SC Connecticut News

The Yale LGBTQ Mental Health Initiative, a collaborative effort between the Yale School of Public Health and the Department of Psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine, has been recognized with the 2024 Emery Award by the Hetrick-Martin Institute. The award ceremony was held on October 24 at Nordstrom in Midtown Manhattan.

HMI, an organization based in New York City, provides a supportive environment for LGBTQ youth and young adults aged 13-24. The Yale initiative was chosen for its work in enhancing mental health support for LGBTQ individuals who face high rates of depression, suicidality, and substance use.

The initiative is the first group to receive this honor. Previous recipients include activist Monica Lewinsky (2023), New York Governor Kathy Hochul (2022), vogue dancer Leiomy Maldonado (2022), television personality Ts Madison (2022), New York State Attorney General Letitia James (2021), and Pose star Dominique Jackson (2021).

Founding director Dr. John Pachankis expressed his gratitude: "It’s an incredible honor to receive an award named for Dr. Emery Hetrick." He continued, "To the extent that our work at Yale advances his mission, we are honored to be recognized as following in Dr. Hetrick’s footsteps."

Dr. Danielle Chiaramonte from YSPH emphasized the importance of community partnerships: “We may work at Yale, but our research takes place in the LGBTQ community.” She acknowledged that their efforts wouldn't be possible without organizations like HMI.

Dr. Trace Kershaw highlighted that this recognition demonstrates "the tremendous recognition that John’s group has made in impacting community mental health practices and policies for LGBTQ youth."

Dr. Skyler Jackson added that being recognized by HMI is meaningful as it shows their contribution to building a more affirming society for marginalized youth.

Originally known as the Esteem Research Group since its inception in 2013, it was renamed to reflect its expanded scope as the Yale LGBTQ Mental Health Initiative in 2019. It aims to translate scientific findings into impactful programs and interventions.

Dean Megan L. Ranney noted that creating pathways from science to real-world impact is a strategic priority at YSPH.

Pachankis explained how their research uses large cohort studies and clinical trials to understand disparities and reduce them through evidence-based practice.

The team developed LGBTQ+-affirmative cognitive-behavioral therapy specifically designed for addressing unique stressors faced by LGBTQ+ individuals. This treatment has been validated across randomized trials over ten years.

A grant from the National Institutes of Mental Health supports testing implementation methods across numerous community centers nationwide.

Online training enables mental health providers to deliver evidence-based care effectively across various settings according to recent studies by the initiative.