Abstract This study proposes a model for meeting increasingly mandated outcome research objectives in a university counseling center setting. It is proposed that counseling centers utilize their existing intake forms, along with an annual satisfaction survey to determine the effectiveness of counseling services. Effectiveness is defined as improvement and measured by the reduction of the symptoms or presenting concerns with which the client initially presented. It also introduces the Relative-Change Index (R-Chi) as an objective way to quantify intra-individual change occurring as a result of therapy. This new mathematical procedure allows for a more meaningful assessment of the client's degree of improvement, relative to their potential for improvement. By re-administering the problem checklist, routinely included as part of the initial paperwork for each client at intake, again post-therapy, it is possible to quantify improvement by measuring the difference in distressing concerns. Additionally, including a subjective, retrospective survey question asking the client to indicate their perceived rate if improvement at follow-up provides construct validity and allows for correlational comparisons with R-Chi. Results suggest that student/client ratings of the degree to which the services they received satisfactorily addressed their presenting concerns were significantly rated to their R-Chi score. This model suggests that the framework guiding client outcome research should include measures of the client's level of distress, improvement in reducing the distress, and satisfaction with services.

The subject of drug and alcohol abuse on college campuses across the country is the concern of many college administrators. There exists a relatively high consumption pattern of drug and alcohol abuse among college students when compared to the general population. This pattern of alcohol abuse has remained stable despite the presence of substance abuse programs on campuses that are specifically targeted toward the student population. There exists little research on how these programs operate and how they address the problem of substance abuse on campuses. Most of the research that exists is of survey design. This study examined through a descriptive case study, the substance abuse programs in three public universities in Oregon. The study used descriptive case study to describe what components comprised the programs as well as how the programs functioned under the various organizational structures. Three organizational structures were identified. The first university's organizational structure was under the health center, both administratively and physically. The second university studied had part of the program under the counseling center and other components under the athletic department and the health center. The third university had what was termed as a de-centralized structure, with the treatment component under the health center, the prevention component under an academic department, and the peer education component under the health center. The various organizational structures were also examined for their influence on the respective program. The 1989 Drug-Free Schools and Campuses Act Amendment, required institutions of higher education receiving federal funds to have programs. The impact of the Act on both the program and the organizational structure of the program was also examined. The study demonstrated an impact of the legislation on the programs in the form of funding that made possible new services. The study also suggested an influence of the organizational structure on the programs in the form of the funding of new program components that changed the organizational structure. Implications for programming as well as research as a result of this study's findings are presented. Recommendations for program models are also presented. / Graduation date: 1994

This study was designed to better understand psychological support services available and desired for students and group leaders of study abroad experiences. It was hypothesized that study abroad group leaders 1) would witness psychological distress among their students and 2) would not have an action plan addressing psychological distress while abroad. The participants consisted of thirty-seven faculty and staff members who led a study abroad excursion in the past five years at a mid-sized, public university in the Midwest. Each participant answered an online needs assessment comprised of questions regarding demographics, trip logistics, and mental health concerns. The results indicated that nearly 50% of all study abroad trip leaders reported a student with a mental health issue and 75% of these group leaders believed that the students either did not have access to mental health services or only had medical assistance available. Limitations and recommendations for future studies are reported. / Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services

There is a significant gap between the numbers of college students who experience a diagnosable psychological problem and those who seek psychological treatment for these problems. One explanation for this gap may be that many college students may be unaware of free mental health services available at the university counseling center on campus. Thus, use of these resources is not a viable option. These concerns were addressed in the current study via a posttest-only experimental design by creating a video in line with the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB; Ajzen, 1985; 1991) and assessing its effects on college students attitudes towards psychological help seeking (PHS), subjective norms associated with PHS, perceived behavioral control over PHS, and PHS intentions. Mixed support was found for the video’s impact on TPB variables in a PHS context. In addition, the utility of the TPB model for explaining PHS in college students was examined. Based on model fit statistics the TPB adequately explained PHS in college students, but only after modifications were made to the measurement model. / Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services

