World Mental Health Day is October 10

The University of South Florida College of Public Health embraces the concept that mental health is public health. To this end, the college offers certificate and full degree programs in support of behavioral health, as well as activities for students and the community.

This year’s World Mental Health Day falls during homecoming week. Bulls and community members can choose from a couple of events that will revive their mental health through hands-on activities and awareness.

Monday – October 9
Living WELL
11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.—Health Rotunda
The Center for Wellness, Engagement, Leadership and Learning (WELL) kicks off homecoming with free massages, DIY stress balls, a bath salt bar and more! Attendees can create their own healthy acai bowl and trail mix, pick up this year’s homecoming t-shirt and giveaways!

Tuesday – October 10
Service Day
Noon-1 p.m. and 5-6 p.m. — James A. Haley V.A. Hospital
USF Health unites to make life better! All students and employees are welcome to assist with an ice cream social at the hospital. To sign up, visit http://tinyurl.com/HC2017service.

Wednesday – October 11
Mental Health Awareness Day
4-6 p.m.—Marshall Student Center Amphitheater
The Disaster and Humanitarian Relief Student Collaborative aims to #BreakTheStigma that surrounds mental health. Activities include a poetry slam, giant puzzles, trivia, Jenga and more. Attendees earn stamps for participation and a fully stamped card equals free food! For more information, contact Brian Leenknecht at bleenknecht@mail.usf.edu.

Thursday – October 12
Mindfulness Coloring Lunch
11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.—Health Rotunda
The WELL hosts a zen-filled lunch. Color away the cares of the world in a stress-free and welcoming environment! Lunch will be provided.

Interdisciplinary efforts to train mental health leaders of tomorrow

Public health practitioners should know something about mental health, according to associate professor Dr. Bruce Levin.

Levin, a joint faculty member in USF’s College of Public Health (COPH) and College of Behavioral and Community Sciences (CBCS), said there are a variety of programs to aid in that effort.

“We’re proudly one of the unique universities in the U.S. that has quite a concentration of focus areas and opportunities for students to specialize within a public health degree in behavioral health,” he said. “We’re still only one of two that has opportunities to specialize in behavioral health within an accredited college of public health.”

Degree programs and certificate programs available through each of the colleges include:
COPH – Department of Community & Family Health

MPH – Behavioral Health Concentration
MSW/MPH – Behavioral Health Concentration
MSPH – Behavioral Health Focus
PhD – Behavioral Health Focus
DrPH – Behavioral Health Focus
Graduate Certificate – Translational Research in Adolescent Behavioral Health

College of Behavioral and Community Sciences
MS – Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health
BS – Behavioral Healthcare
PhD – Behavioral and Community Sciences

COPH and CBCS partner on two other initiatives in support of mental health. The Behavioral Health Student Organization serves as a forum for students from either college. Their mission is to educate and increase awareness of behavioral health within the United States and abroad. Through service-learning and volunteer opportunities students are able to network with faculty and community members who are committed to improving the mental health of others, as well improve the well-being of the surrounding community by promoting awareness, compassion, and solidarity.

The Behavioral Health Student Organization is an example of how the CBCS and COPH are working together to create awareness of behavioral health issues. Students are from either college and have an interest in behavioral health, service learning, and promoting awareness, compassion and solidarity on mental health issues. (Photo by Caitlin Keough)

The Institute for Translational Research in Adolescent Behavioral Health (ITRE) offers student scholars a one-of-a-kind education and training program in translational research in adolescent behavioral health. Scholars learn from a team of mentors, participate in graduate courses, conduct a service-learning research project in a community-based setting, present at a national conference, receive funding for courses and program activities, and earn a graduate certificate. The Institute will enroll 12 scholars in 2017-18. The application deadline is November 15, with the program beginning in spring 2018.

For information regarding any of the five behavioral health degree programs or the ITRE, please contact Dr. Bruce Lubotsky Levin at blevin@health.usf.edu.

Translational research

Exploring how service dogs improve the mental health of veterans.
Assessing the mental health needs of adults and children in Hillsborough County.
Raising awareness about infant mental health—social and emotional wellness for children from birth to age three.

In 2016, U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis hosted a panel discussion at the USF College of Public Health regarding the use of service dogs for veterans with PTSD and other mental health issues. Pictured are some of the participants and their service dogs.

The aforementioned projects are a sampling of research initiatives in the COPH surrounding mental health and wellness. The most recent project involves using accelerated resolution therapy (ART) to improve the mental health of veterans.

Dr. Kevin Kip, professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, compared the results of 23 homeless veterans and 94 veterans in the community who received treatment for symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with a new treatment, accelerated resolution therapy (ART).

