Dr. Alethea Desrosiers is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior. Her research focuses on promoting global mental health, with particular emphasis on underserved youth and families. Dr. Desrosiers uses implementation science to improve the quality and accessibility of interventions in settings with limited mental health resources. Her tools include human-centered design, task-sharing strategies, and digital innovations. She has projects throughout the Global South, including in Sierra Leone, Colombia, and Ecuador.
Dr. Desrosiers is also a faculty member in the Brown Research on Implementation and Dissemination to Guide Evidence Use (BRIDGE) Program and in the Center for Global Health Equity. She earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Columbia University and completed a T32 postdoctoral fellowship in Substance Abuse Prevention Research at Yale School of Medicine prior to joining Brown.
| Desrosiers A, Carrol B, Ritsema H, Higgins W, Momoh F, Betancourt TS. "Advancing sustainable implementation of an evidence-based mental health intervention in Sierra Leone's schools: protocol for a hybrid type 3 implementation-effectiveness trial." BMC Public Health, vol. 24, no. 1, 2024, pp. 362. |
| Pineros-Leano M, Desrosiers A, Piñeros-Leaño N, Moya A, Canizares-Escobar C, Tam L, Betancourt TS. "Cultural adaptation of an evidence-based intervention to address mental health among youth affected by armed conflict in Colombia: An application of the ADAPT-ITT approach and FRAME-IS reporting protocols." Global mental health (Cambridge, England), vol. 11, 2024, pp. e114. |
| Freeman JA, Farrar JC, Placencio-Castro M, Desrosiers A, Brennan RT, Hansen NB, Akinsulure-Smith AM, Su S, Bangura J, Betancourt TS. "Integrating Youth Readiness Intervention and Entrepreneurship in Sierra Leone: A Hybrid Type II Cluster Randomized Trial." Struggle and Success: Contract Negotiations and Renegotiations for Women Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist Through The Lens of Intersectionality and Structural Bias, vol. 63, no. 7, 2024, pp. 708-719. |
| Desrosiers, Alethea, Carrol, Bidemi, Hayes, Jacqueline, Momoh, Fatoma, Ritsema, Haley, Frank, Hannah E., Jalloh, Unisa. "Tailoring implementation of a youth-focused mental health intervention in Sierra Leone using an implementation blueprint methodology." BMC Public Health, vol. 24, no. 1, 2024, pp. 3418. |
| Desrosiers, Alethea, Saran, Indrani, Albanese, Ariana M., Antonaccio, Cara M., Neville, Sarah E., Esliker, Rebecca, Jambai, Musu, Feika, Mahmoud, Betancourt, Theresa S. "Task-sharing to promote caregiver mental health, positive parenting practices, and violence prevention in vulnerable families in Sierra Leone: a pilot feasibility study." BMC Psychiatry, vol. 24, no. 1, 2024, pp. 787. |
| Freeman JA, Desrosiers A, Schafer C, Kamara P, Farrar J, Akinsulure-Smith AM, Betancourt TS. "The adaptation of a youth mental health intervention to a peer-delivery model utilizing CBPR methods and the ADAPT-ITT framework in Sierra Leone." Transcultural Psychiatry, vol. 61, no. 1, 2024, pp. 3-14. |
| Desrosiers A, Freeman J, Mitra R, Bond L, Santo LD, Farrar J, Borg R, Jambai M, Betancourt TS. "Alternative Delivery Platforms for Expanding Evidence-based Mental Health Interventions for Youth in Sierra Leone: A Pilot Study." Vulnerable Children and Youth Studies, vol. 18, no. 1, 2023, pp. 131-142. |
| Black CJ, Berent JM, Joshi U, Khan A, Chamlagai L, Shrivastava R, Gautam B, Negeye A, Iftin AN, Ali H, Desrosiers A, Bhan A, Bhattacharya S, Naslund JA, Betancourt TS. "Applying Human-Centered Design in Global Mental Health to Improve Reach Among Underserved Populations in the United States and India." Global health, science and practice, vol. 11, no. 1, 2023. |
