Mental health

America's mental health crisis can only be addressed through innovative, interdisciplinary approaches—the kind that are being developed at Notre Dame.

Rear view of a person in a light green “mental health matters” t-shirt, holding a clipboard on a sunny day at Notre Dame. The Word of Life mural and Hesburgh Library are in the background. Close-up of several colorful sticky notes on a dark, reflective surface. A yellow note in focus reads “I can do it!” with a smiley face. Other pink, blue, and yellow notes are visible. ALT

Article

A tidal wave of pills

Notre Dame economists help determine how to remediate the opioid crisis

A bridge spans a river

Article

Fighting to combat America's mental health crisis

Notre Dame is building a new clinic to advance research, education, and clinical care to address mental health issues

A young man with curly dark hair and a tan suit jacket looks directly at the viewer, standing before a dark blue background displaying a glowing brain scan and digital medical data.
  • A woman in a blue shirt and black skirt gestures as she presents to a classroom of students.

    Article

    Fighting to combat the opioid crisis

    Computer science professor advances artificial intelligence to dismantle the complex networks that create and traffic deadly opioids.

  • A gloved hand holding a sample of fentanyl in a test tube.

    Article

    Taking her science to the streets

    A Notre Dame chemist decided to let the local community’s needs drive her scientific process and found herself in the fight against fentanyl.

  2. Two women and a boy sit around a table looking at papers and stickers. A teddy bear with a device sits on the table next to the woman in blue.

    Article

    Testing emotional resiliency

    Graduate psychology student Katie Edler aims to improve mental health.

  3. A young Black boy in a red sweater plays with yellow and red toy blocks from a black bin.

    Article

    The forest and the trees

    Notre Dame research provides complementary angles on childhood adversity

  4. A woman with shoulder-length brown hair and glasses sits in a gray chair in front of bookshelves. She wears a navy blue suit jacket over a light blue v-neck shirt and a gold chain necklace. She is posed with her hands resting on the arms of the chair.

    Podcast

    The future of mental health care with Notre Dame's Sarah Mustillo

    In this episode of Notre Dame Stories, we go deep on a topic featured in the University’s award-winning series, “What Would You Fight For?” In an in-depth conversation, Sarah Mustillo discusses the bold University initiative around mental health. She talks about her own research into childhood trauma, and how it helps to inform her approach. Later, we also chat with Austin Wyman, a Notre Dame doctoral student. Austin has his own personal story of how he became interested in studying quantitative psychology. Learn about the University’s commitment to combat America’s mental health crisis.

  5. A woman with long brown hair wearing a bright blue v-neck sweater sits at a table.

    Video

    ND:30 - Kristin Valentino

    Psychologist Kristin Valentino studies memory among children abused or neglected and develops interventions to help them better cope with their emotions.

  7. Main Building and Dome

    News

    Notre Dame partners to grow Indiana’s mental health workforce

    The University of Notre Dame is part of a statewide effort to address the mental health workforce shortage. In partnership with WISE Indiana, the University is contracted to help enhance the recruitment, retention and quality of Indiana’s behavioral health workforce. 

  9. Headshots of two smiling women. On the left is Kristin Valentino, presenting as a woman with long brown hair wears a bright blue v-neck top. On the right is Laura Miller-Graff presenting as a woman with long, lighter brown hair wears a gray blazer.

    News

    New leaders named at Veldman Family Psychology Clinic and Shaw Center for Children and Families

Discover and engage
  1. A woman with short dark hair smiles slightly while looking off-camera. She wears a brown, fleece-lined winter jacket. In the background, snow rests on dried plants in front of a tan brick wall.

    Podcast

    Cold plunges and unicorns

    Anthropologist Cara Ocobock reveals what extreme cold reveals about our bodies and human resilience, and why hunting a “unicorn” is harder than it looks.

  2. A snow-covered parking lot at the University of Notre Dame. Dozens of cars are buried under thick mounds of white snow, with one yellow Jeep featuring an ND logo on the spare tire cover visible amidst the winter landscape.

    Photo Essay

    Plunging into winter

    The month in photos, January 2026

  3. A wooden mannequin is manipulated like a marionette by two large, silhouetted hands from above. The background is divided vertically down the center into solid blue and red sections, symbolizing themes of control and political polarization.

    Article

    Are we social media's puppets?

    Peacebuilder Lisa Schirch believes better tech platforms can bolster democracy.

  4. Aerial view of the University of Notre Dame campus covered in snow at sunset. The Golden Dome and Basilica of the Sacred Heart spire stand against a vibrant orange sky above snow-dusted rooftops and a central quad with intersecting walkways.

    Article

    Sustainers of hope: How Notre Dame pursued breakthroughs for a world in need in 2025

    The year in review.

  5. A bright lightning bolt flashes down behind the dark spire of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart and the illuminated Golden Dome of Notre Dame's Main Building under a grey, stormy sky.

    Photo Essay

    25 images of 2025

    From the changing built environment to the changing seasons, every one of the 365 days of 2025 looked different.

  6. Snowy winter night at the University of Notre Dame. The Golden Dome of the Main Building and the spire of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart glow, surrounded by warm lights and a blue-lit Christmas tree.

    Video

    Merry Christmas from Notre Dame

  7. A smiling woman with glasses and brown hair pulled back stands in front of a dark blue background with abstract white digital lines and binary code.

    Podcast

    A human-centered framework for AI ethics

    In this episode, Meghan Sullivan explains the DELTA framework, a human-centered approach to AI ethics—and why the choices we make today will define how this powerful technology shapes our future.

  8. Aerial view of a red and organge sunset over the skyline of the Notre Dame campus

    Photo Essay

    A blend of seasons

    The month in photos, November 2025

  9. Aerial view of the classical, domed former Gary City Hall building with a 'Welcome to Gary' sign on the front lawn.

    Article

    Fighting for community regeneration

    Gary, Indiana, has been a song lyric, a cultural hub, a stigma, a city to rush past, but now it is poised to revitalize, thanks in part to Notre Dame's School of Architecture.