Florida State University researchers gathered Thursday to see how they may work collectively to raised confront the large challenges related to psychological and behavioral well being care.

“As a public research university, we have a duty to give back to the state and country through our research,” mentioned FSU Vice President for Research Stacey S. Patterson. “I don’t think it’s a surprise to anyone here that the U.S. is facing a growing mental health crisis. FSU has great strengths in this area, and it is our responsibility to use our resources and collective experience to contribute to the research and scholarship in this field.”

Nearly 100 researchers, graduate college students and neighborhood companions engaged in psychological well being analysis gathered on the FSU Alumni Center via the Office of Research’s Collaborative Collision, an occasion particularly designed to convey researchers tackling completely different elements of a difficulty collectively for potential collaboration.

Data launched earlier this yr from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration confirmed that 23 p.c of U.S. adults confronted a psychological well being situation in 2022. About 6 p.c skilled a severe psychological well being situation, similar to bipolar dysfunction, extreme nervousness or an consuming dysfunction that impaired functioning.

The federal authorities has additionally been placing extra assets towards analysis on this space.

In February, the Department of Health and Human Services, via the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, introduced $36.9 million in funding alternatives for behavioral well being companies throughout the nation. The division additionally expanded the pool of behavioral well being suppliers eligible for Medicaid funding.

Dr. Andy Kozel, the Mina Jo Powell Endowed Chair in Neurological Sciences on the FSU College of Medicine, gave an summary of how far the sphere has come and a few of the challenges going through the analysis neighborhood as they transfer ahead with their work.

Researchers met in small teams after which moved across the room so they may speak with different college members working in complementary areas associated to psychological well being.

Patterson famous that FSU’s deep bench of researchers in psychological and behavioral well being was one of many causes that the college included it as a part of the analysis strategic plan, ASPIRE. ASPIRE, or A Strategic Plan to Inspire Research Excellence, lays out areas of experience that the college will construct upon because it amplifies its analysis portfolio.

ASPIRE was launched final month, and Collaborative Collision is a part of the college’s implementation of that plan.

“Mental and behavioral health research represents a major opportunity for FSU to expand its research portfolio,” Patterson mentioned. “There are so many areas that this could extend to — substance abuse, developmental disorders, prenatal care, non-invasive neuromodulation — and so much more. I hope you all will really think about big ideas and how you could collaborate with your colleagues here and across the country to move this important work forward.”