Research. Practice. Policy.
The Center for School Behavioral Health conducts cutting-edge research, develops and scales effective school-based behavioral health programs, and informs school policy to reimagine and expand access to school-based behavioral health care.
We partner with hundreds of schools to develop scalable, sustainable solutions rooted in research, guided by real-world practice, and informed by policy.
Our work is designed to meet the unique behavioral health needs of diverse student populations and build a culturally responsive workforce, advancing science, and creating systems that improve outcomes for all students.
We are grateful for the generosity, creativity, and openness of our school partners that makes this work possible.
We are excited to continue building partnerships with school communities nation-wide!
Learn More About Our Studies!
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Funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
To make an impact on rising rates of depression and suicide in adolescents, we must improve our ability to predict when, why, and which individuals experience increases in depression and suicidal ideation. This study investigates how acute cannabis use and withdrawal affect short-term risk for depression and suicide ideation among adolescents. By analyzing time-varying patterns of substance use, mood, and suicide risk, the study aims to guide the development of scalable, accessible, and personalized interventions to reduce adolescent depression and suicide risk (NCT 06576076; R01 DA054145).
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Funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
This is a randomized control trial of a brief 6-week group-based intervention for high school students with mild symptoms of depression, anxiety, or having unusual feelings from developing serious mental illnesses. This trial is aimed at testing how well the intervention improved mental health and functioning (NCT05962879; K23MH131793).
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Funded by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (BSAS)
iDECIDE is a free, state-funded drug education and diversion program available to schools and community agencies across Massachusetts. It aims to provide schools an alternative to suspension and other punitive action for substance-related infractions and empowers students with the knowledge and skills to make healthy decisions about substance use. iDECIDE is being evaluated through a variety of methods, including a multi-year, two-arm, assessor blind randomized controlled trial (NCT06115746).
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Funded by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), Bureau of Community Health and Prevention (BCHAP)
The SURF survey is an annual, school-wide assessment administered at participating middle and high schools in Massachusetts. It is designed to identify risk and protective factors for mental health symptom progression. The goal is to characterize school behavioral health landscapes and pinpoint developmental periods when interventions may be most effective.
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Funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI)
SBIRT is a widely used model for screening emergent substance use. This five-year, cluster-randomized trial includes 40 public schools in Massachusetts and evaluates enhancements to SBIRT delivery. The study evaluates how near-peer support affects screening efficacy and student outcomes related to substance use risk. Exploratory qualitative analyses will evaluate implementation barriers and potential disparities in effectiveness for structurally marginalized student populations (NCT 06206161; AU-2022C1-26355).
Please complete the short screener linked here to help our research staff determine whether you are eligible and interested in participating in our ongoing research studies. If you are, a member of our team will reach out to further discuss.