Behavioral Health

Children and Teen Mental Health Support

About 1 in 5 children are diagnosed with a mental health disorder. The earlier these issues are identified, the better the probable outcome for those youth. Westat’s children’s mental health experts promote effective individual and systems-level approaches to safeguard these children. We look to strengthen mental health systems support for youth and their families by analyzing the evidence-based data, evaluating programs, and recommending initiatives. Our research helps to improve existing programs and develop new ones so that these individuals get the support and services they need to thrive.

Drug Use Surveillance

Drug use, abuse, addiction, prevention, treatment, recovery. Westat examines the full spectrum of drug use, from the clinical standpoint of the effects on the body to trends in drug use on the street to how it spills into crime. We’re on-site in emergency rooms to find real-time trends and gathering data in clinical and community sites for evidence-based applications that work for treatment and recovery.

Mental Health Services for Adults

Coping with a mental health issue can go beyond health in general. It can affect personal and community relationships, even the ability to gain and keep a job. Mental disorders can be entwined with other issues, such as substance abuse and trauma. Westat works to reduce the impact of mental illness by using evidence-based data to evaluate practices and programs, improve access to services, and disseminate findings to stakeholders and policymakers. The goal is simple: improve prevention, treatment, and recovery support services for those challenged with mental illness.

Opioids

The statistics are staggering; the toll to families, communities, and society is devastating. Westat has the expert base to examine this issue on all levels: local and federal, rural and urban, adults and youth. We are helping communities through our research and communications support, sharing knowledge and tools by evaluating what works to help people in treatment and recovery from opioid addiction.

Tobacco

Working closely with our clients, Westat conducts diverse and groundbreaking tobacco studies that explore the modern tobacco landscape, studying cessation and reducing tobacco-related health disparities. We also examine how marketing activities, particularly social media, influence tobacco use. We inform and support policymakers, program officials, and scientific researchers in investigating various health and social aspects of tobacco use.