Research
Ukamaka Oruche
About Us
The Oruche Mental Health Lab is committed to advancing the mental health and wellbeing of communities. Our portfolio includes intervention research focused on the mental health care of children, especially those with disruptive, impulsive, and conduct disorders and their family caregivers. The OMHR Lab also conducts research addressing global inequities in mental health treatment. To this end, we partner with communities of patients, parents, families, health, and social service professionals to identify needs and develop health programs to meet these needs. We also provide expert consultation on the (1) integration of mental health services into community settings (schools, primary care clinics, and detention centers) and (2) evaluation of mental health programs, and (3) the development of research partnerships across local and global communities – with special emphasis on low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and sub-Saharan Africa.
Meet Our OMHR Lab Team
Led by Ukamaka Oruche, PHD, RN, PMHCNS-BC, FAAN, Gordon Keller Professor at the University of South Florida College of Nursing, we are an interdisciplinary team of investigators from local and global communities conducting research to address mental and behavioral health, and associated determinants of health challenges.
Join our Lab Team:
If you would like to join the OMHR Lab Team, send a CV and cover letter outlining your experience and research interests to orucheu@usf.edu.
OMHR Lab Team
Ukamaka M. Oruche, PHD, RN, PHMCNS-BC, FAAN - Gordon Keller Professor and Assistant Dean of the PHD Program
Dr. Oruche has developed a sustained, progressive, nationally, and internationally recognized program of research focused on improving mental health outcomes across local and global communities. Her research expertise includes mental or behavioral health health, intervention development and evaluation using community engagement principles to achieve equitable health outcomes. Her research portfolio includes improving the mental health care of children, especially those with disruptive, impulsive, and conduct disorders (DICs) and their family caregivers. She has also been highly invested in transnational research to reduce unequal care of patients with mental health and substance abuse disorders in Low- and Middle-Income countries (LMICs). Dr. Oruche’s expert contributions has prepared psychiatric mental health clinicians and scientists both in nursing and other fields to leverage multiple spheres of influence to shape policies that support equitable health care for all patient populations. Dr. Oruche is a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, member of the Edge Runners National Advisory Council, and past President of the International Society of Pediatric Mental health Nurses. She previously served at the Indiana University School of Nursing where she built a program of research and advocacy focused on advancement of mental health equity across the globe. Dr. Oruche’s outstanding contributions to global mental health have been recognized with numerous accolades, including the COVID-19 Courage Award from the American Academy of Nursing, designation as a U.S. News and World Report Hospital and Healthcare Hero. Dr. Oruche is also the founder of Village Community Health Initiative, Inc., a nonprofit organization providing healthcare and nutrition to populations in southern Nigeria.
Olajumoke Adetoun Ojeleye (Jummy), RN, RN BNSc, MS, PhD Student -Graduate Research Assistant
Jummy is maternal and child health nurse and a current doctoral student at University of South Florida College of Nursing. To inform more innovative, culturally adaptive, and sustainable interventions, she is researching the perinatal mental health needs, preferences, and access to care among perinatal adolescents.
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Community Engaged Assessment of Mental Health Services and Research Infrastructure to Improve Access to Care for Adults with MH GAP Disorders in Nigeria
Funding Agency: Global Impact Research Grants, Indiana University Office of International Affairs
Role: Principal Investigator (CoPI, von Gaudecker)
The purpose of this study is to (1) describe the treatment pathways from symptom identification to follow-up care for adults with mhGAP disorders in Nigeria, and (2) research the infrastructure in place to support future transnational research. Data analysis in progress.