“We wanted to see how well the therapy worked in both groups because individuals who are homeless usually have many other life challenges, and we weren’t really sure what the response to the therapy would be for homeless vs. non-homeless veterans,” Kip said.

The study, “Evaluation of Brief Treatment of Symptoms of Psychological Trauma among Veterans residing in a Homeless Shelter by Use of Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)” is published in the journal, Nursing Outlook.

Diego Hernandez, visiting assistant professor of the USF College of Nursing, demonstrates a smooth pursuit eye movement technique used in ART (Photo courtesy of USF Health).

Each session covers working through one significant traumatic experience from the past, with the therapy occurring in two phases. The first phase starts with the veteran being asked to just think, not talk, about the original experience, as if they were reliving it in their mind. This technique is called imaginable exposure.

The second phase is called the director phase. During this phase, the veteran is asked to come up with a way in which they would rather remember the traumatic experience.

The session then ends after this phase with the therapist sometimes asking the veteran to envision crossing over a bridge to a new life without the traumatic experience.

Kip’s results showed that for both types of veterans, their level of PTSD symptoms went down substantially and that the comorbidities, disorders that are associated with PTSD, such as depression, anxiety and pain, decreased as well.

“Their overall quality of life was significantly improved in both groups.” Kip said. “These are the kind of advantages we tend to see if you can effectively treat post-traumatic stress disorder.”

The results were what Kip expected, but there was one thing that was surprising to him. On average, even though it wasn’t dramatic, the responses in the homeless veteran population seemed to be a little bit better than the responses for veterans in the community.

Kip believes this may have to do with the fact that the homeless came in with a little more psychopathology, meaning in addition to PTSD, they had other or more severe mental health problems.

He said the only caveat was that only a little more than half of the homeless veterans completed the treatment.

Explanations for not completing treatment with ART tended to be reasons such as the homeless veteran moved away or that they found work somewhere else.

“The reasons didn’t seem to be related to the fact that they weren’t having a good treatment experience; it’s just their life circumstances are difficult and sometimes and they don’t stay long in these types of facilities. It is reassuring to know that it wasn’t that they found the therapy aversive, they just have so many other life challenges,” Kip said. “It’s important to note that if you’re trying to work with the homeless population that the ability to give a full course treatment may be a challenge.”

At the six-month mark, eight of the homeless veterans provided information on how they were doing. They reported strong reductions in their symptoms of PTSD and six of those eight were no longer homeless.

Kip’s other alternative therapy research involves utilizing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and yoga to improve mental health for veterans and service members. To learn more about these research opportunities, contact Dr. Kevin Kip at kkip@health.usf.edu.

Story by Caitlin Keough, Anna Mayor and Natalie Preston, USF College of Public Health

The post Mental health is public health appeared first on College of Public Health News.

World Mental Health Day is October 10

University of South Florida graduate student Sarah Lokey said she was looking for a degree program to address population health, while also keeping individual perspectives in mind.

She decided to earn a dual master’s degree in public health and social work from USF’s College of Public Health (COPH) and College of Behavioral and Community Sciences (CBCS).

She takes classes with faculty from both the CBCS and COPH, an asset she said will add to her ability to work in preventive health care when she graduates in 2017 with her MSW and MPH degree.

“Earning an MSW in addition to the MPH was great because it taught me how to talk to people and about cultural competence, putting me in the field to gain an individualist perspective,” she said. “I think that’s important so you can be more passionate about helping at the population level.”

Lokey said she hopes her dual degree experience will allow her to one day address diabetes among populations, as well as the co-morbidities associated with it.

“I want to look at how depression and psychosocial factors contribute to diabetes management,” she said. “I don’t think people put enough emphasis on the importance of mental health, it’s still such a taboo subject. I hope that people realize that mental health issues can affect anyone, it could be you, your sister, your mother,” she said.

The Behavioral Health Student Organization is an example of how the CBCS and COPH are working together to create awareness of behavioral health issues. Students are from either college and have an interest in behavioral health, service learning, and promoting awareness, compassion and solidarity on mental health issues. (Photo by Caitlin Keough)

Public health practitioners should know something about mental health, according to associate professor Dr. Bruce Levin.

Levin, a joint faculty member in the CBCS and COPH, said there are a variety of programs to aid in that effort.

“We’re proudly one of the unique universities in the U.S. that has quite a concentration of focus areas and opportunities for students to specialize within a public health degree in behavioral health,” he said. “We’re still only one of two that has opportunities to specialize in behavioral health within an accredited college of public health.”

