Panel Discussion 2 - Advancing Mental Health Equity: Synthesizing Research, Clinical Practice and Community Engagement on Delivering Inclusive Affirming Care

In the ongoing pursuit of mental health equity, clinical researchers and practitioners are working collectively to develop and deliver inclusive, affirming therapies to underserved populations. This panel brings together diverse research perspectives and novel methodological approaches that emphasize the critical role of contextual factors and environmental determinants in mental health. Featuring frontline clinicians, our discussion will address both the challenges and opportunities of providing affirming care in marginalized communities. Panelists will share their distinct approaches to improving inclusive therapeutic outcomes, drawing from expertise across multiple disciplines: basic cognitive neuroscience (Dr. Arielle Keller), affective science (Dr. Mark Chen), public health (Dr. John Pachankis), community family psychiatry (Dr. Eunice Y. Yuen), gender-affirming healthcare (Dr. Christy Olezeski) and health equity research (Dr. Aaron S. Breslow). The conversation will begin with an exploration of varied experiences in delivering inclusive therapies across different settings – hospitals, community centers, and research trials – and among diverse populations, including gender-expansive youth, LGBTQ+ adults, immigrant children and families. The panel will then introduce innovative approaches to understanding the contextual drivers of health inequity: such as the exposome approach to study environmental exposure, spatial analysis to examine the impact of social contexts, and ecological momentary assessment and large-scale longitudinal study to investigate mental health disparities across timescales. The discussion will also highlight several key collaborations that bridge research efforts, clinical innovations and community engagement. These include clinical trials assessing the efficacy of LGBTQ-affirmative CBT and the development of a novel family-centered intervention tailored to Asian American families. Ultimately, this panel will underscore the pressing need for multidisciplinary partnerships as we navigate the complexities of delivering affirming mental health care together.