Mental Health

With a new National Institute of Mental Health grant, professor Rima Nakkash and other United States and Lebanon researchers will study whether engaging young adults as community mental health workers in humanitarian settings helps not only to support those communities in crisis, but protects the well-being of the young workers as well. 

Dr. James “Jimmy” DeMarco is an assistant professor in the School of Nursing. His research interest included improving mental health outcomes through the use of nursing involvement and empowerment.

K. Pierre Eklou, assistant professor in the School of Nursing, shares expertise on what behaviors may be signs of suicidal thoughts and how to help. 

Dr. Rodman Turpin is an assistant professor in the Department of Global and Community Health, College of Public Health. Turpin's research focuses on HIV and STI prevention among racial/ethnic and sexual minorities, with a focus on Black sexual minority men.

Melissa J. Perry, the new dean of George Mason University’s College of Health and Human Services, recently sat down to discuss her personal and academic background, her vision for the college, and her approach to lifelong learning. She joined Mason August 1.

Dr. Villodas joined the faculty of the Department of Social Work in the fall of 2022 and teaches the direct practice course. Her research interests are on understanding how the places people live impact mental health outcomes and the role of connectedness in promoting health and wellness across marginalized groups (e.g., system involved youth and young adults and young people from socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods).

The $2 million three-year cooperative agreement will create a Health and Public Safety Workforce Resiliency Training Program at Mason to support the mental health and well-being of the current health care workforce and preserve and enhance the psychological well-being of future health professionals.

High profile sporting events like the Winter Olympics and March Madness are times to celebrate the amazing accomplishment of athletes—and to ensure that all athletes receive the mental health support they need. Emmett Gill, term assistant professor of Social Work, wants to shed more light on the mental health of athletes.

A team of #MasonCHHS researchers designed an app to combat the growing mental health concerns affecting undergraduate students due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The researchers created a predictive health app that detects when undergraduate students are exhibiting behavioral, emotional, and academic concerns and connects the students to appropriate resources, such as Mason's Counseling and Psychological Services.

Rima Nakkash is a Professor in the Global and Community Health Department. Nakkash is a leading international scholar in tobacco control research in prevention and policy evaluation.