Projects & Publications
Improving Pediatric Primary Care Capacity for Suicide Prevention (PED SAFE)
The PED SAFE study employed user-testing to develop a pediatric primary care-based youth suicide prevention intervention: First Approach Skills Training-Safety (FAST-S). Currently in the second phase of this study, we are pilot testing FAST-S in pediatric primary care settings in order to evaluate preliminary effectiveness, feasibility, acceptability, and appropriateness.
Evaluation of First Approach Skills Training (FAST) Program
The FAST programs are evidence-informed, brief, primary care-based interventions for common youth mental health problems. This study uses retrospective and prospective data collection with youth engaged in primary care-based mental health treatment using the FAST interventions. Prospective data collection will include longitudinal data assessment before, during, and after FAST. Youth, families, and clinicians participate in this study.
Improving access to anxiety treatment for rural youth
This study will evaluate the effectiveness of a self-guided, video-based version of a brief,
exposure-based anxiety treatment in a sample of rural youth across Maine. Participants will
engage in self-guided treatment for up to 8-weeks and answer surveys about their anxiety,
mental health, and overall functioning.
Developing a scalable digital program to treat youth anxiety
In collaboration with partners at University of North Carolina and with funding from the Fullerton
Foundation this project will adapt a brief, exposure-based youth anxiety intervention (First Approach Skills Training-Anxiety; FAST-A) to a widely accessible and free digital format so that youth and families can access exposure therapy on their own.
Caregivers’ Perspectives on Youth Mental Health & Suicide Prevention
This cross-sectional study recruited caregivers of youth across the United States to inform youth suicide prevention and treatment engagement interventions, with emphasis on rural areas.
Systematic Reviews & Meta-Analyses
The lab frequently engages in systematic reviews and meta-analyses related to youth mental health. Current projects include: integrated mental healthcare in juvenile justice settings, use of task shifting for youth mental health treatment, and psychometric evaluation of youth suicide risk assessment tools.
Publications
Blossom, J. B., Jungbluth, N., Bolden, C., Woodruff, M. A., Pringle, W., Read, K. L., Jenness, J. L., Martin, B., & Schoenfelder Gonzalez, E. (2024). Evaluation of the first approach skills training (FAST) integrated Pediatric Primary Care Program: Implementation and Clinical Effectiveness. (In Press). Evidence-Based Practice in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1080/23794925.2024.2330397
+Schuttenberg, E. M.*, +Pastro, B.*, Kelberman, C.*, Cohen-Gilbert J.E., Stein, E., Rieselbach, M., Sneider, J.T., Blossom, J.B., Keuroghlian, A.D., & Silveri, M. M. (2025). Mental health outcomes in sexual minority adolescent patients in acute residential treatment: Differential patterns in emotion regulation across time. Journal of Affective Disorders.
Jungbluth, N. J., Bolden, C. R.,* Gonzalez, E., Metzger, I. W., & Blossom, J. B. (2025). Pilot evaluation of a primary care-based program for supporting youth following traumatic events: First Approach Skills Training for Trauma (FAST-T). Cognitive and Behavioral Practice.
Blossom, J. B., Bolden, C.,* Jenness, J. L., Jungbluth, N., Green, A.,* Guajardo, K.,* & Schoenfelder-Gonzalez, E. (2024). Expanding the behavioral health workforce: The First Approach Skills Training model. Evidence-Based Practice in Child and Adolescent Mental Health. Advance online publication.
Adrian, M., Twohy, E., Babeva, K., Jenness, J., Gurtovenko, K., Blossom, J. B., King, S., McCartney, L., & McCauley, E. (in press). A unique model of care for youth in crisis: A pilot open trial. Psychological Services.
Blossom, J. B., Jungbluth, N., Dillon-Naftolin, E., & French, W. (2023). Treatment of anxiety disorders in the pediatric primary care setting. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics, 32(3), 601-611. doi:10.1016/j.chc.2023.02.003
McGuire, A.,* Kriegshauser, K., & Blossom, J. B. (in press). What parents think vs. what parents do: Examining parental accommodation beliefs and behaviors in relation to youth anxiety in the presence of externalizing concerns. Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders. Advance online publication.
