Scanlan Center for School Mental Health
Scanlan Center for School Mental Health
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School Mental Health Grant-Funded Research Recent Projects

IOWA SCHOOL MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVE PROJECT

Project Team
  • Jacob Priest, Associate Professor and Director of Couple and Family Therapy, Department of Psychological and Quantitative Foundations, University of Iowa College of Education
  • Martin Kivlighan, Associate Professor of Counseling Psychology, Department of Psychological and Quantitative Foundations, University of Iowa College of Education

The project will develop an evidence-based, culturally responsive, equity-infused mental health awareness training to enable K-12 stakeholders to recognize and respond to student mental health needs. It will provide professional development for educators and paraprofessionals and extend outreach and training to community members who have a role in student mental health. Project ISMHI will integrate evidence-based practices, including Mental Health First Aid; Cultural Competency & Humility Best Practices; and Trauma Mitigation to develop a streamlined curriculum and train. The project goals include 1) create an innovative, evidence-based curriculum to increase mental health awareness in educators and parents; 2) train educational professionals to (a) recognize signs and symptoms of serious mental illness and emotional disturbance; (b) implement crisis de-escalation and stabilization techniques; and (c) practice self-care strategies for providing mental health supports, and 3) implement a train the trainer model to scale up ISMHI across Iowa schools.

NEOLTH APP PILOT STUDY

Project Team
  • Gerta Bardhoshi, Ph.D., Director of Research and Training, Scanlan Center for School Mental Health; Professor of Counselor Education, University of Iowa College of Education
  • Allison Bruhn, Ph.D., Executive Director, Scanlan Center for School Mental Health; Professor of Special Education, University of Iowa College of Education
  • Ashley Rila, Ph.D., Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Iowa College of Education
  • Derek Rodgers, Ph.D., Clinical Assistant Professor of Special Education, University of Iowa College of Education

The Neolth app, an on-demand, personalized, digital tool that aims to build resilience for school populations through access and practice of personalized mindfulness and stress-reduction techniques, and social-emotional learning practices, will be launched with 300 teachers and staff in the Fairfield School District in March 2022 as an individual teacher wellness intervention, with the aim of increasing coping skills, reducing stress, and enhancing resilience. Teachers will evaluate the effectiveness of the app in reaching these desired outcomes. Additionally, an educator and student version of the app will be launched with 150 9th graders and teachers in the Waverly-Shell Rock School District in August 2022. Currently, 57 teachers in this district are completing a pilot evaluation of the app. In conjunction with app use, teachers will implement an educational intervention using guided relaxation activities and a video series that teach social-emotional skills and build resilience.

STATE OF IOWA HIGHER EDUCATION STAFF & FACULTY MENTAL HEALTH & WELLBEING STUDY

Project Team
  • Barry Schreier, Ph.D., Director of Higher Education Programming, Scanlan Center for School Mental Health; Clinical Professor of Counseling Psychology, University of Iowa College of Education
  • Gerta Bardhoshi, Ph.D., Director of Research and Training, Scanlan Center for School Mental Health; Associate Professor of Counselor Education, University of Iowa College of Education
  • Martin Kivlighan, Ph.D., Licensed Psychologist and Associate Professor of Counseling Psychology, University of Iowa Department of Psychological and Quantitative Foundations; Visiting Associate Professor, Internal Medicine; Visiting Associate Professor, Psychiatry
  • Ashley Rila, Ph.D., Research & Training Project Coordinator, Scanlan Center for School Mental Health
  • Derek Rodgers, Ph.D., Research Methodologist, Scanlan Center for School Mental Health
  • Byeolbee Um , Doctoral Research Assistant, Doctoral student in Counselor Education and Supervision, University of Iowa College of Education
  • Kun Wang, MS, Higher Education Graduate Assistant, Scanlan Center for School Mental Health; Counseling Psychology Doctoral Program, University of Iowa College of Education
  • Claire McCall, Workforce Expansion Trainee, Scanlan Center for School Mental Health; Counseling Psychology Doctoral Program, University of Iowa College of Education

National data indicate that students, staff, and faculty are experiencing increasing mental health problems, longer-term pandemic impact, and work-related burnout. This research project will study the state of Iowa-based higher education staff and faculty mental health and well-being, including 1) mental health and well-being and perceived institutional support for mental health and well-being; and 2) confidence and competence to respond to and manage student distress.

IOWA SCHOOL MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVE – FAMILIES

Project Team
  • Nicole Del Castillo, MD, Co-Project Lead, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, nicole-delcastillo@uiowa.edu
  • Nancy Beyer, MD, Co-Project Lead, Psychiatrist at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, nancy-beyer@uiowa.edu
  • Kelly Pelzel, Ph.D., Co-Project Lead, Clinical Psychologist at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, kelly-pelzel@uiowa.edu
  • Aloha Wilks, Program Coordinator, Research Program Coordinator at the University of Iowa Equity in Health Science and Practice (E-HSP) Program, aloha-wilks@uiowa.edu
  • Sarahi Bahena, Family Navigator and Assistant Program Coordinator, sarahi-bahena@uiowa.edu

The mental health needs of K-12 students in Iowa remain high. 27-36% of students report feeling sad or hopeless almost every day. Certain racial and ethnic groups as well as LGBTQ+ youth report an even higher percentage. Suicide remains one of the leading causes of death for this age group. Recognizing children’s mental health needs is important for prevention, treatment, and recovery. The stigma around mental health interferes with seeking help, contributing to under-utilization of available supports and services. The Iowa School Mental Health Initiative (ISMHI; Imagine Iowa) was developed as one resource for recognizing and responding to the mental health needs of students. This adaptation of ISMHI focuses on educating caregivers and other family members about children’s mental health. This project will develop evidence based, culturally responsive, and equity infused educational resources for use across the state. Resources will provide caregivers and other family members a better understanding of mental health and wellness, empathetic communication, inclusive mental health, crisis response, and advocacy. This project provides caregivers and other family members an opportunity to learn information similar to what educators are learning through ISMHI (Imagine Iowa). This will facilitate better communication between schools and families when working together to meet the mental health needs of Iowa’s youth. The tentative learning modules for this project include the following:

  • Mental Health and the Caregiver
  • Mental Health and Compassion
  • Mental Health and Crisis Response
  • Mental Health and Advocacy
  • Mental Health and Wellbeing