MHEAL at Brown University School of Public Health

Our Research

Understanding the role of stigma, structural oppression, and early life stress in health disparities
Developing and evaluating mindfulness-based, community-centered, and technology-mediated interventions for health promotion through mixed methods and clinical trials
Advancing intervention science, particularly mobile health and mindfulness interventions, through rigorous review and evidence synthesis methodology

LGBTQ+ Health

In comparison to heterosexual and cisgender individuals, the LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender/gender non-conforming, and queer/questioning) community experiences elevated risks for a range of adverse mental and behavioral health outcomes, including depression, anxiety, trauma, suicidality, substance dependence, HIV/STIs, and suboptimal health service utilization (Sun et al., 2021). Our work aims to address the urgent need for evidence-based queer health interventions. We seek to develop community-centered interventions that promote holistic health and well-being for LGBTQ+ individuals in the face of societal stigma, oppression, discrimination, and violence. Our interventions provide affirming care rooted in empowerment and the recognition of resilience.

Project STARS (Supporting Trans Affirmation, Relationships & Sex)

A peer counseling program for trans women and transfeminine adults. Our clinical trial enrolled those who have experienced abuse or violence in an intimate partnership, have had sex in the past 6 months, and whose HIV status is negative or unknown. Enrollment for Summer 2023 has ended.

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Mindfulness-Based Queer Resilience (MBQR)

A 10-week intervention program designed to promote mental and sexual health tailored to LGBTQ+ people. Currently, we have a clinical trial with young adult gay men, bi men, queer men, and non-binary people who are assigned male at birth. Enrollment for Summer 2023 has ended.

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The Trans-Led Care Study (TLC)

Developing a gender-affirming, wellness program based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (or “ACT”) for transgender people of all identities who drink alcohol or use other drugs. In the coming months, we will be recruiting participants for the open pilot. Enrollment for Summer 2023 has ended.

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Sun, S., Nardi, W., Murphy, M. J., Scott, T., Saadeh, F., Roy, A., & Brewer, J. (2023). Mindfulness-based mobile health to address unhealthy eating among mid-age sexual minority women with early life adversity: A feasibility trial. Journal of Medical Internet Research. https://doi: 10.2196/46310

Sun, S., Guy, A. A., Zelaya, D. G., & Operario, D. (2022). Mindfulness for reducing minority stress and promoting health among sexual minority men: Uncovering intervention principles and techniques. Mindfulness. https:// doi: 10.1007/s12671-022-01973-w

Sun, S., Pachankis, J. E., Li, X., & Operario, D. (2020). Addressing minority stress and mental health among men who have sex with men (MSM) in China: A systematic review. Current HIV/AIDS Reports, 17(1), 35-62. https://doi: 10.1007/s11904-019-00479-w

Sun, S., Budge, S. L., Shen, W., Liu, M., Xu, G., & Feng, S. (2020). Minority stress and health: A qualitative investigation on the experiences of men who have sex with men in China and implications for health research and interventions. Social Science and Medicine, 252, 112917. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.112917

Global Mental Health

More than 80% of people with mental health disorders live in low and middle-income countries (LMICs), and it is estimated that 76-85% of them will receive no mental health treatment at all (Rathod et al., 2017; Arjadi et al., 2015). Our work aims to increase help-seeking and broaden access to mental health services for marginalized communities in LMICs, particularly through mHealth and mindfulness-based programs. We collaborate with partners around the world to develop culturally-competent, evidence-based interventions in response to the unique psychosocial challenges posed by resource scarcity, cultural stigma, harmful legislation, war and displacement, and more.

Together We Can

A community-centered research approach to improve mental health literacy and behavior to address suicide risk for adolescents in rural China. Participation involves focus groups with caregivers, adolescents, school teachers, and other stakeholders.

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True Self Project

The “True Self Program” focuses on developing and testing a stigma-reduction, gender-affirmative mobile health (mHealth) program to engage Chinese transgender women (TW) in HIV prevention by promoting their mental and sexual health, HIV self-testing, and the use of HIV and gender-related community and medical resources.

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Ukraine Mental Health Project

More information coming soon.

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Sun, S., Lin, D., Goldberg, S., Shen, Z., Chen, P., Qiao, S., Brewer, J., Loucks, E., & Operario, D. (2021). A mindfulness-based mobile health (mHealth) intervention among psychologically distressed university students in quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Counseling Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1037/cou0000568

Sun, S., Xu, S., Guy, A., Guigayoma, J., Zhang, Y., Operario, D., Chen, R. (2023). Analysis of psychiatric symptoms and suicide risk among young adults in China by gender identity and sexual orientation. JAMA Network Open, 6(3): e232294. https://doi.org/jamanetworkopen.2023.2294

Yi, M., Li, X., Chiaramonte, D., Sun, S., Pan, S., Eisenstadt, B., Ljótsson, B., Hagaman, A., & Pachankis, J. E. (2024). Guided internet-based LGBTQ-affirmative cognitive behavioral therapy: A randomized controlled trial among sexual minority men in China. Behaviour Research and Therapy. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2024.104605

Cai, C., Qu, D., Liu, D., Liu, B., Zhang, X., Chen, P., Chen, D., Sun, S., Tong, Y., An, J., Chen, R. (2023). Effectiveness of a localized and systematically developed gatekeeper training program in preventing suicide among Chinese adolescents. Asian Journal of Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2023.103755

Evidence Synthesis

In the past decade, we have seen exponential growth in research on a variety of biopsychosocial health interventions. Within the field of mindfulness alone, the number of publications increased by 23.5% each year between 2010 and 2020 (Baminiwatta and Solangaarachchi, 2021). Amid rapidly growing interest and data availability, our work aims to synthesize and evaluate existing evidence through high-quality, rigorous review methodologies, such as systematic reviews and meta-analyses. We seek to further guide intervention development and implementation, as well as to disseminate updated information about the current landscape of mental, behavioral, and integrative health.

Trans Health Review

A review to understand (1) what interventions have been developed and tested to improve the health and well-being of transgender and gender-nonconforming people, and (2) evaluate quantitative evidence on feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy on these interventions on health outcomes (e.g., mental health, HIV/STI, suicide risk, etc.).

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Complementary and Integrative Health Meta-analyses (Meta CIH)

Meta CIH Network seeks to create a cutting-edge data repository for key domains of complementary and integrative health (CIH) interventions, providing a centralized and accessible hub for storing and sharing data from randomized controlled trials.

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Sun, S., Simonsson, O., McGarvey, S., Torous, J., Goldberg, S. B. (2024). Mobile phone interventions to improve health outcomes among patients with chronic diseases: An umbrella review and evidence synthesis from 34 meta-analyses. (in press). The Lancet Digital Health

Sun, S., Sheridan, M. A., Tyrka, A., Donofry, S. D., Erickson, K., & Loucks, E. B. (2022). Addressing the biological embedding of early life adversities (ELA) among adults through mindfulness: Proposed mechanisms and review of converging evidence. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104526

Sun, S., Goldberg, S. B., Loucks, E., & Brewer, J. A. (2021). Mindfulness-based interventions for people of color: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychotherapy Research. Online First Publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/10503307.2021.1937369

Goldberg, S. B., Lam, S. U., Simonsson, O., Torous, J., & Sun, S. (2022). Mobile phone-based interventions for mental health: A systematic meta-review of 14 meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials. PLOS Digital Health. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pdig.0000002

Mindfulness for Health Equity Lab (mHEAL)
Brown University, School of Public Health

mheal@brown.edu

Info

Our Research

LGBTQ+ Mental Health

Global Mental Health

Evidence Synthesis