Post-earthquake Self-Reported Depressive Symptoms and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and their Correlates among College-Youths in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Exposure to earthquake has previously been associated with adverse mental health outcomes, however, evidence is limited among youth in resource-limited settings. This study explored the association of retrospective extent of exposure on current day depressive symptoms and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among 125 youth attending a college in Kathmandu, Nepal. A self-administered survey including socio-demographic variables, scale for earthquake exposure and Nepali language validated standardized scales for depressive and PTSD symptoms was used. Prevalence estimates for depressive symptoms was 43.2% and PTSD symptoms was 19.2%. For each increasing unit of the extent of earthquake exposure, the odds of having depressive symptoms increased by a factor of 1.26 (p = 0.001) and PTSD symptoms increased by a factor of 1.26 (p = 0.002). Being in a complicated romantic relationship increased the odds of both depressive symptoms and PTSD symptoms. Exposure to earthquake is an important factor to consider while assessing depressive and PTSD symptoms among youth earthquake survivors in Kathmandu. It is important that programs or policies aimed at youth mental health concurrently address disaster exposures.

Innovative Graduate Research Education for Advancement of Implementation Science in Adolescent Behavioral Health.

An innovative approach to research education that integrates the theory and principles of implementation science, participatory research, and service learning in the area of adolescent behavioral health is presented. Qualitative interviews and surveys of program participants have been conducted to assess the program's curricula, service-learning partnerships, student (scholar) satisfaction, and views of community partnerships and academic mentors. The Institute has experienced the successful completion of its first and second cohorts and enrollment of a third cohort of scholars. Community partners are utilizing results of service-learning projects to influence agency operations. Institute scholars have identified research and service learning experiences as key factors in the decision to apply to the Institute graduate certificate program. The availability of tuition support is identified as valuable but not ranked as the most important reason for scholar interest in the program. Academic mentors report positive relationships with community agencies. Future iterations of the program will expand options for distance learning and alternatives to traditional graduate education for community-based scholars. Community partner agency capacity for participation is expected to change over time. Methods are being identified to both sustain existing partnerships and develop new community partnership relationships.

Community-University Partnerships for Research and Practice: Application of an Interactive and Contextual Model of Collaboration.

Community-university partnerships are frequently used to enhance translational research efforts while benefiting the community. However, challenges remain in evaluating such efforts. This article discusses the utility of applying the contextual and interactive model of community-university collaboration to a translational research education program, the Institute for Translational Research in Adolescent Behavioral Health, to guide programmatic efforts and future evaluations. Institute stakeholders from academia and the community completed in-depth interviews querying their expectations and experiences in this collaboration. Key quotes and themes were extracted and analyzed based on the constructs within the 3 phases of the model. The findings note specific themes for future evaluations. Overall, the contextual and interactive model of community-university collaboration proved a useful framework to guide the process evaluation of the Institute. Findings suggest possible strategies for the successful development, evaluation, and sustainability of community-university partnerships.

Challenges and Benefits in Designing and Implementing a Team-Based Research Mentorship Experience in Translational Research.

BACKGROUND: Translational research seeks to build bridges between research and practice to address public health issues efficiently and effectively. The purpose of this paper was to evaluate a newly formed Institute that provided graduate students and adolescent behavioral health community professionals with a translational research service-learning opportunity through the creation of a community-university mentoring partnership. Goals of the team-based research mentorship approach included: 1) providing students the skills for implementing translational research; 2) providing research opportunities for community agencies to enhance operations and to encourage ongoing research involvement; and 3) developing relationships between university faculty and community agency professionals for further research collaborations. METHODS: The Institute used the National Institute on Drug Abuse's Mentoring Mosaic to select a diverse group of Community and Academic Mentors. The research mentorship experience of the initial cohort was evaluated based upon the Research Mentorship Conceptual Framework and Self-Assessment Tool. RESULTS: As a direct result of the research mentorship, outcomes for the Academic and Community Mentors and Scholars (i.e., those seeking a graduate certificate) included improved working relationships/networking and research experience. Through experiential learning, Scholars also discovered career trajectory clarity, the need for community collaboration in research, opportunities for continuing professional development, a greater understanding of public health competencies and how they align with community-based research, and skill development in best practices for translational research. CONCLUSION: The team mentoring approach is a form of pedagogy that holds promise to enhance translational research and community-based research efforts while developing public health competencies.

A Public Health Perspective of Women's Mental Health

A Public Health Perspective of Women's MentalHealth Edited by Bruce Lubotsky Levin and Marion Ann Becker As manyas one-half of all women in the U.S. will experience some form ofmental illness in their lives-an especially distressing fact whenhealth care budgets are in flux, adding to existing disparities andunmet health needs. Written from a unique multidisciplinaryframework, A Public Health Perspective of Women's Mental Healthaddresses today's most pressing mental health challenges: effectivetreatment, efficient prevention, equal access, improved servicedelivery, and stronger public policy. Eminent clinicians,researchers, academicians, and advocates examine the effects ofmental illness on women's lives and discuss the scope of clinicaland service delivery issues affecting women, focusing on thesemajor areas: Epidemiology of mental disorders in girls, femaleadolescents, adult women, and older women. Selected disorders ofparticular concern to women, including depression and postpartumdepression, eating disorders, menopause, chemical dependence, andHIV/AIDS. Mental health needs of women in the workplace, ruralareas, and prisons. Racial and ethnic disparities and their impacton service delivery. Parenting and recovery issues in mothers withmental illness. Women's mental health services in an era ofevidence-based medicine. Improving women's health in today'stechnological climate. A Public Health Perspective of Women'sMental Health is a resource of immediate importance toprofessionals and graduate students in the public health, healthadministration, health disparities, social work, behavioral health,and health services research fields, as well as nursing,community/health psychology and community/publicpsychiatry.