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This thesis explores physical health outcomes of individuals that hold stigma against those with mental illness. The stigmatizer is mentioned in the literature as an individual that holds a stigma towards another group. In this thesis, stigma refers to those that hold prejudice and may express discrimination towards a targeted group. Two studies were conducted that looked at multiple demographic variables as well as symptomology and degree of stigma towards those with mental illness. The first study looked at overall stigma without the stereotypical psychosomatic symptoms (chest pain and abdominal pain). The second study looked at a second dimension of stigma (social distance) and included the psychosomatic symptoms. In the first study, results indicated that stigmatizers were more likely to be male (M = 1.53, SD = .51; r = .216, p < .01) and have higher socioeconomic status (M = 3.06, SD = .91; r = .22, p < .01). Health outcomes were not correlated in the first study. In the second study, results indicated that those with higher levels of stigma (M=45.13, SD=13.52) also had more symptoms (including chest pain and abdominal pain; M = 4.92, SD = 5.64; R2=.06, F(1,98)=6.58, p=.01). This trend was also true for stigma as determined by social distance (M=18.31, SD=7.02) and health (R2=.10, F(1,98)=10.74, p<.01). These results were consistent with the proposed hypothesis and the current literature of the stigmatizer as well as the biopsychosocial model of mental health.

This study explored whether depression is stigmatized, and whether these perceptions of depression vary by gender, a person’s own experience with depression, or knowing other people with depression. These questions were examined through the use of an online survey, which included questions measuring demographics, personal history of depression, tolerance of depression, and stigma toward depression. Responses from 106 participants were analyzed using t-tests. The study found that depression is stigmatizing. There is also more stigma for a male with depression than a female with depression. In regards to personal history with depression and stigma, it was found that personally dealing with depression lessened the amount of stigma imposed on depressed persons. There was no significant difference between men’s ratings of stigma and women’s rating. The study also found no significant difference between knowing people with depression or coming into contact with depressed individuals and the likelihood of stigmatizing those with depression.

Youth mental illness is significantly on the rise, as statistics reveal that “1 in 6 U.S. youth aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year” (Mental Health By The Numbers, 2020, para 3). Rates of youth with severe depression increased from 5.9% in 2012 to 8.2% in 2015 (Nguyen, Hellbuyck, & Halpern, 2018). Despite these staggering statistics, the evidenced literature suggests that school systems have not successfully implemented mental health best practice interventions to promote youth mental health (Searcey van Vulpen, Habegar, & Simmons, 2018). Barriers that have impacted implementation of school-based mental health programs include: insufficient number of school mental health professionals, lack of staff training, lack of funding, and lack of parent support programs and prevention programs (Reinke, Stormont, Herman, Puri, & Goel, 2011). Furthermore, occupational therapy practitioners are not being utilized in intermediate and secondary schools or within school-based mental health. Occupational therapy can play a critical role in early identification of children’s mental health needs and provide strategies that would allow students to participate in academic and social activities alongside their peers (Chan, Dennis, Kim, & Jankowski, 2017). PromOTe Youth Mental Health is a comprehensive, self-paced online professional development education program that provides school personnel with fundamental knowledge and strategies to substantially improve school-based mental health programs. The program has the potential to increase occupational therapy practitioner’s distinct and valuable role in school mental health, hence significantly enhancing school-based mental health programs and irrefutably promoting youth mental health.

Music as a therapy still awaits complete recognition from many medical authorities. Many doctors and psychiatrists are quite willing to recognize music as a potent agent in relaxing tensions and stimulating activity, but thus far only in too few instances has music been accorded status equivalent to that of the other accepted therapies. In the treatment of some types of mental illness it is the writer's belief music lends itself as a therapy more readily than any other medium.

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This research aims to explore the ways in which community-based mental health social workers assess the qualities of residential care facilities in order to make recommendations to their service users. The daily challenges of serving a marginalized population within the context of structural inequalities and neoliberalist service provision describe some of the contradictions that shape the work experiences of social workers. This research seeks to contribute to and further our understanding of critical social work practice, social justice, and structural oppression. In addressing the phenomenon of structural inequalities and neoliberalist service provision from the perspective of those affected, it will assist in a broader understanding of how social workers support service users to find supportive housing. Semi-structured interviews with community-based mental health social workers employed in Hamilton, Ontario were conducted and complement the existing literature on residential care facilities, the deterioration of the social welfare system, managerialism, and client-centeredness. This is an exploratory study as few previous research has been conducted with social workers in the context of lodging homes. Previous literature existed from the perspective of residents of lodging homes in Hamilton, Ontario. This research suggests that social workers are influenced by a complex number of phenomena in their daily work in order to make recommendations for supportive housing. / Thesis / Master of Social Work (MSW)

Schizophrenia is a debilitation mental illness characterized by positive symptoms (mania and hallucinations), negative symptoms (flat affect), and cognitive impairments (learning and memory deficits). These symptoms arise from dysfunction of several neurotransmitter systems including the dopaminergic, seratonergic, cholinergic, and glutamatergic pathways. As such, treatment of this disease has been difficult due to the number of systems involved. Various theories dealing with maternal infection, chemical imbalance, genetics, and epigenetics have emerged postulating the origin of the disease. To date, there is no one unifying hypothesis that encompasses all of the behavioral and biological deficits manifested in schizophrenia. A review of the current research suggests a central role of kynurenic acid (KYNA) in all of these theories. As an endogenous antagonist of cholinergic and glutamatergic receptors, KYNA has been shown to mimic the disease when administered exogenously. Additionally, KYNA levels appear to be elevated in the brains of schizophrenics. Understanding how this chemical works and how it becomes elevated in the first place will be key to understanding the pathology of schizophrenia and developing effective treatments.

Thesis (M.S.)--Boston University / Broadly, the purpose of this study is to examiner some aspects of the relationship between the practice of social casework and the treatment of mental illness in the mental hospital setting. It has long been acknowledged that the sociaal worker has a recognized role in the treatment of the mentally ill, since mental illness reflects some failure in social as well as personal adaptation. Social work in mental hospital settings, however, has expanded the concept of its role and undergone modifications. This evolution has been the result of new knowledge and new experiences. "The truth is that casework concepts are dynamic--they change, grow and develop..." This statement apolies as well to casework oriented to a specific setting as to the generic casework processes.

Thesis (M.S.)--Boston University