Panel Discussion 21 - From Crisis to Connection: Community-centered Art and Technology Interventions for Youth Mental Health, Chronic Pain, and Opioid Use Disorder

Expert medical and mental health agencies define the opioid epidemic and youth mental health crisis as national emergencies. This panel provides an opportunity to discuss mitigating these crises through innovative, evidence-based programming and inclusive research that focuses on engaging these most vulnerable populations through accessible, person-centered community-informed arts interventions.
Panelists with specific community and arts connections represent committed work with underserved communities and ethnically diverse families through the Integrative Management of Chronic Pain and OUD for Whole Recovery research Center at Montefiore Einstein (IMPOWER ME) and the Arts and Integrative Medicine (AIM) Program in Psychiatry at Montefiore Einstein, Bronx, NY. We will present four mixed methods, pilot clinical research studies to serve as the foundation for discussion.
Initiated by a member of the Community Leadership Board (CLB) who is a person living with chronic pain, the IMPOWER ME Art study explores the effects of repetitive self-directed art making at home as a coping strategy for chronic pain and stress. The CLB ensured community input at each stage of the study.
Three AIM group studies conducted as part of the outpatient mental health, clinic-based Youth Empowerment Series (YES), target critical mental health constructs for youth: social skills, behavioral activation, emotion regulation, acceptance, and connection. Research examined the impact of the Behavior Regulation Movement Group for children, the Virtual Reality (VR) Art group for teens, and the Community Crochet group for families and community members. The crochet project includes a survey on the role of arts and culture in the Bronx community that initiates a new research database. AIM’s Ambassador Board, young adults with experience in mental illness and art intervention, provides input on these studies.
Public dance performances and exhibitions of artwork by the participants further the intention to affirm and amplify the voices of these historically oppressed communities, with opportunities to shift negative impressions and stigma. Moderator will guide discussion on effectively expanding evidence-based treatment of OUD, chronic pain, and youth mental health.