PSYC Podcast Explores How Mental Health is ‘A Maryland Issue—and a Terp Issue’

University of Maryland Psychology Faculty Joey Barnet and Michael Dougherty discuss Maryland's pressing mental health needs with policy advocates for NAMI-Maryland as part of a special podcast episode.

If you’re a student at the University of Maryland—or an alumnus—you’ve probably seen firsthand how mental health shapes campus life. Maybe you’ve supported a friend struggling with anxiety. Maybe you’ve faced burnout, grief, or depression yourself. Or maybe you’ve simply noticed the growing conversation around well-being across campus. 

If you track wellness statistics, you may already know the scope of mental health problems in the United States. But in case you don’t, I think it’s important to share some eye-opening figures:
●    1 in 5 adults in Maryland lives with a mental health condition;
●    More than one-third of middle school students report persistent sadness or hopelessness; and
●    Nearly 40% of high school students say the same.

These aren’t distant statistics. These are future Terps. Former Terps. Roommates. Classmates. Teammates. Friends. Neighbors. And family. 

In this episode of Cracking the Shell on Psychological Science, we talk with Michael Gray, a longtime mental health policy advocate and former deputy director of NAMI‑Maryland. NAMI is the National Alliance on Mental Illness, an important collaborator in the American mental health landscape. 

Gray shares what he learned from years on the front lines, and the role that NAMI-Maryland plays in listening to Maryland families, providing support to families in need, and fighting for policy changes that make mental health care easier to access.

Join us for this special episode as part of the Podcasthon Charity drive, as we explore how NAMI-Maryland is working to make mental health care more compassionate, more equitable, and more responsive to the needs of Marylanders—including the UMD community. 

Listen to the Podcast

To learn more about NAMI-Maryland’s mission, and to learn more about how you can contribute, visit https://namimd.org.

Published on Wed, Mar 18, 2026 - 10:05AM