UNC Psychiatry

06/15/2026

Get to know us!

Sonyia Richardson, PhD, LCSW, Assistant Professor
John A. Tate Early Career Distinguished Fellow for Children in Need

"The most meaningful part of my work right now is being able to stand alongside communities in North Carolina as we work to prevent youth su***de. What moves me most is seeing young people, caregivers, community leaders, and providers come together with real urgency and hope to protect the youth who are most at risk."

06/15/2026

"We live in a society that doesn’t always value older adults and doesn’t always talk about what it means to age well,” Dr. Baker says. “How do you expect an older person to feel when there’s so much content about anti-aging? That has implications on mental health, in addition to not feeling comfortable talking to someone about it.”

Assumptions about aging can affect how we treat certain symptoms.

06/05/2026

The UNC Addiction Medicine Fellowship is a unique 12-month program crossing several disciplines and specialties, with the goal of training the next generation of addiction medicine specialists.

https://www.med.unc.edu/psych/education/fellowships/addiction-medicine-fellowship/

06/04/2026

Dr. Smith is a clinical psychologist and biostatistician interested in the roles of lifestyle modification and physical health as helping to improve common mental health problems and age-related cognitive impairment. He is a native Tarheel, growing up in Chapel Hill and attending UNC-CH on a music performance scholarship. After obtaining his PhD in psychology from Duke and MPH from UNC in biostatistics, he completed postdoctoral training in both behavioral medicine and clinical neuropsychology.

https://research.com/scientists-rankings/psychology

06/01/2026

"My goal is to connect patients and families with the care, education, and resources they need to heal. I’m passionate about using communications to help break the stigma surrounding mental illness. By sharing accurate information, human stories, and hopeful messages, we can make mental health care feel more approachable and normalize seeking support."- Samantha Stassinopoulos, Communications Director

06/01/2026

Men’s mental health matters. Strength isn’t about staying silent—it’s about knowing when to pause, speak up, and ask for support. Taking care of your mental health helps you show up better for yourself, your family, and your community. You don’t have to carry it alone. 💙

05/28/2026

Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month is a reminder that postpartum depression is real, common, and too often misunderstood. The MomGenes Study, led in partnership with researchers at the UNC Psychiatry, is working to better understand how genetics, stress, trauma, and lived experiences impact postpartum depression — especially among Black and Latina mothers who have historically been underrepresented in research.

By sharing your story through a confidential survey — and optionally participating in an at-home DNA sample kit — you can help researchers move toward more personalized, equitable care for moms everywhere.

This research has the potential to shape the future of maternal mental health care for generations to come.

https://momgenesfightppd.org/

05/28/2026

Dr. Hooper directs a long-standing Child and Adolescent Neuropsychology Service through the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities where he sees children and their families with a wide variety of neurodevelopment and acquired neurological disorders. In the training arena, this clinic has allowed for the participation of trainees across a number of different disciplines. In addition to the clinical training experiences provided via the Child and Adolescent Neuropsychology Service, Dr. Hooper conducts an annual class via the UNC School of Education that addresses core issues in brain development, brain structure, and brain functions, and how these factors contribute to the neurological basis of childhood exceptionalities.

https://research.com/scientists-rankings/psychology

05/27/2026

Mental health care for children and teens can’t wait. 💙

UNC Health’s Youth Behavioral Health Hospital is helping expand access to specialized inpatient care for young people facing mental health crises across North Carolina. Located in Butner, the 54-bed facility offers a first-of-its-kind model of care for children and adolescents — including those with developmental disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, and substance-use conditions.

By bringing together psychiatry, therapy, family support, and whole-person care, this team is working to give young patients the support they need to heal, recover, and return home stronger.

Thank you to Univision for highlighting this important work and the growing conversation around youth mental health.

Mayra Rodas conversa con Carlos Sierra, especialista en salud conductual juvenil, sobre la importancia de identificar a tiempo los trastornos de salud mental en niños y adolescentes.

05/27/2026

Dr. Crystal Schiller, the Director of the UNC Center for Women's Mood Disorders spoke about the importance of knowing the signs of mental health impacts during postpartum for mothers and fathers. She explains why having a community ready to rally behind parents who are welcoming a new baby can make a world of a difference to the family.

https://www.wral.com/video/mental-health-for-parents-during-postpartum/22360062/

Dr. Crystal Schiller, the Director of the UNC Center for Women's Mood Disorders spoke about the importance of knowing the signs of mental health impacts during postpartum for mothers and fathers. She explains why having a community ready to rally behind parents who are welcoming a new baby can make....