| Desrosiers, Alethea, Bond, Laura, Hoffman, Morgan, Kumar, Praveen, Schafer, Carolyn, Metzger, Isha W., Vandi, Alpha, Hinton, Miriam, Betancourt, Theresa S. "Exploring Naturalistic Diffusion of an Evidence-Based Mental Health Intervention across Peer Networks of Youth in Sierra Leone." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 20, no. 5, 2023, pp. 4059. |
| Desrosiers A, Schafer C, Bond L, Akinsulure-Smith A, Hinton M, Vandi A, Betancourt TS. "Exploring potential mental health spillover effects among caregivers and partners of youth in Sierra Leone: A qualitative study." Global mental health (Cambridge, England), vol. 10, 2023, pp. e40. |
| Callands, Tamora A., Hylick, Kandyce, Desrosiers, Alethea, Gilliam, Shantesica M., Taylor, Erica N., Hunter, Josalin J., Hansen, Nathan B. "The feasibility and acceptability of Project POWER: a mindfulness-infused, cognitive-behavioral group intervention to address mental and sexual health needs of young pregnant women in Liberia." BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, vol. 23, no. 1, 2023. |
| Desrosiers, A., Freeman, J., Mitra, R., Farrar, J., Borg, R., & Betancourt, T. S. "Alternative delivery platforms for expanding evidence-based mental health interventions for youth in Sierra Leone: A pilot study." Vulnerable Children and Youth Studies, 2022. |
| Su S, Frounfelker RL, Desrosiers A, Brennan RT, Farrar J, Betancourt TS. "Classifying childhood war trauma exposure: latent profile analyses of Sierra Leone's former child soldiers." Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, vol. 62, no. 6, 2021, pp. 751-761. |
| Desrosiers A, Schafer C, Esliker R, Jambai M, Betancourt TS. "Correction: mHealth-Supported Delivery of an Evidence-Based Family Home-Visiting Intervention in Sierra Leone: Protocol for a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial." JMIR Research Protocols, vol. 10, no. 3, 2021, pp. e28359. |
| Desrosiers A, Schafer C, Esliker R, Jambai M, Betancourt TS. "Correction: mHealth-Supported Delivery of an Evidence-Based Family Home-Visiting Intervention in Sierra Leone: Protocol for a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial." JMIR Research Protocols, vol. 10, no. 2, 2021, pp. e27711. |
| Cornelius, T., Desrosiers, A., & Kershaw, T. "Emergency Medical Care Utilization, Romantic Attachment, and Psychological Distress in Pregnant Adolescent and Young Adult Couples." Family Systems and Health, vol. 39, no. 2, 2021, pp. 336-344. |
| Cornelius T, Desrosiers A, Kershaw T. "Emergency medical care utilization, romantic attachment, and psychological distress in pregnant adolescent and young adult couples." Families, Systems, & Health, vol. 39, no. 2, 2021, pp. 336-344. |
| Desrosiers, A., Schafer, C., Esliker, R., Jambai, M., & Betancourt, T.S. "mHealth tools to improve supervision and fidelity monitoring of a family home visiting intervention in Sierra Leone: Study protocol." Journal of Medical Internet Research, vol. 10, no. 2, 2021, pp. e25443. |
| Moya, A., Serneels, P., Desrosiers, A., & Reyes, V., Torres, M. J., & Lieberman, A. "The impact of COVID-19 on mental health in a fragile and conflict-affected setting: A Longitudinal Case-Control Study in Tumaco, Colombia." The Lancet, vol. 9, no. 8, 2021, pp. e1068-e1076. |
| Betancourt, T.S., Hansen, N., Farrar, J, Borg, R.C., Brennan, R.T., Callands, T., Desrosiers, A., Antonaccio, C.M., Williams, M.J. "Youth Functioning and Organizational Success for West African Regional Development (Youth FORWARD): Study Protocol." Psychiatric Services, vol. 72, 2021, pp. 563-580. |
| Desrosiers, A., Betancourt, T., Kergoat, Y., Servilli, C., Say, L., Kobeissi, L. "A systematic review of sexual and reproductive health interventions for young people in humanitarian and lower-and-middle-income country settings." BMC Public Health, vol. 20, 2020, pp. 666. |
