Mental Illness and Substance Use in Young Adults

September 10, 2025

This one-hour webinar provided an overview of best practices in preventing suicide when working with individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis or experiencing first episode psychosis. Participants learned about evidence-based suicide prevention interventions, suicide prevention protocols, universal screening, assessment, and monitoring, and suicide prevention resources, including the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

Featured Presenter

• Christa D. Labouliere, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Psychology (in Psychiatry), Division of Behavioral Health Services and Policy Research, Columbia University; Interim Co-Director, Suicide Prevention – Training, Implementation, & Evaluation (SP-TIE) Program, New York State Psychiatric Institute

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View the webinar (59 minutes, 47 seconds)

September 3, 2025

This one-hour webinar reviewed how ESMI clinics can partner with crisis services. Participants gained knowledge of bidirectional collaboration between ESMI programs and community crisis programs. The presentation shared information on how to establish pathways for referral to and from crisis services. Participants also learned about best practices for addressing crises that may emerge in ESMI care.

Featured Presenter

• Nicholas Breitborde, Ph.D., ABPP, Professor and Director, The Ohio State University, Early Psychosis Intervention Center (EPICENTER)

Download the webinar slides (PDF | 1.6 MB)
View the webinar (59 minutes, 46 seconds)

August 12, 2025

This one-hour webinar described how to use the shared decision-making approach in a developmentally informed manner as a part of ESMI services. Participants gained knowledge of best practices for providers on how to use shared decision-making with youth and young adults. Presenters shared information on the role of family education and involvement in shared decision-making. Participants learned how to use shared decision-making tools for client engagement and skill-building.

Featured Presenters

• Zhanna Elberg, M.D., Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, and Program Director, OnTrackNY, Erie County Medical Center
• Erica Kuyoro, LCSW, CCISM, Team Leader, OnTrackNY, Erie County Medical Center
• Deshoni Pickett, OnTrackNY participant
• Yhandesha McFarland, mother of OnTrackNY participant

Download the webinar slides (PDF | 1.6 MB)
View the webinar (58 minutes, 31 seconds)

July 29, 2025

This one-hour webinar described the role of peer specialists as a part of ESMI teams. Participants learned about the philosophies and practices that peer support specialists employ on ESMI teams and strategies to best support peer support specialists on ESMI teams.

Featured Presenters

• Vanessa Vorhies Klodnick, Ph.D., LCSW, The Texas Institute of Excellence in Mental Health, Steve Hicks School of Social Work, The University of Texas at Austin
• Brianne LaPelusa, MFA, CRSS, The Texas Institute of Excellence in Mental Health, Steve Hicks School of Social Work, The University of Texas at Austin

Download the webinar slides (PDF | 3 MB)
View the webinar (58 minutes, 13 seconds)

July 15, 2025

This one-hour webinar presented findings from the first cohort of SAMHSA’s Clinical Community Programs for Outreach and Intervention with Youth and Young Adults at Clinical High Risk for Psychosis (CHR-P) grant program. Participants gained knowledge of the signs of being at CHR-P and the implications of developing psychosis. Presenters shared information about the CHR-P grant program and how its interventions address the needs of individuals at CHR-P. Participants learned about the results of the study and how clients have benefited from the program, including improved functioning, more social connections, and reduced distress, psychiatric hospitalization, emergency department visits, and psychosis.

Featured Presenters

• John A. Cosgrove, Ph.D., Principal Research Associate, Westat
• Jason Schiffman, Ph.D., Professor and Director of Clinical Training, University of California, Irvine
• Nicholas Breitborde, Ph.D., ABPP, Professor and Director, The Ohio State University Early Psychosis Intervention Center (EPICENTER)

Download the webinar slides (PDF | 2.4 MB)
View the webinar (58 minutes, 34 seconds)

June 17, 2025

This one-hour webinar discussed ways that young adults experiencing ESMI may be supported as they shift from child to adult mental health services. Participants learned about structural and procedural changes that occur as young adults shift out of ESMI services and move from child to adult service systems. The webinar also identified promising strategies to reduce service gaps, including using early planning, assessment tools, cross-system coordination, and personalized step-down programs. Two grantees presented approaches to improve continuity of care, minimize disengagement, and enhance service availability for young adults experiencing ESMI.

