Bioethics and the Use of Real-World Mental Health Data (2023-2024)
Real-world mental health data (RWMHD) holds great promise for revolutionizing mental healthcare by providing valuable insights into treatment responses, personalized care and the underlying social determinants of mental health. However, to fully realize its potential benefits, it is imperative to address ethical considerations related to privacy, data protection and informed consent.
This project team examined these challenges, shedding light on the limitations posed by existing policy frameworks such as HIPAA. Team members worked to understand the landscape of RWMHD usage in both clinical and research environments, aiming to identify the most commonly used types of RWMHD in these settings, exploring the legal frameworks governing the transfer and utilization of RWMHD at both national and international levels, and delving into the bioethical considerations pertinent to policymakers and stakeholders, emphasizing the need for ethical and responsible use of RWMHD to safeguard privacy, autonomy and well-being.
Learn more about this team’s work by reading their team profile.
Timing
Fall 2023 – Spring 2024
Team Outputs
Revolutionizing Mental Healthcare With Data (Team profile; 2024 Fortin Foundation Bass Connections Virtual Showcase)
Real-World Mental Health Data: Unveiling Opportunities and Ethical Challenges (Poster presented at Fortin Foundation Bass Connections Showcase, April 17, 2024)
Comparative Analysis of Bioethical Considerations in Real-World Mental Health Data Regulation (Poster presented at Precision Medicine Tri-Con, San Diego, California, March 26-28, 2024)
Evaluating Health Data Regulations in the Era of Advanced Technologies: A Focus on Mental Health Data Ethics (Poster presented at Health Data Science Poster Showcase, Duke University, December 8, 2023)
This Team in the News
Meet the Members of the 2023-2024 Student Advisory Council
Image: State and Substate Estimates, from Substance Abuse and Mental Health Data Archive, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Team Leaders
- Rachele Hendricks Sturrup, Margolis Center for Health Policy
- Maryam Nafie, Margolis Center for Health Policy
- Frank Sloan, Arts & Sciences-Economics
- Sandra Yankah, Margolis Center for Health Policy
/graduate Team Members
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Nathaniel Einfeldt, Health Sector Management, Business Administration-MBA
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Hanyue Liang, Statistical Science - MS
/undergraduate Team Members
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Fedora Castelino, Biology (BS)
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Michael Kiel
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Riya Mohan, Program II (AB)
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Laura Wang, Neuroscience (BS)
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Ellen Zeng