SNEngage: How Social Networks and Supports Shape Mental Health Care for Black and Latino Individuals with Serious Mental Illness
Official title: Social Networks Engage (SNEngage): A Longitudinal Examination of Factors Predicting the Social Networks and Mental Health Services of Individuals with Serious Mental Illnesses
Funded at New York University · NIH-11607942 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A long-term study following Black and Latino individuals with serious mental illness to learn how their social networks affect engagement with mental health services and overall well-being.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $114,796 |
| NIH project number | 3R01MH133124-03S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11607942 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with serious mental illness who identify as Black or Latino/a and are willing to participate in a longitudinal study.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without a serious mental illness or those not part of Black or Latino/a communities may be less directly affected by the study questions.
What this research studies
This project will track 600 Black and Latino adults with serious mental illness over 18 months to see how their social circles grow or shrink, who is in those networks, and how supports influence mental health care use. Researchers will look at clinical factors like social cognition and self-efficacy, as well as non-clinical factors such as community rejection, housing, and incarceration impacts. The study uses mixed methods to combine surveys, interviews, and administrative data to understand trajectories of network size, quality, and service engagement. The goal is to identify factors that promote stronger networks and better access to care for these populations. Findings could inform interventions and policies aimed at reducing disparities in mortality and service utilization.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Insights from this study could guide targeted supports and programs to strengthen social networks and improve access to mental health services for Black and Latina/o individuals with serious mental illness.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows social networks influence mental health outcomes, and this study extends that knowledge to understudied groups with a longitudinal design.
Where this research is happening
-
New York University
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pahwa, Rohini — New York University
- Study coordinator: Pahwa, Rohini
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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.