Sylvanna M. Vargas, Ph.D., MPH
Pronouns: she, her
Assistant Professor
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
College of Sciences
Department of Psychology
Experimental Psychopathology
San Diego
- svargas3@sdsu.edu
- Location
-
address
city, state, zip - Mail Code
- 4611
- Fax
- 999-999-9999
- Links
- Accounts
Areas of Expertise
Disparities in Youth Depression and Suicide, Intersectional Minority Stress, Implementation Science, Mental Health Services
Student Opportunities
- I supervise undergraduate, postbaccalaureate, Master’s, and Ph.D. students with interests in youth depression and suicide disparities, intersectional minority stress/ discrimination, and the use of implementation science, digital mental health, and clinical interventions to prevent suicide among underserved communities.
- Dr. Vargas will not be accepting a Ph.D. student for Fall 2025. She will be accepting an M.A. student.
Bio
Dr. Vargas’ research is focused on the amelioration of mental health disparities. The overarching goal of her work is to develop innovative and large-scale solutions that improve the landscape of mental health services for underserved youth experiencing depression and suicidality. Her translational research spans from basic science on the social determinants of mental health to the implementation of culturally and contextually responsive evidence-based interventions that mitigate inequities.
She conducts research on how intersectional discrimination can erode social connection and contribute to disparities in depression and suicide risk among sexual minority people of color. Her current work examines how interventions that enhance naturalistic social support and care linkage (e.g., Motivational Interviewing, SAFETY-A) can be adapted and implemented within non-specialty service sectors that reach youth with unmet mental health need (e.g., schools, peer-delivered helplines).
She is interested in the use of cutting-edge technology to support the at-scale implementation of these interventions.