The Community Psychiatry Research Center (CPRC) is dedicated to improving the lives of underserved individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) who receive subspecialty mental health services in public sector health care systems of care in San Diego County. Primary research aims include examining social determinants of mental health (SDoH), developing, and implementing, and evaluating innovative mental health services,  and training the next generation of research scholars.

Principles of community-based participatory research (CBPR), including public engagement and shared decision-making amongst investigators, community partners, and individuals with lived experience, are central to all aspects of CPRC’s mission. Clinical decision-making and care delivery will be enhanced by leveraging the research expertise of the UC San Diego Department of Psychiatry, as well as cutting-edge analytic tools, including machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL), based on electronic medical record information and other technology-based behavioral assessments.  

Our mission is to reduce suicide risk, improve mental health outcomes, decrease high service utilization, and promote recovery-oriented care, to elevate the public mental health of San Diego County.