Healthy Mind Science

Examining Stress, Risk, and Resilience of Mood Disorders in the Adolescent Brain with Neuroscientist Dr. Ambra Coccaro

In this episode of Healthy Mind Science, we interview neuroscientist and researcher, Dr. Ambra Coccaro. Dr. Ambra Coccaro is a Post Doctoral Researcher at University of Colorado Boulder in the Institute of Cognitive Science and the RADD Lab (Research on Affective Disorders and Development).
Check out the study:
Coccaro, A., Cheng, Z., Ruzic, L., Moser, A. D., Jones, J., Peterson, E. C., Stern, E. F., Friedman, N. P., & Kaiser, R. H. (2025). Neurocognitive Biotypes of Risk and Resilience for Mood Disorders in Adolescents: Insights From Behavioral and Graph-Theoretic Network Markers. Biological psychiatry global open science, 5(6), 100563. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpsgos.2025.100563 
Center for Healthy Mind and Mood website
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Connect with host, Dr. Alicia Sepulveda 
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Co-Design Research Study Elevating Youth Voice and Building Trust with Schools with Dr. Leah Teeters

In this episode of Healthy Mind Science, Dr. Leah Teeters discusses her work which focuses on bridging the gap between research and practice in education. The conversation explores the importance of community involvement and co-designed research and the innovative Circles de Confianza study, which uses storytelling to enhance trust and belonging in schools. Dr. Teeters emphasizes the need for educators to include student voices in the decision-making process and highlights practical takeaways for parents and educators to support youth mental health and well-being.
Takeaways
The importance of translating research into practical applications for educators.
Building emotional resilience in young people is crucial.
Community involvement enhances educational practices.
Students' voices are essential in shaping educational policies.
Trust and belonging are foundational for student well-being.
Storytelling can be a powerful tool for engagement.
High expectations from educators positively impact students.
To read the study: Teeters, L. P., Trejo, B., Gleason, E., Zigarelli, J. C., Shedro, M., Alvarez, A., & Schultz, K. (2022). Circles de Confianza: Promoting the Well-being of Latine Youth via Multimodal Testimonio. Journal of Latinos and Education, 22(5), 2151–2163. https://doi.org/10.1080/15348431.2022...
Follow the Center for Healthy Mind and Mood on LinkedIn to stay up to date on the latest podcasts and research promoting emotional resilience and healthy mood in young people. 
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Mindfulness Reduces College Student Anxiety, with Clinical Psychology and Neuroscience PhD student, Amelia Moser

In this episode of Healthy Mind Science, Dr. Alicia Sepulveda speaks with Amelia Moser, a PhD student in clinical psychology and neuroscience, about her research on mood disorders and anxiety in adolescents and young adults. They discuss the impact of COVID-19 on mental health, the design and findings of a study on mindfulness and behavioral activation, and the practical implications for educators and parents. The conversation emphasizes the importance of integrating simple mindfulness practices into daily life to improve mental health outcomes for young people.
 
Takeaways
Amelia Moser is a PhD student focused on mood disorders.
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted college students' mental health.
Mindfulness practices can be simple yet effective for improving mental health.
The study showed that small changes can lead to significant improvements in anxiety.
Intolerance of uncertainty is a key factor in anxiety during stressful times.
Mindfulness can be integrated into daily routines easily.
Modeling mindfulness behaviors is crucial for educators and parents.
The study used a pre-registered design to ensure scientific integrity.
Participants who engaged more frequently in mindfulness activities saw better outcomes.
Future research will explore additional interventions for mood disorders.
To dive deeper into the study: 
Moser, A.D., Neilson, C., Peterson, E.C. et al. Self-Guided Mindfulness Reduces College Student Anxiety: A Scalable, Preregistered Pilot Study. Mindfulness 15, 1362–1374 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-024-02364-z
Connect with Amelia Moser on LinkedIn
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Check out the Center for Healthy Mind and Mood at University of Colorado Boulder
 

Bias in AI, Digital Mental Health Tools, and Educating Young People about AI: Interview with Computer Scientist and Engineer, Dr. Theodora Chaspari

