Meet the Team

Kristin Kosyluk

Kristin Kosyluk is an assistant professor in the Department of Mental Health Law & Policy, a faculty affiliate of the Louis de la Parte Mental Health Institute, and Director of the STigma Action Research (STAR) Lab. Dr. Kosyluk received her Ph.D. in Psychology from the Illinois Institute of Technology’s Rehabilitation Counseling Education program in 2014. Dr. Kosyluk’s research agenda focuses on understanding and addressing stigma among various populations, including people living with mental illness and addiction, and people living with HIV, using community-based participatory research methods. She is currently the Principal Investigator of a grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR), which is evaluating the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of Up To Me, a disclosure deliberation intervention aimed at reducing internalized stigma among postsecondary students. In addition to this NIDILRR-funded work, Dr. Kosyluk is also leading a companion, internally funded study, to adapt the Up To Me intervention for delivery using chatbot technology.

Along with Co-PI, Dr. Jerome Galea of USF’s School of Social Work, Dr. Kosyluk has also prototyped and tested a chatbot, the Tampa Bay Treatment and Health Advisor (TABATHA), to screen first responders (police, firefighters, dispatchers, EMTs, nurses, and doctors) for psychological distress and refer them to resources matching their distress level and preferences. A preprint related to the work is available here. 

Dr. Kosyluk is currently co-Investigator on an NIH Fogarty International Center grant (PI, Molly Franke of Harvard Medical School). This grant funds the development and pilot testing of a n HIV stigma reduction campaign (DiME or Tell Me) for adolescents in Peru, that uses social media influencers to disseminate stigma change messaging. The Peruvian partner is Socios en Salud (Partners in Health). 

Dr. Kosyluk has worked over the past decade to build an evidence base around storytelling (contact-based programming) and peer support as stigma change strategies. Her work is grounded in data suggesting that storytelling is a critical tool for social change. Dr. Kosyluk has partnered with several community organizations and programs to study the effects of sharing stories of lived experience on the storytellers as well as the receivers of these narratives. 

One storytelling organization for which Dr. Kosyluk has served as the lead scientific evaluator for the past seven years, is the U.S.-based non-profit, This Is My Brave. This Is My Brave’s mission is “To empower individuals to put their names and faces to their true stories of recovery from mental illness in order to break down stigma and to let others know that they are not alone.” The organization does this through LIVE storytelling events held across the U.S. featuring ordinary people sharing extraordinary stories of their lived experience with mental illness and/or addiction, their recovery journeys, and their message of hope using the performing arts. A casting call is issued to the community, asking brave individuals to come forward and share their lived experiences through any means of creative expression, including monologue, poetry, song, and stand-up comedy. Three peer-reviewed publications show that audience members who witness these testimonies experience reductions in stigma and improvements in treatment seeking. Preliminary data gathered from This Is My Brave storytellers indicates that they experience an increased sense of empowerment, improved self-esteem and self-efficacy, and an increased sense of optimism about their future as a result of their Brave journey to the stage. 

Another program with which Dr. Kosyluk has partnered to document the power of peer support and sharing stories of lived experience is the Peer-to-Peer program, run by the largest U.S.-based grassroots mental health organization, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). NAMI’s Peer-to-Peer program is led by pairs of people with lived experience with mental illness and includes sharing of stories of challenges and successful recovery strategies among groups of people living with mental illnesses. Dr. Kosyluk’s research shows that Peer-to-Peer program participants are likely to experience a reduction in the hurt caused by internalizing the stigma around mental illness, as well as improvements in empowerment and recovery (including goal and success orientation and willingness to ask for help). 

A research partnership focused on lived experience is with the tech company, Cope Notes. Founded and run by a young person with lived experience of numerous mental illnesses, Johnny Crowder, Cope Notes is a text messaging digital mental health intervention that delivers daily, randomly timed text messages offering sentiments of hope, coping strategies, and stigma-busting facts and statistics to subscribers. Dr. Kosyluk has partnered with Cope Notes to test the efficacy of the program, finding that for those who are experiencing mild to moderate psychological distress, Cope Notes is effective for improving coping skills, while for those who are moderately to severely distressed, Cope Notes is effective for reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety, reducing perceived stress, and improving emotional intelligence. 

