Event Summaries about COVID-19

In a virtual fireside chat, Serena Spudich, M.D., M.A., and NIMH Director Joshua A. Gordon, M.D., Ph.D., will discuss the impact of HIV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 viruses on the central nervous system, similarities and differences in the pathology and clinical effects, and how this knowledge could inform research and interventions for SARS-CoV-2.

In recognition of National Suicide Prevention Month in September, NIMH and the National Institute on Drug Abuse are co-hosting a Facebook Live event on the intersection of suicide and substance use.

During National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, NIMH hosted a livestream event on suicide prevention during the pandemic, focusing on unemployment, youth, and other population subgroups who may be experiencing elevated risk.

Whether in-person or virtually, going back to school can be stressful for students, parents, and teachers—especially while navigating a pandemic. During this Instagram event, Krystal Lewis, Ph.D., a licensed clinical psychologist at NIMH, discussed causes or triggers of stress and coping techniques to help reduce anxiety and improve the transition back to school.

This meeting examined emerging data related to neurologic and psychiatric complications of SARS-CoV-2 infection and possible interactions with other central nervous system (CNS) infections such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). A panel discussed future research gaps and priorities, particularly regarding long-term neurologic and psychiatric complications in relation to PASC.

This webinar showcased the NIMH’s commitment to community-based youth suicide prevention research with the White Mountain Apache Tribe and described the NIMH-funded regional research hub (U19), which blends a Western culturally adapted, evidence-based risk reduction approach with a culturally grounded protective factor-based intervention to reduce the burden of youth suicide.

In recognition of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Month in June, NIMH hosted a livestream event on PTSD featuring NIMH-funded researcher Barbara Rothbaum, Ph.D., ABPP. Dr. Rothbaum discussed PTSD signs, symptoms, and treatments, as well as the latest research on PTSD. In addition, she discussed some of the challenges that the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has presented for individuals living with PTSD and other mental illnesses.

The series brought together a diverse group of expert panelists to assess the state of the science and short- and longer-term research priorities related to preteen suicide risk and risk trajectories. Panelists’ expertise was wide ranging and included youth suicide risk assessment and preventive interventions, developmental psychopathology, child and adolescent mood and anxiety disorders, family and peer relationships, how social and cultural contexts influence youth’s trajectories, biostatistical and computational methods, multilevel modeling, and longitudinal data analysis.

NIMH and NIMHD conducted a virtual workshop that brought together a diverse group of mental health disparities researchers to highlight and identify innovative approaches to understand and address mental health disparities across major areas of mental health science and research.

On September 17 and 18, 2020, the NIMH Division of Translational Research conducted a two-day virtual workshop, “Social Disconnection and Late Life Suicide,” which brought together clinician scientists, behavioral scientists, neuroscientists, geriatric psychiatrists, epidemiologists, and implementation scientists to discuss the current state of the science on social disconnection and suicide.