Mental Health Services and Systems Training Program

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ABSTRACT Mental illness is a major public health concern in the United States and a significant source of morbidity and mortality. The goal of the training program is to produce the next generation of researchers with rigorous training in: health services research and economics, statistics and other methodologies, and implementation science, all applied to mental health, and with an in-depth understanding of how health services and care delivery and financing systems might optimally be designed to serve the needs of persons with mental illness. Trainees will also have an understanding of the importance of producing knowledge to transform mental health services and systems to promote equitable mental health services access, quality, and outcomes. This training program capitalizes on the rich resources for mental health research at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (BSPH), the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and the University. Three pre-doctoral trainees each year will obtain the skills and experiences needed to lead multi-disciplinary, collaborative research teams. Pre-doctoral trainees undertake a rigorous program of coursework in the core domains of public health and mental health including epidemiology, biostatistics, mental health services, psychopathology, and research ethics. Each trainee will also obtain take additional coursework in the three braided threads of the program: (1) health services and economics, (2) statistics and methodology, and (3) implementation science, all with a cross-cutting focus on health equity. The braided threads build on strengths within BSPH and are recognized as priorities highlighted in NIMH’s Research Priorities. All trainees also participate in a year-long practicum experience, a bi-weekly seminar, ongoing mentored research projects, and yearly integrative activities to complement their didactic curriculum. These components provide trainees with a solid interdisciplinary foundation in mental health services and systems research. This training program is the first to provide formal NIH-funded T32 pre-doctoral training in implementation science. The renewed program will include 3 pre-doctoral students per year. These trainees will be supported by an experienced group of the 2 program directors, 15 additional core faculty and 13 affiliate faculty members with expertise in mental health services research. The training program Co-Directors, Drs. Beth McGinty and Elizabeth Stuart are accomplished scholars and national leaders in their research fields. A nationally recognized 9-member Advisory Committee will provide high-level guidance. The training program is housed in the BSPH Department of Health Policy and Management and run jointly with the Department of Mental Health, and has strong ties to Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. The overarching aim of the renewed program is to continue to identify and train scholars who will become leaders in mental health services and systems research.