CARES Lab at Texas A&M University

How does substance use affect mental health? Swipe to learn more about how substances affects the brain, cognition, and wellbeing. 🧠



Read more about substance use in the U.S. here:

https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addiction/drugs-brainhttps://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/a-z-topics/drugs-and-mental-health

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28252892/

Today we're shouting out another one of our amazing undergraduate Research Assistants, 🌟 Isabella Gutierrez! 🌟 Swipe to see what Isabella has learned in the CARES Lab and where she is going next.

Interested in our lab's work? Sign up for the MAMA Study today using the link in our bio!

Latinos make up nearly 20% of the U.S.—but are still underrepresented in mental health research. 🇺🇸

At the CARES Lab, we’re working to change that.
Swipe to learn about key drivers of alcohol use in Latino communities—including discrimination and acculturative stress.

Understanding the "why" helps us build better, more accessible care. 🌟



Check out the CDC's data on alcohol use for more information: https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/about-alcohol-use/index.html

Today we're shouting out one of our amazing undergraduate Research Assistants, 🌟 Megan Peltier! 🌟 Swipe to see what Megan has learned in the CARES Lab and where she is going next.

Interested in our lab's work? Sign up for the MAMA Study today using the link in our bio!

🌟 CARES LAB NEWS! 🌟 Emily, a graduate student in our lab, presented a poster at the Texas Psychological Association Convention this weekend. Swipe to read more about her findings!

Interested in our lab's work? Sign up for the MAMA Study today using the link in our bio!

Welcome to the CARES Lab at Texas A&M University! 🌟 We are a psychology lab studying Culturally-informed Approaches to Research in Emotional health and Substance use. Swipe through this post and check out our account to learn more about our research!

Interested in getting involved in our work? Sign up for the MAMA Study using the link in our bio!

🧠 ARTICLE OVERVIEW! 🧠 This research out of the University of Denver explores how anxiety during pregnancy affects babies’ socioemotional development. Effects like these are why our lab is interested in studying prenatal anxiety and promoting better mental health for pregnant women!

Interested in our work on mental health during pregnancy? You can sign up for the MAMA Study and earn up to $550 using the link in our bio!

Read the full article here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165032723011692

⭐️ Local Resource Spotlight! ⭐️ Aggieland Pregnancy Outreach offers many services for both planned and unplanned pregnancies. They are a great resource for expectant moms in the Bryan/College Station area!

Interested in our work on mental health during pregnancy? You can sign up for the MAMA Study and earn up to $550 using the link in our bio!

If you’re feeling anxious during pregnancy, research shows that getting help early promotes the best outcomes for you and your baby. Talk to your doctor right away if you need resources for helping manage your mental health while pregnant! 💕

Interested in our work on mental health during pregnancy? You can sign up for the MAMA Study and earn up to $550 using the link in our bio!

Read this study by Susan Ayers and colleagues to learn more why getting help early for anxiety is the best course of action for pregnant women:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0887618524000173

During pregnancy, both the body and mind undergo major changes. This week, we’re digging into how these changes affect pregnant women’s mental health! 🧠🤰

Interested in our work on mental health during pregnancy? You can sign up for the MAMA Study and earn up to $550 using the link in our bio!

Here are some readings that provide more information about how the physiology of pregnancy impacts mental health, and that informed the content of this post…

1. https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/depression-during-pregnancy #:~:text=How%20common%20is%20depression%20during,for%20at%20least%202%20weeks
2. https://www.brownhealth.org/be-well/importance-integrating-maternal-mental-health-pregnancy-care
3. Jalal, S. M., Alsebeiy, S. H., & Alshealah, N. M. J. (2024). Stress, anxiety, and depression during pregnancy: A survey among antenatal women attending primary health centers. Healthcare, 12(22), 2227. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12222227
4. Griffen, A., McIntyre, L., Zahlaway Belsito, J., Burkhard, J., Davis, W., Kimmel, M., Stuebe, A., Clark, C., & Meltzer-Brody, S. (2021). Perinatal mental health care in the United States: An overview of policies and programs. Health Affairs, 40(10). https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2021.00796

Postpartum is a challenging time for many new moms! If you need support, you’re not alone. This week, we’re sharing resources for caring for yourself and your baby after birth! 🤱💞

Interested in our work on mental health during pregnancy? You can sign up for the MAMA Study and earn up to $550 using the link in our bio!

ABCT Provider Search: https://services.abct.org/i4a/memberDirectory/index.cfm?directory_id=3&pageID=3282

Here are some readings that provide more information about postpartum mental health and informed the tips we shared in this post…

1. Bauman BL, Ko JY, Cox S, et al. Vital Signs: Postpartum Depressive Symptoms and Provider Discussions About Perinatal Depression — United States, 2018. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2020;69:575–581. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6919a2.
2. Lambermon, F., Vandenbussche, F., Dedding, C., & van Duijnhoven, N. (2020). Maternal self-care in the early postpartum period: An integrative review. Midwifery, 90, 102799.

If you’re feeling anxious during your pregnancy, you’re not alone! Here are some tips to reduce stress and protect your mental health while you’re pregnant. 🧠💛

Interested in our work on mental health during pregnancy? You can sign up for the MAMA Study and earn up to $550 using the link in our bio!

Learn more about these tips for managing anxiety during pregnancy here: https://www.brownhealth.org/centers-services/multidisciplinary-obstetric-medicine-service-moms/anxiety-pregnancy