As the pandemic continues without a specific end in sight, many of us here and around the world continue to struggle emotionally. Two experts will shed light on how those struggles are manifesting themselves today and what we can anticipate in the mental health realm going forward. Dr. Sheria Robinson-Lane will focus on pandemic impacts in older adults. Dr. Sheila Marcus will speak to mental health implications of the pandemic on adults and children as well as strategies for managing associated ongoing stress.

Speaker Sheria Robinson-Lane, PhD, RN, is a gerontologist with expertise in palliative care, long-term care, and nursing administration. She has focused her career on the care and support of older adults with cognitive and/ or functional disabilities. Dr. Robinson-Lane is interested in the ways that older adults adapt to changes in health, and particularly how adaptive coping strategies effect health outcomes. Her research is focused on reducing health disparities or minority older adults with cognitive impairments and their informal caregivers. Prior to coming to coming to the University of Michigan School of Nursing, Dr. Robinson-Lane completed an NIH- funded advanced research rehabilitation training program in community living and participation with the University of Michigan Medical School.

Speaker Sheila M. Marcus, MD, is a Clinical Professor in the UM Department of Psychiatry and Division head of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. She leads a statewide program MC3 which assists primary care providers throughout the state in caring for individuals with mental health concerns. During COVID pandemic, she has assisted primary care providers and first-line providers with psychological first aid and balancing the stress of the pandemic with work and home obligations.

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