Mental health professionals are bracing for what may be an epidemic of clinical depression related to COVID-19. In this webinar, Dr. Jonathan Kanter will:
1. Review the science on risk factors for depression that cause this grave warning,
2. Share the latest information on how individuals are responding to the current crisis, and
3. Propose best practices for depression prevention and treatment moving forward.
Although actual rates of future depression are hard to predict, organizations will need innovative and scalable solutions, given that our mental health services delivery systems are underpowered to meet demands before this crisis.
The presentation will highlight online strategies that include disseminating evidence-based mental health tips, identifying and targeting risk groups, and conducting stepped-care treatment groups, stepping to individual treatment as needed.
Dr. Jonathan Kanter is Director of the University of Washington’s Center for the Science of Social Connection. Over the course of his career, Dr. Kanter has investigated psychosocial interventions for depression, including how to disseminate culturally appropriate, easy-to-train, evidence-based approaches, with emphasis on evidence-based treatments such as Behavioral Activation for groups who lack resources and access to care.
More recently, the Center has produced research on how to improve relationships and social connectedness and on relational processes that predict relational well-being and quality of life. Dr. Kanter has published over 100 scientific papers and 9 books on these topics and his work has been funded by NIH, SAMHSA, state governmental organizations, foundations, and private donors. He is regularly invited to give talks and workshops nationally and internationally. When the COVID-19 crisis hit Seattle, the Center pivoted its resources to understand and mitigate the relational and mental health consequences of the crisis, to assist with public health efforts, and to inform the public dialogue with scientifically informed advice. Dr. Kanter has been asked to comment on the relational and mental health consequences of the crisis by, and the Center’s response to the crisis has been featured on, NPR, the BBC, the New York Times, the Huffington Post, National Geographic, and other local and national news outlets.
