Home

Welcome to the BIRCH Lab Group!

B

Building

verb
establish and develop over a period of time

I

Interpersonal

adjective
relating to relationships or communication between people

R

Resilience

noun
the capacity to adapt to difficult life experiences, to “bounce back” after difficulty

C

Community

adjective
a feeling of fellowship with others because of shared common attitudes, interests, identities, or goals

H

Health

noun
a state of physical, mental, and social well-being

About

The BIRCH Lab Group at the University at Buffalo (SUNY) is a dedicated team of researchers, clinicians, educators, advocates, and community stakeholders dedicated to better understanding the ways in which social relationships contribute to health and well-being. Led by Dr. Rebecca Schwartz-Mette, we endeavor to understand how relationships, communities, emotions, behavior, language, and so much more influence mental health, primarily – though not exclusively – in youth.

Our other efforts include prevention programming to reduce stress and burnout in health professionals, and scholarship in the areas of ethics and professional development in psychology.

Whether you are affiliated with or interested in participating in one of our research projects or you are an undergraduate student or potential graduate student looking to further your training, we hope you find this site helpful and informative. We are glad you’re here!