Sheila Linz

PhD (Nursing Research): Seton Hall University, 2013

MSN: Columbia University, 2001

BSN: Columbia University, 1997

BFA: Philadelphia College of Art, 1977

Serious mental illness

Stigma

Social isolation

Social integration

Auto-videography and digital storytelling

Podcast: Women with Mental IllnessTalk About the Barriers to Breast Cancer Screening

Dr. Sheila Linz is a psychiatric nurse practitioner with extensive experience working in underserved communities with people who have serious mental illness. Dr. Linz has worked on outreach teams, shelters for the mentally ill, community clinics, nurse practitioner run mental health clinics, youth shelters, and with individuals with AIDS, substance abuse issues, and mental illness.  Her research focuses on the needs of underserved communities and addresses issues of coping, stigma, isolation, exclusion, and building bridges of communication between diverse groups. Influenced by Allport’s contact theory her research often involves interventions that assist individuals in crossing lines of difference in order to gain new and deeper insights toward each other. Current research projects include interventions involving historically divergent groups working collaboratively and equally on designated projects with equal status in order to break down barriers and reduce discrimination and stigma toward the marginalized group, and mindfulness in a women’s coping group in Camden, N.J.

Dr. Linz utilizes creative interventions such as auto-videography, digital storytelling, and photo-voice as vehicles for self-expression and communication to advance her research aims.

Articles in Refereed Journals

Petros, R., Solomon, P., Linz, S., DeCesaris, M., & Hanrahan, N. P.(2016). Capabilities approach: Contextualizing participants' perspectives on systems barriers to recovery. International Journal Of Mental Health, 45(4), 262-278. doi:10.1080/00207411.2016.1238742

I was one of two qualitative researchers on the study. I attended all meetings with the research team and community partners after the data was collected. I identified reciprocity as an important finding of the qualitative data, and that reciprocity was not measured by the quantitative instrument. I edited the participant made video tapes to be used for educational and advocacy purposes.

Linz, S. J., & Sturm, B. A. (2016) Facilitating social integration for people with severe mental illness served by Assertive Community Treatment. Archives Of Psychiatric Nursing, 30(6), 692-699. doi: 10.1016/j.apnu.2016.05.006

This was a research article based on my doctoral dissertation. All of the research is solely mine. I was the sole PI and primary author of the study. The co-author was my dissertation chair who added edits to the final paper.

Linz, S., Hanrahan, N. P., DeCesaris, M., Petros, R., & Solomon, P. (2016). Clinical use of an autovideography intervention to support recovery in individuals with severe mental illness. Journal Of Psychosocial Nursing & Mental Health Services, 54(5), 33-40 8p. doi:10.3928/02793695-20160420-04

I was the primary author of this article with edits from the research team. I was one of two qualitative researchers on the study. I attended all meetings with the research team and community partners after the data was collected. I identified reciprocity as an important finding of the qualitative data, and that reciprocity was not measured by the quantitative instrument. I produced and edited the participant made video tapes to be used for educational and advocacy purposes.

Solomon, P., DeCesaris, M., Petros, R., Linz, S. J., & Hanrahan, N. P. (2016). A pilot randomized control trial of autovideography intervention to enhance recovery for people with severe mental illness. Best Practice In Mental Health, 12(1), 1-13.

I was one of two qualitative researchers on the study. I attended all meetings with the research team and community partners after the data was collected. I identified reciprocity as an important finding of the qualitative data, and that reciprocity was not measured by the quantitative instrument. I edited the participant made video tapes to be used for educational and advocacy purposes. I assisted with the literature review and the editing of this article.

Petros, R., Solomon, P., Linz, S., DeCesaris, M., & Hanrahan, N. P. (2016). Autovideography: The lived experience of recovery for adults with serious
mental illness, Psychiatric Quarterly, 87(3), 417-426. doi:10.1007/s11126-015-9397-8

I was one of two qualitative researchers on the study. I attended all meetings with the research team and community partners after the data was collected. I identified reciprocity as an important finding of the qualitative data, and that reciprocity was not measured by the quantitative instrument. I edited the participant made video tapes to be used for educational and advocacy purposes. I assisted with the editing of this paper.

