Grad Student Researches Mental Health and Substance Use Among College Students – University of Arkansas Newswire

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Nicole Doyle

University of Arkansas doctoral studentNicole Doyleis passionate about statistics and measurement, but sometimes she's concerned about what the numbers reveal.

Nicole and fellow researchers in the Department of Health, Human Performance and Recreationhave studied themisuse of prescription opioids,self-stigma,mental healthand other issues of concern amongcollege students.

"The statistics are abysmal when it comes to suicide rates in this group, and I'm certain most of us know how crucial mental health is and how many of the issues surrounding it have become a public health crisis," she said.

Nicole, who's working toward aPh.D.in health behavior and health promotion,wants to helpmitigate the issues her statsuncover.Promoting awareness of student mental healthgives her a sense of purpose.

"The first step is minimizing the negative stigma surrounding mental health, and that starts with a conversation," she said.

For now, she researches.

In the spring semester, Nicole studiedself-harm andemotional intelligence with the help of her advisor. She had hoped to present her findings thisfallsemesterattheAmerican Public Health Association's conference in San Francisco,but insteadshe'llbe attending virtuallydue to the pandemic.

Nicole said she's grateful to work with U of A faculty whobelieve in herandpush herto be better academically and professionally.That's how she discovered statisticswasn't scary.She'snowaiming for a graduate certification inEducational Statistics and Research Methods.

"I find myself soaking up what I'm learning in my classes,and it's incrediblyhelpful when applying it to my research," she said. "It's like a hiddenlanguage that I am now privy to."

In the future, Nicole wants tobe a data analyst,aresearchscientist, or an academic.

"My dream job is to work for SAS, a statistical softwarecompany, either here or abroad," she said. "In the immediate future,I want tocontinue to publish andtoinvestigate the troubling mental health issues of students.I love teaching and researching, my advisor isawesome,and my students have led me to strive to be a betterinstructor."

Nicole moved to Fayetteville in 2014 afterfinishing her firstmaster's degree at the University of Central Oklahoma. Sheworked as a health coach for a local company for a few years, always knowing she would begin aPh.D.at some point.

"The timing was right, and I was able to make connections to begin my program insummer of 2018," she said. "Atthe U of AI feel supported, my voice is heard,and I feel validated. Learning here is diverse, fun,and constantly challenging."

Nicole, newly married,is immersed. Sheserved last year asvice president oftheGraduate Professional Student Congress,which is dedicated to creating abetter environment for graduate students.Shehasalso workedwith Paul Callejain the Department of Health, Human Performance and Recreation on a podcast called "LightningBetweenthe Bookends". It's aninformative and fun podcastrelated toall things graduate school.

She's alsoserved asa student ambassador in the department.

"I am grateful to have been nominated for the position. I enjoy being involved and 'in the know' with the happenings of the department. It feels great to be able to be there for my fellowstudentsin a variety of ways," she said.

This story is the latest in a series called theDean's Spotlight, featuring outstanding students in theCollege of Education and Health Professions. Visit COEHP's online magazine, theColleaguefor morenews from the six units that make up the College. Visit the Health, Human Performance and Recreation page for more information on COEHP's health promotion programs.

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Grad Student Researches Mental Health and Substance Use Among College Students - University of Arkansas Newswire