Fellows Will Focus on How Best to Translate Science into Practice to Improve Black Youth Mental Health SAN FRANCISCO , Sept. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In the context of the increasing focus on mental health and equity in our society, Hopelab , a leader in advancing these outcomes for young people, is excited to announce the selection of six researchers from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) as recipients of its inaugural Translational Science Fellowship. The fellowship, announced earlier this summer , is designed to amplify the impact of mental health research at HBCUs with a focus on enhancing the mental well-being of Black young people.
The fellowship also aims to increase the number of actionable solutions that address the mental health challenges faced by Black young people while elevating the visibility of adolescent mental health research conducted at HBCUs. Throughout the 2024-25 academic year, these six fellows will collaborate with one another, Hopelab experts, and industry leaders to develop and refine their groundbreaking projects. Introducing Hopelab's 2024-25 HBCU Translational Science Fellows: Darren Bernal , Ph.
D. , is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Howard University focused on sociocultural factors that affect psychological and social functioning. Drawing upon his experience as a licensed psychologist, Dr.
Bernal is creating a gamified digital intervention to improve first-generation students' psychological well-bei.