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Knapp AA, Hersch E, Wijaya C, Herrera MA, Kruzan KP, Carroll AJ, Lee S, Baker A, Gray A, Harris V, Simmons R, Kour Sodhi D, Hannah N, Reddy M, Karnik NS, Smith JD, Brown CH, Mohr DC. "The library is so much more than books": considerations for the design and implementation of teen digital mental health services in public libraries. Front Digit Health 2023; 5:1183319. [PMID: 37560198 PMCID: PMC10409481 DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2023.1183319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Adolescence is a vulnerable developmental period, characterized by high rates of mental health concerns, yet few adolescents receive treatment. Public libraries support adolescents by providing them with access to teen programming, technological resources, and have recently been providing mental health services. Digital mental health (DMH) services may help libraries provide scalable mental health solutions for their adolescent patrons and could be well positioned to address the mental health needs of historically underrepresented racial and ethnic (HURE) adolescents; however, little research has been conducted on the compatibility of DMH services with adolescent patron mental health needs or resource needs of library workers supporting them. Methods The research team formed a partnership with a public library, which serves a large HURE adolescent population. We conducted needs assessment and implementation readiness interviews with 17 library workers, including leadership, librarians, and workers with specialized areas of practice. Interview questions focused on library infrastructure, as well as library needs and preferences around the design and implementation of DMH services for adolescents. We used the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research as guiding implementation determinant framework to code and analyze the interview transcripts. Results Our findings revealed library workers play an important role in guiding patrons to desired resources and share a goal of implementing adolescent DMH resources into the library and elevating marginalized adolescents' voices. Existing library resources, such as the library's role as a safe space for adolescents in the community, close relationships with external and community organizations, and availability of no-cost technological resources, could help facilitate the implementation of DMH services. Barriers related to community buy-in, mental health stigma, and library worker confidence in supporting adolescent mental health could affect service implementation. Conclusions Our findings suggest public libraries are highly promising settings to deploy DMH services for adolescents. We identified important determinants that may impact the implementation of DMH services in public library settings. Special considerations are needed to design services to meet the mental health needs of HURE adolescent populations and those adolescents' most experiencing health inequities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley A. Knapp
- Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Emily Hersch
- Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Clarisa Wijaya
- Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Miguel A. Herrera
- Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Kaylee P. Kruzan
- Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Allison J. Carroll
- Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Sydney Lee
- Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Alex Baker
- Department of Psychology, The University of North Texas, Denton, TX, United States
| | - Alanna Gray
- Oak Park Public Library, Oak Park, IL, United States
| | - Vann Harris
- Oak Park Public Library, Oak Park, IL, United States
| | | | - Deepika Kour Sodhi
- Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Nanette Hannah
- Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Madhu Reddy
- Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Niranjan S. Karnik
- College of Medicine, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Justin D. Smith
- School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - C. Hendricks Brown
- Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - David C. Mohr
- Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
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Ogden LP, Williams RD. Supporting Patrons in Crisis through a Social Work-Public Library Collaboration. JOURNAL OF LIBRARY ADMINISTRATION 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/01930826.2022.2083442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lydia P. Ogden
- Associate Professor, School of Social Work, Simmons University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Rachel D. Williams
- Assistant Professor, School of Library and Information Science, Simmons University, Boston, MA, USA
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Wahler EA, Rortvedt C, Saecker T. Public Library Patrons’ Views of Their Psychosocial Needs and How the Library Can Help. LIBRARY QUARTERLY 2022. [DOI: 10.1086/718601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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Wahler EA, Ressler JD, Johnson SC, Rortvedt C, Saecker T, Helling J, Williams MA, Hoover D. Public Library-Based Social Work Field Placements: Guidance for Public Libraries Planning to Become a Social Work Practicum Site. PUBLIC LIBRARY QUARTERLY 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/01616846.2022.2044264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A. Wahler
- School of Social Work, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jacob D. Ressler
- Indiana University School of Social Work, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Sarah C. Johnson
- Hunter College Libraries, Hunter College, New York, New York, USA
| | | | | | - John Helling
- Indianapolis Public Library, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | | | - Danielle Hoover
- Indiana University School of Social Work, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
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Wahler EA, Spuller R, Ressler J, Bolan K, Burnard N. Changing Public Library Staff and Patron Needs Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. JOURNAL OF LIBRARY ADMINISTRATION 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/01930826.2021.2006985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A. Wahler
