Mental health is in crisis around the world, exacerbated by COVID-19 and affecting both frontline health workers and the general population. That’s why, as part of our larger commitment to supporting frontline health workers and together with the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA), we are excited to continue the Johnson & Johnson Nurses Innovate QuickFire Challenge series with a sixth challenge focused specifically on mental health.
“The mental health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have made a Nurses Innovate QuickFire Challenge focused on mental health both timelier and more important than ever before,” said Lynda Benton, Senior Director, Corporate Equity, Johnson & Johnson. “We believe that nurses can have the training, hands-on experience and insights to bring forth creative, meaningful solutions aiming to improve mental health for patients and healthcare workers around the world. We are proud to help bring these ideas to life.”
The COVID-19 pandemic has focused a new spotlight on the resiliency, resourcefulness and innovative spirit of nurses as they navigate this health emergency. The Johnson & Johnson Nurses Innovate QuickFire Challenge on Mental Health is looking for innovative solutions that have the potential to transform mental health care and well-being for healthcare professionals and patients during the current pandemic environment and beyond.
Nurses and nursing students are invited to submit their ideas which may include potential solutions for practice in any setting, including inpatient, outpatient, education, private practice, community, military and VA settings. Ideas can also address health and wellness promotion, prevention of mental health conditions, and care & treatment considerations for persons with psychiatric and/or substance use disorders. Example focus areas include:
· Mental health conditions including trauma, depression, PTSD, etc.
· The impact of health disparities/health inequities on mental health needs
· Access to care and treatment for those with mental health and/or substance use conditions
· Remote care delivery opportunities such as telehealth
“The COVID-19 pandemic has placed a significant mental health strain on people around the world, with nurses and healthcare workers especially impacted, given their crucial role in responding to the crisis,” said Lisa Deffenbaugh Nguyen, MS, CAE, Executive Director of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association. “Nurses are the backbone of health systems worldwide and it's time to support and shed light on their innovative solutions to improve mental health for healthcare professionals and the people they serve.”
The Johnson & Johnson Nurses Innovate QuickFire Challenge series empowers nurse-led innovation in healthcare. Nurses and nursing students worldwide are invited to share their novel concepts, education programs, protocols, prevention or treatment approaches, screening tools, and consumer product ideas. The nurse innovators with the best idea(s) will receive up to $100,000 in grant funding, mentoring and coaching from experts across the Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies and have access to the Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JLABS ecosystem to help bring their ideas to life.
Applications will be evaluated on several factors by an independent panel: the uniqueness and feasibility of the idea, thoroughness of the approach, identification of key resources and a plan to develop the idea, and the concept’s potential to change human health outcomes. Applications must be submitted by nurses or nursing students. The deadline to apply for the Johnson & Johnson Nurses Innovate QuickFire Challenge on Mental Health is January 15, 2021 midnight PST.
To learn more about the Johnson & Johnson Nurses Innovate QuickFire Challenge series, previous awardees and apply to the current Challenge in Mental Health, visit nursing.jnj.com.
The Johnson & Johnson Nurses Innovate QuickFire Challenge series is part of the QuickFire Challenge platform, which was developed by Johnson & Johnson Innovation - JLABS to attract and develop game-changing, early-stage innovation across the global therapeutics, consumer, health technologies and medical devices sectors.
