Welcome to the REACH Lab!

The Resilience, Equity, and Community Health (REACH) Lab at Rutgers University–Camden is dedicated to advancing research that examines the social, cultural, and contextual factors that shape mental health and psychological well-being, particularly among historically marginalized and underserved populations.

Our research focuses on understanding mental health disparities, resilience, and pathways to psychological well-being, with particular attention to the experiences of Black women and communities of color. Areas of inquiry include the Strong Black Woman/Superwoman Schema, gendered racism, stress and coping, mental health help-seeking, and maternal and perinatal mental health.

Drawing on quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods approaches, our work seeks to illuminate the complex ways that individual experiences, interpersonal relationships, and broader social and structural conditions influence mental health and access to care.

Under the direction of Dr. Tamara Nelson Calhoun, the REACH Lab also serves as a collaborative space for undergraduate and graduate students to develop research skills, engage in meaningful scholarship, and contribute to research that advances mental health equity.

Our goal is to produce rigorous, culturally responsive research that informs practice, strengthens communities, and promotes psychological well-being.