The Community Stress and Well-being Lab, located at the University of Memphis School of Public Health, was founded in 2025. The inspiration for the lab was driven by a timely need and place for mental health in a public health setting. As one of the first labs to be housed in the School of Public Health, the lab was created to improve outcomes to stress and mental health throughout the Midsouth, train graduate researchers, contribute to the School of Public Health CARES mission, and further increase the visibility and outreach of the School and the University.

Community and solution-based research projects housed in the lab, explore interpersonal, institutional, environmental, and community related stressors impacting campus community members and Memphis-Shelby County residents. Innovative lab projects aim to understand and highlight the social determinants patterning outcomes to stress and mental health among community members. Rigorous and creative methodological design and analysis are lab pillars, built to ensure accurate project findings and appropriate intervention.

The Community Stress and Well-being Lab, located at the University of Memphis School of Public Health, was founded in 2025. The inspiration for the lab was driven by a timely need and place for mental health in a public health setting. As one of the first labs to be housed in the School of Public Health, the lab was created to improve outcomes to stress and mental health throughout the Midsouth, train graduate researchers, contribute to the School of Public Health CARES mission and further increase the visibility and outreach of the School and the University.

Dr. Alex Parkhouse (second left) poses with his students Prada House, Chitra Ghosh and Dennis Tsegah for their inaugural lab meeting, February 2025.

Purpose and Objectives

Serve as a community partner to improve overall stress, mental health and well-being of the UofM campus community and residents of Memphis-Shelby County.
Collect and analyze data to provide evidence-driven, cutting-edge intervention and community-based solutions.
Provide meaningful and practical research training opportunities for students.
Be a collaborative bridge-building hub for interdisciplinary research teams and constituents both on and off-campus.