May 22, 2020

Dr. Keshet Ronen receives 2nd year funding for social media-based counseling intervention to local peripartum adolescents

Congratulations to Dr. Keshet Ronen, Clinical Assistant Professor in Global Health, and collaborators for receiving additional funding from the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Social Media and Adolescent Health Research Team for the “Social media support for peripartum adolescents in Seattle” study. They will continue developing and piloting a social media group cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) intervention—a form of psychotherapeutic treatment that helps patients understand how thoughts and feelings influence behavior—to prevent perinatal depression among adolescents. Click here to read the original award announcement and learn more about the study’s intervention.

Approximately 13% of peripartum women experience depression, with negative consequences for both women and their infants.  Risk of depression is especially high among young women, low-income women, and women of color.  Hear more about this health issue and how the study hopes to overcome barriers associated with attending in-person care, and allow underserved peripartum women to benefit from evidence-based depression prevention and access better health for themselves and their children in the video below:

The COVID-19 outbreak in Seattle has led to widespread impacts on mental health and deepening of existing mental health inequities.  Peripartum youth need virtual mental health support and peer connection now more than ever.  With support from the new funding, Dr. Ronen and IMAGINE study team plan to refine their social media-based intervention to ensure it addresses youth’s reported COVID-19-related mental health and perinatal care concerns.