Center for Mental Health and Addiction Policy

Prevention starts with understanding. This #SubstanceUsePreventionMonth, we're committed to protecting health, strengthening communities, and creating pathways to support.

Together, we can make a difference.

This week’s #StudentSpotlight features PhD student Leslie Carson! She shares her educational journey, her dissertation plans, and her favorite ice cream places in Baltimore.

Check out her feature at our website: bit.ly/4mFSkAj 💬📊📢

📢 Our next Work-in-Progress session is next Tuesday! Will Garneau, MD, MPH, MHS and Samantha Harris, PhD, MPA, will be presenting their current mental health research projects.

📅 Tuesday, September 30th
🕛 12 – 1 pm
📍 Ashland building, conference room 348

A new study, led by Karen Shen, PhD, MS, finds shifts in US psychiatric bed supply: general hospitals & govt facilities downsized, while large for-profit chains grew. These findings raise questions about the implications of these trends for quality of inpatient psychiatric care.

📰 bit.ly/4pz65Ub

🔗 Link here: bit.ly/4gpKCc2

💡 We spoke with Sachini Bandara, PhD, MS and Elizabeth Stuart, PhD, AM who are leading a national study on how different state financing strategies affect the reach, quality, and outcomes of the 988 Lifeline.

🔗 Read the full story on the CMAP Website. #SuicidePreventionMonth

🧠 Public policies shape mental health & access to care.

ABC News spoke with CMAP’s Catherine Ettman, PhD, &
@namicommunicate.bsky.social
's Hannah Wesolowski on why upstream policies, data, & Medicaid matter for mental health.

Read more ⬇️
🔗 bit.ly/45Yf6OO

Behind every statistic is a story.

Let’s listen, support, and break the silence around mental health.

📲 988 = Free, confidential help 24/7.

#SuicidePreventionMonth

This week’s #StudentSpotlight features PhD student Kyle Moon! He shares his research interests, his recent paper, and his advice to his younger self. Check out his feature at our website: bit.ly/3JDfucI

Today, on International Overdose Awareness Day, we remember the lives lost to overdose and reaffirm our commitment to overdose prevention and awareness.

@overdoseday.bsky.social #IOAD2025 www.overdoseday.com

🏠 The HOPES study explores how COVID-era housing protections shaped health + substance use outcomes.

📊 Postdoc Yimin (Amy) Ge shares how the team is using national data + interviews to inform future housing policy.

🔗 Read more: bit.ly/3UKFCoo

Earlier this month, we kicked off our 10-week summer internship program with an amazing group of undergrad students!

They're diving into research, comms, prof. development & more—we're excited to support their growth and impact. 💼📊🗣️🎉

During Pride Month, we celebrate the joy & resilience of the LGBTQ+ community—and recognize the mental health challenges many continue to face. Affirming care, safe spaces, and inclusive support systems are vital so that every person can thrive as their authentic self. 🌈

🎉 Congrats to PhD student Sarah Henderson for winning a Best Student Poster Award at #ARM25! @academyhealth.bsky.social

Her research explores how assets affect mental health among U.S. parents & non-parents.

🗓️ Catch her lightning talk:
🕧 Sat, June 7 | 12:30–1:45 PM

Their work represents a bold approach to advancing mental health and economic opportunity through innovative policy change. Support for the CLIMB study comes from @debeaumontfndtn.bsky.social

🎉 Congrats to @andrew_andersn & @CatherineEttman receiving a Nexus Research Award for CLIMB Higher: Addressing Mental Health Through Policy Partnership for Economic Mobility!

Medical Debt and Forgone Mental Health Care Due to Cost Among Adults This cohort study evaluated the association between medical debt among US adults and forgoing mental health care due to cost in the subsequent year.

📊 Based on data from the CLIMB study, supported by @debeaumontfndtn.bsky.social — check out the full text here: bit.ly/42ZTYFh

New piece in @gohealio.bsky.social highlights the hidden cost of medical debt: skipped mental health care. PhD student Kyle Moon adds powerful insight into the tradeoffs people face when care becomes unaffordable. Check it out. 👇

🔗 bit.ly/4d0oDH2

May is #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth 💚

It’s a time to break the stigma, build emotional resilience, and remind each other that no one is alone. Let’s move beyond self-care to real connection and community support.

#EndTheStigma #YouAreNotAlone #MentalHealthMatters

A new study finds MOUD improves treatment retention during pregnancy, but many pregnant individuals don’t receive it or stay in care long enough. These findings highlight the need for policies that support access and long-term engagement.

Learn more: bit.ly/4cX3vkT

Happy to represent @jhsph-cmap.bsky.social @bsph-hpm.bsky.social @jhu.edu at the science coalition breakfast on the science of mental health and addiction at the US Senate this morning!

Learning so much from this important conversation on suicide prevention in jails and prisons at the Hopkins Bloomberg Center in DC.

Huge thanks to our faculty leads, Olivia Sugarman and Paul Nestadt, for leading this critical discussion!

CMAP Faculty Andrew Anderson, Catherine Ettman, @markmeiselbach.bsky.social, and @mattdeisenberg.bsky.social presented in Venice at the Mental Health Outcomes, Services, Economics, and Policy Research conference. An unforgettable experience and way to share policy research around the world!

Join CMAP for an event that convenes experts in mental health, corrections, and policy to examine the current state of suicide prevention in jails and explore innovative solutions, followed by a networking reception.

Register here: eventbrite.com/e/suicide-pr...

Having the chance to engage in “regular” scholarly activities has been a comfort these days. So in that spirit, I’m happy to share this upcoming panel on suicide prevention in jails, hosted by @jhsph-cmap.bsky.social on 4/1 from 4-6:30pm (ET), w/in person & virtual attendance options. Join us!

During a CMAP panel discussion, @debeaumontfndtn.bsky.social President Brian Castrucci talks about the current motivation for healthcare budgets and what they indicate about government values.

See more: publichealth.jhu.edu/2025/experts...

Join experts in public health, addiction medicine, and policy on March 17th in the Hopkins Bloomberg Center (or virtually) to examine innovative approaches to overdose care that prioritize sustained engagement and support for individuals at risk of repeat overdose.

Register at bit.ly/CMAPNEXUS2

The first event in @jhsph-cmap.bsky.social's three-part event series brought together a panel of leaders from to discuss economic empowerment as a pillar of mental health in all policies agenda that can guide the next administration.

Learn more: publichealth.jhu.edu/2025/experts...

Experts from across sectors will discuss economic empowerment as a pillar of mental health 🧠

🔹 Dr. Brian Castrucci – President & CEO, de Beaumont Foundation 🏛️
🔹 Dr. Sally Satel – Senior Fellow, AEI 📚
🔹 Dr. Ruth Shim – Professor, UC Davis 🎓
🔹 Ms. Hannah Wesolowski – Chief Advocacy Officer, NAMI 🤝