This engagement award from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) is centered on the disproportionate burden of COVID-19 on communities of color. The study’s main aims are to engage and connect with Black and Latinx populations in King and Snohomish Counties, including networks of community stakeholders, providers, and researchers to co-learn about patient-centered research; and to build partnerships with those that work with the communities. It is imperative that we partner with community members with lived experiences in order to learn and prioritize their health care needs.

Although the pandemic created catastrophic results, this collaborative project however helps to create an opportunity for community members, leaders, healthcare providers, researchers, and other stakeholders to come together to learn from one another and to give voice to issues that affect underserved communities. For example, some issues such as health care access, health insurance, and mental health concerns that arose from COVID-19 and their lingering effects continue to be of great burden for communities of color. Additionally, the participants will learn about basic research principles to prioritize and address mental health issues of concern.

The project lead and Principal Investigator for this patient-centered outcomes research is Dr. Hoa Appel, and the co-Principal Investigator is Dr. Mabel Ezeonwu. The community collaborators include Crystal Brown from , Rosario Reyes from the , John Agyapong from , and Summer Starr from (NAMI).

If you’d like to learn more about the study or to participate, please visit .

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Promoting Mental Health and Healing through a Community-Centered Approach: Introducing Mental Health Matters of Washington

As we emerge from COVID-19 and begin to reflect on what we’ve learned from this global pandemic, the question of “What comes next?� looms in the forefront. Will the world be ready for another pandemic, and what new virus might take the place of SARS-COV-2? We don’t have to wait long or look far into the future to answer this question: The world is experiencing a mental health crisis now that demands action.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly one in four adults and one in five children around the world are estimated to be living with a mental health condition. The actual numbers are likely to be higher than these estimates given the reluctance or inability for some people to seek help. In fact, a large portion of the world population (as much as 85% in some regions) does not receive adequate mental healthcare due to obstacles such as: lack of resources, shortage of trained health providers, and social stigma.

*The world took action against COVID-19 by sheltering, distancing, masking and vaccinating. But what can and will we do to help thwart a global mental health crisis that is spiking now?

This is a question that led SNHS Professor, Dr. Jody Early, and Sandra Huber, Community Engagement Manager at Verdant Health, to develop , a new community-centered mental health promotion program in Snohomish County funded by Verdant Health and the 56³Ô¹ÏÍø. The primary aim of Mental Health Matters is to promote mental health and well-being in Snohomish County, WA, through tailored health education, community engagement, resource navigation, and social support.

“People are dying from COVID-19 — and they are also dying from depression, loneliness, and despair,â€� says Early. “In fact, according to the , suicide is now the second leading cause of death for people ages 10-34 in the U.S. What if our country began to address the stigma around mental health and applied a preventative approach to it as we do with other health issues, such as cardiovascular fitness or diabetes?â€�

Dr. Early and team, which includes Husky alum and licensed independent clinical social worker, Salomé Valencia-Bohné (program coordinator), Sandra Huber (co-director), and Nohemi Rivera (lead peer navigator), developed Mental Health Matters (MHM) of Washington to center communities of color and marginalized groups who are more likely to experience mental health disparities, largely in part to historical trauma, economic disenfranchisement, racism and other forms of systemic oppression (e.g. homophobia, sexism, and ableism).

�In order to improve mental health in our communities, says Huber, we use collective methods to support each other and to heal. These activities and strategies are grounded in our culture and our values, in our language, and in our love for one another.�

The program uses strengths-based, participatory, and grass-roots strategies to provide a multi-pronged approach to mental health promotion and prevention. These strategies include culturally tailored mental health education, virtual round-tables, lay (peer) health navigation, and community-driven events.

The program goals are to: 1) increase individual and public knowledge about mental health and well-being; 2) reduce stigma about help-seeking; 3) improve early intervention for those experiencing signs of mental illness; and 4) connect individuals whose lives are impacted by mental illness to the resources and care they need to thrive.

to promote mental health in their everyday lives and in conversations with others is at the heart of the program. “Given the shortage of mental healthcare providers world-wide, evidence shows us that this is a promising strategy,” says Early. The training right now is offered in both English and in Spanish, but the team intends to expand this in time to include different languages and cohorts, including one for youth.

If you are interested in learning more about the program, upcoming training, events, or partnership opportunities, you can visit their website at for more information.

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Describe your new position – how does it help SNHS deliver on its mission?

The Fieldwork Program Manager position builds and maintains relationships with health care and community health organizations, while also understanding the interests and needs of the students who will be participating in fieldwork. As a result of requiring fieldwork to graduate, developing, collaborating with and matching fieldwork opportunities among students and community partners is a crucial part of helping SNHS deliver on its mission “to advance social justice, health, and nursing practice through innovative pedagogy, research and community engagement�.

What’s it like returning to your alma mater for work?

Returning to work at 56³Ô¹ÏÍøB has been a pleasure. Reconnecting with the beautiful campus, wonderful SNHS faculty/staff, and returning full circle to engage with students is quite fulfilling. In addition to working with the team and students, developing relationships with community partners as part of my work allows for collaboration, growth and boundless opportunity. All in all, once a Husky, always a Husky! Go Dawgs!

What are some things that excite you about the coming year?

The collaboration among students and partners, in addition to opportunity to build new fieldwork processes excites me about the coming year. I also look forward to connecting with the SNHS team and students across campus!

If I have an idea for a student project, how should I connect with Sukhaman? What should I expect?

56³Ô¹ÏÍøB MN Fieldwork (On the left side navigation of the MN landing page), folks can submit an Online Request Form to share a fieldwork opportunity for a MN student. Please also feel free to reach out to Sukhaman via email at skaurg@uw.edu. I am happy to connect in person or via Zoom as well.

What are some of the projects students are working on in the coming year?

An opportunity related to resiliency as it relates to COVID-19 and the Future of Nursing 2030 which also includes an aspect of pandemic preparedness. Explore where the WA workforce is with regards to pandemic preparedness and lessons learned to improve nurse resiliency moving forward.

Examining the influence of nursing mentorship on nurse leaders, centered around design and implementation of an ambulatory nurse leader mentorship cohort program.

Curriculum Development, reflect new lessons in a post COVID world, addition to social justice as a nurse. The course is Nursing Foundations, unique opportunity to hardwire crucial lessons.

Evaluation of leadership & nursing theory threaded through the curriculum. Evaluation of current use of grading rubrics, suggestions for improvements. Evaluation of curriculum in terms of content/process regarding cultural competence, cultural humility and DEI.

Quality Improvement project at the 56³Ô¹ÏÍøMC Translational Research Unit

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