Cracking the Shell on Psychological Science

Michael Dougherty

Cracking the Shell on Psychological Science is a podcast from the University of Maryland’s Psychology Department that makes psychological research accessible and relevant. Each episode breaks down current studies, explores key psychological topics, and introduces the people behind the science. Episodes range from deep dives into specific studies and research methods to stories about researchers’ career paths, all designed to make complex psychological science clear, engaging, and relevant to listeners outside academia.

Episode

Over 61 million adults in the US live with mental illness — nearly 1 in 4. For young people, the numbers are even starker: in Maryland alone, more than a third of middle schoolers and nearly 40% of high schoolers report persistent sadness or hopelessness. These aren’t distant statistics. They’re our neighbors, classmates, roommates, and friends.

In this special Podcasthon charity episode, we sit down with Michael Gray — a longtime mental health policy advocate and former deputy director of NAMI-Maryland — to explore how NAMI is working to make mental health care more accessible, equitable, and humane across the state. Michael draws on years of front-line experience listening to Maryland families, helping them navigate crises, and pushing for policy changes that actually move the needle.

If this conversation moves you, please consider supporting NAMI-Maryland’s work at namimd.org/donate.

Cracking the Shell on Psychological Science

19 min

Why Mental Health Is a Maryland Issue—and a Terp Issue

NAMI Maryland

The charity and its cause

NAMI Maryland

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. The NAMI organization operates at the national, state, and local level. NAMI Maryland encompasses a strong statewide network of more than 60,000 families, individuals, community-based organizations and service providers. These members and supporters are the face and voice of the NAMI Maryland movement–families, individuals, friends and businesses–who come together to celebrate mental illness recovery, to honor those who have lost their lives to mental illness and to combat stigma, promote awareness and advocate for others. The mission of NAMI Maryland is to improve the quality of life for individuals with mental illnesses and their families. We are dedicated to providing education, support and advocacy for persons with mental illnesses, their families and the wider community.

Visit the website Make a donation