Departmental Affiliations
Center & Institute Affiliations
Tamar Mendelson, PhD, studies the development, evaluation, and dissemination of strategies to promote mental health among adolescents in under-resourced urban communities.
Research Interests
"Mental Health"; adolescent health; opportunity youth; health equity; prevention; school-based interventions; trauma; depression; mindfulness; yoga; critical consciousness
Experiences & Accomplishments
My research addresses the development, evaluation, and dissemination of prevention strategies to improve mental health among adolescents, with a focus on young people living in under-resourced in urban communities.
I am currently evaluating trauma-informed and mindfulness-based approaches for improving emotional and behavioral outcomes among middle school students. In addition, through the Center for Adolescent Health and the Bloomberg American Health Initiative, I collaborate with multiple partners to help reduce the number of young people who become disconnected from school, the workforce, and other key supports. I am particularly interested in research that includes young people's input and collaboration and advances health equity for young people.
Honors & Awards
BSPH Recognition for Excellence in Teaching (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2021, 2022, 2023)
Leadership Development Program: Influencer Program (2017-2018)
The Maryland Psychological Association of Graduate Students Mentoring Award (2012)
Finalist, Aspen Brain Forum Prize in Neuroeducation, Aspen Brain Forum Foundation and New York Academy of Sciences (2011)
Senior Investigator, Mind and Life Summer Institute (2010)
Faculty Innovations Fund Awardee, BSPH (2008-2009)
Career Development Institute (CDI) for Psychiatry, Stanford University, CA (2007)
Robert Wood Johnson Health and Society Scholar, Harvard University (2004-2006)
Robert E. Harris Memorial Award: Outstanding Clinical Psychology Fellow, University of California, San Francisco (2004)
NRSA Individual Predoctoral Fellowship from NIMH (2001-2002)
American Psychological Foundation Graduate Research Scholarship in Psychology (2001-2002)
Aleane Webb Dissertation Research Fellowship, Duke University (2001-2002)
James B. Duke Fellowship, Duke University (1997-2001)
Phi Beta Kappa, Yale University (1993)
Magna cum laude, Yale University (1993)
Distinction in the Humanities Major, Yale University (1993)
Marshall Dodge Prize for Philosophy, Yale University (1990)
Select Publications
Selected publications:
Sheridan, S., Clary, L.K., Webb, L.R., Stuart, E., & Mendelson, T. (2022). Associations of extracurricular activity participation with bullying victimization among U.S. middle and high school students: A nationally representative sample. Journal of School Violence, Epub ahead of print 24 August.
Bethell, C.D., Garner, A.S., Gombojav, N., Blackwell, C., Heller, L., & Mendelson, T. (2022). Social and relational health risks and common mental health problems among US children: The mitigating role of family resilience and connection to promote positive socio-emotional and school related outcomes. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 31, 45-70.
Webb, L., Musci, R. & Mendelson, T. (2021). Co-occurring mental health symptoms in urban adolescents: Comorbidity profiles and correlates. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 1-13. DOI: 10.1080/15374416.2021.1901228 PMID: 33819113.
Arnold, K.T., Pollack Porter, K.M., Frattaroli, S., Durham, R.E., Clary, L.K., & Mendelson, T. (2021). Multilevel barriers and facilitators to sustainability of a universal trauma-informed school-based mental health intervention following an efficacy trial: A qualitative study. School Mental Health. Epub 2 January. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12310-020-09402-w
Mendelson, T., Clary, L., Sibinga, E., Tandon, S.D., Musci, R., Mmari, K., Salkever, D., Stuart, E., & Ialongo, N. (2020). A randomized controlled trial of a trauma-informed school prevention program for urban youth: Rationale, design, and methods. Contemporary Clinical Trials, 90, 105895.