Education

B.S., Pennsylvania State University
M.S., Illinois Institute of Technology
Ph.D., Illinois Institute of Technology 
Recent Publications

Peer-Reviewed Publications

Kosyluk, K., Baeder, T., Green, K., DiEva, D., Tran, J.T., Bolton, C., Loecher, N., & Galea, J. (In Review; Sage Preprint Available: https://advance.sagepub.com/articles/preprint/Mental_Distress_Label_Avoidance_and_Use_of_a_Mental_Health_Chatbot_Results_from_a_U_S_Survey/21431079). Mental Distress, Label Avoidance, and Use of a Mental Health Chatbot: Results from a U.S. Survey. JMIR Formative Research.

Tran, J.T.,* Singhal, A., Rigg, K.K., Galea, J.T., Kosyluk, K. (In Review). Designing Entertainment-Education Narratives to Reduce LGBTQ+- and Mental Illness-Related Stigma. Trends in Psychology.

Tran, J.T.,* Rigg, K., Galea, J., & Kosyluk, K. (In Review). Examining the Effects of Storytelling as a Tool to Address Intersectional Stigma. Journal of Gay and Lesbian Mental Health.

Tran, J.T.,* Galea, J., & Kosyluk, K. (In Review). Examining the Impact of Stigma on Mental Health at the Intersection of Race/Ethnicity and Sexual and Gender Minority Identity Among College Students. Journal of Gay and Lesbian Mental Health.

Tran, J.T.,* Bolton, C.,* Mills, V.,* Matteo, C., & Kosyluk, K. (In Review). We Matter: Impact of Asian, Pacific Islander, Desi American (APIDA) Stories of Mental Illness to Address Stigma. Race and Social Problems.

Tran, J.T.*, Adcock, C.*, Torres, K.*, Young, A.*, Gallagher, E., Grana, K., Marshall, J., & Kosyluk, K.A. (In Review).  Qualitative Analysis of This Is My Brave (TIMB) Teen Video Diaries: COVID-19 Impact on Coping in Adolescents Living with Mental Illness.  Journal of Adolescent Research.

Tran, J.T.,* Galea, J., & Kosyluk, K. (R&R). The Impact of Stigma on Mental Health at the Intersection of BIPOC LGBTQ+ College Students. Journal of American College Health.

Tran, J.T.,* Loecher, N.,* & Kosyluk, K. (R&R). “No Promo Homo” Laws: The Effects on Students and Implications for Schools. Psychology in the Schools.

Nair, U.S., Greene, K.Y., Marhefka, S., Kosyluk, K.A., & Galea, J.T. (2023).Protocol for the Development of a Conversational agent (Chatbot) for Individuals Ambivalent about Quitting Smoking. JMIR Protocols.

Loecher, N.,* Jordan, A., Spunt, S., Simon, P., Simons, L. E., Dahl, G., & Kosyluk, K., Heathcote, L. C. (2023). “You don’t accept he’s completely ok”: A reflexive thematic analysis of parents’ roles in monitoring their child’s health and symptoms after finishing childhood cancer treatment. Journal of Cancer Survivorship.

Sanabria, G., Greene, K.Y., Tran, J.T., Gilyard, S., DiGiovanni, L., Emmanuel, P.J., Sanders, L.J., Kosyluk, K.A., & Galea, J.T. (In Press). ‘A great way to start the conversation:’ Evidence for the use of an adolescent mental health chatbot navigator for youth at risk of HIV and other STIs. Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science.

Kosyluk, K., Tran, J.T.,* King, S.,* Torres, K.,* & Neal, T. (2023). Preliminary Effectiveness Study of the Cope Notes Digital Mental Health Program. Journal of Mental Health, 1-9. 

Conner, K.O., Kosyluk, K.A., Tran, J.T., Anderson, E., Davis-Cotton, D., & Hill, A.M. (2023). The Impact of a Culturally Meaningful Storytelling Intervention on Stigma and Attitudes About Mental Health Treatment. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease. DOI: 10.1097/NMD.0000000000001640

DiGiovanni, L.K., Lim, A.C., Kosyluk, K.A., Loecher, N.,* Lewald, D.L., Rodriguez, C.A., & Sanders, L.J. (2023). Novel application of dot survey methodology at a health clinic to assess youth attitudes about mental health. Journal of Adolescent Health, 72(4), 616-622.

