Improving access to mental health care for disadvantaged groups
Official title: Mental Health Care for Disadvantaged Populations: The Role of the Provider Landscape
Funded at Harvard Medical School · NIH-11059945 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how the way mental health care providers are set up affects how easily people, especially those with disabilities and from different racial and ethnic backgrounds, can get the help they need.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard Medical School NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $609,056 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH135884-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11059945 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals from disadvantaged racial and ethnic backgrounds, including those with disabilities, who face barriers to accessing mental health services.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not belong to disadvantaged groups or who do not experience access disparities may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how the organization and landscape of mental health care providers affect access and quality of services for disadvantaged populations, including those with disabilities. By analyzing large datasets from Medicaid, Medicare, and commercial insurers, the study aims to identify patterns in provider availability and how these impact care utilization among different racial and ethnic groups. The research employs quasi-experimental methods to assess the effects of changes in provider ownership and policy on mental health service access. Ultimately, the goal is to uncover barriers and facilitators that influence mental health care delivery.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved access and quality of mental health care for disadvantaged populations.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that understanding provider landscapes can significantly impact access to care, suggesting that this approach may yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Harvard Medical School
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Maestas, Nicole a — Harvard Medical School
- Study coordinator: Maestas, Nicole a
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.