Brought to you by the Depression Is Real Coalition, The Down & Up Show is dedicated to the reality of depression. Our hosts will talk with some of the world's top experts on depression, as well as people who have been impacted by this illness. The reality of depression is that it is a debilitating and potentially deadly medical condition that affects more than 15 million Americans every year. The other reality of depression is that there is hope.

MaJosé Carrasco, M.P.A

Director, Center for Multicultural Mental Health Research (CMMHR)

MaJosé Carrasco, M.P.A. is the director of the Multicultural Action Center (MAC) at NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, where she is responsible for NAMI's efforts to raise awareness and address disparities in mental healthcare access for diverse communities.

Ms. Carrasco is co-author, with Dr. Annelle Primm of the American Psychiatric Association, of In Living Color: Depression Treatment in Primary Care Settings, a 3-hour education program for primary healthcare providers. Additionally, she has co-authored several multicultural outreach guides and reports.

In addition to her work at NAMI, Ms. Carrasco also serves on the board of directors for the Latino Behavioral Health Institute, the Steward Group of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the External Workgroup of the Center for Mental Health Services' (CMHS) Eliminating Mental Health Disparities, and the advisory Board of the National Resource Center for Hispanic Mental Health.

Ms. Carrasco earned a B.A. in political science from Truman State University in Missouri and a Masters in Public Administration/Nonprofit Management from George Mason University in Virginia.