The Psychiatry Department in the College of Medicine is supporting a statewide clinical research study to examine the root causes of mental illness.
The State of Ohio Adversity and Resilience (SOAR) Study, led by researchers at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and College of Medicine, aims to identify the biological, psychological and social causes and risk factors contributing to depression, anxiety, addiction and other mental illnesses that could lead to suicide or drug overdoses.
This ambitious study seeks to enroll 15,000 Ohioans to participate in a Wellness Survey and 3,600 of those people to also participate in brain health phenotyping. The study will also support the development of a statewide network of researchers to support its prevention and intervention efforts.
Faculty role
Faculty from the Department of Psychiatry at NEOMED, Stacey Barrenger, Ph.D., M.S.W., assistant professor, and Natalie Bonfine, Ph.D., associate professor, will lend their expertise to the project.
Dr. Barrenger will serve as site lead. Both Dr. Barrenger and Dr. Bonfine will serve as consultants on data collection and analyses.
The Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) is funding the initial phase of the study with a $20 million grant.
Dr. Barrenger stated, “This study is cutting edge in its approach and potential as it may change our understanding of the causes of mental illness. While the state is funding this initial phase, we will seek additional funding so we can follow individuals over the course of their lives. There has not been a longitudinal study on mental health of this scale before. This statewide collaborative effort is important for NEOMED and our surrounding communities as we aim to reduce deaths by suicide or overdose.”
Video of the kickoff with Governor DeWine speaking
— submitted by Stacey Barrenger, Ph.D., M.S.W., assistant professor, psychiatry