Dr. Whealin's current, general interests focus on promoting resilience via research and program evaluation that informs: a) preventive and early intervention; b) the interface of social media/eHealth use and mental health; and c) the development and evaluation of eHealth tools to support mental health and wellbeing. Dr. Whealin's ongoing and past projects include the development and evaluation of eHealth tools to support mental health and wellbeing. In the past three years, her projects include automated text message interventions to educate and support self-care among patient populations; a) coping with pain; b) abstaining from alcohol and drugs; c) taking anticoagulant medications; d) at risk for COVID infection and following the national COVID precautions protocol; and e) coping with stress during the pandemic. Of the 651 veterans who completed the latter protocol (called Coping During COVID), 90% reported that they took some type of action as a result of the messages, such as paying more attention to their mental well-being, learning how to better care for themselves, practicing healthy coping, or feeling more positive and connected.

Past projects include overseeing quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method studies to evaluate risk and resilience for PTSD and suicide, as well as access to and engagement in care among military veterans and their families. For example, a focus group project examined the interface of veterans’ access to care, perceptions of VA health care, as well as cultural barriers and facilitators of mental health service use among minority Veterans in seven rural and remote Pacific Island locations. Projects also evaluated ethno-racial differences in predictors of PTSD, relevant psychosocial constructs, and mental health care use. Dr. Whealin also led the development and evaluation of cognitive-behavioral psychoeducational interventions, such as a culturally-adapted family educational intervention for PTSD in Veterans. 

To see Dr. Whealin's CV, click here.