NIH-funded research U01 cooperative agreement

Examining how local COVID-19 policies affect mental health and healthcare access among different racial and socioeconomic groups.

Official title: The Impacts of County-Level COVID- 19 -Related Public Health and Social Policies on Racial/Ethnic and Socioeconomic Disparities in Mental Health and Healthcare Utilization

Funded at Harvard School of Public Health · NIH-10901957 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study looks at how different public health rules during the COVID-19 pandemic affected the mental health and healthcare access of people, especially those from Black and Latinx communities, to see how these rules helped or hurt them in 250 counties across the U.S.

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Quick facts

Grant typeU01 cooperative agreement
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionHarvard School of Public Health
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Boston, United States)
Project startAugust 5, 2023
Project endJuly 31, 2026
Funding year2024
Award (this year)$739,405
NIH project number5U01MH129968-04
Project IDNIH-10901957 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for this research include individuals from racial and ethnic minority groups, particularly Black and Latinx families, who have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Less likely to help

Patients who are not from the targeted racial or socioeconomic groups or those who have not experienced significant impacts from COVID-19 may not benefit from this research.

What this research studies

This research investigates the impact of county-level public health and social policies during the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health and healthcare utilization, particularly focusing on racial and socioeconomic disparities. By analyzing data from 250 counties across the United States, the study aims to understand how different policies, such as economic support or mandated closures, have influenced the well-being of vulnerable populations, especially Black and Latinx families. The research will utilize existing national datasets to assess these disparities and their correlation with local policies.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective public health policies that reduce mental health disparities and improve healthcare access for marginalized communities.

How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that public health policies can significantly impact health outcomes, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.

Where this research is happening

  • Harvard School of Public Health
    Boston, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Hamad, Rita — Harvard School of Public Health
  • Study coordinator: Hamad, Rita

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.