LSU New Orleans will host a community conference with the NOLA Partnership for Mental Health on the importance of community involvement in disaster-related and LGBTQ+ research in the context of mental health on Aug. 9. The event, which is free and open to the public, will be at Corpus Christi Community Center, Building C, 2022 St. Bernard Avenue, from 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
In disaster-prone communities, such as Southeast Louisiana, the prevalence and severity of mental health disorders can be exacerbated by natural disasters. Adverse mental health rates are higher in under-resourced communities, such as LGBTQ+ communities, than in the general population. There tends to be a lack of trust of research within communities that have a high burden of mental illness, low access to, or quality of care. Multi-sector coalitions and community engagement can improve the quality of care and outcomes of mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety, while also addressing social risk factors for depression, such as poverty and access to housing. Also, the results of health research often do not target or reach the affected patient populations.
The conference aims to address some of these complex issues through a collaboration among LSU Health New Orleans, the Community Resilience Learning Collaborative and Research Network (C-LEARN), the LGBTQ+ -focused study Resilience Against Depression Disparities (RADD), and the NOLA Partnership for Mental Health.
Breakfast and lunch will be served.
Call Miranda at (504) 568-5197 or visit http://bit.ly/ENCORES2019 to RSVP.