Tran, J.T.,* Torres, K.,* Dion, C., Jeffries, V., & Kosyluk, K. (2022). A Qualitative Evaluation of an Adapted Assertive Community Treatment Program: Perspectives During COVID-19. The Journal of Behavioral Health Services and Research, 1-14.

Loecher, N.,* Tran, J.T.,* & Kosyluk, K. (2022).  Parental Perspectives on Healthcare Transition in Adolescent and Young Adult Survivors of Pediatric Cancer. Journal of Cancer Survivorship.

Tran, J.T.,* Mills, V.,* Bolton, C.,* Wilks, M.,* Galea, J., & Kosyluk, K. (2022). Integrative Review on Contact-Based Interventions to Address LGBTQ+ Related Stigma. Annals of LGBTQ Public and Population Health.

Kosyluk, K.A., Conner, K.O., Lo, C., Ji, M., Beekman, B.M.*, Tran, J.*, Brister, T., O’Brien, S., Andrus, D.,* & Kipp, K. (2020).  Examining the Efficacy of the National Alliance on Mental Illness Peer-to-Peer Program with a Predominantly Latinx Population: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.  American Journal of Psychiatric Rehabilitation, 23(3), 227-248.

Kosyluk, K., Kenneally, R.,* Tran, J.T.,* Bolton, C.,* & Conner, K. (2022). Overcoming stigma as a barrier to children’s mental healthcare: The role of empowerment and mental health literacy. Stigma & Health, 7(4), 432–442. https://doi.org/10.1037/sah0000402

King, S.,* Lebert, J.,* Tucker, L.,* Neal, T. Phillips, A., & Kosyluk, K. (2022). Characterizing User Experiences With an SMS Text Messaging–Based mHealth Intervention: Mixed Methods Study. JMIR Formative Research, 6 (5).

Eno Louden, J., Avila, A., Esparza Del Villar, O., Jung, H., Kosyluk, K., & Flores, E. (2022). Self-stigma of Mental Illness Among Latino People on the U.S.-México Border. Stigma & Health. Published online ahead of print. https://doi.org/10.1037/sah0000365 

Umucu, E., Reyes, A., Urkmez, B, Ergun, G., Castruita, Y., & Kosyluk, K.A. (2021).  Developing and Validating a Scale of Negative Attitudes toward COVID-19 with a Sample of People with Chronic Conditions and Disabilities.  Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling, 52 (2), 61-72.

Conner, K. O., Gum, A. M., Schonfeld, L., Kosyluk, K., Anderson, E., Baker-Douglan, J., ... & Reynolds, C. F. (2021). Enhancing care transitions intervention with peer support to improve outcomes among older adults with co-occurring clinical depression: A pilot study. Home Health Care Services Quarterly, 40(4), 324-339.

Umucu, E., Lee, B., Iwanaga, K., Kosyluk, K., Blake, J., Bezyak, J., & Chan, F. (2021). Relationships Between Positive Human Traits and PERMA (Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishments) in Student Veterans With and Without Disabilities: A Canonical Correlation Analysis. Rehabilitation Research, Policy, and Education, 35(3), 238-247.

Kosyluk, K. A., Marshall, J., Macias, D. R., Macias, S., Conner, K. O., Beekman, B. M.*, & Her, J.* (2021). Challenging the stigma of mental illness through creative storytelling: A randomized controlled trial of this is my brave. Community Mental Health Journal, 57, 144-152.

Kosyluk, K.A., Conner, K.O., Al-Khouja, M., Bink, A., Buchholz, B., Ellefson, S., … Corrigan, P.W. (2020).  Factors predicting help seeking for mental illness among college students. Journal of Mental Health, 1-8.

Singhal, A., Perez, L., & Kosyluk, K.A. (2019). Finding Employment for Clients with a Mental Illness: A Positive Deviance Inquiry at the Oklahoma Department of Human Services. Social Justice Initiative, Department of Communication The University of Texas at El Paso, 6.

