The Section for Health Equity in NYU Langone’s Division of Health and Behavior features a Mental Health Research Track. Our researchers conduct community-based, culturally tailored studies to improve the mental health and wellbeing of all persons in New York City.

This track is led by Sahnah Lim, PhD, MPH, . Collaboration with community partners, not-for-profit organizations, and other medical institutions is integral to developing and implementing our intervention initiatives.

Addressing Trauma Through Community and Peer Approaches in Faith-Based Settings: Creating Healthy Culture

This pilot study, led by Sahnah Lim, PhD, MPH, is testing the preliminary efficacy of a lay educator–led intervention to improve mental health in all populations contending with trauma by increasing spiritual wellbeing in faith-based settings in the Bronx. The program is being developed and implemented by community partners, including Groundswell, The Network for Human Understanding, and Mekong NYC, and the curriculum involves 8 remote group sessions focused on spirituality and mental health. This research is funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

The Role of Cultural Therapy in Addressing Colonial Trauma and Oppression Among Indigenous Filipinos

This study seeks to qualitatively understand the role of protective factors, in particular cultural therapy, in addressing trauma among indigenous Filipinos. The study is led by Dr. Lim in collaboration with Kinding Sindaw, a New York City–based nonprofit dance theater company composed of indigenous tradition-bearers, Filipino American artists, and educators from all backgrounds. The mission of Kinding Sindaw is to assert, preserve, reclaim, and recreate the traditions of dance, music, martial arts, storytelling, and orature of the indigenous peoples of Mindanao, Southern Philippines. Approximately 30 key informant and in-depth interviews are being conducted.

Chinese Adaption of Reach Out, Stay Strong, Essentials for Mothers of Newborns

Simona C. Kwon, DrPH, and Yi-Ling Tan, program manager, culturally adapted the Reach Out, Stay Strong, Essentials (ROSE) for Mothers of Newborns for clinics in the Chinese community in New York City. ROSE is an evidence-based intervention designed to prevent postpartum depression through education and support. The ROSE parent project, called Together Growing Strong and funded by the Bezos Family Foundation, is currently used in women’s shelters.