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Silent Battles, Invisible Scars: POC Navigating PCOS
No full textDespite the prevalence of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) across diverse populations, current literature shows a gap in understanding how race, ethnicity, and marginalized identities shape individuals' experiences with this condition. This study investigates how being a person of color and other marginalized identities affects experiences with PCOS. Using Critical Race Theory and Intersectionality frameworks, we designed and conducted an anonymous online survey to gather data about people of color with PCOS and used thematic analysis to understand these experiences. One key finding is that being a person of color or having another marginalized identity led to dismissed symptoms, poor health care experiences, and an average 9.6-year delay in receiving a diagnosis. These findings add to the literature on how intersecting marginalized identities create unique barriers for people of color in treatment and diagnosis. This study has significant implications for social work practice, education, and policy. Informing culturally responsive interventions and contributing to anti- racist healthcare practices
The Psychological Impact of War and Relocation on Refugee and Immigrant Children: Counseling Strategies and Theoretical Approaches for School Psychologists
Get PDFSchool-based mental health professionals, including psychologists, counselors, and social workers, play a vital role in supporting students from diverse backgrounds, each with unique life experiences that shape their development. Understanding the complex interplay of social, emotional, and psychological factors influencing students is essential in providing effective and culturally responsive care. While numerous counseling frameworks exist to address common student challenges, specialized attention is required for children who have experienced forced displacement due to war, violence, or political unrest. Given the current global landscape and the growing number of refugee students in schools, it is imperative for mental health professionals to recognize and respond to the psychological effects of displacement and trauma. This project explores the emotional, social, and mental impact of displacement on refugee students and offers a comprehensive guide for school psychologists and other mental health professionals working with this population. Grounded in research, this project outlines common mental health concerns among refugee children and provides evidence-based therapeutic approaches, activities, and guidelines best suited to meet their unique needs
Suicide Prevention in Elementary School Students: Promoting Mental Health and Resiliency Through Home-School Collaboration
No full textSuicide among elementary school children is a growing concern, yet there is a lack of research and as such minimal efforts are focused on this population (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2024). This project aims to promote resilience and suicide prevention in young children. Specifically, it involves the development and implementation of parent workshops designed to educate them on recognizing risk factors, fostering emotional resilience, and supporting their child's mental well-being. These workshops provide parents with evidence-based strategies, community resources, and practical tools to strengthen protective factors in the home environment
Scoping Literature Review: Barriers to Accessing Services and Suicide Among Veterans
Get PDFU.S. veterans face significant barriers to accessing mental health services, contributing to elevated rates of suicide. This study investigates the research problem: how systemic, cultural, and logistical obstacles deter veterans from seeking mental health support and whether these barriers correlate with increased suicide risk. Key barriers include stigma surrounding mental health within military culture, long wait times and bureaucratic inefficiencies in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and geographic and financial constraints limiting access to care. The study conducted a scoping literature review to examine what the literature says on barriers to accessing VA services and the role of suicidality. A total of 26 articles met the study's criteria. The findings reveal that cultural stigma is a primary deterrent, compounded by systemic issues such as insufficient mental health staffing and inadequate outreach to rural veterans. A significant portion of veterans reported feelings of isolation and hopelessness due to untreated conditions, which were directly linked to suicidal ideation. The study also highlights that while some efforts to reduce these barriers, such as telehealth, have shown promise, systemic reforms remain critical. These findings emphasize the need for targeted strategies, including stigma reduction campaigns, streamlined access to VA services, and expanded community-based mental health resources, to address the crisis effectively. By tackling these barriers, policymakers and healthcare providers can better support veterans and potentially reducing suicide rates and improving their overall quality of life
The Needs of (Prospective) Foster, Adoptive, and Kinship Parents in the U.S.
