Transitions to Adulthood Center for Research May 2024

Leveling Up Together: Gaming, Community,

and Mental Health 

STAY Tuned

Podcast Episode 17

is Out!

There is a stereotype that gaming is a waste of time, but this episode with Derek Lewis, a member of our Young Adult Advisory Board challenges that notion head-on. Derek shares his personal journey, revealing how gaming became a lifeline for him while growing up in a gang-prone LA neighborhood. We talk about how gaming helped Derek build meaningful relationships, including one with a gamer friend who stood by him as his best man at Derek's wedding! Tune in to learn how virtual worlds can become real sources of support and community, proving that sometimes, the best friendships can be found behind a controller. A transcript is also available.

"So I always tell people, you know, a lot of people may look at online gaming and like, it's just a thing, but like, we always talk about it. Even some of the new guys that I just met or just started playing with this year. We always say it's more than like a habit. It's literally a lifestyle. And with it being a lifestyle, it has its perks because you have your, your like gaming family, almost like they're part of your therapy. You know, they're part of your mental health." -Derek Lewis

(Check out the podcast for Derek's game recommendations!)

All of our podcast episodes and transcripts are HERE.

This podcast episode was developed by our new Center for Community Inclusion and Reflective Collaboration (The CIRC Center).

Learn more about The CIRC Center.

Want to Learn More About Community Participation

Mental Health & Young Adults? Join Our Webinar!

"Enhancing Community Participation among Young Adults

with Serious Mental Health Conditions

from Disadvantaged Backgrounds"

Presented by the CIRC Center

Enhancing Community Participation among Young Adults with

Serious Mental Health Conditions from Disadvantaged Backgrounds

Date | Time: Wednesday, June 5, 2024 | 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. EDT

Description: Community participation across various domains – including employment, education, social relationships, and leisure activities – is essential during young adulthood, yet can be challenging for those who experience a serious mental health condition and other sources of disadvantage.

During this presentation, Drs. Kathryn Sabella and Elizabeth Thomas will provide an introduction to the newly established Center for Community Inclusion and Reflective Collaboration (CIRC Center).

They will

• provide an overview of community participation concepts
• discuss disparities among specific groups of young adults with serious mental health conditions (e.g., BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, those with child welfare and/or justice system involvement)
• identify key gaps in research and practice
• outline the center’s research and knowledge translation projects

Opportunities for collaboration and technical assistance will also be discussed.

Presenters: Kathryn Sabella, PhD and Elizabeth Thomas, PhD from The Center for Community Inclusion and Reflective Collaboration

Let's Talk About Workplace Accommodations!

Check out this new comic we just released. In it, 12 young adults living with mental health conditions share their real world experiences as they navigate the working world. Work can be hard, especially if you live with a mental health condition. Learning to advocate for yourself, and understanding workplace accommodations are two key components to job success.

Download the Comic. More on accommodations and employment.

Our full offering of Info-Comics for Young Adults includes topics like job interviews, IEPs, managing paperwork and college accommodations.

STAY Tuned Podcast Episode 16: Suffering in Silence? How to obtain mental health accommodations at work and school.

STAY Tuned Podcast Episode 15: “Nothing About Us Without Us”- Practicing self-advocacy as a young adult with a mental health condition 

STAY Tuned Podcast Episode 14: Can Avatars Help Young Adults Manage Alcohol Use Problems & Suicidal Thoughts? 

Memes often convey a feeling that is hard to articulate with just words.

Check out the memes developed by the young adults in our National Youth Advisory Board (YAB). They get posted to our various social media platforms.



Adulting Shorts:

Info-Comics

Memes Created by Young Adults for Young Adults

Young Adult Blogs

S.T.A.Y. Tuned

Young Adult Podcast

Tip Sheets for Young Adults/their Supporters

Webinars on Young Adult Mental Health

RESOURCES BY TOPIC

Employment — Education — Life Skills



Many publications are available in Spanish (en español) or Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt).

The Transitions to Adulthood Center for Research is a center within UMass Chan Medical School, Implementation Science & Practice Advances Research Center (iSPARC). Some of the contents of this message are supported in part under grants with funding from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research, (NIDILRR), United States Departments of Health and Human Services (NIDILRR grant numbers 90RTEM0005 and 90RTCP0010) and co-funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). NIDILRR is a Center within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services The contents of this message do not necessarily represent the policy of NIDILRR, ACL, SAMHSA, or HHS, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.​