Blog

Mental health treatments for children and adolescents are more effective than ever at treating common problems such as anxiety, disruptive behaviors, and depression. Unfortunately, about half of children who need treatment do not enroll in service. For those who do enroll, half drop out of treatment prematurely. Dr. Kimberly Becker at the University of South Carolina and Dr. Bruce Chorpita at the University of California, Los Angeles set out to understand what the research can tell us about ways to effectively engage children and families into mental health treatment.

The University of California, Davis hosted its fourth Ulysses Banquet last month to mark the 10-year anniversary of the Ulysses Refugee Health Project. The event honored the work of over 200 refugee community and agency leaders, doctors, students, and faculty members of several American and international universities. A refugee-led collaborative effort, the Ulysses Project has advanced migration health research, education, and policy along with the professional re-entry of many refugee doctors.

Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines as a Category 5 storm on the morning of Friday, November 8, 2013, at Guiuan, Eastern Samar. This super storm, referred to in the Philippines as Typhoon Yolanda, is believed to be the strongest cyclone storm to hit land in recorded world history, with winds as strong as 380 kph (235 mph).

Loma Linda University’s Department of Counseling and Family Sciences (CFS) was well-represented at the 2019 American Family Therapy Academy (AFTA) Conference in Oakland, California. CFS students, faculty, and alumni were listed as presenters on just under twenty-five percent of the over sixty-five presentations given at this year’s conference. Seven students currently enrolled in the Systems, Families, and Couples (SFC) PhD program attended the conference, along with three faculty presenters and mentors (SFC program director Zephon Lister, Bryan Cafferky, and Brian Distelberg).

The Loma Linda University Department of Social Work and Social Ecology recently hosted a two-week summer internship program for high school and community college students interesting learning more about behavioral health and careers in mental health. During the program, students shadowed mental health experts within professional settings and attended seminars on mental health topics such as interventions for depression and anxiety, suicide prevention, drug and alcohol use, gangs and violence, eating disorders, responding to trauma, and stress management.

Dr. Maya Boustani was invited to the Institute for Community Partnership (ICP) spring quarter town hall meeting to discuss how she developed a partnership with the San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD). Along with school counselor and community partner Ms. Yesenia Ceballos, Dr. Boustani reflected on how the ICP facilitated the initial connection. Relationship building efforts since then have led to a solid partnership with SBCUSD Student Services.

Each year ACLP brings together more than 1,000 child life professionals at the Child Life Annual Conference—the world's largest gathering of child life professionals.

Dr. Maya Boustani was invited to speak at the San Bernardino School Counseling Collaborative at Cal State University, San Bernardino campus on June 10. Attendees were largely school counselors, but also included school nurses, teachers, and administrators. After guiding the attendees through a mindfulness exercise, she presented some key strategies on how to manage student anxiety in the school setting.

The School of Behavioral Health has developed an advanced practicum and applied research experience in Samoa for our master’s and doctoral students. During this process, partnerships have been developed throughout Samoa that will result in mutual benefits for the participating agencies in Samoa and students from Loma Linda University. As a son of Samoa, I have witnessed our people suffering with domestic and community violence, substance abuse, school dropout, avoidable healthcare issues such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer, disparate incarceration, and poverty.

An Interview with SBH Student Ciara Sprague from the Bigger Than Bubbles Podcast Q: Who is the School of Behavioral Health student behind the mic? A: My name is Ciara (Esse) Sprague, and I'm a student in the MS Child Life Specialist Program. I grew up knowing that I wanted to help others, but never could figure out the right calling. After trying to figure out where I wanted to be for college and my future, I ended up at California State University Fullerton. I landed on child and adolescent development by accident, but I'm so thankful that I did.