The 2022 iSPARC Annual Report

"Strengthening Our Foundation"

iSPARC's 2022 Annual Report “Strengthening Our Foundation” was submitted to the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health (DMH) and covers iSPARC’s work from July 2021 through June 2022. It shows how we have continued to leverage DMH’s investment to develop new research, and to rapidly translate research findings into their implementation in real-world service settings, despite challenges posed by the pandemic.

iSPARC’s mission is to conduct, disseminate, and support the use of research in the public mental health system to enhance services for people with behavioral health conditions, that promote their recovery and improve their quality of life. Learn more about the work we’ve done over the past year. Read the iSPARC Annual Report.

2022 Annual Massachusetts DMH

Centers of Excellence Conference Recordings

The 2022 Annual Massachusetts Department of Mental Health Research Centers of Excellence Conference was held in May of 2022 and was hosted by the Massachusetts General Hospital Center of Excellence (COE) for Psychosocial and Systemic Research and UMass Chan Medical School Implementation Science & Practice Advances Research Center (iSPARC). The conference was called, "In This Together...But Not in the Same Boat: How we are supporting youth, young adults, and families facing mental health concerns". Watch the Conference Here.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic

on the Clubhouse Model

The COVID-19 pandemic posed challenges to the traditional Clubhouse Model of Psychosocial Rehabilitation (Clubhouse). It forced many Clubhouses around the world to rapidly pivot from face-to-face services and support programs at the Clubhouse to hybrid or virtual services. The Clubhouse community quickly mobilized to establish new structures to maintain connections with Clubhouse members and provide them with essential supports. This brief describes adaptations that Clubhouses made during the COVID-19 pandemic. It also describes supports offered by Clubhouse International to inform their international network about innovative approaches and best practices for Clubhouses during the pandemic. Read the Clubhouse Brief Here.

How to Share Research about Education and Employment with the Deaf Community

This tip sheet focuses on best practices for sharing research findings with culturally Deaf individuals who primarily use ASL. However, many of the strategies described in the tip sheet align with principles for universal accessibility and will, therefore, apply to a diverse range of hearing people and people with hearing loss. Read How to Share Research about Education and Employment with the Deaf Community.

Webinar Recording: Promoting Positive Youth Development in Juvenile Justice Settings: What Do We Need to Know

Over the last 10 years, juvenile justice systems have shifted towards a desire for use of developmentally appropriate supervision practices, such as Positive Youth Development (PYD). This webinar described the protective factors and strengths-based services thought to be most influential in reducing recidivism based on youths’ developmental stages and hypotheses about how these may be used in case planning. Watch the Juvenile Justice Webinar Recording Here.

Tips to Help People Living w/Mental Health Conditions Stop Using Tobacco Products

Studies have shown that in the U.S., approximately 1 in 4 adults have a mental illness and these individuals consume nearly 40% of all cigarettes smoked by adults in this country. One study found that an average smoker may attempt to quit 30 or more times before success is achieved with abstinence from smoking for at least one year. Read the Tip Sheet to Help Stop Tobacco Use Here.

Providing Culturally Competent Mental Health Care to LGBTQIA+ Youth & Young Adults

In honor of Pride Month last year, Transitions to Adulthood Center for Research, our center that focuses on improving mental health outcomes for youth and young adults, launched a new web page:"Providing Culturally Competent Mental Health Care to LGBTQIA+ Youth & Young Adults". This page features resources and tips for mental health providers to provide culturally competent care for LGBTQIA+ youth & young adults. It also features a blog post where a member of our team interviewed 5 LGBTQIA+ co-workers to share their experiences around mental health and employment. View this page on Cultural Competent Care Here.

S.T.A.Y. Tuned Podcast:

Supporting Transition Aged Youth

with Mental Health Conditions

S.T.A.Y. Tuned: Supporting Transition-Age Youth Podcast is a podcast for young adults, made by young adults with mental health conditions. We bring on guests, including our research collaborators from across the globe, and discuss the challenges and opportunities for youth with serious mental health struggles, particularly as they navigate educational and workforce experiences. We released 6 episodes last year with more on the way. Listen to Our Podcast Here.

Lost in Transition: New Research Highlights the Lack of Follow-up Care for Youth / Young Adults after Hospitalization or ER visit for Mental Health

Transition age youth (16–25 years) with mental health conditions such as mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and psychotic disorders, experience substantial adversity during the shift from pediatric to adult health care.

Research by our team has shown that youth with mental health conditions utilize less outpatient care as they emerge into adulthood. These results echo the American Psychiatric Association position statement that transition age youth are “underserved in current mental health systems”. Understanding provider perspectives on caring for this unique patient population may help to increase health care utilization and quality of care for transition age youth with mental health conditions. This product offers providers real-world tips on what they can do to help and advocate for, based on our work. Read about our Lost in Transition Research Here.

Supporting Young Adults w/Serious Mental Health Conditions in Post-Secondary Education w/Mental Health America

Mental Health America's webinar "Supporting Young Adults with Serious Mental Health Conditions in Post-Secondary Education" featured Kathryn Sabella, Transitions to Adulthood Center for Research's Researcher & Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at UMass Chan Medical School. It described the unique developmental and cultural needs of young adults with SMHC, the common barriers and facilitators to success they encounter while pursuing post-secondary education, and ways in which school and service providers can better support them. Watch the Webinar Recording from Mental Health America Here.