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Evaluation ViewAttendees 7

Mental Health Disparities
Session Type:: Symposia

Symposium 3 - Understanding and Addressing Structural Stressors Impacting Youth Mental Health through Novel, Affirming Interventions

Friday, November 21, 2025
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM CST
Location: Strand 1, Level 2
CE: 1.5

Keywords: Mental Health Disparities, Treatment Development, Adolescents
Level of Familiarity: Basic
Recommended Readings: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data Summary & Trends Report: 2011-2021. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.,   Lipson, S. K., Zhou, S., Abelson, S., Heinze, J., Jirsa, M., Morigney, J., Patterson, A., Singh, M., & Eisenberg, D. (2022). Trends in college student mental health and help-seeking by race/ethnicity: Findings from the national healthy minds study, 2013-2021. Journal of Affective Disorders, 306, 138–147. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2022.03.038,   Ramos, G., & Chavira, D. A. (2022). Use of Technology to Provide Mental Health Care for Racial and Ethnic Minorities: Evidence, Promise, and Challenges. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 29(1), 15–40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpra.2019.10.004,   Ringle, V. A. M., Sung, J. Y., Roulston, C. A., & Schleider, J. L. (2024). Mixed-methods examination of adolescent-reported barriers to accessing mental health services. Journal of Adolescent Health, 74(2), 268–276.,   Zimmerman, A., Garman, E., Avendano-Pabon, M., Araya, R., Evans-Lacko, S., McDaid, D., Park, A.-L., Hessel, P., Diaz, Y., Matijasevich, A., Ziebold, C., Bauer, A., Paula, C. S., & Lund, C. (2021). The impact of cash transfers on mental health in children and young people in low-income and middle-income countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Global Health, 6(4), e004661. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2020-004661

Most mental health concerns emerge during adolescence and young adulthood (Jones, 2014). In recent years, youth mental health challenges have become increasingly prevalent—by 2021, 42% of adolescents reported experiencing feelings of depression and hopelessness (CDC, 2023). Despite this growing need, only 20% of adolescents with mental health conditions receive treatment in their lifetime, and just 4% access evidence-based interventions (Costello et al., 2014). Structural inequities such as financial constraints, limited insurance coverage, and parental availability further restrict access to care for this age group (Ringle et al., 2024).

The content of therapy itself may also limit engagement and effectiveness. Many evidence-based treatments fail to directly address structural stressors that impact mental health, such as racism, financial instability, and home environment challenges. As a result, youth with minoritized identities—who are disproportionately affected by these stressors—are less likely to access or complete mental health care (Dobalian et al., 2008; Lipson et al., 2022).

This symposium presents projects that explore and address structural stressors affecting youth mental health through innovative and accessible therapeutic approaches.

• Our first presenter will present a mixed-methods study identifying barriers that prevent adolescents from accessing mental health care.

• Our second presenter will share findings from a randomized controlled trial evaluating a mindfulness intervention designed to help young adults of color cope with racial discrimination.

• Our third presenter will discuss the development of a digital intervention aimed at promoting racial-ethnic identity development among youth.

• Our fourth presenter will present results from a randomized controlled trial in Kenya, examining the effects of financial, academic, and social stressors on youth.

• Our fifth presenter will share findings from a digital, single-session sleep intervention co-designed with young people to address home environment stressors.

• Our discussant will draw on her expertise in developing novel treatments for youth facing structural stressors.

The symposium aims to highlight the limitations of traditional evidence-based treatments in addressing structural stressors and to showcase innovative approaches that better meet the needs of diverse youth populations.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this session, the learner will be able to:
  1. Recognize limitations of current evidence-based treatments for youth facing structural stressors.
  2. Explore affirming approaches to mental health care for young people of color.
  3. Understand the impact of targeting structural stressors like financial strain and sleep on youth mental health.
  4. Identify gaps in existing treatments for youth experiencing structural stressors.

Presentations:

  • 10:05 AM - 10:22 AM CST
    (SYM 3) My Family Won't Let Me. Adolescent-reported Barriers to Accessing Mental Health Care

    Speaker: Chantelle A. Roulston, M.A. (she/her/hers) – Northwestern University

    Co-author: Isaac L. Ahuvia, M.A. (he/him/his) – Stony Brook University

    Co-author: Sharon Leong, M.A. (she/her/hers) – University of Kentucky

    Co-author: Julia Fassler, BA – New York University

    Co-author: Jessica L. Schleider, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) – Northwestern University

    Co-author: Kathryn R. Fox, Ph.D. – University of Denver

  • 10:22 AM - 10:39 AM CST
    (SYM 3) Effectiveness Outcomes in a Low-intensity Digital Mindfulness Intervention for Young People of Color Who Face Discrimination

    Speaker: Giovanni Ramos, Ph.D. – University of California, Berkeley

    Co-author: Yinyin Wen, BA – UCLA

    Co-author: Amanda Montoya, PhD – UCLA

  • 10:39 AM - 10:56 AM CST
    (SYM 3) Helping Black Youth and Young Adults Cope with Racism-related Stress Using Mhealth

    Speaker: Henry A. Willis, Ph.D. – University of Maryland- College Park

    Co-author: Colin Roberts, BS (he/him/his) – University of Maryland, College Park

  • 10:56 AM - 11:13 AM CST
    (SYM 3) A Personalized Life Skills Intervention Reduces Depression and Anxiety: Findings of a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

    Speaker: Katherine Venturo-Conerly, M.A. (she/her/hers) – Harvard Medical School

    Co-author: Faith Kamau, BA – Shamiri Institute

    Co-author: Rosine Baseke, MA – Shamiri Institute

    Co-author: Tom L. Osborn, B.A. (he/him/his) – Shamiri Institute

    Co-author: John R. Weisz, ABPP, Ph.D. – Harvard University

    Co-author: Christine Wasanga, PhD – Kenyatta University

  • 11:13 AM - 11:30 AM CST
    (SYM 3) Project Sleep: A Single Session Sleep Intervention Created with Youth and for Youth to Address Structural Sleep Barriers

    Speaker: Melissa J. Dreier, M.S. (she/her/hers) – Rutgers University

    Co-author: Aijia Yao, M.A. – Rutgers University

    Co-author: Hiba Babekr, None – Rutgers University

    Co-author: Faith Orchard, PhD – University of East Anglia

    Co-author: Jessica L. Schleider, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) – Northwestern University

    Co-author: Maria Loades, PhD – University of bath

    Co-author: Jessica L. Hamilton, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) – Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey