The UW Medicine Garvey Institute for Brain Health Solutions is funding 12 new partnerships that will develop and test innovative ways to extend the impact of mental health professionals in Washington. The focus on partnerships was driven by a shortage of mental health care specialists in Washington. More than half of Washington’s 39 counties lack a single practicing psychiatrist or psychologist leaving many people with untreated mental health conditions.
“Family members and friends, caregivers, community health workers, teachers, law enforcement professionals, primary care providers, and others can become important parts of the mental health care system,” said Jürgen Unützer, MD, MPH, MA, Director of the Garvey Institute and Professor and Chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. “We want to better leverage the mental health professionals we currently have by training and supporting an expanding network of individuals who can join our health care teams.”
Local philanthropists Lynn and Mike Garvey founded the Garvey Institute in 2019 with a $50 million donation to UW Medicine with a goal to fast-track treatments for patients with mental health, addiction and other brain health problems. The new Innovation Grants join 36 projects previously funded by the Garvey Institute to address cognitive aging, trauma, addictions and adolescent and young adult mental health and to develop new technologies aimed at improving brain health. Faculty and staff involved in the 48 Innovation Grants funded to date come from 10 UW schools and colleges, over 25 departments and divisions, and all three UW campuses. The list of Garvey Institute partners and collaborators shows the Institute’s commitment to improving brain health and mental health across the University of Washington as well as locally, regionally and nationally.
Investigators will give updates on past Innovation Grants at the 3rd Annual Meeting of the Garvey Institute for Brain Health Solutions on Wednesday, January 31, 2024 from 9:30 AM-3 PM at South Lake Union. A virtual option will be available. The event is open to the public and registration will open soon.
The recently funded innovations:
- Development of an mHealth support specialist for early psychosis caregivers in Washington State
Project lead: Benjamin Buck, PhD (Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, UW School of Medicine)
- Evaluation and dissemination of the TRANSforming Families: Embracing Change with Teens Therapy Group
Project lead: Sarah Danzo, PhD (Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, UW School of Medicine)
Project lead: Nicole Kahn, PhD, MEd (Department of Pediatrics, UW School of Medicine)
- Training psychiatry residents in complex communication skills for working with clients and their supports
Project lead: Dana Dieringer, MD (Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, UW School of Medicine)
- Establishing a direct clinical – law enforcement partnership to address dementia crisis intervention across WA state
Project lead: Kimiko Domoto-Reilly, MD (Department of Neurology, UW School of Medicine)
- Partnering with community pharmacies to enhance access to long-acting injectable antipsychotics in Washington State
Project lead: Clayton English, PharmD (Department of Pharmacy, UW School of Pharmacy)
- Family and Caregiver Academy asynchronous training pilot
Project lead: Mollie Forrester, MSW, LICSW (Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, UW School of Medicine)
Project lead: Anna Ratzliff, MD, PhD (Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, UW School of Medicine)
- Implementing contingency management in a supportive housing context to promote resident well-being
Project lead: Bryan Hartzler, PhD (Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, UW School of Medicine)
- Coach up the coaches: extending the reach of mental health professionals in sport settings
Project lead: Emily Kroshus-Havril, ScD, MPH (Department of Pediatrics, UW School of Medicine)
- Pilot of an inpatient Family Bridger Model to support families with loved ones who experience psychosis
Project lead: Maria Monroe-DeVita, PhD (Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, UW School of Medicine)
Project lead: Akansha Vaswani-Bye, PhD (Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, UW School of Medicine)
- Assessing need and acceptability of a family intervention for individuals with Opioid Use Disorder
Project lead: Mandy Owens, PhD (Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, UW School of Medicine)
- Adopting a lifespan approach for ADHD management
Project lead: Doug Russell, MD (Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, UW School of Medicine
- Partnering with the Quinault Indian Nation to develop a community-based contingency management intervention
Project lead: Claire Simon, MD (Department of Family Medicine, UW School of Medicine)
>> Read the full announcement