Research

Research, a critical mission of the Department of Mental Health, advances the treatment, rehabilitation, and recovery of adults with serious mental illness and children/adolescents with serious mental illness or severe emotional disturbance. Research is also one of the Department's statutory requirements in Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 19, which specifically calls for DMH to "conduct research into the causes of serious mental illness."

The vitality and strength of research into serious mental illness in Massachusetts is an important and powerful tool in the treatment of these diseases. The research community carries the message of hope - hope for more effective treatments and hope for an eventual cure for mental illness. The Department of Mental Health is committed to this vision and to putting research results into practice.

Research is conducted in a variety of settings across the state, mainly through DMH funding of two Research Centers of Excellence:

• The Commonwealth Research Center, located at Mass Mental Community Mental Health Center and through Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Department of Psychiatry and Harvard Medical School.

• The Center for Mental Health Services Research, through the Psychiatry Department at the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester.

At any given time, approximately 100 research studies are taking place at DMH sites.

Presentations and Reports

• Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (PPT)  file size 1MB

• Early Intervention For Emerging Mental Disorders in Young People (PPT)  file size 25MB  
• Research Priorities Focus Group Report (Word)   

DMH Research Centers of Excellence

• Commonwealth Research Center

• Center for Mental Health Services Research

• The DMH Research Agenda: Prevention & Early Intervention, Wellness & Self Care: Summaries from Participatory Workgroups (Word) 

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This information is provided by the Department of Mental Health