community – MGH Center of Excellence for Psychosocial and Systemic Research

Introducing RE-SET: A New Program for Young People with Risk Factors for Psychosis and Related Conditions

For the last 25 years, there has been progressively greater interest, from clinicians as well as researchers, in the prevention of psychotic illnesses such as schizophrenia. As a result, programs have been established worldwide to treat young people who are at higher risk for developing psychosis, often referred to as “clinical high risk.” This summer, the Resilience and Prevention Program and the Psychosis Clinical and Research Program of the Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Psychiatry partnered to create the Resilience Evaluation-Social Emotional Training (RE-SET) Program. RE-SET is a specialized outpatient program…

Community Organization: Massachusetts United for Connection and Healing (M.U.C.H.)

Massachusetts United for Connection and Healing (M.U.C.H.) is a network for the Peer Support workforce and community which has been developed with the following goals…

Community Partner Article: Cory Johnson Program: Coping in this Season of COVID-19

The Cory Johnson Program for Post-Traumatic Healing (CJP) is a spiritually inspired, community-based, clinically supported program that addresses the epidemic of post-traumatic stress in urban neighborhoods including exposure to violence, poverty, and racism…

Research Review: Psychological Adjustment During COVID-19

As we surpass the 6-month mark of the COVID-19 pandemic, some people’s lives are affected to a small degree while others are facing serious social, emotional, and/or health challenges. For all of us, there is uncertainty with no clear “end date.” A key task during the pandemic has been, and will continue to be, minimizing distress and maximizing resilience. Resilience refers to the ability to mentally and emotionally cope with a crisis, such as COVID-19. With this in mind, people have started to ask: “What can we do to build and maintain resilience over the long-term?”…

Personal Observations of the Impact of COVID on an Individual and Community Level

Q: What have been some of your personal challenges during COVID-19?

A: Not being able to see loved ones has been very difficult. I haven’t been able to see my daughters. One is in Canada, the other one is homeless and using. I can’t put myself and my family here at risk. We need to keep safe. And then having to deal personally with working outside of the home, as a front-line worker, and essential staff. Trying to do everything possible to keep myself healthy, to take proper precautions. Wearing the mask, sanitizing, washing my hands…

What motivates individuals with lived experience of mental health challenges to participate in their communities?

Individuals with mental health challenges face barriers to participate fully within their communities, which may include recovery communities (e.g., recovery learning centers, clubhouses) as well as the larger community (e.g., work/school, church/temple, social clubs). There is need for researchers to better understand factors that facilitate and those that impede community participation…