BYLINE: Erin Frick
ALBANY, NY (May 16, 2023) – May is Mental Health Awareness Month and this Thursday, May 18 marks the third annual Day of Action for Mental Health.
Observed in the United States since 1949, Mental Health Awareness Month aims to highlight the many ways mental health affects our lives – from the prevalence and diversity of mental health issues to the importance of researching and increase access to treatment and eliminate stigma surrounding mental health care. .
Experts from the University at Albany are available to discuss the importance of mental health and related topics, with a focus on concrete steps we can take to support our own mental health, as well as that of those around us.
Drew Anderson, associate professor of psychology, studies issues related to eating – from the factors that shape an individual’s vulnerability to eating disorders to best practices for assessing and treating eating disorders. Anderson’s current research interests in this area include predicting individual responses to weight loss, the effects of dieting on stress hormones, and developing innovative treatments for bulimia and food restriction.
Anderson also studies first responders and mental health, with a new project underway focused on trauma among all categories of first responders. Anderson is a volunteer firefighter and EMT himself.
Lisa Baranik, associate professor of management in the School of Business, is an expert on chronic pain and mental health in the workplace. Baranik’s research focuses on understanding how employees learn and develop, with a focus on the stressors employees face at work. Core topics include mentoring relationships in the workplace, work motivation and achievement goals as well as occupational health psychology.
John Forsyth, is a professor of psychology and director of the Anxiety Disorders Research Program. He is also a clinical psychologist with expertise in acceptance and mindfulness-based approaches to psychological health and wellbeing. Central areas of Forsyth’s research include the causes and treatments of anxiety disorders, mindfulness and self-compassion, and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT).
Kelly Gorman is the director of the Health Promotion Bureau. In this role, she leads the University’s strategy, resources and programs related to population-wide student health and well-being. Her office is responsible for sexual violence prevention, survivor support and advocacy, mental health promotion, sexual health promotion, and substance abuse prevention, as well as college recovery program to help students recover from addiction. Gorman also leads the Well-Being Collective, responsible for implementing the Okanagan Charter at the University at Albany as University for Health Promotion.
Ewan McNay, associate professor of behavioral neuroscience, is available to discuss how diet, sleep and exercise affect brain health and cognitive function. McNay has also long been involved in research examining the role of insulin in cognitive function and how aging, Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes influence cognitive function and mental health.
About the University at Albany:
THE University of Albany is one of the most diverse public research institutions in the country and a national leader in educational equity. and social mobility. As a Carnegie R1 institution, UAlbany and its faculty and students create essential new knowledge in areas such as artificial intelligence, atmospheric and environmental sciences, business, education, public health, social sciences, criminal justice, emergency preparedness, engineering and computer science. , public administration and social protection. Our courses are taught by an accomplished roster of faculty experts with student success at the center of everything we do. Through our parallel commitments to academic excellence, scientific discovery, and community service, UAlbany develops bright, curious, engaged leaders and launches great careers.
