Throughout his 30 years mentoring colleagues and psychology interns and working with people with serious mental illness, Larry Davidson, PhD, noticed a troubling reality: Many interns don't have enough experience with people with illnesses such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. That lack of interaction could leave them unprepared for future patients with these disorders.
Now, thanks to APF, Davidson will be able to help build a research base — and possible solution — for this problem. As the recipient of the 2014 Alexander Gralnick Research Investigator Prize, Davidson, a professor of psychology at Yale University who's considered a leader in the recovery movement, will use a $20,000 grant to help pilot a study on intern interaction with people with serious mental illnesses.
The Gralnick prize is given to psychologists who work with serious mental illnesses, including bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and depression.
"It's a very prestigious award so naturally I was thrilled to receive it," says Davidson.
The prize is particularly meaningful because Davidson's mentor, Courtney Harding, PhD, also won the award in 2005 for her contributions to understanding serious mental illness.
Davidson was nominated for the award by nine faculty members at Yale University whom he mentored. His research has found that peer support from community members and others helps combat internalized stigma and the stigma others hold for people with mental illness.
With the grant money, Davidson will study whether it is effective to train people with serious mental illnesses to become consultants for interns.
He believes the study will also help interns overcome any stigma toward people with mental illnesses, give them more clinical experience and encourage them to stay in the field of serious mental illness.
The new study will build on his past research looking at peer support and helping people in recovery to find a place in society.
"It's been very enjoyable to train people in recovery to provide support for other people and to see how effective and powerful it can be," Davidson says.
