Detecting Mental Health and Substance Use Risks

Tasha Wendel, MPH, MS, BSDH, is an instructor at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion. She has worked in private practice, public health, and education. A continuing education presenter at the local, state, national, and international level, Wendel is the immediate past-president of the South Dakota Dental Hygienists’ Association. She serves as the dental hygiene liaison for South Dakota through the Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors. Wendel can be reached at tasha.a.wendel@usd.edu .

Kory J. Zimney, PT, DPT, PhD, is an associate professor at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion.

William E. Schweinle, PhD, is a professor of biostatistics at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion.

Melissa L. Dittberner, PhD, CPS, PS, LMT PhD, CPS, PS, LMT, is an associate professor of practice at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion. She is the CEO of Straight Up Care, a telehealth platform for peer specialists, and executive director of Midwest Street Medicine, providing low-barrier care that addresses the vulnerable and unhoused populations’ medical, behavioral, and social needs. The co-author of The Alcohol Reset, a self-paced cognitive method that encompasses a trauma-informed, individualized perspective to create a healthy relationship with alcohol, Dittberner is in long-term recovery. Her mission is to empower individuals to learn and navigate their paths to recovery and well-being.