Multi-attention Recurrent Network for Human Communication Comprehension

Human face-to-face communication is a complex multimodal signal. We use words (language modality), gestures (vision modality) and changes in tone (acoustic modality) to convey our intentions. Humans easily process and understand face-to-face communication, however, comprehending this form of communication remains a significant challenge for Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI must understand each modality and the interactions between them that shape human communication. In this paper, we present a novel neural architecture for understanding human communication called the Multi-attention Recurrent Network (MARN). The main strength of our model comes from discovering interactions between modalities through time using a neural component called the Multi-attention Block (MAB) and storing them in the hybrid memory of a recurrent component called the Long-short Term Hybrid Memory (LSTHM). We perform extensive comparisons on six publicly available datasets for multimodal sentiment analysis, speaker trait recognition and emotion recognition. MARN shows state-of-the-art performance on all the datasets.Comment: AAAI 2018 Oral Presentatio

MUTED VOICES: TOWARD AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE U.S. ASYLUM PROGRAM AT THE SOUTHWEST BORDER

The often-dismissed people who live, work, and pass through the Mexico-U.S. border can offer new insight into the U.S. asylum program crisis. This thesis develops a concept called muted voices that can help identify, access, and hear the subjective stories of displaced people, border patrol agents, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officers. These individuals go through a similar journey of trauma and stress in their interactions with U.S. bureaucratic systems—systems made even more cumbersome by executive orders and procedural changes from a presidential administration hell-bent on restricting the U.S. asylum program. The fictional narratives and historical background presented in this thesis illuminate the everyday realities, struggles, and complexities along the border as well as the geopolitical, historical, and economic conditions that have culminated in the current crisis. The accounts of a displaced youth fleeing his home, a border patrol agent implementing the praxis of bordering, ordering, and othering, and a refugee officer interpreting asylum procedures reveal how policies shape lives and help to situate implications and recommendations for homeland security.Outstanding ThesisCivilian, Department of Homeland SecurityApproved for public release. distribution is unlimite

Mental Health Outcomes of Various Types of Fear Among University Students who have an Undocumented Legal Status During the Donald Trump Presidency

Having an undocumented legal status is a risk factor for mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety among university students. Much of the literature on the experiences of university students who hold an undocumented legal status has primarily focused on better understanding the educational, social, financial, and legal challenges among undergraduate students. The literature has addressed how some of these difficulties impact components of their social and mental health wellness. Yet, there is still a dearth of research focused on further understanding the experiences of students who hold an undocumented legal status from a psychological perspective, and specifically, with respect to the psychological effects of fear. This study focuses on understanding the long-lasting mental health effects of various forms of fear among university students, including undergraduate and graduate students. This parallel convergent mixed-methods study examines mental health outcomes such as anxiety, depression, and trauma related to fear of deportation, fear of detention, fear of microaggressions, fear of hate speech, and fear of crime since the election of Donald Trump among university students who hold an undocumented legal status

Overwhelmed: a Qualitative Study of the Mental Health Experiences of Mothers of Minor Children After Release from Jail and Prison

Mass incarceration in US jails and prisons is a major public health concern. Over one million women are released from US jails and prisons each year. Incarcerated women experience disproportionately high rates of mental health issues and most incarcerated women are mothers of minor children. Mothers of minor children who leave jails and prisons with mental health issues face increased risks of experiencing substance use, risky behaviors, homelessness, and recidivism. Their children are also at increased risk for adverse mental health, behavioral, and social outcomes. The purpose of this study was to explore the mental health experiences of mothers of minor children after their release from incarceration.This study used a cross-sectional, exploratory, narrative inquiry qualitative design and a transitions theory-intersectionality framework. Convenience and snowball sampling was used to recruit 25 adult women participants from the community. Data were collected using individual semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed using narrative and thematic analysis techniques and led to 8 major themes: a) Overwhelmed, b) Shifting Perspectives; c) On Edge for A While; d) I’m Not Sure I Understand; e) A Tiring Routine; f) Deciding What I Have to Lose; e) Disconnecting; and h) Gaining Strength. These findings suggest several implications for nursing practice, research, and policy. Nurses working with mothers with histories of incarceration can self-reflect on their biases to provide non-judgmental care and take active roles in pre- and post-release care coordination and follow-ups focused on building mutual trust. Policymakers can decriminalize substance use- and mental health-related behaviors as well as fund mental health- and family-centered diversion and reentry services that promote access to housing and basic needs. Researchers can explore factors related to mothers’ post-release access to basic needs resources, social support, and mental health treatment; rates and trends of mental health symptoms, traumatic events, and service use; perceptions of mental health-related terms and coping strategies; factors that reduce substance use-related harms and promote recovery from trauma; and the roles of nurses in jails and prisons

Teacher Perceptions on How to Best Support Student Well-Being in Elementary Classrooms

Abstract Elementary schools should be adept at assisting students in meeting their mental health need, such as, providing a non-violence approach to conflict resolution; strengthening the students’ relationships with their family members and friends; taking responsibility for their education and future; creating a stronger positive image; handling tough times more effectively; and setting and achieving their goals in life. The purpose of this Q methodology was to explore what teacher perspectives are on how to best support student well-being in the elementary school classroom. Specifically, this study examined what factors emerged when faculty in a large urban school district in Northeast Florida were asked to model their perceptions about student well-being via a Q sort. This study serves as a foundation for further research into perceptions from teachers about the how to best support student well-being in elementary schools. Results of this study may affect positive social change by leading to increased mental health services in elementary schools. Keywords: Well-Being. Mental Health, PTSD, EBD, DSM-V, IDEI

Gibson v. Ada County Sheriff\u27s Office Clerk\u27s Record v. 4 Dckt. 34368

https://digitalcommons.law.uidaho.edu/idaho_supreme_court_record_briefs/2626/thumbnail.jp

Addressing Rural America’s Suicide Disparity Among Men: How Mental Health Stigma Is Communicated Through Storytelling Networks

The suicide rate disparity of men in rural America has continued to increase year after year. While this is a complex public health problem with many contributing factors, this study examines the stigma of mental illness in men, a recognized contributing factor to increased suicide rates among rural men. Grounded in communication infrastructure theory and the model of stigma communication, this study sought to collect data for the first phase in the development of a stigma communication intervention program for Rabun County, GA, a rural Appalachian community in north Georgia. Twenty-four in-depth interviews were conducted with Rabun County residents to assess the communication infrastructure, where stigma narratives are encountered in the communication infrastructure, and what stigma narratives are present in the communication infrastructure. Findings showed that stigma narratives were most encountered on the micro-level, specifically through conversations with family and friends. On the meso-level, church organizations were also reported as highly influential in the spread of stigma messages surrounding men with mental health issues. Some of the most prominent stigma messages associated with men with mental illness were weakness, lacking faith, and dangerousness. Suicide stigma also appeared to be much stronger than the stigma of mental illness. Through this research, a theoretical model was also developed to aid in future intervention studies of this type. The model of stigma storytelling combines concepts from communication infrastructure theory and the model of stigma communication. Future research should use this model to continue the development and implementation of the multi-phase stigma communication intervention program in Rabun County. Additional research in this area should continue to explore how the stigma of mental health issues in men contributes to the rising rates of suicide rates. The stigma of suicide and suicidal ideation in rural populations should also be explored further as this topic does not seem to be perceived the same as mental illness, suggesting the topic of suicide is more taboo, carrying a stronger stigma than mental illness in general

11th Annual Research Week

A History of Mission Driven Scholarshi