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Annual STAR Conference on May 9, 2025

This year, "Creating Partnerships for Just and Inclusive Schools" offered learning to bridge the gap between intensive mental health treatment and reentry into a school environment for depressed and suicidal youth. Over 500 youth service providers (counseling, social work, education, etc.) attended.

The keynote addresses this year explored innovative approaches to supporting young people's mental health in the school setting. The first keynote presented by Dr. Marisa Marraccini PhD, NCSP from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, highlighting a program aiming to support successful re-entry to the school environment following a psychiatric hospitalization for youth. In the second keynote, Dr. Rachel Vaughn-Coaxum PhD and Dr. James Huguley PhD from the University of Pittsburgh, described a restorative practice intervention to transform the school climate to promote healthy behavioral, social, and academic outcomes.

Materials from the skill development workshops are available on the STAR Conference archives page for reference.

The conference was highlighted on the University of Pittsburgh Department of Psychiatry website. Read the article here.

STAR in the Community

Professional Development and Trainings

As part of its mission, STAR Center develops and disseminates new knowledge and strategies for preventing and treating suicidal behaviors, depression, and anxiety to teachers, mental health professionals, and the public.

STAR staff have delivered presentations to hundreds of people in Pennsylvania and nationwide on a wide variety of topics such as suicide risk assessment and safety planning, crisis prevention and intervention, and care for providers and survivors.

Tabling Events

STAR Center team members staffed tables at various mental health fairs and awareness campaigns throughout the area, including:

March: The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) Hope Walks

April: Mental Health and Student Athletes Symposium​

June: Mental Health Matters through Research Equity And Community Health (REACH) collaborative

Dorseyville Middle School Welcome Kits Project

During the school year, students at Dorseyville Middle School participated in a program called "Hour of Service Project". Teachers chose organizations with meaningful missions, and students created service projects.

For STAR Center, students put together welcome kits for the youth in Intensive Outpatient (IOP) to make them feel comfortable as they begin group therapy. The welcome kits included an encouraging note, a stress ball, hand cream, a small journal, and a pen.

We are grateful to Mr. Grecek and his student team for this thoughtful project!

STAR Research Highlight

STAR Center faculty lead research projects focused on improving understanding of youth depression and suicide as well as identifying novel prevention and intervention approaches. Visit STAR Center Research to learn about ongoing studies and publications.

Read this article in Science Direct from members of the STAR team about research conducted comparing outcomes of Intensive Outpatient therapy from before, in the midst of, and after the pandemic.

The CARMA Registry

The CARMA Registry The Child and Adolescent Research Match Assessment (CARMA) Registry can connect you to research studies at the University of Pittsburgh’s Department of Psychiatry that may help children and young adults with anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions. Many research studies offer a full mental health assessment, research interventions, and payment for participation. Children ages 2-17 and young adults ages 18-26 are eligible. Visit thecarmaproject.org to learn more.