about
The ESSENCE Lab
As a part of the UC Berkeley, our Ph.D. in Clinical Science program, The ESSENCE Lab represents studies in Eradicating Suicide and Stress by Empowering, Nurturing, and Cultivating Equity.
We study how racism-related stress and social inequities contribute to suicide risk and mental health disparities — and how cultural, familial, and community strengths promote thriving, purpose, and resilience among Black adolescents and emerging adults.
Mission
We believe that in order to create a world where Black youth no longer desire to die, we must build a world that gives them a reason to live— A world rooted in belonging, purpose, and equity.
Vision
We envision a future where Black youth are empowered to live lives of meaning, joy, and possibility, supported by systems that honor their identity, protect their mental health, and sustain their collective thriving.
meet the Lab Director
Dr. Jasmin Brooks Stephens
Dr. Jasmin B. Stephens is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, whose work is focused on transforming suicide prevention and mental health equity in the United States.
An award-winning clinical psychologist and scientist, she studies how systemic racism and social context shape mental health and develops strengths-based, community-driven strategies that promote healing and resilience among Black youth and emerging adults. Dr. Stephens has authored over 35 peer-reviewed publications in leading journals, including JAMA Psychiatry, JAMA Network Open, Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, and American Psychologist, and secured competitive research funding. Her work has been recognized by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and featured in major outlets including TIME and Forbes.
Known for bridging science, community, and systems change, she partners with organizations, media, and leaders across sectors to translate research into actionable strategies that improve mental health outcomes and build more equitable systems of care.
She earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Houston and completed her clinical internship and postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard Medical School / Massachusetts General Hospital. In 2025, she was named to the Forbes 30 under 30 list in Healthcare.
the essence lab
The Team
Graduate Research Assistant:
Mattea Parker, M.A., M.S.
I am Mattea Parker, a first-year PhD Student in Clinical Science within the ESSENCE Lab. I am passionate about exploring how parenting and family dynamics influence the intergenerational transmission of racial trauma, mental health challenges, and suicidality. I want my work to focus on uncovering the emotional, relational, and cultural mechanisms that perpetuate cycles of harm, with the goal of disrupting these patterns and empowering Black families toward healing.
Graduate Research Assistant:
Najia Griffin, B.S.
I am Najia Griffin, an incoming first year PhD student in Clinical Science within the ESSENCE lab. I am passionate about using an intersectional-contextual framework to understand how complex and vicarious trauma, across both offline and online contexts, shape suicidality among Black youth. I am particularly interested in exploring culturally grounded protective factors that may buffer the psychological risk and impact of these experiences and promote resilience and well-being among Black youth.
Collaborators
Dr. Lauren Mims, New York University
Dr. Matthew Nock, Harvard University
Dr. Shirley Wang, Yale University
Dr. Velma Murry, Vanderbilt University
Dr. Maryam Jernigan Noesi, Jernigan & Associates, LLC
Dr. Michael Lindsey, New York University
Dr. Riana Anderson, Columbia University