Projects
CHEER is currently completing data analysis for two long-term Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) studies evaluating the effectiveness of peer health navigation for individuals receiving services within a community mental health clinic. One study examines the impact of in-person peer health navigation, while the other evaluates a telehealth-based approach. Together, these studies aim to better understand how peer health navigation can improve engagement in care and support positive health outcomes for individuals with serious mental health conditions.
Theses and Dissertations of Gradutate Students at CHEER
Title: African American Experiences with Diabetes: A Community-Based Participatory Research Project
Abstract: This Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) study examines attitudes, beliefs, and cultural factors within the African American community as they relate to diabetes treatment. It explores perspectives of African Americans with diabetes on barriers to treatment alongside potential community-oriented and inspired solutions. Qualitative rounds of research conducted in a focus group format inform the later quantitative portion, with a specific emphasis on family factors that impact diabetes treatment and management.
-Virginia Spicknall
Title: Developing a Culturally Relevant Fotonovela Aimed to Reduce mental Health Stigma and Increases Help-Seeking Attitudes in Spanish-Speaking Mexican Americans
Abstract: Mexican Americans (MAs) are a bicultural diaspora who are one of the largest Latiné and immigrant identities in the United States. Despite being one of the largest groups in the U.S., MAs are at risk for various mental health disparities. MAs experience unique barriers to mental health care in sociocultural and systemic forms. Faith, or religion, is one of many distinctive factors contributing to mental health disparities in the MA community. This study aims to construct a culturally salient anti-stigma intervention aimed at reducing mental health stigma and increasing help-seeking attitudes. Utilizing Stutterheim and colleagues’ 2025 adapted version of intervention mapping and human-centered design, I will develop a fotonovela intervention for MAs.
-Clarissa Velazquez
Title: Client Perceptions of Counselor Self-disclosure of Severe Mental Illness
Research Study Summary:
Counseling is an ethical and client satisfaction-based profession, in which favorable client perceptions of the counselor are tantamount for client adherence to treatment and progress. Counselors with lived experience of mental illness are often unsure how their clients will react if the counselor self-discloses (CSD) their personal mental health struggles. Although CSD might help the client bond with the counselor, given the widespread stigma of mental illness, it might conversely lead to less favorable client perceptions including less expertness, professional attractiveness, and trustworthiness, which is likely to result in premature termination. While current evidence indicates favorable client perceptions following CSD of mental illnesses (CSD-MI), current professional counseling guidelines offer little instruction on whether or how to utilize CSD as a counseling intervention. No current evidence has examined CSD of current and severe mental illness. This study will test how research participants who are exposed to a hypothetical counselor who either: 1) self-discloses current and severe symptoms of psychosis, 2) self-discloses current and severe symptoms of depression, or 3) does not self-disclose, will perceive that counselor.
-Madeline Oppenheim
Title:
Development of an Instrument to Measure Postsecondary Students with Disabilities’ Intention to Access Accommodation
Project Summary:
This dissertation project examines factors that influence postsecondary students with disabilities in seeking academic and/or housing accommodations through their institution’s disability services office. Accommodations are supports that help students with medical or mental health conditions access and participate in college, such as extended time on exams, note-taking support, accessible course materials, a single room, or elevator access. Guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior, the study examines how students’ attitudes, perceived social expectations, and perceived ability to seek accommodations relate to their intentions to register for accommodations. The project also aims to develop an instrument to measure students’ beliefs and intentions regarding seeking accommodations, helping researchers and disability service professionals better understand students’ decision-making and, ultimately, support more accessible and equitable experiences in higher education.
-Cora Liu
Peer Navigators for People with Mental Illness Workbook
Workbook-for-African-American-Peer-Navigators-1
People living with serious mental illness experience significantly poorer health outcomes and higher mortality rates than their same-aged peers, with these disparities being even greater among people of color. Through a Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) partnership, advocates, providers, researchers, and people with lived experience worked together to better understand these inequities and develop solutions. This collaborative research identified peer navigation as a promising approach to improving engagement with primary care, leading to the development of this Peer Navigator workbook. – 2012
Latino Peer Navigator Workbook
People with serious mental illness, particularly Latinos, experience disproportionately high rates of chronic physical health conditions and barriers to receiving equitable healthcare. In 2014, researchers, providers, advocates, and community members at the Illinois Institute of Technology partnered through a Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) project funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) to better understand these challenges and develop a Peer Navigator model of integrated care. Findings from this collaborative research suggested that peer navigators can improve engagement in healthcare for Latinos with serious mental illness and informed the development of this manual.