Minority mental health patients face many health inequities and inequalities that may stem from implicit bias and a lack of cultural awareness from their healthcare providers. I analyzed the current literature evaluating implicit bias among healthcare providers and culturally specific life traumas that Latinos and African Americans face that can impact their mental health. Additionally, I researched a current mental health assessments tool, the Child and Adolescent Trauma Survey (CATS), and evaluated it for the use on Latino and African American patients. Face-to-face interviews with two healthcare providers were also used to analyze the CATS for its’ applicability to Latino and African American patients. Results showed that these assessments were not sufficient in capturing culturally specific life traumas of minority patients. Based on the literature review and analysis of the interviews with healthcare providers, a novel assessment tool, the Culturally Traumatic Events Questionnaire (CTEQ), was created to address the gaps that currently make up other mental health assessment tools used on minority patients.

Colonial mentality is defined as the perception of ethnic and cultural inferiority as a form of internalized racial oppression as a direct consequence of colonialism. It promotes the notion that being lighter equates to more economic value and an increase in privilege. This psychological phenomenon is prevalent in the Filipinx community, both on the mainland and in the diaspora. Many Filipinx are encouraged to use skin-lightening products or undergo other procedures that aim to erase their ethnic features. Some experience constant microaggressions from family members about being “too dark”. And the lack of representation of darker-skinned individuals in the entertainment industry further perpetuates the notion that being lighter leads to more success. This honors thesis aims to show that Filipinx on the mainland and diaspora share similar mental and social repercussions of growing up in such an environment, frustrations regarding their identity, and a desire to reclaim their roots. These factors bond the community together. Finally, it also aims to present the extent of feeling represented in media and being accepted for the color of your skin has on one’s self-esteem and mental health. The zine accompanying this honors thesis will feature poems, interview excerpts, art, and other creative pieces done by me or the participants that describe our experiences with colonial mentality, colorism, and Westernization. It will also feature a spotlight interview with one participant.

Colonial mentality is defined as the perception of ethnic and cultural inferiority as a form of internalized racial oppression as a direct consequence of colonialism. It promotes the notion that being lighter equates to more economic value and an increase in privilege. This psychological phenomenon is prevalent in the Filipinx community, both on the mainland and in the diaspora. Many Filipinx are encouraged to use skin-lightening products or undergo other procedures that aim to erase their ethnic features. Some experience constant microaggressions from family members about being “too dark”. And the lack of representation of darker-skinned individuals in the entertainment industry further perpetuates the notion that being lighter leads to more success. This honors thesis aims to show that Filipinx on the mainland and diaspora share similar mental and social repercussions of growing up in such an environment, frustrations regarding their identity, and a desire to reclaim their roots. These factors bond the community together. Finally, it also aims to present the extent of feeling represented in media and being accepted for the color of your skin has on one’s self-esteem and mental health. The zine accompanying this honors thesis will feature poems, interview excerpts, art, and other creative pieces done by me or the participants that describe our experiences with colonial mentality, colorism, and Westernization. It will also feature a spotlight interview with one participant.

It is often a passion for caring for others that drives people towards the profession of nursing in the first place. At some point, however, this desire to care for other people takes over, and nurses soon forget how to properly care for themselves. It was asked: If students are better prepared with and more encouraged to use healthy coping mechanisms and integrative modalities to deal with their daily lives, are they more likely to continue to care for themselves properly as time goes on? Ample research was conducted illuminating the prevalence of this worldwide problem and highlighting potential solutions noted by credible sources. An initiative was formed with the goal of improving the self care practices of nursing students at Arizona State University (ASU) with the greater intent of promoting a healthier work environment as these students advance into their future careers. The Arizona Student Chapter of the American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA) at ASU was formed, and it serves as the vessel for this self-care health-care mission.

The purpose of this project was to develop a student-led holistic nurses chapter as a space where students can learn to apply mind-body based modalities into their routine, accommodating their unique lifestyle. This paper aims to discuss the process of implementing a student-led holistic chapter. From this project further discussion can be completed in regards to policy, practice, research, and inclusion. Policy can be developed in regards to student-driven processes and procedures of the new chapter. This experience can translate to nurses who develop policy in the practice setting. Practice focus can be implemented within the chapter as self-care application and how to bring knowledge to patients in the clinical setting. Research studies can measure the effectiveness of the chapter in regards to student stress levels and academic improvement. Inclusion is a unique part of this initiative as the goal is to grow the student-led organization by inviting nursing students from all schools in the state. Inclusion of leaders from the American Holistic Nurses Association in mentoring and supporting the initiatives is critical.