Featured Presenters

• Kathryn Sabella, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, UMass Chan Medical School
• Elizabeth Thomas, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Temple University College of Public Health
• Hilary Bertisch, Ph.D., ABPP, Assistant Professor, Zucker School of Medicine, Hofstra/Northwell
• Brittany Grimes, Project Manager of Youth and Young Adult Services, Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services

Download the webinar slides (PDF | 2.4 MB)
View the webinar (59 minutes, 59 seconds)

April 15, 2025

This one-hour webinar provided an overview of strategies for promoting cognitive health in the context of coordinated specialty care (CSC) programs serving individuals experiencing early psychosis. Participants learned how to ask about the role of cognitive health in an individual’s wellness and recovery, assess cognitive strengths and areas of needs, and address cognitive health needs to support learning and engagement in the recovery process.

Featured Presenter

• Alice Saperstein, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Medical Psychology, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, and New York-Presbyterian; New York State Office of Mental Health

Download the webinar slides (PDF | 2.1 MB)
View the webinar (1 hour, 20 seconds)

March 19, 2025

This one-hour webinar provided an overview of co-occurring substance use and substance use disorders among individuals experiencing ESMI. Participants learned about trends related to the prevalence of substance use and substance use disorders within this population. Presenters also highlighted assessment strategies, integrated treatment approaches, and interventions to address the needs of individuals experiencing ESMI and co-occurring substance use and substance use disorders.

Featured Presenters

• Melanie E. Bennett, Ph.D., Professor and Division Director, Division of Psychiatric Research Services, University of Maryland School of Medicine
• Corinne Kacmarek, Ph.D., Advanced Fellow, Veterans Integrated Services Networks (VISN) 5 Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Maryland Health Care System
• Samuel Murphy, M.S.W., Doctoral Student, University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work

Download the webinar slides (PDF | 2.2 MB)
View the webinar (59 minutes, 59 seconds)

January 21, 2025

This one-hour webinar provided an overview of tools and strategies for stepped care in CHR-P programs. Stepped care is a treatment approach that starts with a baseline level of care and increases the intensity of care depending on how an individual responds. Presenters described at what points in the treatment process to assess treatment response and what measures to use to determine treatment response and make decisions around increasing the level of care.

Featured Presenters and Panelists

• Nicholas Breitborde, Ph.D., ABPP, Professor and Director, Early Psychosis Intervention Center (EPICENTER), The Ohio State University
• Rebecca Jaynes, LCPC, Program Supervisor, Psychosis Identification and Early Referral (PIER) Community Hope and Resources for Psychosis, MaineHealth
• Sarah Lynch, LCSW, Program Manager, Psychosis Identification and Early Referral (PIER) and Resilience, MaineHealth
• Jessica Makin, M.S.W., Program Administrator, Transition-age Youth & Employment Supports, Utah Office of Substance Use and Mental Health
• Daniel I. Shapiro, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Sacramento CHR Intervention for Psychosis Stepped-Care (SCIP Step) Program, University of California Davis

Download the webinar slides (PDF | 2.7 MB)
View the webinar (1 hour, 1 minute, 2 seconds)

December 17, 2024

This session provided an overview of approaches for screening, diagnosis, and risk assessment in CHR-P programs, discuss referral pathways, and highlight considerations for co-occurring conditions. Presenters identified challenges, practical solutions, and resources to advance CHR-P programming.

Featured Presenters and Panelists

• Barbara Walsh, Ph.D., Clinical Director, PRIME Clinic, Yale University
• Sue Ricigliano, M.A., Project Director, NJ-PROMISE (CHR-P), New Jersey Department of Children and Families
• Benjamin LaMendola, LCSW, Program Coordinator, CarePlusNJ CHR-P Clinic
• Emily Gagen, Ph.D., Director, Massachusetts Psychosis Access and Triage Hub, Brookline Community Mental Health Center
• Amanda Weber, Ph.D., Director, CEDAR Clinic

Download the webinar slides (PDF | 875 KB)
View the webinar (1 hour, 10 seconds)

November 19, 2024

This webinar session provided an overview of clinical high risk for psychosis, addressed key considerations and challenges in program implementation, and discussed available technical assistance resources to support clinical high risk for psychosis programs.

Featured Presenters and Panelists

• Jason Schiffman, Ph.D., Professor and Director of Clinical Training, University of California, Irvine
• Elaina Montague, Ph.D., Program Director/Team Leader, Supporting Wellness for Adolescents & Young Adults (SWAY), Zucker Hillside Hospital
• Kaelin Large, LCSW, Early Psychosis Programs Coordinator, Alliance Healthcare Services

Download the webinar slides (PDF | 4.3 MB)
View the webinar (1 hour, 42 seconds)