Degree programs and certificate programs available through each of the colleges include:
COPH – Department of Community & Family Health

MPH – Behavioral Health Concentration

MSW/MPH – Behavioral Health Concentration

MSPH – Behavioral Health Focus

PhD – Behavioral Health Focus

DrPH – Behavioral Health Focus

Graduate Certificate – Translational Research in Adolescent Behavioral Health

CBCS

MS – Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health

BS – Behavioral Healthcare

PhD – Behavioral and Community Sciences

The CBCS’s PhD in behavioral and community sciences degree program was approved this past summer by the Florida Board of Governors and expects to have its first cohort of students start in fall 2017, according to Dr. Howard Goldstein, director of the PhD program at CBCS.

“Our application [for the program] was very strong because we have lots of researchers in departments currently that don’t have a doctoral program associated with them,” Goldstein said. “It’s a unique program that has a prevention science bent to it and looks at societal problems and how we can have greater effect in communities through the intervention work that we do.”

Students accepted to CBCS’s newly created PhD program will come from a variety of disciplines, according to Goldstein.

“It focuses on the development and evaluation of services and interventions to promote resiliency and social wellbeing for a variety of at-risk populations and those with behavior and mental health disabilities,” he said.

Once accepted, the student will design an individualized program of study that will allow them to specialize in an area of interest from mental illness, substance abuse, co-occurring disorders, developmental disabilities, child and adolescent behavioral health, positive behavior interventions and support, behavioral health law, behavioral health disparities and disability research and policy.

“There are lots of faculty who are doing work in areas that overlap with the same issues that faculty in public health are dealing with,” Goldstein said. “Public health looks at it from a macro level and the work we [CBCS] do is more at the individual level, within the context of the community. When it comes to scaling up community-based programs, I see great complementarity in what we’re doing and what public health does.”

He said the interdisciplinary nature of the degree program will open many job opportunities for students in the future.

For more information about the PhD in behavioral and community sciences degree program, visit their website. You may also contact director of the program, Dr. Howard Goldstein at hgoldstein@usf.edu.

For information regarding any of the five behavioral health degree programs offered in the COPH, please contact Dr. Bruce Lubotsky Levin at blevin@health.usf.edu.

Story by Anna Mayor, USF College of Public Health

The post Interdisciplinary efforts to train mental health leaders of tomorrow appeared first on College of Public Health News.

Recent honoree of the Society of Public Health Educators’ “30 under 30,” which shines the spotlight on 30 health educators under the age of 30, Paige Hammond is certainly an up-and-comer in public health education.

Hammond has a long list of dream jobs, from diabetes educator to wedding or event planner, but knows that no matter where she ends up, she just wants to be a benefit to the community.

“Whatever job I find my way to, I want to make sure to make a positive impact in peoples’ lives,” she said.

After earning her bachelor’s degree in community health education from the University of Maine, Hammond came to the University of South Florida for an opportunity to work with populations outside of her home state. Originally from Bangor, Maine, she is working toward her MPH degree with a concentration in public health education from the College of Public Health, and graduates with her master’s degree in the spring of 2015.

“I knew that I wanted to go to graduate school somewhere that could give me a different experience,” she said. “COPH offered what I was looking for, and I have had a great experience here.”

Hammond’s public health passion, creating and supporting the health of communities, is reflected in most aspects of her life. She believes that education and knowledge are key aspects in improving the overall health of the population.

Paige Hammond, one of SOPHE’s 2014 National Health Education Week 30 Under 30,
shares how she will impact the future of health education. #NHEW2014

“What interests me most about public health is the prevention aspects,” said Hammond. “I think it is important to work with all populations, of all ages, and to help educate and share knowledge so that we can all live the healthiest.”

Hammond is president of Eta Sigma Gamma, the National Health Education Honorary Organization on campus, and is a member of the Society of Public Health Educators at the national level.

She is also a teaching assistant for the undergraduate course “Survey of Human Diseases” and works as a student research assistant with Bringing Home Science, a COPH partnership with the Patterson foundation, working with type 1 diabetes research. Hammond has a very personal stake in the team’s research, being a diabetic herself.

“As a type 1 diabetic, if I could have one wish, it would be to find a cure for diabetes,” she said. “I know many people living with the disease, and although management care has grown leaps and bounds over the last century, to wake up and find out there is a cure would be a great day for many!”

Her volunteer activities and outside certifications are geared toward education and helping others attain their best health possible. Hammond volunteers as an American Red Cross first aid and CPR instructor and holds multiple fitness instruction certifications, which she hopes to be able to tie into her public health career after graduation.

