Social connections and mental health support for Black and Latino adults with serious mental illness
Social Networks Engage (SNEngage): A Longitudinal Examination of Factors Predicting the Social Networks and Mental Health Services of Individuals with Serious Mental Illnesses
This project follows Black and Latino adults with serious mental illness to learn how family, friends, and community ties shape access to mental health care over time.
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 ID | NIH-11254937 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be one of about 600 Black or Latino adults living with a serious mental illness who are followed for 18 months to see how your family, friends, and community ties change over time. Researchers collect information through surveys, interviews, and short tests about social thinking, confidence in social situations, motivation, substance use, and experiences such as rejection, housing instability, or incarceration. They map the size, makeup, and function of your social network and track whether those supports help you stay connected with mental health services. Both numbers and personal stories are used to identify patterns and supports that could help people get and stay in care.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are Black or Latino adults living with a serious mental illness (for example, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression) who can take part in surveys and interviews over an 18-month period.
Not a fit: People without a diagnosed serious mental illness, those from racial or ethnic groups not included in the study, or individuals unable to complete repeated interviews are unlikely to get direct benefits from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This work could point to practical ways to strengthen social supports and improve mental health care access for Black and Latino people with serious mental illness.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies show social networks affect health and treatment engagement, but few large longitudinal mixed-methods projects have focused specifically on Black and Latino people with serious mental illness, so this approach is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- New York University — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pahwa, Rohini — New York University
- Study coordinator: Pahwa, Rohini
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 below.