Professional nurses working at a campus health service have to cope with challenges such as staff shortages and budgetary constraints associated with working in a complex environment providing primary health care. The aim of primary health care includes promoting health, preventing disease and the early detection and treatment of illness. Mental health services form an integral part of the integrated primary health care package as implemented in the campus health service. Students attend the Campus Health Service for help related to their health. Health care is provided by professional nurses and counsellors through a comprehensive primary health care service which serves students as well as staff. Some students may state that they experience feelings of being stressed or depressed. Other students may complain of physical symptoms such as headache or upper backache. Upon further investigation emotional problems may be identified as the cause of the psychosomatic symptoms. The professional nurses working in the campus health service verbalised that it is sometimes difficult to identify a mental illness or mental distress as there is no effective assessment tool that they can use. Management of conditions is also problematic as there are no protocols indicating the therapeutic interventions that can be taken. The research question in this study was therefore: What information should be included in a protocol to assess and manage a student experiencing mental distress that can be used by professional nurses working in a Campus Health Service? The aim of this study is to develop a mental health care protocol for campus health service professional nurses to assess and manage university students who are experiencing mental distress. The research design of this study was qualitative, explorative, descriptive, explanatory and contextual. In this study the Delphi research technique was used to create an instrument to standardise mental health care in a campus health service. The Delphi technique is a series of sequential questionnaires or “rounds” interspersed with controlled feedback that seeks to gain the most reliable consensus of opinion of a group of experts. A questionnaire was developed based on an extensive literature review. The research population of this study consisted of two groups: professional nurses with knowledge of student health care needs and expert psychiatric nurses. The study was conducted at the Campus Health Service at a university in the Eastern Cape. The data collection and analysis was done utilising the Delphi technique. Trustworthiness was ensured by using the Lincoln and Guba Model utilising the criteria of credibility, applicability, dependability and conformability. In this study the ethical principles of beneficence, non-maleficence, justice and self determination were applied to ensure that participants are treated with respect and consideration and ensured high ethical standards. Informed consent was obtained from the participants in this study. The findings of this research were utilised to assist the researcher in developing a protocol for mental health care of students in campus health service settings.

Outreach is recommended as an intervention for racial and ethnic minorities who underutilize traditional mental health services (e.g., Brinson & Kottler, 1995). Yet, the availability of outreach services at university counseling centers for students of color has not been studied. In addition, no study has examined factors influencing the availability of outreach services for racial and ethnic minorities. The primary purpose of the current study was to investigate the availability of outreach for racial and ethnic minorities and how these services are influenced by institution size, staff size, institution type, accreditation, and organizational cultural competence. One hundred and fifty one counseling center directors completed an online survey. It was hypothesized that counseling centers’ organizational cultural competence would predict the availability of outreach services for racial and ethnic minorities beyond that of institution size, staff size, institution type, and accreditation. The results supported this hypothesis. Among the variables examined, organizational cultural competence was the greatest predictor of the availability of outreach for students of color. The results suggested that counseling centers with greater levels of organizational cultural competency also had a greater availability of outreach services for students of color. The implications of these findings for theory, research, and practice are discussed. / Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services

Mindfulness – nonjudgmental awareness of the present moment - has recently garnered significant attention in psychological literature for decreasing clinical symptoms. Certain personality traits such as emotionality, however, can predict higher levels of anxiety and depression. The present study examines whether mindfulness mediates the relationship between personality traits and perceived stress and depression in nonclinical populations. A total of 321 participants from two samples—American and Japanese undergraduates —self-reported scores on measures of mindfulness, personality, perceived stress and depression. Cross-cultural comparisons following measurement invariance tests also allow for insight into the definition of mindfulness, especially given the Eastern religion origin of mindfulness. Results demonstrate that mindfulness partially mediates the relationships between personality clinical symptoms, particularly for extraversion and conscientiousness. These results can play an important role for developing mindfulness-based treatment and prevention programs and bridge an important gap between Western conceived and Eastern religion mindfulness. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2015. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

This is the first study to investigate the relationship of perceived stress, religious coping styles, and mental health symptoms in university students within a single, faith- based institution. Students face a variety of stressors that may be directly, indirectly, or not related to the college experience. If these stressors are left unmanaged, there are multiple implications including reduced retention, declines in academic performance, physical health concerns, and mental health symptoms. University personnel are reporting increases in the number and severity of mental health symptoms presented by university students. This study investigated whether religious coping strategies provide a mediating effect on the relationship between stress and mental health symptoms. The sample was comprised of 209 undergraduate students, between the ages of 18-32, from a single faith-based university. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2015. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

This study explored the perceptions of post-secondary students and counsellors towards the use of antidepressants and counselling to manage depression. Student depression is increasing and antidepressants appear to be the most frequently used treatment by students. The literature reveals that most depressed students are not accessing campus mental health centres, and counsellors are noting increased severity of illness for those that do seek help. Therefore, in an attempt to gain increased understanding of students who use antidepressants as well as counselling, the student and counsellor perspective is essential. In this study, 10 students and 6 counsellors were interviewed by the researcher. Interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis guided by van Manen’s (1990) hermeneutic phenomenology was used. Overall, the themes identified aim to represent the lived experience of the students who are living with depression and to better assist counsellors in understanding and developing interventions suited to student need. / ix, 129 leaves ; 29 cm

This study explores where African American college students find mental health support and why those supports are chosen. Greater knowledge of the sources of mental health support sought by African American college students can assist higher education institutions in adapting current services to meet the needs of this specific student population. A qualitative phenomenological approach was utilized, and the study's sample included twelve participants, 6 female and 6 male, from a large public four-year university in Texas. These participants, undergraduate students with ages ranging from 18 to 24, were given a survey and completed two semi-structured interviews throughout one semester. Results indicated that study participants were more likely to utilize informal than formal support for their mental health and many had no source of support. Family stigma, peer attitudes, as well as internal and external pressures all influenced participant's choices to seek support. Based on findings from the study, recommendations for two distinct groups, counseling center directors and higher education administrators, are also discussed.