Kaleea Lewis, an assistant professor with the Departments of Public Health and Women’s and Gender Studies, has been awarded a two-year, $260,000 grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Dr. Lewis’ project aims to understand and address how the social determinants that impede Black emerging adults’ (18- to 25-year-olds) use of mental health services may contribute to increasing rates of suicide and suicidal ideation. She will collaborate with Mizzou colleagues Katina Bitsicas, an assistant professor with the School of Visual Studies, and Christy Hutton, an assistant teaching professor with the Department of Educational, School & Counseling Psychology, on the project.

The research team will work with mental health professionals and Black emerging adults to investigate the relationship, ultimately using digital storytelling to translate the data into mental health promotion and policy efforts.