| Desrosiers A, Betancourt T, Kergoat Y, Servilli C, Say L, Kobeissi L. "A systematic review of sexual and reproductive health interventions for young people in humanitarian and lower-and-middle-income country settings." BMC Public Health, vol. 20, no. 1, 2020, pp. 666. |
| Su, S., Frounfelker, R. L., Desrosiers, A., Brennan R.T., Farrar, J., & Betancourt, T. S. "Classifying childhood war trauma exposure: Latent profile analyses of Sierra Leone’s former child soldiers." The Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, vol. 62, 2020, pp. 751-761. |
| Desrosiers, A., Kumar, P., Dayal, A., Alex, L., Akram, T., Betancourt, T. "Diffusion and spillover effects of an evidence-based mental health intervention among peers and caregivers of high risk youth in Sierra Leone: Study protocol." BMC Psychiatry, vol. 20, 2020, pp. 85. |
| Desrosiers A, Kumar P, Dayal A, Alex L, Akram A, Betancourt T. "Diffusion and spillover effects of an evidence-based mental health intervention among peers and caregivers of high risk youth in Sierra Leone: study protocol." BMC Psychiatry, vol. 20, no. 1, 2020, pp. 85. |
| Desrosiers A, Vine V, Kershaw T. "R U Mad?": Computerized text analysis of affect in social media relates to stress and substance use among ethnic minority emerging adult males." Anxiety, Stress, & Coping, vol. 32, no. 1, 2019, pp. 109-123. |
| Lauckner C, Desrosiers A, Muilenburg J, Killanin A, Genter E, Kershaw T. "Social media photos of substance use and their relationship to attitudes and behaviors among ethnic and racial minority emerging adult men living in low-income areas." Journal of Adolescence, vol. 77, 2019, pp. 152-162. |
| Lauckner, C., Desrosiers, A., Muilenburg, J., Kilanin, A., Genter, E., & Kershaw, T. "Social media photos of substance use and their relationship to attitudes and behaviors among minority emerging adult men." Journal of Adolescence, vol. 77, 2019, pp. 152-162. |
| Desrosiers, A., Vine, V., & Kershaw, T. "R U Mad?”: Computerized text analysis of affect in social media relates to stress and substance use among emerging adult, ethnic minority males." Anxiety, Stress and Coping, vol. 32, 2019, pp. 109-123. |
| Rizor A, Callands T, Desrosiers A, Kershaw T. "(S)He's Gotta Have It: Emotion Regulation, Emotional Expression, and Sexual Risk Behavior in Emerging Adult Couples." Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity, vol. 24, no. 3, 2017, pp. 203-216. |
| Rizor, A., Callands, T., Desrosiers, A., & Kershaw, T. "(S)He’s gotta have it: Emotion regulation, emotional expression, and sexual risk behavior in emerging adult couples." Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity, vol. 24, 2017, pp. 203-216. |
| Chooi, W., Desrosiers, A., Zaharim, N., Ahmad, I., Yasin, M., Jaaper, S., Schottenfeld, R., Vicknasingam, B., & Chawarski, M. "Early initiation of amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) use associated with lowered cognitive performance among individuals with co-occurring opioid and ATS use disorders in Malaysia." Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, vol. 49, 2017, pp. 326-332. |
| Chooi WT, Mohd Zaharim N, Desrosiers A, Ahmad I, Yasin MAM, Syed Jaapar SZ, Schottenfeld RS, Vicknasingam BK, Chawarski MC. "Early Initiation of Amphetamine-Type Stimulants (ATS) Use Associated with Lowered Cognitive Performance among Individuals with Co-Occurring Opioid and ATS Use Disorders in Malaysia." Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, vol. 49, no. 4, 2017, pp. 326-332. |
| Cornelius T, Desrosiers A, Kershaw T. "Smoking concordance during pregnancy: Are there relationship benefits?." Social Science & Medicine, vol. 192, 2017, pp. 30-35. |
