LOMA LINDA, CA — Rep. Pete Aguilar today announced $438,527 in grant funding for mental health research at Loma Linda University (LLU). LLU’s “Unpacking the Black Box of Problem-Solving: Dosage, Delivery, Culture, and Impact on Internalizing Problems for Adolescents” program, with funding from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), will increase resources to improve the mental health and well-being of students in the Inland Empire.

“We know that the COVID-19 pandemic has put an enormous strain on young people and exacerbated mental health issues,” Rep. Aguilar said. “Funding for research that will help students dealing with depression, anxiety and a host of other challenges is vital. I look forward to seeing the impact this funding will have in our community.”

Funding for this program will help researchers at Loma Linda University develop best practices and problem-solving resources for school counselors and community health care providers to improve mental health care for youth in our region.   

Dr. Maya Boustani, Assistant Professor of Psychology at LLU, said, “We are excited that the National Institute of Mental Health is funding this work that will improve mental health resources for youth.”

Rep. Aguilar serves as the Vice Chair of the Democratic Congress and as a member of the House Committee on Appropriations, the committee responsible for funding federal programs and agencies including the NIMH.

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