Mental Health & Substance Use

Dr. Linda Oakley meets with a patient at the UW South Madison Partnership — Linda Oakley, PhD, RN

Faculty conduct research to improve treatment and quality of life for people living with mental health and substance use concerns.

Our transdisciplinary research:

Determines possible causes of mental health concerns and substance use behaviors in key populations
Identifies opportunities for prevention

Populations of interest currently include individuals with chronic health conditions; marginalized communities experiencing despair; people who use drugs; queer, trans/nonbinary, and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities.

Signature Research Areas

More About Research on Mental Health & Substance Use

Research News

Dr. Katie Pavek | Grant Award
Dr. Katie Pavek was awarded a SoN Research and Scholarship Committee grant to support the project MINDSTRONG™: Improving Wellness for UW-Madison School of Nursing Students.
Dr. Anne Ersig | Grant Award
Dr. Anne Ersig, PhD, RN was awarded a SoN Research and Scholarship Committee grant to support the project Stress and Allostatic Load in Adolescents with Chronic Health Conditions.
In Person with Elliot Tebbe, PhD, LP
Asst. Professor Elliot Tebbe, PhD, LP, discusses his research in mental health and well-being in LGBTQ+ populations and the opportunity to improve quality of life it provides.
Canceling the Culture of Clamming Up
By normalizing conversations about mental health and offering social and peer support for those who may be struggling, nurses can help erase the stigmas associated with mental illness. The most important phrase for nurses to remember when it comes to mental health and mental illness is simple: You are not alone.
More News