The number of teens reporting depressive symptoms has risen sharply over the past decade, and the trend is particularly bad in Oregon. On this week's episode of "Straight Talk," three experts, Dr. Jen Doty, Dr. Beth Stormshak, and Dr. Ariel Williamson who are working to get ahead of the curve, came together to talk about what's driving the trend, what researchers say can be done to help, and what kids are saying they need.
"These programs vary widely: who can enroll in them, how long the programs run, the balance between English and the partner language, who teaches classes, and what the long-term goals are.", said Ilana Umansky, PhD, an associate professor at the University of Oregon.
"We're in a mental health crisis. For the past two decades, mental health issues have been escalating, particularly among youth," said John Seeley, PhD, a professor and associate dean for research in the University of Oregon College of Education. "The COVID-19 pandemic put a spotlight on students in need of additional supports, and that's the aim of the center — to help provide those additional supports."
With a new $11 million federal grant, the University of Oregon will create a national center for children’s mental health, putting the university at the forefront of national prevention efforts to improve the mental health and well-being of adolescents.
The 2025 Recognition and Honors Committee, with nominations from the membership of the Society for Prevention Research (SPR), selected Emily Tanner-Smith to be a Fellow. Fellowship is an honor that SPR bestows upon a small and select group of members who have a particularly distinguished record of contributions in the field of prevention research.
Sarah Stapleton, PhD, a science education researcher at the University of Oregon who attended the trial, said the trial showed that scientists should rethink the way they do research, given how the lack of a definitive connection to health impacts limited Baxter-Krause's sentence.
UO researchers shared insights into youth mental and behavioral health issues and got an update on Ballmer Institute programs during a recent forum for journalists, who also heard how a new service delivery model developed at the UO will support the state’s children. Professors Jen Doty, PhD and Geovanna Rodriguez, PhD, offer expert commentary.
In Episode 6 of Coffee N Conversation, Dean Laura Lee McIntyre sits down with Lorry Lokey Chair in Education and Department Head Leslie Leve. Leve’s research focuses on child and adolescent development, gene-environment interplay, and interventions for children, families, and communities.
In our latest Research Briefly, we sit down with Thomson Professor and Executive Director of the HEDCO Institute, Emily Tanner-Smith, PhD. She talks about her meta analysis project that focuses on examining the effectiveness of mathematics interventions. Collaborators: Madhavi Jayanthi and Sarah Krowka, Instructional Research Group.
