About Us
Mission Statement
The Cha Lab focuses on youth suicide risk and prevention. Our projects investigate pragmatic and impactful intersections across psychology, medicine, technology, and culture. Our mission is to prevent suicide, alleviate internal distress, and foster the well-being of the next generation. Through a partnership between the Yale Child Study Center and the Yale Center for Brain and Mind Health, the Cha Lab embraces a team science approach and is led by clinical psychologist and Associate Professor at Yale School of Medicine, Christine Cha, PhD.
The Story Behind the Cha Lab Logo
Logan Kelly is a 17-year-old artist with lived experience of suicidal thoughts. In Fall 2024, Logan participated in a research study hosted by Principal Investigator Dr. Christine Cha. During safety check-ins, Logan opened to Dr. Cha about his suicidal thoughts, day-to-day experiences, as well as his passion for visual art and music.
When Dr. Cha mentioned to Logan that her lab was moving to Yale and looking to collaborate with youth with lived experience to create a lab logo, Logan enthusiastically took the opportunity to create commissioned art pieces: one to represent emotional challenges and another one to represent a vision of hope. His mother and professional artist, Chrystal Kelly, supported him in digitizing his work. From this, the Cha Lab logo was established in April 2025.
Emotional Challenges
“…it's a feeling I get in my chest, everything is loud and chaotic and it can feel like being caught in a storm with no cover.” -Logan Kelly
The perseverance of nature, human compassion and common symbols like doves or peace signs are all things that remind me that there's hope to be had in the world. But to me, a difference in weather was the most accurate depiction of my experience with hope through the lens of depression. There is always beauty to be found in the world, especially when the clouds clear up…
A Vision of Hope
“No storm can last forever, the sun always has to come out. That’s why the sun behind the clouds symbolize[s] hope to me, because even if its raining now, I have hope that my future will be beautiful rather than scary.” - Logan Kelly