to abandoned infrastructure, the legacy of historic psychiatric care in the United States has been largely obscured – yet its consequences continue …

Predicting Craving-Related Emotions Among Opioid Use Disorder Patients: Preliminary Results, Zachary King, Zoe Setiadi, Liana Hamdan, Hajar Ahmed, Bishal Lamichhane, Ashutosh Sabharwal, Ramiro Salas, Nidal Moukaddam, Akane Sano

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Individuals with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) often struggle to maintain sobriety, with many experiencing relapse within the first year. While medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is among the most effective approaches, access to intensive care is often limited by financial barriers. Mobile health (mHealth) technologies offer a promising, cost-effective alternative by enabling continuous monitoring and timely intervention through tools such as ecological momentary assessments (EMAs), wearable sensors, and smartphone data. In this study, we explore the feasibility of using mHealth data to predict emotions that align with cravings in OUD patients undergoing MAT. Using data collected from EMAs, wearables, smartphone tracking, and …

Can Interpersonal Trust Predict And Account For Symptom Change During Group Cognitive Processing Therapy For Ptsd? An Investigation Of The Iterated Trust Game, M Wright Williams, Christopher Hunt, David P Graham, Matt Estey, Lia Smith, Katherine Mccurry, Brooks King-Casas, Pearl Chiu

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objective: Group cognitive processing therapy (GCPT) is frequently utilized to treat PTSD within the VA healthcare system, but its mechanisms are not well understood. Interpersonal trust could be an important change process in GCPT given its relevance to group-based therapy and its role in CPT, but self-report measures are inadequate for capturing the dynamic interplay that defines interpersonal trust. Here, we examined the degree to which interpersonal could predict and account for PTSD symptom change in GCPT using the iterated trust game (ITG)-a behavioral task used to approximate real-world trust behavior.

Methods: Participants were Veterans with PTSD who participated in …

Clonal Hematopoiesis And Subsequent Venous Thromboembolism Among Survivors Of Autologous Transplantation For Lymphoma, Radhika Gangaraju, Yanjun Chen, Lindsey Hageman, Alysia Bosworth, Elizabeth Ross, Liton Francisco, Purnima Singh, Melissa A Richard, Chengcheng Yan, Rashi Kalra, Changde Cheng, Saro H Armenian, Stephen J Forman, Ravi Bhatia, Smita Bhatia

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Clonal hematopoiesis is associated with increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). The risk of VTE is high in patients with lymphoma and after autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation, and clonal hematopoiesis is present in many patients with lymphoma at autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. We examined whether clonal hematopoiesis increases posttransplant VTE risk in patients with lymphoma. Our study included 557 patients with lymphoma who had survived 2 or more years after receiving autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation between 1999 and 2014. Clonal hematopoiesis was measured by targeted sequencing of cryopreserved peripheral blood stem cell product. Median …

Assessing Health Behaviors As Predictors Of Psychological Resilience And Bmi In A National And Small Military College Sample, Kylie Blodgett, Rachele Pojednic

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Highlights: What are the main findings? First-year students at a military college engage in more vigorous physical activity and strength training compared to a representative national sample. In the national sample, higher levels of physical activity, strength training, and better sleep are associated with greater psychological resilience and healthier BMI values and these associations were not observed in the military college students. What are the implication of the main findings? Promoting physical activity and adequate sleep may enhance resilience and support healthy body weight in civilian college populations. Military training may overshadow the influence of individual health behaviors on resilience …