Prevention Research Centers Focus on Mental Health in Their Communities

Morehouse School of Medicine’s PRC developed a “Mental Health First Aid” course that addresses disparities in access and use of mental health services in communities of color. The goal is to ensure that community members can identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illness and substance use disorders so they can help their fellow community members during a crisis. The course teaches common signs of mental health crises and discusses how to connect a person in crisis to resources. Upon completion, participants receive a certificate in mental health education that is valid for 3 years.

The University of Maryland’s “Simulated Patient Assessment and Feedback for Mental Health Provider LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual) Cultural Sensitivity” study highlights the need for an assessment of LGBTQ+ cultural competency skills of mental health clinicians who receive Sexual and Gender Diversity Learning Community (SGDLC) training versus those who do not. The outcome of the assessment will help to develop an evaluation tool for assessing LGBTQ+ cultural competencies among mental health professionals.

The University of Wisconsin PRC’s Addressing Postpartum Depression in Wisconsin Home Visiting Programs uses a novel two-generational, parent-infant relationship focused, community-based approach to reduce the risks associated with maternal depression. The PRC, along with national and international experts and partners, is researching an existing Mother-Infant Therapy Group program to better reach and address the needs of women experiencing depression in the postpartum period, their infants, and families. Their goal is to adapt the existing program for widespread dissemination, adoption, and implementation in Wisconsin, as well as nationally.

The University of Washington PRC’s evidence-based Program to Encourage Active, Rewarding Lives (PEARLS) Equity, expands access to depression care for older adults in disproportionately affected communities by partnering with organizations that are already serving these communities to ensure PEARLS is adapted to meet the individual needs of each community. PEARLS is adaptable to various community needs and helps expand access to depression care in underserved communities, including rural ones. The program is for older adults, especially those who have limited access to depression care because of systemic racism, trauma, language barriers, low income, or place of residence. PEARLS Equity is a powerful tool for making depression care accessible to under-resourced communities, because organizations can tailor it to individual community needs. Individual communities celebrate their elders in different ways; PEARLS is designed to build on those strengths.