Mental Health

Approximately 1 in 2 people in the US will experience a mental health condition at some point in their life. These conditions (e.g., autism, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety disorders, substance use disorders, dementia) are among the leading causes of disability globally. Mental health is influenced by environmental, social, behavioral, biological, and genetic factors. Depression, anxiety, and feelings of emotional distress are now recognized as important contributors to medical morbidity (e.g., development of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and dementia) throughout the life course.. Finally, social and contextual factors substantially impact disparities in mental health and substance misuse over the lifespan..

CSEPH faculty are leading several research projects aimed at understanding the determinants of population mental health over the life course. These research activities address a range of questions including: What is the role of psychological distress on the development of, and disparities in, type 2 diabetes? What are the biological, behavioral, and social pathways linking depression and medical conditions in mid- and late-life? How to major life transitions in later life (e.g., moving, employment changes) impact suicidal behavior? How does the measurement of depression change over the life course? What are the risk factors for developing depression after a stroke? How do environmental exposures, such as food insecurity, relate to mental health?What is the directional relationship between mental health symptoms and substance use, does one precede and exacerbate the other, or are they mutually reinforcing over time?