Pilot Study of Coping Skills-Oriented Mental Health Intervention in a Rural Appalachian School

Author Names and Emails

Nicole L. Gardner, East Tennessee State UniversityFollow
Stephen A. Crockett, East Tennessee State UniversityFollow
Isabel C. Guhde, East Tennessee State UniversityFollow
Araminta A. Ray, East Tennessee State UniversityFollow

Authors' Affiliations

Nicole Gardner, Rural Primary Care Track, College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN. Stephen Crockett, Rural Primary Care Track, College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN. Isabel Guhde, Rural Primary Care Track, College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN. Araminta Ray, Rural Primary Care Track, College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN.

Faculty Sponsor’s Department

Pediatrics

Classification of First Author

Medical Student

Type

Oral Competitive

Project's Category

Rural Health

Abstract or Artist's Statement

Adverse childhood events (ACEs) are associated with poor mental and physical health outcomes, and youth in rural Appalachia have been shown to experience disproportionately more ACEs compared to youth elsewhere. During the spring of 2020, our community partners in Johnson County, Tennessee expressed concern for the mental health of youth and educators in their community and identified a need for information on coping skills and stress reduction. With input from local stakeholders, we created a Calm Corner Kit and a Coping Skills Resource Guide with specific coping strategies, stress reduction techniques, and support programs for students, parents and caregivers, and school personnel in the community. An IRB-approved survey of school personnel who utilized our tools found them to be useful, convenient, and easily accessible resources. These positive results warrant future studies to investigate student and parent perceptions of the value of similar interventions in supporting their mental and emotional health.