Modification And Evaluation of The DECIDE Intervention to Improve Parent-Provider Interactions in Low-Income Parents of Adolescents with Disruptive Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorder
Funding Agency: National Institute of Minority Health and Health
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04445155
The purpose of this study was to modify and test the DECIDE (Decide the problem; Explore the questions; Closed or open-ended questions; Identify the who, why, or how of the problem; Direct questions to your health care professional; Enjoy a shared solution) intervention, targeting both parents and providers to increase parents’ voices, engagement, and active participation in all aspects of the child’s care. Dissemination is in progress. -
2023
- Dr. Oruche was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association of Black Nursing Faculty’s Lifetime Achievement Award. This award recognizes her commitments and research which has advanced the mental health and wellbeing of populations across local and global communities.
- Dr. Oruche was inducted into the prestigious Sigma International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame. This award recognizes inspiring, world-renowned nurse researchers who embody the immense collective impact of nursing and nursing research on global healthcare.
- Jummy received Best Poster Award (in Nursing category) during the USF Health Research Day. Her poster presentation was titled, for her poster presentation, titled, “Psychosocial Factors Associated with Perinatal Anxiety & Perinatal Depression among Adolescents: A Rapid Review”
2022
- Dr. Oruche joined the faculty at the University of South Florida College of Nursing.
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Selected list of publications. For a full list of publications, please see CV.
RESEARCH ON CHILDREN WITH MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS AND THEIR FAMILY CAREGIVERS
Ojeleye, O., Beckie, T, & Oruche, U. M. (2023). Psychosocial factors associated with perinatal anxiety and perinatal depression among adolescents: A Rapid Review. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services.
Bonham, E., Snethen, J. A., Marino, M. A., Oruche, U. M., & Browne, N. T. (2022). American Academy of Nursing expert panel consensus statement on inequities in the juvenile justice system rooted in systemic and structural racism. Nursing Outlook, 71(1). Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 0(0), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.3928/02793695-20230320-02
Tanner, A., von Gaudecker, J., Buelow, J., Oruche, U. M., & Miller, W. (2022). “It’s Hard!”: Adolescents’ experience attending school with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures. Epilepsy & Behavior, 132, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yebeh.2022.108724
Oruche, U. M., Robb, S., Draucker, Claire B., Aalsma, M., Pescosolido, B., Chacko, A., Ofner, S., & Bakoyannis, G., Brown-Pordgoski, B. (2018). Pilot randomized trial of a family management efficacy intervention for caregivers of African American adolescents with disruptive behaviors. Child & Youth Forum, 47(6), 803-827. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10566-018-9462-1
RESEARCH ON SCREENING, BRIEF INTERVENTION, AND REFERRAL TO TREATMENT (SBIRT) FOR PERSONS WITH ALCOHOL AND SUBSTANCE USE
Oruche, U. M., Adams, N., Xu, J. Crowder, S. Cangany, M., Bracale, J., Ofner, S., & Fulton, J. S (2023). Substance Use Disorder Education: A Statewide Assessment of Core Content in Nursing Schools. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 0(0), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.3928/02793695-20230320-02
Keen, A., Lu, Y., Oruche, U.M., Mazurenko, O, & Draucker, C.B. (2022). Activation of persons with opioid use disorder in intensive outpatient treatment. Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, 00(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/10783903221096473
MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT IN LOW- AND MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES
Von Gaudecker, J., Agbapuonwu, N., Kylolo, Sathiyaseelan, M., & Oruche, U. M. (2022). Barriers and facilitators to treatment seeking behaviors for depression, epilepsy, and schizophrenia in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 41, 11-19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apnu.2022.07.006
Oruche, U. M., Hone, A., Liu, J., Otey, T., Okwy, I., & Commodore-Mensah, Y. (2020). Community engagement to improve the management of non-communicable diseases: Experiences from medical service trips in southeastern Nigeria. ENGAGE, 1(3), 87-101.
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Ukamaka M. Oruche, PhD, RN, PMHCNS-BC, FAAN
Gordon Keller Professor of Nursing
Assistant Dean of the PhD Program
USF Health College of Nursing
12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., MDC 22 | Tampa, FL | 33612
O: 813-396-2524 | orucheu@usf.edu |