LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) – A historic study on mental health is coming to West Central Ohio, and researchers are looking for families to participate to better understand the causes and effects of mental illness.
Mercy Health–St. Rita’s Medical Center is the fourth site selected for the SOAR study, which stands for “State of Ohio Adversity and Resilience.” The study is being conducted by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
Mercy Health–St. Rita’s Medical Center is the fourth site selected for the SOAR study, which stands for “State of Ohio Adversity and Resilience.” The study is being conducted by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
The research will include physical and mental health screenings, MRI and EEG brain scans, and blood draws. Researchers say this comprehensive approach is crucial to understanding the root causes of mental illness.
“So, we believe that mental health and mental illness isn't operating in a silo. There are biological components, social components, psychological components, that need to be studied all at the same time,” says Dr. K. Luan Phan, chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at OSU Wexner Medical Center. “We also need to study not only individuals, but families and communities, which are really important in SOAR. So, a comprehensive, holistic approach is really what's going to be fundamental to coming up with solutions for mental health challenges.”
Dr. Phan says involving families is key to the study, as it explores how different members of a household handle adversity.
“The more members of a family, the more members of a household, the better. So, across generations, a grandparent, a parent, a child, a sibling, an uncle, you know. So, the more family members you get together, the better. There's no limit on how many family members can participate in SOAR,” adds Dr. Phan.
Mercy Health–St. Rita’s leaders say they’re proud to be part of research that could lead to new treatments and preventive measures by understanding how people build resilience.
The research will include physical and mental health screenings, MRI and EEG brain scans, and blood draws. Researchers say this comprehensive approach is crucial to understanding the root causes of mental illness.
“We provide an array of behavioral health services, and yet we still see tragic consequences each day and each year. So being able to add to that with the research, to get out in front of some of these challenges before the tragic consequences, is really what we're all about. We're excited to be able to be a part of it,” says Ronda Lehman, president of Mercy Health–St. Rita’s.
“And resilience is about the ability to bounce back, learn, adapt, and even thrive despite adversity. How do you go through something as bad as an adversity and bounce back and do well, which is totally very critical to thinking about prevention efforts and empowering people to take mental health into their own hands as well,” says Dr. Phan.
Families interested in joining the study or seeking more information can visit www.SOARStudies.org.
