In this Issue...

• The 2024 Mass DMH Research Centers of Excellence Conference
• New CIRC Center is Seeking Nominations for "Promising Programs"
• New Comic Released: Accommodations at Work
• 2 New Podcasts: Avatars for Mental Health Recovery & the Benefits of Community Participation
• Video Training: "Vital Signs" to Improve Health Care Access for Deaf Patients
• Research Brief on the Intersection of Food Insecurity & Tobacco Use
• In Case You Missed It

• Hot Off the Press: A Study on Addressing Perinatal Depression Care in Obstetric Settings
• In the News
• New Products for Young Adults
• In Case You Missed It

Register for the 2024 Annual Conference of the

DMH Research Centers of Excellence

Join us at the 2024 Annual

Massachusetts Department of Mental Health

Research Centers of Excellence Conference

"Innovative Prevention and Treatment Strategies for

Co- Occurring Mental Health and Substance Use Challenges"

May 13th, 2024, 12:30-4:30 ET

The conference is co-hosted by the Implementation Science & Practice Advances Research Center (iSPARC) at UMass Chan Medical School and the Center of Excellence (COE) for Psychosocial and Systemic Research at Massachusetts General Hospital.

This will be a virtual Zoom conference and will feature speakers from MGH, UMass Chan, and a peer panel. This conference is for Mass DMH clients, family members, DMH staff, and anyone interested in mental healthcare, substance use challenges, and the corresponding latest developments in research. Find the full agenda HERE.

The CIRC Center is Seeking Nominations

The Center for Community Inclusion and Reflective Collaboration (The CIRC Center) is Seeking Nominations for "Promising Programs"

The CIRC Center is a new collaboration between our Transitions to Adulthood Center for Research and the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion to serve as a national leader in new research and knowledge translation activities to significantly advance community living and participation outcomes among transition-age youth (TAY) with serious mental health conditions from disadvantaged, vulnerable, and marginalized backgrounds.

The CIRC Center is currently seeking nominations for inspiring programs that champion community living and engagement for these transition-aged youth to share with our audiences. These "promising programs" may be existing interventions, models, or programs that support (or could support) community living and participation among transition-age youth with serious mental health conditions from disadvantaged backgrounds. We are particularly interested in highlighting innovative or promising practices and approaches that may have been founded via grass-roots efforts and aren't necessarily well known. Selected program profiles will be shared to increase awareness of and access to existing supports.

New Comic on Accommodations at Work

Learning About Accommodations When you Have a Mental Health Condition

Work can be hard, especially if you live with a mental health condition. If you are a young adult, or someone just learning to advocate for themselves, it's important to understand workplace accommodations. This 2 page comic shares real-world experiences from 12 young adults living with mental health conditions as they navigate the working world. Included are reminders that you can ask for an accommodation at work (a change to the way your job is done), when might be the right time, and how to do it.

View more of our resources about accommodations and employment.

STAY Tuned Podcast - New Episodes!

Can Avatars Help Young Adults Manage Alcohol Use Problems & Suicidal Thoughts?

In STAY Tuned Episode 14, we talk with Dr. Lourah Kelly who is testing an app-based cognitive behavioral therapy intervention for young adults with alcohol misuse and suicidal thoughts who have visited the emergency department. Can a mobile intervention using avatars help young adults manage their mental health after being discharged from the ED? Dr. Lourah Kelly’s “Avatar Project” explores this possibility and it's fascinating research. Listen. Watch. Read the transcript.

The Power of Community Participation, including Salsa Dancing, Youth Advisory Boards and Peer Support for Mental Health

In STAY Tuned Episode 13, we talk with Joshua Calarino, a member of our Youth Advisory Board, about ways getting involved in his community has helped his mental health. We talk about his participation in Youth Move, and his experience as a member of our Youth Advisory Board. Joshua highlights the impact that a strong sense of community can have on young adults’ mental health. Listen. Watch. Read the transcript. This podcast episode was developed by our new Center for Community Inclusion and Reflective Collaborative (The CIRC Center). Learn more about The CIRC Center.

View all of our podcasts.

In Case You Missed It

"VITAL SIGNS” For Healthcare Providers is Released

The DeafYES Center for Deaf Empowerment and Recovery at iSPARC recently released "Vital Signs", which you can now watch on YouTube. This training video teaches hearing healthcare providers how to effectively interact with Deaf patients in ways that improve communication, increase quality of care, and decrease mistrust.

Deaf people are 2 to 3 times more likely to experience mood and anxiety disorders, trauma exposure, and addiction compared to hearing people. The DeafYES! team here at iSPARC is tackling these disparities head-on and "Vital Signs" is the newest product offered. For more information about DeafYES, visit their website.

The Intersection Between Food Insecurity,

Tobacco Use, and Upstream Factors

Food insecurity and tobacco use are major public health issues in the U.S. with serious implications for population health and well-being. Research suggests that the two may be addressed more equitably and effectively if targeted together rather than separately. This report discusses the relationship between food insecurity and tobacco use including who they impact, how they impact health, and how upstream factors like transportation and housing can exacerbate their consequences. Using Worcester, Massachusetts as a case example we demonstrate what is possible and suggest strategies that policymakers and other stakeholders can implement to address upstream factors associated with food insecurity and tobacco use.

Are you looking to grow your career in an academic research setting? Check out all of the great employment opportunities (hybrid eligible) we have within iSPARC and our research centers. Consider applying today or share with someone you know who would be interested!

View our employment opportunities here.

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