- Professor and Director, School of Social Work, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, USA
| | - Rebecca Spuller
- MSW Student, School of Social Work, Indiana University, Fort Wayne, IN, USA
| | - Jacob Ressler
- MSW Student, School of Social Work, Indiana University, Fort Wayne, IN, USA
| | - Kimberly Bolan
- Director of Public Services, Allen County Public Library, Fort Wayne, IN, USA
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Wahler EA, Provence MA, Johnson SC, Helling J, Williams M. Library Patrons' Psychosocial Needs: Perceptions of Need and Reasons for Accessing Social Work Services. SOCIAL WORK 2021; 66:297-305. [PMID: 34333662 DOI: 10.1093/sw/swab032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Public libraries in the United States have begun to partner with social work to address the psychosocial needs observed in patrons that are beyond the training and education of most library staff. This is a new area of inquiry with limited research available. Of the few published studies, the majority focus on staff perceptions of patrons' needs and surveys of patrons experiencing homelessness about their use of public libraries. The present study is the first to examine and compare staff perception of patrons' needs, patrons' self-expressed needs, and the actual use of social work services by patrons within one library system. Comparisons are explored between actual service usage alongside the perception of patrons' needs as originally reported by both staff and patron groups. Implications for library-based social work practice are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A Wahler
- School of Social Work, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 9201 University Boulevard, Charlotte NC 28223-0001
| | - Mary A Provence
- School of Social Work, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 9201 University Boulevard, Charlotte NC 28223-0001
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Hall K, McAlister S. Library Services and Resources in Support of Mental Health: A Survey of Initiatives in Public and Academic Libraries. JOURNAL OF LIBRARY ADMINISTRATION 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/01930826.2021.1984137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Hall
- Head of Access & Delivery Services, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA, USA
| | - Shenika McAlister
- Electronic Resources & Serials Librarian, Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr, PA, USA
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Driscoll D, Mathew L, Engelhardt D, Moran-Peters J, Eckardt S. Evaluating mental illness-substance abuse stigmatic perceptions through education: A library-nursing initiative. Public Health Nurs 2021; 38:850-855. [PMID: 34110634 DOI: 10.1111/phn.12921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Revised: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
In this library-nursing initiative, the goal was to identify any changes in stigmatic perceptions among public library staff regarding mental health and substance abuse, post 3-day educational sessions. A total of n = 37 library staff participated in this project and attended all three educational sessions and completed a pre- and postquestionnaire designed to address common mental health and substance abuse-related stigmatic perceptions among public library staff. Upon analysis of the pre- and postresponses, we identified that there were statistically significant changes in two perceptions, namely; "embarrassed to disclose mental illness" and "commonality of substance abuse" (p ≤ .05). Therefore, it is essential that behavioral health nurses engage and collaborate with local public libraries to educate and build a safe environment for vulnerable populations like those affected with mental illness and substance abuse in the community settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denise Driscoll
- Nursing, John T Mather Memorial Hospital, Port Jefferson, NY, USA
| | - Lilly Mathew
- Nursing, John T Mather Memorial Hospital, Port Jefferson, NY, USA.,Nursing, CUNY School of Professional Studies, New York, NY, USA
| | | | | | - Sarah Eckardt
- Nursing, John T Mather Memorial Hospital, Port Jefferson, NY, USA
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Williams RD. Vulnerability, Boundary Management, and Providing Information Services to People Experiencing Homelessness. PUBLIC LIBRARY QUARTERLY 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/01616846.2021.1934319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rachel D. Williams
- School of Library and Information Science, Simmons University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Williams RD, Ogden LP. What knowledge and attitudes inform public librarians’ interactions with library patrons in crisis? JOURNAL OF LIBRARIANSHIP AND INFORMATION SCIENCE 2020. [DOI: 10.1177/0961000620917720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Using a thematic analysis, this article explores the knowledge and attitudes that inform public librarians’ interactions with people in crisis. Through five focus groups with 22 librarians at a large urban public library system, the study addresses how public librarians support people in crisis, what kinds of barriers and opportunities they experience, and how their perspectives on supporting patrons in crisis have professional impacts. Focusing on both the knowledge and attitudes of public librarians, this research has implications for exploring how public librarians can develop knowledge, attitudes, and skills that may be beneficial for supporting patrons in crisis.
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Provence MA, Wahler EA, Helling J, Williams MA. Self-Reported Psychosocial Needs of Public Library Patrons: Comparisons Based on Housing Status. PUBLIC LIBRARY QUARTERLY 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/01616846.2020.1730738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mary A. Provence
- Indiana University School of Social Work, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | | | - John Helling
- Indianapolis Public Library, Library Services Center, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
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