UMass SPARC

To conduct, disseminate, & support the use of mental health research to enhance services & outcomes.

arch, wellness and recovery, forensic/legal issues, child and family mental health issues, transition age youth, human rights issues, and co-occurring disorders. Our methods include quantitative and qualitative approaches. We are committed to translational research, and work closely with consumers, providers, policy makers, family members, and administrators to design and conduct research, share findings, and disseminate information widely.

07/22/2025

Hot off the press is our July Newsletter. Find out the latest news and research on mental health, and read it today.📰

https://www.umassmed.edu/sparc/publications-and-products/newletter/

07/14/2025

Getting accommodations at work can seem like an intimidating process, so we've put together a few tips to help understand how it works! For more detailed information, make sure to check out The Learning & Working RRTC's tip sheet, Accommodations at Work: What Do I Need to Know? https://buff.ly/dLUQ6Fq

06/25/2025

Our colleagues at Deaf YES: Center for Deaf Empowerment and Recovery are seeking enrollees for their Signs of Safety study. If you or someone you know is Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, or Hard of Hearing, uses ASL, and has past alcohol use and trauma-related stress, you may be eligible. See the post below for full details.

DEAF & SOBER CURIOUS? This study may be for you!

WHO CAN JOIN?
- Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled or Hard of Hearing
- Fluent in ASL
- 18 years and older
- Alcohol use in the past month
- Trauma-related stress in the past month

POSSIBLE BENEFITS MAY INCLUDE:
- 12 virtual counseling sessions at no cost
- Learning skills to manage trauma and addiction
- Earning up to $500 for completing 5 online surveys throughout the course of the study

INTERESTED? Contact signsofsafety@umassmed.edu

Visual Description:
[A flyer for a study titled "DEAF & SOBER CURIOUS?". The flyer is in a light, slightly peachy color, with a graphic of a sunset over water at the bottom. The text is predominantly black and highlights eligibility requirements, potential benefits, and contact information.

The "WHO CAN JOIN?" section lists criteria including: being Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, or Hard of Hearing; able to communicate in American Sign Language (ASL); having experienced alcohol use and/or trauma-related stress in the past month; living in the United States; and being 18 years or older.

The "POSSIBLE BENEFITS" section lists 12 virtual counseling sessions at no cost and learning skills to cope with trauma and addiction. There is also a monetary incentive: up to $500 for completing five online surveys throughout the study.

Contact information is provided, including an email address (SignsOfSafety@umassmed.edu), and a study identification number. A QR code is displayed next to the "in ASL" text which provides another way to learn more about the study in ASL. There is also a logo with text "DEAF YES" next to the email address, and the university affiliations and IRB number are listed at the bottom.]

06/23/2025

Friendships and communities come in all different forms! Join us as we listen to STAY Tuned podcast guest Derek Lewis talk about the connections he forged through online gaming. You can listen to Derek's full episode on YouTube (https://buff.ly/HZFtvSP) and Spotify (https://buff.ly/YU5Bjdv).

05/20/2025

Meet the speakers for this year's 2025 Annual Massachusetts DMH Research Centers of Excellence Conference taking place on Thursday, May 29th, from 12:30-4:30 EDT. Co-hosted by iSPARC and MGH Center of Excellence for Psychosocial and Systemic Research

Have you registered to attend yet? There is still time - click the conference event link to register. We hope you can attend.

Massachusetts Department of Mental Health

05/08/2025

A great reminder that if you or a loved one needs help, The Massachusetts Department of Mental Health Behavioral Health Help Line is available 24/7.

Get the help you need, when you need it. The Massachusetts Behavioral Health Help Line is here 24/7 to connect you or your loved one to urgent care for mental health and substance use. Call or text 833-773-2445 to talk to an expert or visit MassHelpLine.com/Urgent to find a location near you.

05/07/2025

Hot off the press is our latest Newsletter. Read the latest news focusing on mental health research.

The May issue features: the 2025 Annual Massachusetts DMH Research Centers of Excellence Conference, upcoming webinars, new research from the Center on Knowledge Translation for Employment Research - Cekter and the Law & Psychiatry Program.

https://www.umassmed.edu/sparc/publications-and-products/newletter/

05/04/2025

Today we celebrate , and all month we honor 💚

"Named must your fear be before banish it you can." - Master Yoda

We can of together - and support

04/28/2025

Have you registered for our 2025 Annual Massachusetts DMH Research Centers of Excellence Conference yet? We have some very interesting and important youth mental health topics being featured this year.

- with Massachusetts Department of Mental Health and MGH Center of Excellence for Psychosocial and Systemic Research

04/22/2025

Hot off the Press is the second brief from our Law & Psychiatry Program's Youth Protective Factors Study, a collaboration with CSG Justice Center and the University of California, Berkeley Risk Resilience Research.

This brief, "Effective Supervision and Services Based on Risks, Strengths, and Development," offers new insights into how protective factors & strength-based services impact long-term youth reoffending. Read the latest insights: https://www.umassmed.edu/lawandpsychiatry/law-and-psychiatry-research/NIJ-Youth-Protective-Factor-Study/

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The Youth Protective Factors Study seeks to help systems achieve this goal by answering the following key questions: • What risk factors best predict reoffending, particularly reoffending for violent and other person offenses, for youth of different ages? • Which protective factors (or strengths...

04/09/2025

📢 New insights on youth reoffending! Join us along with CSG Justice Center and Risk Resilience Research for a webinar on Brief 2 of the Youth Protective Factors Study. Learn how protective factors & strength-based services impact youth reoffending.

April 23, 2025 1-2:30 PM EDT. Register now: https://buff.ly/kLhOEa1

04/04/2025

Language matters when it comes to mental health. Phrases like calling someone “psycho” during an argument or saying “I’m so OCD” because you like things neat can reinforce misunderstandings. Many of us use these expressions without realizing their impact.

To promote a more accurate and respectful conversation around mental health, check out "How to Talk About Mental Health: Addressing Mental Health Misunderstandings in the Media" (available in English and Spanish). This tip sheet helps recognize and address common misconceptions, empowering individuals to foster understanding and support.

This resource was developed by the Massachusetts Statewide Youth Advisory Council (SYAC) and the Learning and Working RRTC at the Transitions to Adulthood Center for Research. The SYAC brings together mental health service providers and young adults with lived expertise to advise the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health.

Let’s break the stigma—share this resource!

https://buff.ly/Uc4Ozhv

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Shrewsbury, MA

Website

http://www.umassmed.edu/sparc/

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Our Story

Our mission is to be an internationally recognized academic center that conducts research on the nature, structure, effectiveness, and regulations of services for individuals with mental health conditions, and develops and disseminates knowledge to improve the lives of these individuals, their families, and other community members.

We conduct research to enhance services, improve the quality of life, and promote recovery for people with behavioral health conditions. Founded in 1993 as a Massachusetts Department of Mental Health Center of Excellence at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, we have internationally recognized expertise in intervention development, services research, wellness and recovery, forensic/legal issues, child and family mental health issues, transition age youth, human rights issues, and co-occurring disorders. Our methods include quantitative and qualitative approaches. We are committed to translational research, and work closely with consumers, providers, policy makers, family members, and administrators to design and conduct research, share findings, and disseminate information widely.