Studies

SOAR’s groundbreaking research brings together the world’s brightest minds to solve the mind’s toughest challenges.

Ohio is stronger when its residents, families and communities are healthy — both physically and mentally. However, far too many Ohioans face mental health challenges that hinder their true potential.

One out of every five Ohioans has a mental health issue that negatively affects their day-to-day functioning. Ohio loses 19 people each day to suicide and overdose. The mission of the SOAR Study is to reverse the trajectory of deaths related to mental health conditions within a decade.

The multiple and ongoing studies produced by SOAR will be multigenerational and help us identify the biological, psychological and social patterns of the root causes of mental health conditions. The invaluable information we’ll take from SOAR will allow us to find ways to protect people from persistent and harmful distress.

To provide The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center and our research partners with an expansive database of facts, we’ve launched SOAR with two interrelated studies that will run concurrently. More studies are forthcoming.

SOAR Wellness Discovery Survey

A focus on the breadth of information

Summary

We’ll collect information on the social and psychological makeup, real-world experiences and the mental health state of approximately 15,000 people in Ohio’s 88 counties. Questions will be asked on topics including coping styles, childhood adversity, subs

How we’ll perform the study

We’re reaching out to random mailing addresses throughout the state to ask families to participate. These households will receive a postcard with instructions on how to fill out the web-based survey. We’re also gathering referrals from mental health provi

Tips for participating

If you’re asked to complete a SOAR Wellness Discovery survey, remember:

The survey takes roughly 50-60 minutes to finish, but you can save and continue later.
It can be done on your mobile device or laptop. Information about how to complete it over the phone is also offered.
Participants who complete the survey will receive a $50 payment, by either e-card or preloaded debit card, for their time.
Information collected in the survey will be confidential and used only for research purposes.

SOAR Brain Health Study

A focus on the depth of information

Summary

The SOAR Brain Health Study will collect data about brain function, biological health and social environment through in-person visits with 1,200 volunteer families (3,600 individuals) at rural, suburban and urban sites across Ohio. Family is defined howev

How we’ll perform the study

We’ll deploy leading-edge technologies to SOAR sites throughout the state to better understand the brain, nervous system and immune system and how they relate to mental health. A major innovation of the Brain Health Study is our ability to learn from Ohio

Tips for participating

If your family participates, you can expect:

A noninvasive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan
A noninvasive electroencephalogram (EEG) to measure brain electrical activity
A test to measure behavioral and neuropsychological performance
Other blood tests related to physical health (for example, stress, inflammation and metabolic markers)
Quick daily electronic reports of risk and resilience
Passive data collection about sleep and physical activitiy (from an Apple watch or other device) over the course of four weeks
Additional questionnaires

Resources

2024 SOAR Interim Report

The 2024 SOAR Interim Report highlights the significant achievements of SOAR since its beginning, detailing initial and promising discoveries that are set to influence the future of mental health and resilience.

View the report (PDF)

Explore SOAR updates and press coverage

Meet the team behind SOAR