Rehabilitation and Recovery of African-Americans Experiencing Severe Mental Illness

William B. Lawson MD & Rob Whitley PhD

A Webcast Sponsored by the NCDDRFebruary 10, 2010 - 3:00 PM (EST)

National Center for the Dissemination of Disability Research Funded by NIDRR, US Department of Education, PR# H133A060028

© 2010 by SEDL

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

• National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR)

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What is recovery?

• Severe Mental Illness (SMI) is a distressing and debilitating affliction

• Recovery is a multi-faceted concept covering various domains of psychosocial functioning

• It draws largely on concepts of recovery and rehabilitation in physical health

• Commonly studied factors include housing, employment and community integration

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Domains of Recovery

1. Clinical: symptoms, substance abuse, medication

2. Existential: religion, empowerment, purpose, meaning

3. Functional:employment, housing, education

4. Social:family, friends, children, community

(Whitley & Drake, submitted.)

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Mental Health and Recovery among African-Americans

• 36 Million African-Americans (12%)

• U.S. Surgeon General’s Report 2001

• Institute of Medicine Report 2002

• Ethno-racial disparities in recovery

• Access and engagement issues

• Medication issues

• Satisfaction with care

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The Dartmouth Howard Collaboration

NIDRR Center Grant awarded: October 2008

Five years of Funding: 2008-2013

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Good researchers know their limitations

On being offered the Presidency of the State of Israel in 1952, Albert Einstein declined saying,

“I know nothing of the affairs of man.”

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Objectives

Twin aims:• Create new knowledge regarding

rehabilitation and recovery among African-Americans with SMI

• Consolidate collaborative links between Dartmouth and Howard; build capacity at both institutions.

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Producing new knowledge on…

(i) Cross-cultural communication

(ii) Discrimination

(iii) Explanatory Models

(iv) Stigma

(v) Family Involvement

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…examining three levels and interaction effects

• Patient-Level

• Provider-Level

• Societal-Level

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Research Projects

1. Creating Communities: the influence of housing and community-life on recovery

2. Rehabilitation from dual diagnosis: first-person perspectives

3. Supported employment: building a culturally competent system

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Collaboration and Capacity Building

• Annual summer school at Howard• Enhancing ‘pipeline’ flow• Cultivation of key investigators • Mentoring of students • Regular training workshops• Co-authoring of papers and grants • Solidify links with other partners, e.g.

Community Connections and DC Gov. Research

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Thank You

• Questions welcome by email: webcast@ncddr.org

• Voice: 800-266-1832

• TTY: 512-391-6578;

800-476-6861 x6578

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