Jones, N., Kosyluk, K., Gius, B.K., Wolf, J., & Rosen, C.  (2019).  Investigating the Mobility of the Peer Specialist Workforce in the United States: Findings from a National Survey.  Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal.

Kosyluk, K.A., Marshall, J., Rivera Macias, D*., Andrus, D.T*., Guerra, D.*, Robinson, M.*, Ostos, A.P*., & Chapman, S.* (2018).  Examining the Impact of This Is My Brave on Mental Illness Stigma and Willingness to Seek Help: A Pilot Study.  Community Mental Health Journal, 54(3), 276-281.

Kosyluk, K.A., Al-Khouja, M., Bink, A., Buchholz, B., Ellefson, S., Fokuo, J.K., … Corrigan, P.W. (2016).  Challenging the Stigma of Mental Illness Among College Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial.  Journal of Adolescent Health, 59(60), 325-331.

Kosyluk, K.A., Corrigan, P.W., Jones, N., James, D., Abelson, S., & Malmon, A. (2016).  Developing a Campaign to Promote and Environment of Solidarity and Support on College Campuses for Students with Mental Illness. Rehabilitation Research, Policy, and Education, 30(4), 404-420.

Kosyluk, K.A., Corrigan, P.W., Schmidt, A., Abelson, S., & Malmon, A.  (2015). A Campus Solidarity Campaign: Respect and Support for College Students with Mental Illness.  Mental Health and Social Inclusion, 19(4), 180-190.

Corrigan, P.W., Kosyluk, K.A., Markowitz, F., Lewis Brown, R., Conlon, B., Rees, J., Rosenberg, J., Elefson, S., & Al-Khouja, M. (2015).  Mental illness stigma and disclosure in college students. Journal of Mental Health, 25(3), 224-230.  

Michaels, P.J., Kosyluk, K.A., & Butler, E. (2015).  Applying health communications to mental illness stigma change. Journal of Public Mental Health, 14(2), 69-78.

Kosyluk, K.A., Corrigan, P.W., Landis, R. (2014).  Employer stigma as a mediator between past and future hiring behavior. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 57(2), 102-108. DOI: 10.1177/0034355213496284

Corrigan, P.W., Kosyluk, K.A., Fokuo, J.K., & Park, J.H. (2014).  How does direct to consumer advertising affect the stigma of mental illness? Community Mental Health Journal, 50(7), 792-799.  DOI: 10.1007/s10597-014-9698-7
PMID: 24488184

Corrigan, P.W., Powell, K., Fokuo, J.K., & Kosyluk, K. (2014). Does humor influence the sumor stigma of mental illnesses? Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 202(5), 397-401.  DOI: 10.1097/NMD.0000000000000138.
PMID: 24747719

Corrigan, P.W., & Kosyluk, K.A. (2013). Erasing the stigma: Where science meets advocacy.  Basic and Applied Social Psychology, 35(1), 131-140.  DOI: 10.1080/01973533.2012.746598

Corrigan, P.W., Kosyluk, K.A., & Rüsch, N. (2013).  Reducing Self-Stigma by Coming Out Proud.  American Journal of Public Health, 103(5), 794-800. DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2012.301037, PMID: 23488488

Corrigan, P.W., Sokol, K.A., Rüsch, N. (2013).  The impact of Self-Stigma and Mutual Help Programs on the Quality of Life of People with Serious Mental Illnesses. Community Mental Health Journal, 49(1), 1-6. doi: 10.1007/s10597-011-9445-2, PMCID: PMC3320674

Ditchman, N., Werner, S., Kosyluk, K.A., Jones, N., & Corrigan, P.W.  (2013).  Stigma and Intellectual Disability: Potential Applications of Mental Illness Research.  Rehabilitation Psychology, 58(2), 206-216. doi: 10.1037/a0032466

Herzig, B.A., Roysircar, G., Kosyluk, K.A., & Corrigan, P.W.  (2013). American Muslim College Students: The Impact of Religiousness and Stigma on Active Coping. Journal of Muslim Mental Health, 7(1), 33-42.

Werner,S., Ditchman, N., Corrigan, P.W., & Sokol, K. (2012). Stigma and intellectual disability: A review of related measures and future directions. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 33(2), 748-765. doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2011.10.009