In this episode of Healthy Minds Science, Dr. Alicia Sepulveda speaks with Dr. Theodora Ciasparri about the intersection of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and mental health. They explore the implications of demographic bias in machine learning algorithms, particularly in the context of speech-based models used for digital health. The conversation highlights the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, the challenges of integrating AI into mental health treatment, and the need for education around AI for young people. Dr. Ciasparri shares insights from her research on socio-demographic disparities in mental health outcomes and emphasizes the necessity of user-centric design in developing effective digital health technologies.
Articles Discussed: 
Timmons, A. C., Duong, J. B., Simo Fiallo, N., Lee, T., Vo, H. P. Q., Ahle, M. W., Comer, J. S., Brewer, L. C., Frazier, S. L., & Chaspari, T. (2023). A Call to Action on Assessing and Mitigating Bias in Artificial Intelligence Applications for Mental Health. Perspectives on psychological science : a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, 18(5), 1062–1096. https://doi.org/10.1177/17456916221134490
Yang, M., El-Attar, A. A., & Chaspari, T. (2024). Deconstructing demographic bias in speech-based machine learning models for digital health. Frontiers in digital health, 6, 1351637. https://doi.org/10.3389/fdgth.2024.1351637
Takeaways
Interdisciplinary collaboration enhances understanding of human behavior.
Demographic bias in AI can lead to disparities in healthcare outcomes.
Speech characteristics can indicate mental health conditions like depression.
Digital health technologies can improve real-world patient monitoring.
AI algorithms are influenced by human decision-making processes.
Education about AI is crucial for young people.
Ethical considerations are essential in deploying digital health technologies.
Machine learning models may not accurately reflect demographic differences.
User input is vital in the development of AI technologies.
The digital footprint of youth is expanding rapidly.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Healthy Minds Science and Guest Background02:51 Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Human Behavior Research05:50 Understanding Demographic Bias in Machine Learning07:00 Exploring Speech-Based Machine Learning Models09:51 The Role of Digital Health in Mental Health Monitoring12:46 Implications of Socio-Demographic Disparities in AI16:00 The Importance of Education in AI for Young People18:37 Future Directions in AI and Digital Health Research
Keywords
mental health, AI, machine learning, demographic bias, digital health, speech analysis, youth education, interdisciplinary research, emotional resilience, healthcare disparities
Connect on LinkedIn: 
Dr. Theodora Chaspari: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chaspari/ 
Dr. Alicia Sepulveda: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alicia-sepulveda/
Center for Healthy Mind and Mood at CU Boulder: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mind-and-mood/ 
 

The State and Future of Youth Mental Health and Depression Research with Clinical Psychologist and Neuroscientist, Dr. Roselinde Kaiser

In this episode of Healthy Mind Science, host Dr. Alicia Sepulveda engages with Dr. Rosi Kaiser to explore the complexities of youth mental health, particularly focusing on depression. Dr. Rosi Kaiser is an Associate Professor, Clinical Psychologist, Neuroscientist, and Director of the Center for Healthy Mind at University of Colorado Boulder. In this episode, they discuss the importance of emotional wellness, the need for early intervention, and the value of incorporating lived experiences into research. Dr. Kaiser emphasizes the necessity of personalized treatment approaches and shares practical strategies for parents and educators to support young people. The conversation also highlights the future directions of mental health research and the innovative programs being developed at the Center for Healthy Mind and Mood. 
Takeaways 
-Emotional wellness is a cornerstone of overall health. 
-Depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide. 
-Young people are at heightened risk for depression during adolescence. 
-Effective early intervention can have lifelong benefits. 
-Complexity in mental health requires interdisciplinary solutions. 
-Lived experience provides valuable insights into mental health priorities. 
-Personalization in treatment is crucial for effectiveness. 
-Regular sleep, physical activity, and nutrition are foundational for mental health. 
-Social connections are vital for adolescents' emotional well-being. 
-Research should prioritize real-world impact alongside discovery. 
To learn more about the Center: https://www.colorado.edu/center/mindandmood/
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Connect with Dr. Roselinde Kaiser on LinkedIn
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