Improving digital mental health services for all.
1 in 5 Americans will have a diagnosable mental health condition this year.
84% of those with a diagnosable mental illness receive no or inadequate treatment.
169 million Americans live in Federally Designated Mental Health Shortage Areas.
Who We Are
Northwestern University's Center for Behavioral Intervention Technologies (CBITs) investigates effective digital mental health services. Our work focuses on implementing these solutions equitably and sustainably in healthcare systems and communities while training the next generation of digital health investigators.
Our Work
Our Research
Our faculty study behavioral intervention technologies and technology-enabled services. Learn about our ALACRITY Center, our ongoing projects and more.
Education & Events
Learn about our training efforts, including webinars, reading courses and our T32 postdoctoral fellowship in digital mental health.
Active Studies
If you or someone you know experiences depression, anxiety or binge eating, you may be eligible to participate in one of our paid research studies.
Faculty Spotlight
Stewart Shankman, PhD
Stewart Shankman, PhD, CBITs core faculty member and Dunbar Professor of Psychiatry, leads research focused on identifying risk factors and improving treatments for depression and anxiety across development, particularly among adolescents and young adults.
His lab combines laboratory tasks, neuroscience methods, and smartphone-based tools to better understand emotional and cognitive processes both in and outside of the lab. Dr. Shankman’s work increasingly leverages technology such as passive sensing, geolocation, smartphone language, and actigraphy to capture subtle patterns in daily life that may signal emerging mental health difficulties. His team also developed a digital intervention that combines mental health strategies with job search support to help unemployed adults return to work.
“What motivates me is the chance to bring mental health care closer to people’s real lives, right when they need it—and to deepen our understanding of what drives emotional well-being.”
