Volume 15, No. 2

Barbara Lee VanHorssen, Travis Andrews, Gloria K. Lee

Evaluating the Benefits of a Novel Community-based Social Engagement Organization for Improving Mental Health and Reducing Clinical Visits

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Cost-effective community engagement is needed to address causes of mental illness related to social issues (i.e., isolation, stigma and lack of purpose) that are typically outside the scope of healthcare. This pilot study evaluated the relationship between clinical healthcare resources and a community-based social engagement organization in a medium-sized community in the midwestern US. Analyses were based on a retrospective longitudinal comparison of clinical visit frequency from two cohorts that joined the Momentum Center for Social Engagement (MC) and either frequently participated (Engaged; n = 9) or had extenuating circumstances limiting participation (Non-engaged; n = 3). The frequency of >1800 visits to the member’s primary mental healthcare provider were compared during the period from November 2016 to May 2021. Engaged MC members reduced frequency of regular visits to their primary mental healthcare provider by 50%, while Non-engaged MC members maintained clinical visit frequency. The financial value of reduced healthcare visits and associated wellbeing improvements was estimated to be $1.0 million, 95% CI: [$0.6-1.4 million], or roughly four times the budget received by the MC from the healthcare provider. Thus, the MC appears to be a valuable approach to improving mental health in conjunction with existing community healthcare services. Clinical implications include considering the unique MC-style community-based support as a component of practice.

Andrew P. Camilleri , Joseph R. Ferrari

Agency or Structure? Community and Individual Level factors impacting Recycling Behaviors

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The present study combined Ajzen Theory of Planned Behavior (Ajzen, 1991) and Schwartz’s Value Theory (1992) with socio-demographic factors to analyze their impact on intention to recycle. The variables were classified into two categories, namely individual level determinants and contextual level determinants and utilized a hierarchical analysis to determine whether greater predictive power was obtained when combining individual level predictors (personal values, perceived behavioral control and attitude) with contextual level predictors (subjective norms and demographics). Our findings indicate that socio-demographics, personal values, perceived behavioral control and attitude all predict recycling behavior with significantly greater predictive power obtained when combining individual level and community level predictors of recycling behavior. Implications for community psychology are discussed.

Kai Handfield , Thomas Delawarde-Saïas

A systematic review of universities’ institutional policies addressing First Peoples Transformative change or reproduction of colonialism?

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The rise of EDI and Indigenizing institutional initiatives in settler universities like so-called Canada [1] could suggest significant transformations and reduction of colonial violences. Yet, inadequate university policies can cause multiple negative effects: performative approaches, assimilation dynamics, co-optation, added burdens and microaggressions on First Peoples. The few studies that include ‘’Quebec’’ show major flaws in institutional actions towards First Peoples. Only one report focuses on ‘’Quebec’’ but merely states the presence of university institutional actions. Therefore, a critical analysis of university policies addressing First Peoples in ‘’Quebec’’ is necessary. Method: A systematic review of the policies of all universities (18) in ‘’Quebec’’ was achieved. The results were analyzed with the Wholistic Indigenous Framework. Results: No university in ‘’Quebec’’ has an institutional policy addressing First Peoples. Only 28% of universities have an action plan specific to First Peoples, while 56% have Equity, Diversity and Inclusion action plans. Only 1 of those 5 universities with an action plan specific to First Peoples presents the necessary conditions for respectful, responsible, relevant and reciprocal institutional actions. In other words, only 1 out of 18 (6%) universities has adequate institutional actions towards First Peoples. Conclusion: The Wholistic Indigenous Framework suggests that the action plans engage in tokenism with a checklist approach without a real transformation of power. The results reveal major gaps in higher education to address ongoing colonialism.

 

[1] The terms so-called Canada and “Quebec’’ in quotation marks are used to highlight that they are colonial names and settler-colonial establishments, see for example Alook, A., Eaton, E., Gray-Donald, D., Laforest, J., Lameman, C., & Tucker, B. (2023). The End of this World: Climate Justice in So-called Canada. Between the Lines., or for an explanation https://medium.com/@waterwatchers/whats-up-with-so-called-so-called Canada-ba9e085ec9d2

Sarah Beranbaum, Nicole A. Kouri, Nicola Van der Merwe, Wendy D'Andrea

The Impact of Surf Therapy on Risk-Taking and Interpersonal Closeness Among Violence-Exposed Youth

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Objective:

 

The impacts of the sport-based, psycho-social intervention, surf therapy, have thus far yielded promising results based on self-reported and qualitative assessments. The purpose of this study is to use a multi-method evaluation to investigate the effects of Waves for Change’s surf therapy program for at-risk youth according to the primary intervention aims.

 

Method:

 

Two-hundred thirty-three violence-exposed youth from South Africa participated in a multi-method program evaluation of Waves for Change’s surf therapy program. Participants who were either enrolled in surf therapy or in the waitlist comparison group completed self-report assessments of perceived stress, sensation-seeking, and interpersonal closeness, as well as behavioral measures of risk-taking and self-esteem. Data were collected at two time points, six months apart.

 

Findings:

 

Participation in surf therapy among participants, each of whom endorsed exposure to violence, led to significant reductions in risk-taking behaviors and sensation seeking. Data also suggests that Waves for Change’s surf-therapy increased participants’ sense of interpersonal closeness. There were no significant changes observed in participant stress or self-esteem, which were both assessed with measures that yielded low internal consistency. 

 

Conclusion:

 

Findings suggest that Waves for Change’s surf therapy program is an efficacious, trauma-informed intervention for violence-exposed youth. The intervention has been found to strengthen interpersonal connectivity and reduce impulsivity.

Karl Potts , Jon May

“It’s the closest I can get to meditation sometimes”: Volunteering as a Surf Therapy Mentor

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Surf therapy is a novel form of small-group, nature-based mental health intervention that has proliferated globally in recent years. Self-reported outcomes indicate that surf therapy can be effective for enhancing mental health and wellbeing, but there is little theoretical understanding into the causal mechanisms of effect and limited strength behind the existing evidence base. This study employed a qualitative approach to explore the personal experiences and observations of volunteer surf mentors’ working with UK-based surf therapy charity the Wave Project. Five surf mentors (3 males and 2 females; mean age = 34.4 years, SD = 7.4, range = 19) were interviewed, data collected that related to first-person experience was analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, and that related to third-person observations of client experience using Thematic Analysis. Participation in delivery was affectively impactful for mentors. Affective experience of surf mentors correlated with past research into client experiences. Experiences for both clients and mentors were heavily influenced by environmental and social factors, and these factors interacted. Mentors were found to be both influenced-by and integral-to several key mechanisms of therapeutic effect. Findings demonstrate the research value of the perspectives of surf therapy facilitators and provide guidance for future research and for general service optimization.