Paths to recovery for Black adults living with serious mental illness

Pathways to Mental Health Recovery among Black Adults with Serious Mental Illness

NIH-funded research University of Houston · NIH-11066509

This project explores how Black adults with serious mental illness find recovery through formal care, community and faith supports, and personal self-management.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Houston NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Houston, United States)
Project IDNIH-11066509 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

You would be asked to share how you found help and managed your mental health, including experiences with therapy, medication, family, peers, faith communities, and self-care. The research team will collect interviews and/or surveys from Black adults with SMI and organize responses using the CHIME recovery framework (Connectedness, Hope, Identity, Meaning, Empowerment). They will analyze patterns to identify which supports and steps people used to move toward recovery. Results will be used to inform services and supports that better match Black adults' real-world recovery pathways.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Black adults age 21 or older living with a diagnosed serious mental illness who are willing to discuss their recovery experiences are ideal candidates.

Not a fit: People without serious mental illness, individuals under 21, or those unwilling to discuss personal recovery are unlikely to benefit from participating.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the study could help shape mental health services and community supports to better promote recovery for Black adults with serious mental illness.

How similar studies have performed: CHIME-based recovery research has informed recovery-oriented care generally, but focused studies on recovery pathways among Black adults with SMI are relatively limited.

Where this research is happening

Houston, United States

Researchers

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 below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 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.