| Cornelius, T., Desrosiers, A., & Kershaw, T. "Smoking together during pregnancy: Are there relationship benefits?." Social Science and Medicine, vol. 192, 2017, pp. 30-35. |
| Desrosiers, A., Chooi, W., Zaharim, N., Ahmad, I., Yasin, A., Jaapar, S., Schottenfeld, R., Vicknasingam, B., Chawarski, M. "Emerging drug use trends in Kelantan, Malaysia." Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, vol. 48, 2016, pp. 208-216. |
| Desrosiers A, Chooi WT, Zaharim NM, Ahmad I, Mohd Yasin MA, Syed Jaapar SZ, Schottenfeld RS, Vicknasingam B, Chawarski MC. "Emerging Drug Use Trends in Kelantan, Malaysia." Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, vol. 48, no. 3, 2016, pp. 218-26. |
| Sipsma, H., Callands, T., Desrosiers, A., Magriples, M., Jones, K., Albritton, T., & Kershaw, T. "Exploring trajectories and predictors of depressive symptoms among young couples during their transition to parenthood." Maternal and Child Health Journal, vol. 20, 2016, pp. 2372-2381. |
| Sipsma HL, Callands T, Desrosiers A, Magriples U, Jones K, Albritton T, Kershaw T. "Exploring Trajectories and Predictors of Depressive Symptoms Among Young Couples During Their Transition to Parenthood." Maternal and Child Health Journal, vol. 20, no. 11, 2016, pp. 2372-2381. |
| Desrosiers, A., Blokhina, E., Zvartua, E., Krupitsky, E., Schottenfeld, R., & Chawarski, M. "Psychiatric symptoms, quality of life, and HIV status among people using opioids in Saint Petersburg, Russia." Drug and Alcohol Dependence, vol. 172, 2016, pp. 60-65. |
| Desrosiers A, Thompson A, Divney A, Magriples U, Kershaw T. "Romantic partner influences on prenatal and postnatal substance use in young couples." Journal of public health (Oxford, England), vol. 38, no. 2, 2016, pp. 300-7. |
| Cornelius, T., Desrosiers, A., & Kershaw, T. "Spread of health behaviors in young couples: How relationship power shapes relational influence." Social Science and Medicine, vol. 165, 2016, pp. 46-55. |
| Cornelius T, Desrosiers A, Kershaw T. "Spread of health behaviors in young couples: How relationship power shapes relational influence." Social Science & Medicine, vol. 165, 2016, pp. 46-55. |
| Desrosiers, A., Sipsma, H., Kershaw, T., Divney, A., & Magriples, U. "Emotion expression and substance use in newly parenting adolescents and young adults." Journal of Clinical Psychology, vol. 71, 2015, pp. 684-695. |
| Desrosiers A, Sipsma H, Divney A, Magriples U, Kershaw T. "Emotion Expression and Substance Use in Newly Parenting Adolescents and Young Adults." Journal of Clinical Psychology, vol. 71, no. 7, 2015, pp. 684-95. |
| Zhou W, Wang X, Zhou S, Xie N, Liu P, Luo L, Peng J, Liu M, Desrosiers A, Schottenfeld R, Chawarski MC. "Hepatitis C seroconversion in methadone maintenance treatment programs in Wuhan, China." Addiction, vol. 110, no. 5, 2015, pp. 796-802. |
| Desrosiers, A., Thompson, A., Divney, A., Magriples, A., & Kershaw, T. "Romantic partner influences on substance use among pregnant and parenting young couples." Journal of Public Health, vol. 38, 2015, pp. 300-307. |
| Desrosiers A, Sipsma H, Callands T, Hansen N, Divney A, Magriples U, Kershaw T. "Love hurts": romantic attachment and depressive symptoms in pregnant adolescent and young adult couples." Journal of Clinical Psychology, vol. 70, no. 1, 2014, pp. 95-106. |
| Zhou, W., Wang, X., Zhou, S., Xie, N., Liu, P., Luo, L., Peng, J., Liu, M., Desrosiers, A., Schottenfeld, R., Chawarski, M. "Hepatitis C seroconversion in methadone maintenance treatment programs in Wuhan, China." Addiction, vol. 110, 2014, pp. 796-802. |
| Desrosiers, A., Vine, V., Curtiss, J., & Klemanski, D. "Observing Nonreactively: A conditional process model linking mindfulness facets, cognitive emotion regulation strategies, and depression and anxiety symptoms." Journal of affective disorders, vol. 165, 2014, pp. 31-37. |