Linz, S. J. & Sturm, B. A. (2013). The phenomenon of social isolation in the severely mentally ill. Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, 49: 243–254. doi: 10.1111/ppc.12010

This paper is based on my doctoral candidacy paper and the work is solely my own. The co-author was my candidacy chair and provided edits for the paper.

2018-ongoing (Grant Amount: $5,000)
This is for the study "Cuba and the United States: Mental Health Shared Learning Project". This is an exchange with a researcher at the University of Havana at the School of Psychology in which I will visit The University of Havana to learn first hand about their provision of mental healthcare services, and the researcher from the University of Havana will visit Rutgers Camden will be introduce him to innovative methods of mental healthcare provision such as PACT Teams, The Recovery/Survivor movement, and the RAISE Program., Sheila Linz, Agency: The Committee on Cuban Exchange Projects, Role: Primary Investigator

2018-2019 (Grant Amount: $4,000)
This is a Catalyst Grant that was awarded to Kathleen Jackson as Primary Investigator. Only one investigator was able to be used on the application. However, this was an equal partnership in the development of the project. We will work together to run a coping groups for two different populations in Camden, at risk women, and men at a shelter. Using "mindfulness" concepts we will give tools to these individual to support coping. At the same time the group will function as a support system and a bulwark against social isolation in the service of preventive mental health., Kathleen Jackson and Sheila Linz, Agency: The Catalyst Grant from the Rutgers University–Camden Provost's Fund for Research, Role: Primary Investigator

01/2018-12/2019 (Grant Amount: $11,000)
This is for the research "Reducing Mental Illness Stigma with Digital Stories" This is a mixed method experimental study in which healthcare students and individuals will work together to create digital stories, the control group will receive an educational program with opportunities for socialization., Sheila Linz and Robert Emmons, Agency: Multidisciplinary Grant from the Rutgers University–Camden Provost's Fund for Research, Role: Primary Investigator

2017-2018 (Grant Amount: $5,000)
This is in preparation to co-lead digital storytelling workshops for research entitled Reducing Mental Illness Stigma with Digital Stories. This research is a mixed methods study that will test a digital story telling intervention to reduce stigma in healthcare providers towards people with mental illness in an effort to reduce the present healthcare disparity in this population. Co-investigators include Phyllis Solomon, Professor, Associate Dean for Research, Senior Fellow, Center for Public Health Initiatives, Faculty Fellow, Ortner Center, University of Pennsylvania, and Robert Emmons, Associate Director of The Digital Studies Center, Rutgers, Camden., Sheila Linz, Agency: Rutgers School of Nursing–Camden Dean's Summer Research Development Grant Program, Role: Primary Investigator

2017-2018 (Grant Amount: $5,000)
This is a Campus Compact grant for the research project: Better Together: Strengthening Campus/Community Relationships and Enhancing Civic Engagement Through Democratic Collaboration, a participatory engagement and research project bridging the Camden Community and Rutgers/Camden University in order to strengthen campus and community relations and enhance civic engagement through collaboration on projects chosen by the community partners and funded by this grant. Special attention will be paid towards bringing Camden students and Camden Community residents together across lines of difference through student/resident interviews and deliberate discussion on issues of identity, values, feelings in today's political climate in the United States, and the relationship between Rutgers/Camden and the Camden community. Our community partners are: The Parkside Business and Community in Partnership, and The Camden Lutheran Housing Organization., Michael D'Italia/Sheila Linz, Agency: Campus Compact, Role: Co-author, Co- Primary Investigator

02/2017-02/2017 (Grant Amount: $1,893)
Erasmus + Mobility Award, European Commission on Higher Education. Guest Lecturer with four separate and different presentations on topics regarding mental health, discrimination, and stigma at Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary, February 20-24. In addition met with faculty, administration, and students to discuss joint scholarship, educational, and research possibilities, Sheila Linz, Agency: Erasmus + Mobility Award, European Commission on Higher Education, Role: Guest Lecturer

Professional Awards and Honors

Seton Hall University Strategic Plan Initiative to Promote High Impact Scholarship, research release time awarded