2015-2017 Mental Fitness Nonprofit Primary Research Projects and Programs:
Click here to view Mental Fitness’s 10 year training history and impact data.
1. Our ThinkEatPlay program for athletes initiated a coach survey in collaboration with many of our medical advisory board members and researchers. The survey data resulted in our producing the ThinkEatPlay curricular materials in collaboration with national researchers from sports dietetics, female athlete triad prevention and eating disorders prevention.
Publications:
Kroshus, E., Sherman, R.T., Thompson, R.A., Sossin, K., & Austin, S.B. (2014). Gender differences in high school coaches’ knowledge, attitudes and communication about the female athlete triad. Eating Disorders, 22, 193-208.
Initial summary analysis is here.
2. Mental Fitness’s Tiered Eating Disorder Trainings in K-12 schools — in collaboration with Coastal Carolina University researchers. Read abstract here.
3. In 2015 we began collaborating with multiple research teams and partners on our primary prevention programs being developed in Spartanburg, SC 2015-2018. We are grateful to be working in collaboration with:
- District 7 Schools, Spartanburg
- Meeting Street Academy, Spartanburg
- Spartanburg Day School
- Dr. Natalie M. Fadel, VCOM
- Dr. Alexis Stoner, VCOM
- Dr. Cynthia Bulik, UNC-Chapel Hill
- Dr. Christina Peat, UNC-Chapel Hill
- Dr. Camden Elliot, UNC-Chapel Hill
- Dr. Christina Anderson, Coastal Carolina
- Dr. Michelle Albright, Senior Consultant – Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence
- Dr. Jennifer Parker and Center for Child Advocacy Studies, USC Upstate
- United Way of the Piedmont
4. Since we started with the NORMAL rock musical program in schools (NIS program) we have gathered pre- and post- program surveys created & evaluated by researchers and PhD candidates. 2007-2008 samples include:
— Evaluation of surveys distributed after live presentation of NIS program. Of the participants who were currently struggling with an eating disorder, 55% reported they were more willing to seek help after experiencing the NIS program. Click here for a poster that was presented on these findings.
— Wauwatosa Department of Health evaluation of NIS program
2015-2016 Mental Fitness Nonprofit Primary Research Projects and Programs:
Mental Fitness Mapping Tool: Building Overall Health in Children. A collaboration with UNC-Chapel Hill Genomics and other researchers to create a “mental fitness map” assessment. The project will focus on the impact that sleep, stress and behavioral health have on overall physical health in children and their families. Our goal is to roll out the program in Spartanburg through pilot testing, then expand model to other schools.
Tiered Trainings: Ongoing “Tiered Trainings” for K-12 and University Faculty & Staff “How To Manage Serious Mental Illness and Eating Disorders in School Setting.” Based on the evidence-based model we created in Spartanburg schools in 2013-2014, we now seek to roll out our professional development trainings for faculty and staff in other states. Seeking school professionals and other “Ambassadors” to implement the model in other states.
Project #3: FLOURISH — near-peer mentoring program for high school and elementary school students. Created in collaboration with Spartanburg Day School ASTRA students and Meeting Street Academy children, Mental Fitness launches FLOURISH which utilizes existing evidence-based content that is taught to high school students. This program is led by Robyn Hussa Farrell and is co-Chaired by ASTRA Day School students. In year 2 of pilot program and soon to be evaluated in collaboration with Ph.D. researchers from VCOM, Spartanburg.