| Desrosiers A, Vine V, Curtiss J, Klemanski DH. "Observing nonreactively: a conditional process model linking mindfulness facets, cognitive emotion regulation strategies, and depression and anxiety symptoms." Journal of affective disorders, vol. 165, 2014, pp. 31-7. |
| Zhang, Y., Xu, Z., Zhang, S., Desrosiers, A., Schottenfeld, R. S., Chawarski, M. "Profiles of psychiatric symptoms among amphetamine type stimulant and ketamine using inpatients in Wuhan, China." Journal of Psychiatric Research, vol. 53, 2014, pp. 99-102. |
| Zhang Y, Xu Z, Zhang S, Desrosiers A, Schottenfeld RS, Chawarski MC. "Profiles of psychiatric symptoms among amphetamine type stimulant and ketamine using inpatients in Wuhan, China." Journal of Psychiatric Research, vol. 53, 2014, pp. 99-102. |
| Desrosiers, A., Sipsma, H., Callands, T., Hansen, N., Divney, A., Magriples, U., & Kershaw, T. "Love Hurts”: Romantic attachment and depressive symptoms in pregnant adolescent and young adult couples." Journal of Clinical Psychology, vol. 70, 2014, pp. 95-106. |
| Desrosiers, A., Klemanski, D., & Nolen-Hoeksema, S. "Mapping mindfulness facets onto dimensions of anxiety and depression." Behavior Therapy, vol. 44, 2013, pp. 373-384. |
| Desrosiers A, Klemanski DH, Nolen-Hoeksema S. "Mapping mindfulness facets onto dimensions of anxiety and depression." Behavior Therapy, vol. 44, no. 3, 2013, pp. 373-84. |
| Desrosiers, A., Vine, V., Klemanski, D., & Nolen-Hoeksema, S. "Mindfulness and emotion regulation in depression and anxiety: Common and distinct mechanisms of action." Depression and Anxiety, vol. 30, 2013, pp. 654-661. |
| Desrosiers A, Vine V, Klemanski DH, Nolen-Hoeksema S. "Mindfulness and emotion regulation in depression and anxiety: common and distinct mechanisms of action." Depression and Anxiety, vol. 30, no. 7, 2013, pp. 654-61. |
| Nolen-Hoeksema, S., Desrosiers, A., & Wilsnack, S. C. "Predictors of alcohol-related problems among depressed and non-depressed women." Journal of affective disorders, vol. 150, 2013, pp. 967-973. |
| Nolen-Hoeksema S, Desrosiers A, Wilsnack SC. "Predictors of alcohol-related problems among depressed and non-depressed women." Journal of affective disorders, vol. 150, no. 3, 2013, pp. 967-73. |
| Marsch, L. A., Grabinski, M. J., Bickel, W. K., Desrosiers, A., Guarino, H., Muehlbach, B., Solhkhah, R., Taufique, S., & Acosta, M. "Computer-assisted HIV prevention for youth with substance use disorders." Substance use and Misuse, vol. 46, 2011, pp. 46-56. |
| Desrosiers, A., Kelly, B., & Miller, L. "Parent and peer facilitation of relational spirituality in adolescents and young adults." Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, vol. 3, 2010, pp. 39-54. |
| Desrosiers, A. & Miller, L. "Substance use versus anxiety in adolescents: Are some disorders more spiritual than others?." Research in the Social Scientific Study of Religion, vol. 9, 2008, pp. 137-154. |
| Desrosiers, A. & Miller, L. "Relational spirituality and depression in adolescent girls." Journal of Clinical Psychology, vol. 63, 2007, pp. 1021-1037. |
| Desrosiers A, Miller L. "Relational spirituality and depression in adolescent girls." Journal of Clinical Psychology, vol. 63, no. 10, 2007, pp. 1021-37. |
More than 290 million children and youth worldwide experience mental health disorders, particularly anxiety and depressive disorders. Most live in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where mental health services are scarce or inaccessible. In response, my research program aims to build accessible, innovative, community-driven mental health systems that meet the needs of youth and families where they are. We design sustainable mental health solutions through leveraging task-sharing, digital solutions, and integrated care approaches.