No full textResearch on the needs of (prospective) foster, adoptive and or kinship parents is limited and siloed, which prevents a comprehensive understanding of their experiences and challenges. Existing literature often overlooks the shared experiences across these caregiving roles, constraining a holistic approach to supporting these parents. This study seeks to address this gap by examining the intersecting needs of foster, adoptive, and kinship parents in the United States through a qualitative online survey and purposeful sampling. Using content analysis, we identified 15 distinct themes related to their needs. While some themes, such as training, social support, and emotional needs, were consistent with existing research, additional themes that have not been thoroughly explored in the literature emerged. These findings expand our understanding of the multifaceted needs of these parents and have significant implications for social work practice and policy development. By taking into consideration the overlap between different caregiving roles, this study provides valuable insight into more integrated support systems
Effects of Discrimination: An LGBTQIA+ Mental Health Study
Get PDFPurpose: The purpose of this research study is to explore how discrimination affects individuals of the LGBTQIA+ community with respect to overlapping identities such as sexual orientation, gender, race, and age. Research Question: Is there a relationship between discrimination, anxiety, and depression in a sample of LGBTQIA+ individuals? Methods: This pre-experimental design uses an online anonymous survey with standardized measures of discrimination and mental health with LGBTQIA+ participants (N= 37) recruited using snowball sampling. Results: Discrimination affects the mental health of the LGBTQIA+ community. Discussion: In congruence with our findings, anti-LGBTQIA+ rhetoric shapes the lived experience of LGBTQIA+ individuals in a negative way. Furthermore, the blatant anti-LGBTQIA+ political climate may intensify feelings of fear, separation, and marginalization. Despite limitations in this study there is a keen impact of discrimination on LGBTQIA+ mental health which emphasizes the importance of pushing on with advocacy efforts
Experiences of Foster Care Individuals of Immigrant Background
Get PDFImmigrant youth in foster care navigate complex challenges influenced by cultural identity struggles, systemic barriers, and limited access to culturally responsive resources. These factors can contribute to emotional distress, social difficulties, and long-term adverse outcomes. Despite the increasing diversity within the foster care population, there is insufficient research examining how these experiences shape their overall well-being. These gaps limit the ability of policymakers and social service providers to develop effective, culturally informed interventions. This study conducts a scoping literature review to analyze existing research on the experiences of individuals who are or have experience with the foster care system and are of immigrant background. The research seeks to answer the following question: What are the experiences of foster care individuals who are of immigrant background? Nine studies met the criteria to be included in this study. Findings indicate that immigrant individuals in foster care often face significant cultural disconnection, discrimination, and inadequate support services tailored to their unique needs. Many struggle with identity formation and acculturation stress, further complicating their ability to establish stability. Additionally, the lack of culturally competent foster placements and social services exacerbates these challenges, leading to poorer educational, social, and mental health outcomes compared to their non-immigrant peers. The implications of this study underscore the urgent need for culturally responsive policies and practices within the foster care system. Social service providers and policymakers must implement targeted interventions to address the unique needs of immigrant individuals in care, including enhanced cultural competency training for caregivers, improved access to linguistically and culturally appropriate services, and policies that promote stable placements
Exploring the Relationship Between Mental Health and Recidivism in the Hispanic and Latinx Population: A Systematic Literature Review
Get PDFStudy Purpose: This systematic literature review explores the relationship between mental health disorders and recidivism within Latinx populations and the barriers preventing this population from seeking, accessing, and utilizing mental health care. Methods: Eight databases and eighteen keywords were used to select 45 peer-reviewed articles. This systematic literature review utilized peer-reviewed articles that focused on mental health, recidivism, and cultural and systemic healthcare barriers in Latinx communities. We excluded articles that did not include either Latinx participants. Findings: Individuals with untreated mental health disorders, such as Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, experienced higher rates of recidivism. Cultural and systemic barriers such as stigma and a lack of culturally competent providers further limit access to mental health treatments. Discussion: Findings suggested addressing the mental health disparities within the Hispanic and Latinx populations, which is essential to reducing recidivism. Efforts should focus on increasing access to mental health services, reducing stigma, and implementing culturally competent interventions
The Effects of Parental Incarceration on Developmental Outcomes Among Adolescents: A Systematic Literature Review
Get PDFStudy Purpose: The purpose of this systematic review was to examine existing literature on the impacts of parental incarceration on adolescents within the specific domains of mental health, antisocial behaviors, education, and policy. Methods: Four databases and five keywords were used to select twenty peer-reviewed articles. Findings: Findings indicated parental incarceration causes negative impacts on adolescent's mental health, antisocial behaviors, and education. Discussion: Parental incarceration increases barriers to maintaining parent-child and peer relationships, as well as increases the likelihood of adverse behaviors in the home and school settings. Social workers should advocate for creation and implementation of policies that are geared towards fostering parental involvement despite their incarcerated status in addition to programs that provide support to adolescent students struggling in school and/or in the community
Utilizing Vignettes and Roleplay to Challenge Biases and Stereotypes Regarding African American Families in Child Welfare
No full textDisproportionality of African American children in child welfare has been a persistent issue for decades. Some suggest that socioeconomic factors are the main contributors to disproportionality, while others suggest that the main contributor is unaddressed implicit bias in child welfare workers. However, research shows that disproportionality is a byproduct of the complex interplay between numerous interrelated factors, including poverty and race. Therefore, it remains imperative for child welfare agencies to address contributing factors such as implicit bias within their organization. The purpose of this graduate project was to design, construct, and implement an integrative activity that would support social workers in having conversations about implicit bias against African American families within child welfare. This integrative activity consisted of five distinct vignette scenarios depicting various challenges commonly experienced by African American families as they navigate the child welfare process. The second component of the activity involved participants engaging in roleplay, either as the biased co- worker or the social worker challenging the bias in their designated scenario. This activity was integrated into the program of the 2nd Annual Disproportionality in Child Welfare Conference, which focused on the disproportionality of African American families in child welfare. This graduate project sought to stimulate active self-reflection and dialogue about bias in a safe, educational space, so that participants may feel more adequately equipped to address implicit biases within their professional practice