RESEARCH

I aim to design and evaluate scalable, culturally responsive interventions for caregiver mental health to improve youth mental health.

Disparities in mental health care are undeniable. In low and middle-income countries (LMICs), over 75% of individuals with mental illness do not receive treatment. In the US, more than 50% cannot access care; for historically underserved populations, gaps are larger. To create usable solutions with communities, I use community-engaged clinical science (how interventions work) alongside implementation research (how to get them to people). Together, this drives forward practical community-driven implementation and clinical science.

I apply these methods to design real-world interventions for families and fathers’ mental health in resource-constrained settings. Improving father mental health in particular can improve multiple problems (e.g., family conflict, women’s and youth mental health), yet men are often missing from mental health services.

Below is a list of current projects and my CV for relevant publications.

PROJECTS

  • Community Strengths to Deliver Alcohol Use, Depression, & Family Engagement Treatment

    I am developing guidelines for delivering a task-shifted (i.e., delivered by non-professionals) intervention for fathers experiencing alcohol use and depression. The project is guided by CFIR and Integrated Sustainability Frameworks.

    Role: PI. Collaborators: Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital; Columbia University; Duke University; Community Leaders

  • Peer-delivered Therapy for Teens Mental Health in Community Settings

    We are studying how to deliver community-based, peer-led mental health screening and treatment for teens experiencing mental health problems in Eldoret, Kenya using the REAIM framework. We will collect implementation and clinical data.

    Role: Co-PI. Collaborators: Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital; Indiana University Columbia University; Duke University; FHOK Kenya

  • Task-shared Treatment for Father Depression and Child Outcomes in Kenya: A Pilot Effectiveness-Implementation Trial

    With partners in Kenya, we will pilot and evaluate a 5-session intervention for father’s depression, drinking, and family engagement delivered by peer-fathers looking at clinical, implementation and mechanism data.

    Role: PI. Collaborators: Columbia University; AMPATH; Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital

  • Development & Evaluation of a Mental Health Intervention for Fathers (Complete)

    Developed and piloted a brief culturally anchored intervention to reduce co-morbid mental health and alcohol use problems among fathers in Kenya for peer-father delivery. Explored intervention-changes on family functioning, relationship outcomes and mental health.

    Role: PI. Collaborators: Duke University; Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital; AMPATH

Key Publications and CV

For a list of publications please see my CV.