“I would say that during my time here at the USF COPH, I have learned a lot about myself,” Hammond said, “not just as a graduate student, but as an eager professional, too.”

Hammond credits the COPH for connecting her with like-minded peers and professors, and for helping to further her passion for better health and education. Armed with a wealth of knowledge and inclination for education, Hammond is certainly a force to be reckoned with in the public health realm.

Story by Shelby Bourgeois, College of Public Health writing intern. Photo by Natalie D. Preston.

The post Paige Hammond ties together passions for education and better health appeared first on College of Public Health News.

For some, it’s something to shun. For others, it’s a rite of passage.

But, in the USF College of Public Health, it’s a reason to celebrate … for the next twelve months.

Yes, we’re officially 30 years old, and we want the entire universe to know it!

#usfcophrocks

Join members of the COPH family for a game of “Show and Tell,” and tell us why COPH rocks! First, flash ‘Go Bulls.’ Second, snap a selfie. Third, share it with friends and tag #usfcophrocks. Finally, connect with the college on Facebook, LinkedIN or YouTube and join the conversation.

Events-R-Us

Festivities are planned for the next 12 months—around town and around the country. Here’s a sample of offerings from the 30^th anniversary workgroup.

• Minaret Climb at the University of Tampa—A family-friendly event at an iconic Tampa location. View Tampa from a vantage point rarely seen.
• “USF COPH Rocks” tour stops—Thirty events around the country to connect with alumni and friends. Some stops are paired with major conferences, others are get-togethers to celebrate all things public health.
• Party at Ray Jay—Meet up with COPH faculty, staff, students, alumni, family and friends for a Bullish time at the first football game of the season. The date is Saturday, Aug. 30, and kick-off is at 7p.m. Stay tuned for pre-game festivities. In the meantime, secure a reduced-price ticket today.
• “Running of the Bulls” of sorts—Run, walk, jog, wog, skip and do whatever it takes to cross the Gasparilla Distance Classic finish line in an upright position! There are multiple distances to choose from, and Team #usfcophrocks will have participants represented in all of them. Save the date for Feb. 20-22 and prepare to kick asphalt!
• Award-winning alumni—The college is home to a plethora of awesome graduates. Make plans to nominate one (or two, or more) for a COPH alumni award. Guidelines will be announced soon.

Team COPH, circa 2012. Join them and bring a friend (or two) for the 2014 Gasparilla Distance Classic. From left: Natalie Preston, Samantha Lopez, Michelle Hodge, Juana Bethel, Laura Rusnak, Mathdany Noel, Alison Oberne and Dave Hogeboom.

30 Years

Founded in July 1984, the USF College of Public Health is celebrating 30 years of educating public health professionals. Make plans now to participate in events in Tampa, around the nation and online that recognize this historic milestone.

Stay abreast of festivities by vising the 30^th anniversary website. It’s one-stop shopping for events, news, giving and more. Bookmark the site and visit often, as details are updated almost daily.

For additional information or to help plan 30^th anniversary events, contact Natalie D. Preston at npreston@health.usf.edu.

Story by Natalie D. Preston, USF College of Public Health

The post Special events + 30 Years = a rocking anniversary appeared first on College of Public Health News.

The post BHSO Career Day appeared first on College of Public Health News.

Serve as a forum for those with an interest in Behavioral Health.  Our mission is to educate and increase awareness of Behavioral Health issues and projects within the United States and abroad.  We provide ample service and learning opportunities to network with students, faculty and the greater Behavioral Health community.  We hope to improve the well-being of the surrounding community by promoting awareness, compassion, and solidarity.

As an officer you will have the exclusive opportunity to develop leadership skills and add that experience to your resume, collaborate with new and senior students, and become a part of the vibrant Behavioral Health community.

Please nominate yourself or others for one or multiple positions. BHSO is looking forward to hearing from you!

BHSO Elections decisions will be made on April 25 for the 2013-2014 Academic Year! Join our Leadership today!

Please email nominations to Tony Hernandez at – ahernan5@health.usf.edu

Below is the list of positions:

President: The President’s duties include, but are not limited to, presiding over meetings, appointing and overseeing organizational functions, and to act as primary University liaison.

Vice-President: The Vice-President’s duties include, but are not limited to, assisting the President, presiding over meetings in the President’s absence, overseeing all standing committee functions, and acting as University liaison.

Secretary: The Secretary records, maintains, and makes available copies of the meeting minutes, handles correspondence as needed, and gives notice of time, place and agenda of BHSO meetings.

