Let’s Talk about Mental Health Services Research

Hiring a PhD level Mental Health Research Scientist (24007948) to work on multiple NIMH grants focused on early psychosis and public sector mental health services. Lived experience applicants strongly encouraged! cfopitt.taleo.net/careersection/…

Webinar Oct 2: The Youth Protective Factors Study: Risk, Strengths, and Reoffending. Hosted by @OJPNIJ , @UMass_SPARC & @UCBerkeley 's Risk-Resilience Lab. buff.ly/47h6guB Funded by the @OJPNIJ, Grant#: 2020-JX-FX-0005 @OJPOJJDP @transitionsacr #JuvenileJustice

Don’t worry if you missed our month-long Chat on disability employment research! We’ll soon post a Wakelet summary, including the outstanding resources that were shared. Stay tuned!

Thank you for joining our slow-motion Chat on disability employment research throughout September! Follow along here for additional reflections & mental health services research information & strategies. Let’s keep the conversation going!

@IPSinAction (Part 2 of 2) This article from the Boston College Ctr on Retirement Research is a bit technical, but looks at the future of jobs and their suitability for older workers—it is reassuring about the availability of jobs for older adults in the future. tinyurl.com/ysa47jwr

@TalkMHResearch Yes! We also need research on the role of employment for older adults w psychiatric & other disabilities. People are working longer & sometimes must return to the workforce to manage bills & debt. We need an improved understanding of opportunities & challenges for older workers.

What is the future of employment research for ppl with psych disabilities? We need to innovative around new services, directly informed by the needs of people with psych disabilities, involve peers at all levels, and conduct randomized trials to demonstrate effectiveness.

@IPSinAction (Part 1 of 2) Projections from the Bureau of Labor Stats (US DOL) suggest that older workers will grow as a part of the labor force more than any other age group! Good material on workforce trends, jobs for older ppl seeking work & other useful info. tinyurl.com/2s4d3n6u

@PolicyDad Nine service categories are required under the CCBHC initiative (tinyurl.com/yux5jmpt), including psychiatric rehabilitation. Employment & reclaiming valued roles are essential to psych rehab & recovery, & so seems to be a central service in the CCBHC.

I’ve learned so much this month on @TalkMHResearch and appreciate you taking time to respond to my queries. QUESTION: Where does employment fit into SAMHSA’s CCBHC initiative designed to improve the quality of services provided by community-based MH programs?

@TUCollab (Part 2 of 2) We don’t have good outcome data on these DEI initiatives, but this would be a good line of research. Second, employers should learn about/offer Reasonable Accommodations to make ppl w/ disabilities feel welcomed/productive-See this resource (askjan.org)

What about welcoming environments, @TalkMHResearch? How can research help shape recommendations for employers to create welcoming environments?

@TUCollab (Part 1 of 2) At least two ways come to mind to make the workplace more welcoming for ppl with disabilities. First, employers can embrace Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice (DEI & J) initiatives for ppl with disabilities not just for underrepresented or marginalized groups.

@TUCollab (Part 2 of 2) In addition, for providers, the American Psychiatric Association has a way of evaluating the security, usability, value of MH apps—the site is called App Advisor: tinyurl.com/mrybuc5t

@TalkMHResearch The pandemic shifted how technology supports community participation broadly, what research is needed to better understand access, limitations, and opportunities related to technology and employment?

@TUCollab (Part 1 of 2) Apps have burgeoned recently! More research is needed on the accessibility, use & effectiveness of phone applications for MH & work. A Ctr at Dartmouth devoted to the development, evaluation & implementation of technology-based tools in MH c4tbh.org

@Fran595284811 Thank you for that question! There are several studies worthy of more research. Using peer specialists to support employment; health interventions; the use of a coaching model to support peer specialists, delivering career guidance to ppl with MH conditions. And more!

@TalkMHResearch Is there a study you’ve done in the past that you’d like to follow-up and why? @TalkMHResearch

Welcome to all of our followers! We have great dialogue going. Don't forget that you can ask expert Sally Rogers anything this month about disability employment research. She’s sharing many important & inspiring resources here, & would love to answer more questions!

@pjsteig I think that this is an excellent idea for research. We will be examining SDoH for a newly funded project in aging and MH--perhaps we can take a closer look in those planned analyses for SDoE!

@TalkMHResearch I’ve really enjoyed reading your thoughts about social determinants of employment for people with disabilities! Are you planning on doing future research in this area? @TalkMHResearch

@IPSinAction @UICHealthRRTC Very true! Anecdotally, we have heard from young adults that have attempted post secondary ed, that their student debt may be worse because they have to take school multiple times to deal with their MH condition, accruing more debt but with no credentials.

@TalkMHResearch @UICHealthRRTC Absolutely! And, as a society, we need to address another social determinant in this area, which is the crushing student debt that too many young people are facing. It's a major barrier to independence and quality of life, and it can certainly worsen mental and physical health.

We agree with the important point about adapting IPS supported employment to include educational supports for young adults, along with the need for more research on this model. Our @UICHealthRRTC also provides a policy infographic on integrating IPS & SEd: tinyurl.com/y4dtsc7e

The Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation developed an innovative College Mental Health Education Program, designed to support young adults in college with psych disabilities cpr.bu.edu/cmhep/

The National Institute of Mental Health recognized the educational & vocational needs of young people with psych disabilities with the RAISE study: nimh.nih.gov/research/resea…

@IPSinAction @UICHealthRRTC (Part 2 of 2) This is a compelling study of the cost of mental illness over the life time and the mitigating effects of employment on those costs: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30933598/

@TUCollab The majority of jobs require social interaction & community engagement. Having co-workers, getting to & from work, engaging with customers-these are all aspects of community engagement that are born from and can flourish because of work.Ppl also report that work combats isolation

Hey, @TalkMHResearch! We'd love to know your thoughts on how employment encourages other areas of community participation!