UNC Psychiatry

09/02/2026

September is Su***de Prevention Month — a time to raise awareness, reduce stigma and remind our communities that help is available.

At UNC Psychiatry, su***de prevention is a critical part of our mission. Through compassionate clinical care, innovative research, education and training, and community partnerships, we are working to better understand su***de risk and develop effective strategies to save lives.

The UNC Su***de Prevention Institute brings together experts across disciplines to advance this work and strengthen su***de prevention efforts in North Carolina and beyond.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Su***de & Crisis Lifeline. Support is available 24/7.

Learn more about the UNC Su***de Prevention Institute: https://www.med.unc.edu/psych/research/su***de-prevention-institute/

09/02/2026

UNC Psychiatry’s Riah Patterson, MD, MPH, and Julia Riddle, MD, spoke with The New York Times about how the Lindsay Clancy trial is affecting patients and providers — and what the heightened attention reveals about gaps in maternal mental health care.

“We are seeing just an abundance of suffering and people being on high alert around their own symptoms,” Patterson said.

Riddle described hearing from patients frightened that previously experienced intrusive thoughts could return or worsen: “I know what it’s like to have scary thoughts. What if that happens to me again?”

Both experts also discussed increased requests from health care providers for guidance on distinguishing postpartum psychosis from more common perinatal mental health conditions and emphasized the need for better education, research and access to specialized care.

Requests for advice from women with maternal mental health conditions, as well as health providers who care for them, have surged.

09/02/2026

“It takes a village to raise a child, but it takes a village to take care of a mother and a family.”

UNC Center for Women's Mood Disorders' Julia Riddle, MD, joined NPR’s Consider This to discuss the Lindsay Clancy trial and what it can teach us about maternal mental health care.

Riddle discusses postpartum psychosis, the importance of specialized training and care, and the need to better support mothers and families before a mental health crisis occurs.

Read or listen:

Lindsay Clancy is currently on trial for killing her three children.Prosecutors say the murders were intentional, but her defense team says she was suffering from severe postpartum psychosis -- a condition that does not have a distinct diagnosis in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Dis...

08/26/2026

What is postpartum psychosis, and what should families know about this rare but serious condition?

UNC Psychiatry’s Crystal Schiller, PhD, Director of the UNC Center for Women's Mood Disorders, spoke with NBC News about postpartum psychosis as the condition takes center stage in the ongoing Lindsay Clancy trial.

Watch the segment to hear Dr. Schiller help explain postpartum psychosis, its symptoms and the importance of recognizing when a new mother may be experiencing a psychiatric emergency.

Lindsay Clancy’s lawyers say a rare mental health condition caused her to kill her three children. So what is postpartum psychosis, and why is it so difficult to diagnose and treat? NBC News' Erika Edwards reports.

08/26/2026

A UNC Psychiatry project is helping inspire a new approach to supportive housing for veterans in Raleigh.

A new The News & Observer story highlights the UNC Center for Excellence in Community Mental Health’s Tiny Homes Village at the Farm at Penny Lane as a model for a planned 10-home veterans community in Raleigh.

Learn how the Tiny Homes Village is demonstrating the role stable housing, community and supportive services can play in mental health and recovery.

Nonprofits are bringing 10 tiny homes to Raleigh for veterans facing homelessness and housing insecurity. Hear a veteran speak in our story.

08/24/2026

Get to know us!

Charissa Gray, MPH, MSW
Virtual Care Division Program Manager
IMPACTT-NC Program Director

"I am grateful daily for the gift of a job that I care deeply about and is doing good work in our state. Right now, I am particularly excited about innovative ways to offer virtual services rooted in community voice and choice. I think virtual care holds deep promise for increasing access for many throughout our state and is most effective when intertwined with local trusted partners. It is an exciting time to be engaged in this work!"

08/24/2026

We’re growing! The UNC Center for Women's Mood Disorders is recruiting two new colleagues to join our multidisciplinary team dedicated to advancing reproductive mental health care.

🔹 Psychologist: We’re seeking a clinician with expertise in perinatal and reproductive mental health who is passionate about evidence-based psychotherapy and collaborative care in an academic medical setting. Opportunities for supervision, teaching and program development are available.

Learn more and apply: https://unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/323512

🔹 Reproductive Psychiatrist (MD/DO): We’re seeking a psychiatrist interested in caring for women throughout the reproductive life cycle across multiple settings, including inpatient and outpatient care and our access line.

Learn more and apply: https://unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/324212

08/24/2026

Dr. Joe Piven and Dr. Laura Klinger recently joined researchers from across the country for an NIH webinar highlighting progress and future directions for the Autism Data Science Initiative.

The initiative — and the researchers behind it — are now in the national spotlight as they work to advance our understanding of autism through large-scale data science.

First public presentation of studies on environmental factors touts rigorous science amid charged political climate

08/24/2026

New research involving Dr. Cynthia Bulik is shedding light on the distinct biology behind binge eating and anorexia nervosa.

In a landmark global study, researchers mapped and compared the genetic profiles of the two conditions for the first time, identifying important differences that could ultimately help pave the way for more precise, biology-based treatments for eating disorders.

“Clearly a one-size-fits-all approach to treating all eating disorders is not the way to go,” Bulik said.

Read more:

A new study conducted by an international team of researchers including eating disorder expert Dr. Cynthia Bulik suggests understanding the specific genetic patterns of each disorder could lead to more tailored treatments for patients.

08/19/2026

A new school can be a big adjustment for kids — and parents can play an important role in making the transition easier.

Katherine Everett, MA, of UNC Health Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Prestwick, shares five practical tips for helping children navigate a new school, from validating their feelings and establishing routines to recognizing when they may need additional support.

Navigating this change will take time.