Kriegshauser, K., Sexton, C. C., Bozsik, F., Blossom, J. B., Wiese, A., Adams Larsen, M., & Hale, L. (2022). The feasibility of a family-focused CBT skills App: Anchors Away. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice. Advance online publication.
Blossom, J. B., Ridge-Anderson, A., Adrian, M. C., & Jobes, D. (2022). A developmentally-informed approach to the Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicide (CAMS) for Adolescents (CAMS-4Teens) and engaging parents in treatment. Practice Innovations, 7(4), 303-312. doi:10.1037/pri0000189
Conference Presentations
Blossom, J. B., Green, A.E.*, & Guajardo, K.B.* (2025 March). Building Community Connections to Improve Youth Suicide Prevention. Conference Presentation: Beyond the Basics in Suicide Prevention: Planting Seeds of Hope. NAMI Maine, Portland, ME.
Blossom, J.B. Jenness, J.L. Jungbluth, N., Bolden, C., Green, A.*, Guajardo, K.*, Gonzalez, E.S. (2024 April). Expanding the behavioral health workforce: The First Approach Skills Training model. Symposium presented at the Society of Pediatric Psychology Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA.
Blossom, J. B., Green, A.*, Guajardo, K.*, Brown, L., Walter, D., Schwartz-Mette, R., Kelberman, C.*, & Schuttenberg, E.* (2024 April). Improving Youth Suicide Prevention in Primary Care: Co-designing a Brief, Evidence-Informed Model of Care. [Symposium presentation]. 2024 Anxiety and Depression Association of America Annual Conference, Boston, MA.
Blossom, J. B., Green, A.*, Guajardo, K.*, Brown, L., Walter, D., Schwartz-Mette, R., Kelberman, C., & Schuttenberg, E.* (2023 October). Brief intervention for youth suicide risk in primary care. [Conference presentation]. 2nd Annual Maine Research Symposium – Mental Health. Orono, ME.
Poster Presentations
Pastro, B. Schuttenberg, E.M.,* Blossom, J. B., & Andover, M. (2024, June) Digital resilience for rural LGBTQ+ adolescents: Can online LGBTQ+ community buffer risk for NSSI? Poster presentation: Conference of the International Society for the Study of Self Injury, Ontario, Canada.
Ingersoll, D.,** Green, A.E.,* & Blossom, J.B. (2025, April). Evaluating the Role of Problem-Solving as a Moderator for the Relationship Between Emotion Regulation and Eating Disordered Behaviors in Youth. University of Maine Student Symposium, Orono, ME.
Milius, H.,* Parmar, P.,* Nichols, I.,** Blossom, J. B. (2025, April). Disentangling the relationship between caregiver help-seeking attitudes, beliefs regarding youth suicide, and barriers to accessing mental health care. Poster to be presented: Anxiety and Depression Conference (ADAA) Conference, Las Vegas, NV.
Okeh, O. D., Blossom, J. B., Milius, H.,* Ferreira, A.,** Audu, V. E. I., Adubale, A., Dimka, P., & Ogbodu, R (2025, April). Poster to be presented: Pilot implementation of evidence-based depression treatment for youths involved in the legal system. Anxiety and Depression Association of America 2025 Annual Conference, Las Vegas, NV.
Parmar P.,* Milius, H.,* & Blossom J.B. (2025, April). Exploring internalizing problems as moderators of the association between parental anxiety and barriers to care. Poster to be presented: Anxiety and Depression Association of America Conference 2025, Las Vegas, NV.
Green, A. E.,* Schuttenberg, E. M.,* Guajardo, K. B.,* & Blossom, J. B. (2024, November) Psychological control, aggression, and depressed mood in middle and high school students: A longitudinal examination. Poster Presentation: 2024 Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies Annual Conference, Philadelphia, PA.
Guajardo, K. B.,* Ingersoll, D.,** & Blossom, J. B. (2024, November). The impact of parental and child problem-solving skills, child’s emotional regulation, and parental empathy on child suicide risk. Poster Presentation: 2024 Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Philadelphia, PA.
*Denotes mentored student/trainee author
**Denotes mentored undergraduate student author
+ Denotes dual first-authors