Category: Dissemination & Implementation Science
.jpg "Wendy Chu, M.A. (she/her/hers) photo")
Wendy Chu, M.A. (she/her/hers)
PhD Student
University of South Carolina
San Francisco, California
Kimberly Becker, Ph.D. (she/her/hers)
Associate Professor
University of South Carolina
Chapin, South Carolina
Wendy Chu, M.A. (she/her/hers)
PhD Student
University of South Carolina
San Francisco, California
Daniel Saravia, PhD
California State University, Northridge
Reseda, California
Gabriela Khazanov, Ph.D.
Research Psychologist
Corporal Michael J Crescenz VA Medical Center
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Shari Jager-Hyman, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Treatment engagement, an individuals’ commitment and capacity to meaningfully participate in treatment, has been identified as a significant factor in mental health services (Lakind et al., 2021). Research has demonstrated that low treatment engagement is associated with premature treatment dropout (Youn et al., 2019) and persistent or worsened mental health outcomes (Danko et al., 2016). Moreover, marginalized populations such as racially minoritized communities face greater barriers to treatment engagement, which contribute to health disparities (Maura & de Mamani, 2017). Thus, it is critical to identify strategies that enhance treatment engagement in mental health services.
This symposium will highlight treatment engagement barriers in different historically underserved or at-risk populations (e.g., racially minoritized, at risk of suicide) and diverse contexts (e.g., school mental health, primary care), and subsequently describe novel strategies to improve treatment engagement that consider patients’ backgrounds and culture, perspectives of stakeholders’ with lived experiences, and treatment delivery models.
The first presenter will present data from a study that examined whether and how youth race, youth-therapist racial matching, and youths’ report of their therapists’ cultural understanding contributes to youths’ treatment engagement in mental health services, particularly at the early phase of treatment.
The second presenter will present data describing the development and efficacy of mental health videos in targeting cognitive indicators of treatment engagement, specifically in reducing stigma and increasing mental health literacy and help-seeking intentions among Latinx adults.
The third presenter will present data from a qualitative meta-analysis of studies examining stakeholder-reported barriers to lethal means safety counseling, an evidence-based suicide prevention intervention, and describe specific strategies to increase patient and provider engagement in this intervention.
The fourth presenter will present data from a study that identified characteristics of patients at risk for suicide who do or do not engage in mental health services through the Collaborative Care Model following a referral from primary care.
Finally, the discussant, a national expert in treatment engagement, will summarize implications of the four presentations for improving the reach and effectiveness of mental health services through enhancing engagement, and highlight future directions for researchers, professionals, and community members.
Presenter: Wendy Chu, M.A. – University of South Carolina
Co-author: Kimberly Becker, Ph.D. – University of South Carolina
Co-author: Bruce F. Chorpita, Ph.D. – University of California Los Angeles
Presenter: Daniel Saravia, PhD – California State University, Northridge
Co-author: Isabel López, M.A. – University of California, Santa Barbara
Co-author: Patricia Orozco-Perez, PhD – California State University, Northridge
Co-author: Jonathan Martinez, Ph.D. – California State University, Northridge
Presenter: Gabriela K. Khazanov, Ph.D. – Corporal Michael J Crescenz VA Medical Center
Co-author: Shimrit Keddem, PhD – Perelman School of Medicine
Co-author: Katelin Hoskins, PhD CNRP – Perelman School of Medicine
Co-author: Sarah Sullivan, BA – The Graduate Center, City University of New York
Co-author: Emily L. Mitchell, PhD – James J. Peters VA Medical Center
Co-author: Karoline N. Myhre, M.A. – University of Pennsylvania
Co-author: Brooke Holliman, PhD – University of Colorado School of Medicine
Co-author: Sara Landes, Ph.D. – Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System
Co-author: Joseph Simonetti, MD MPHD – University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine
Presenter: Shari Jager-Hyman, Ph.D. – University of Pennsylvania
Co-author: Shari Jager-Hyman, Ph.D. – University of Pennsylvania
Co-author: Matt Pieri, BA – University of Pennsylvania
Co-author: Molly Candon, PhD – University of Pennsylvania
Co-author: Gabriela K. Khazanov, Ph.D. – Corporal Michael J Crescenz VA Medical Center
Co-author: Courtney Wolk, Ph.D. – Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
