Didi Hirsch’s Research and Evaluation Division helps ensure high quality clinical care and advance the field of mental health through research collaborations. Our agency is significantly engaged in research, but a couple examples follow:
Practice-Based Research Network (PBRN)
Didi Hirsch is part of a community mental health Practice-Based Research Network (PBRN), which is highly innovative and one of only a few mental-health PBRNs in the country. Dr. Lisa Davis from Didi Hirsch is the chair of our network, titled the Recovery Oriented Care Collaborative, which involves partnerships with three other major LA-based mental health agencies as well as USC, School of Social Work. Our PBRN has studied (1) the impact of integrated health and mental health services for people receiving care in community-based mental settings, (2) consumer and provider views on the utility of mental health services, and (3) provider attitudes and training related to addressing substance use. Related publications and presentations are below.
Kelly, E., Davis, L., & Brekke, J. (June 2018). Provider Attitudes and training about Marijuana and Substance Use by Individuals with Serious Mental Illnesses. Presentation at North American Practice-Based Network Conference, Bethesda, MD.
Kelly, E., Davis, L., & Brekke, J. (July 2016). What is Useful in Usual Care? Provider & Consumer Perspectives on Mental Health Services. Presentation at North American Practice-Based Research Network Conference, Bethesda, MD.
Kelly, E., Davis, L., & Brekke, J. PBRN Findings: Integrated Care for individuals with serious mental illness. (2015). Psychiatric Services, 66 (11), 1253. doi:10.1176/appi.ps.201500075.
Kelly, E., Davis, L., Mendon, S., Kiger, H. & Murch, L., Pancake, L, Giambone, L. & Brekke, J. (2018). Provider and consumer perspectives of community mental health services: Implications for consumer-driven care. Psychological Services. doi:10.1037/ser0000244.
Suicide Prevention
In collaboration with Dr. Thomas Joiner and Florida State University’s Laboratory for the Study and Prevention of Suicide-Related Conditions and Behaviors, we have evaluated the impact of our innovative Survivors of Suicide Attempts (SOSA) Support group, the iatrogenic effects of repeated suicidal ideation screening on symptoms, and the relationship between attitudes toward suicide and suicide attempt history. Relevant presentations and publications stemming from our work on suicide prevention follow:
Hom, M., Stanley, I., Rogers, M., Gallyer, A., Dougherty, S., Davis, L. & Joiner, T. (in press). Investigating the Iatrogenic Effects of Repeated Suicidal Ideation Screening on Suicidal and Depression Symptoms: A Staggered Sequential Study. Journal of Affective Disorders.
Hom, M., Stanley, I., Duffy, M., Davis, L. & Joiner, T. (in press). Examining the relationship between attitudes toward suicide and suicide attempt history: A study of United States firefighters. The Journal of Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention.
Hom, M., Davis, L. & Joiner, T. Survivors of Suicide Attempts (SOSA) Support Group: Preliminary Findings from an Open-Label Trial. (2018). Psychological Services, 15, 289-297.
Speelman, P. (2018, May). Overview of Didi Hirsch Suicide Prevention Center and SOSA services. Workshop presented at Journee Sante Mentale et Prevention du Suicide. Tahite, French Polynesia.
Speelman, P., Battle, J., DeVries, D., Kramer, S., & Morris, P. (2018, April). Integrating Disaster Behavioral Health & Crisis Intervention: Lessons Learned from Disaster Distress Helpline and National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Crisis Centers following the Historic Disasters of 2017. Panelist for American Association for Suicidology 51st Annual Conference. Washington D.C.
Speelman, P. & Silverstein, S. (2018, April). The Importance of Peer Facilitation in a Survivor of Suicide Attempt (SOSA) Group. Paper presented at American Association for Suicidology 51st Annual Conference. Washington D.C.
Davis, L., Speelman, P., Hom, M., & Joiner, T. (2018, April). Survivors of Suicide Attempts Support Group: An Intervention to Address the National Suicide Crisis. Paper presented at National Council for Behavioral Health Conference. Washington D.C.
Draper, J., Speelman, P., Rae. H., & Iyer, A. (2018, April). Using Multiple Technologies to Engage People in Crisis. Workshop presented at National Council for Behavioral Health Conference. Washington D.C.
Davis, L., Hom, M. & Joiner, T. (2018, April). Survivors of Suicide Attempts: Preliminary Findings from an Open- Label Trial. Paper presented at American Association for Suicidology 51st Annual Conference. Washington D.C.
Speelman, P. & Silverstein, S. (2018, March). Clinical Adolescent Suicide Assessment and Prevention. Workshop presented at Reiss Davis Child Study Center and Institute. Los Angeles, CA.
Davis, L., & Speelman, P. (2017, April). Implementing & Evaluating a Group Intervention for Survivors of Suicide Attempts. Poster presented at National Council for Behavioral Health Conference. Seattle, WA.
Speelman, P. & Sinwelski, S. (2016, April). What Does a Survivor of Suicide Attempts Support Group Look Like? An Overview. Paper presented at American Association for Suicidology 29th Conference. Phoenix, AZ.
Crisis Residential Care
Associate Director Elan Javanford has presented on the impact of evidence-based practices on client recovery for those in crisis, as well as use of measurement-based care to assess and deliver treatment in crisis residential settings.
Javanfard, E., Bouwman, M., & Basore, K. (October 2018). Emerging Practices: Mindfulness, Sensory Rooms, and Biofeedback. Presentation at Crisis Residential Association, San Diego, CA.
Javanfard, E. (October 2018). Measurement-Based Care: The Critical 21st Century Partnership. Paper presented at Crisis Residential Association, San Diego, CA.
Javanfard, E. & Atkinson, T. (June 2018). Recovery and Measurement-Based Care: The Critical 21st Century Partnership. Poster presentation at Wellness and Recovery Summit, Denver, CO.
Miscellaneous Organizational Studies
Davis, L., Lee, S., De La Peza, D., & Pasquarella, F. (October 2018). Assessing & Increasing Positive Organizational Climate in Mental Health Organization. Presentation at American Evaluation Association Conference, Cleveland OH.
Davis, L., Lee, S., & Pasquarella, F. (November 2017). Making Data Relevant in a Community Mental Health Setting. Presentation at American Evaluation Association Conference, Washington, D.C.