1. Examples of ongoing research projects are:
Sierra Leone
We conducted a hybrid type 3 implementation-effectiveness study to evaluate teacher delivery of an evidence-based mental health intervention within 40 secondary schools in Sierra Leone. We also engaged community partners in user-centered design processes to develop a mobile-based supervision model to support delivery quality of the program. We are comparing the feasibility, acceptability, cost and fidelity to intervention delivery among teachers receiving mobile-based supervision compared with those receiving standard, in person supervision. Next steps include evaluating factors influencing adoption and sustainment of the intervention within schools. Funding Source: NIMH R01MH130320; PI Desrosiers.
Colombia
We will apply user-centered design methods to co-design a digital platform to promote mental health and well-being and prevent suicidal thoughts and behaviors among adolescents in Colombia. The platform will then be implemented within secondary schools and evaluated via a hybrid type 1 implementation-effectiveness trial. Prior to implementation, we will engage community partners to identify barriers and facilitators to platform implementation within schools and co-develop an implementation blueprint to address barriers to implementation and leverage facilitators. Funding Source: NIMH R34MH136232; MPI Desrosiers.
2. Examples of projects in development are:
Kenya
We aim to integrate an evidence-based mental health intervention developed with and for youth living with HIV within an HIV clinic in western Kenya. We will use a peer-delivery approach and apply user-centered design methods to adapt our mobile-based supervision model to support delivery quality. We will evaluate the impact of the intervention on mental health and HIV treatment adherence among Kenyan youth living with HIV.
Sierra Leone
We aim to improve depression screening and referrals to treatment among pregnant women in Sierra Leone. We will work with community partners to integrate depression screening tools within an existing app that tracks maternal and child health service usage. We will also train nurses and midwives to deliver an evidence-based intervention to promote mental health and sexual and reproductive health among pregnant women who screen positive for depression. We will explore barriers and facilitators to implementation in community clinics in Sierra Leone.
Peru
We aim to culturally adapt a mental health intervention for youth living with tuberculosis in Peru. We will then integrate the intervention within community clinics and train peers to deliver the intervention. We will evaluate the feasibility, acceptability and appropriateness of the intervention as well as its benefits on mental health and well-being among youth with tuberculosis.
3. Examples of completed projects are:
Colombia
We used community-based participatory methods to culturally adapt an evidence-based mental health intervention for forcibly displaced Colombian and Venezuelan youth living in Bogota, Colombia. Feedback from our community partners highlighted a need for mental health programs integrated within vocational training or employment programming. Based on this feedback, we conducted a hybrid type 1 implementation-effectiveness trial of the adapted intervention integrated within entrepreneurship training. We evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, appropriateness, and mental health benefits of the integrated intervention among displaced Colombian and Venezuelan youth. Funding Source: Hilton Foundation; MPI Desrosiers.
Sierra Leone
We culturally adapted and pilot tested an evidence-based family home visiting intervention among families with young children in rural areas of Sierra Leone. The intervention focused on improving caregiver mental health and caregiver-child interactions as well as on reducing household violence. We trained community health workers to deliver the intervention and engaged them in participatory design methods to develop fidelity monitoring tools. Funding Source: NIMH R21MH124071; PI Desrosiers.
Ecuador
We used community based participatory approaches to culturally adapt an entrepreneurship training program for indigenous youth in Ecuador. We combined this curriculum with a digital platform co-designed with indigenous youth to promote sexual and reproductive health and reduce teen pregnancy. We pilot tested the combined program as an after school club for indigenous youth. Funding source: Population and Training Center, Brown University; Co-I Desrosiers.
| Year | Degree | Institution |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | PhD | Columbia University |
| 2007 | MSc | Columbia University |
| 2004 | MA | Columbia University |
| 2001 | BA | McDaniel College |
| T32 Postdoctoral Fellow | Yale School of Medicine, Psychiatry | 2011-2012 | New Haven, CT |
Psychiatry and Human Behavior
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Center for Global Health Equity
Brown Research on Implementation and Dissemination to Guide Evidence use (BRIDGE) Program