Treasurer:  The treasurer receives, dispatches, and keeps accurate records of all financial matters regarding BHSO, and prepares and submits annual budgets to the Financial Review Board for Activity & Service allocation from the Student Government.

Events chair:  The events chair shall be responsible for planning our monthly events, including the coordination of activities and development of relevant materials.  A committee may be formulated to assist the Service Chair in the management of her/his duties.

Webmaster: The Webmaster shall maintain the website by posting all current information regarding our efforts on a timely basis.  This will include the management of internet-based networking and promotion sites for the organization.

PR chair: The PR Chair is be in charge of working closely with the other members to devise and implement an overall marketing and public relations strategy to promote BHSO and its programs and activities.

The post Call for 2013-14 BHSO Officer Nominations appeared first on College of Public Health News.

A special congratulations goes out to the following students:

BHSO President: Tony Hernandez

Tony Hernandez received recognition for not one but two awards at the ceremony. Tony earned a Student Honorary Award for Research and Practice (SHARP) as well as the Rita G. Bruce Memorial Scholarship. We are especially proud of him as only one Rita scholarship is awarded to a student who has demonstrated exceptional work in academics, leadership, research and community outreach.

BHSO Secretary and Webmaster: Alexandra Albizu-Rivera

Alexandra was awarded the Samuel P. Bell, III Scholarship in addition to two other doctoral students. This scholarship is awarded to those who have demonstrated excellence in academics and professional achievement. Wife of Samuel P. Bell, III and former president of USF, Betty Castor was present during the ceremony.

BHSO member: Mary Ivory

Mary Ivory earned a Student Honorary Award for Research and Practice (SHARP). Mary is set to graduate with her MPH at the conclusion of the spring semester. We are very proud of her achievement and wish her the best of luck upon graduation!!

If you are a behavioral health student who earned an award and were not recognized, please email Alexandra Albizu at aalbizur@health.usf.edu so that the appropriate changes can be made.

The post Behavioral Health student impact in National Public Health Week appeared first on College of Public Health News.

The newly proposed Master’s of Science (MS) in Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health (CABH), housed in USF’s Department of Child and Family Studies (CFS), College of Behavioral and Community Sciences (CBCS), aims to provide a high quality graduate program for recent university graduates, returning adult students (including military veterans), and blended distance learning students. The program will serve diverse place-based learners in the Tampa Bay community and beyond through preparation for careers in public and non-profit mental health, alcohol, drug abuse, child behavioral health care, and early behavioral health care programs. Student success will be supported through interdisciplinary faculty and community engagement that promotes the translation of new knowledge into best practices.

The proposed MS program is the only one of its kind within the State University System (SUS) and nationally. This proposed MS Degree program is distinct in its focus on competencies in research-based interventions for children/adolescents experiencing a range of behavioral health problems, multiple service sector leadership/administration, and cultural competence in child/adolescent behavioral health services.

The proposed MS Degree program will require 39 graduate credits, including four core courses and four concentrations: 1) Youth and Behavioral Health; 2); Developmental Disabilities; 3) Leadership and Administration; and 4) Translational Research and Evaluation. Course in this proposed MS Degree program will be offered in a combination of in- class and blended in-class/distance learning formats. Students in the proposed MS Degree program will also take a comprehensive MS Exam and have an option of preparing a traditional MS thesis or pursuing a MS field experience for their culminating master’s project.

The program proposal is currently in the process of making its way through the USF curriculum committees. For more information on the proposed MS in Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health program, please email Dr. Bruce L. Levin at levin.usf.edu.

The post Proposed Master’s of Science (MS) in Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health (NEW!) appeared first on College of Public Health News.

Join BHSO for National Public Health Week!

Get involved! Recognize leaders in the public health community! Become engaged!

On April 1st, following the Advocating for our Kids’ Deans lecture/Panel Discussion, BHSO will be tabling alongside other student and community organizations from 1-4pm. Please join us as BHSO will be tabling to raise awareness about mental health programs available for youth. This is a great opportunity to learn about  child advocacy while simultaneously helping to raise awareness. If you are interested in joining us and have some free time in your schedule, please email Alexandra Albizu at aalbizur@health.usf.edu.

For more information on the week’s events or if you would like to get involved with any other events, contact Ellen Kent at ekent@health.usf.edu.

The post National Public Health Week appeared first on College of Public Health News.

The event will include:
A demonstration of Jacobsen’s Progressive Muscle Relaxation Technique

A lecture from Dr. Jack Darkes (Director of the University of South Florida Psychological Service Center)

Tips on managing stress through nutrition

We hope to see you there!

The post Mental Health Hygiene Day, 3/7/13 appeared first on College of Public Health News.