Adjunct Faculty
Adjunct faculty typically have an academic or research appointment at another institution and contribute or collaborate with one or more School of Medicine faculty members or programs.
Adjunct rank detailsYang Jae Lee, MD
Assistant Professor Adjunct in PsychiatryAbout
Research
Publications
2026
Experienced stigma related to common mental illness and alcohol use disorder in rural Uganda: A qualitative study
Lee Y, Miller B, Mbabazi R, Nakaweesi S, Atim C, Ning S, Kisakye C, Wagener T, Tsai M, Kazungu R, Ssekalo I, Ashaba S, Rosenheck R, Tsai A. Experienced stigma related to common mental illness and alcohol use disorder in rural Uganda: A qualitative study. SSM - Mental Health 2026, 9: 100616. DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmmh.2026.100616.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAlcohol use disorderRural UgandaIn-depth interviewsMental illnessChronic caregiving stressStigma reduction strategiesMental health careFamily-centered supportCycle of exclusionMiddle-income countriesUse disorderCare uptakeExperienced stigmaInternalized stigmaCaregiver stressFramework methodCross-cutting themesFamily burdenEconomic empowermentHealth careEconomic strainPublic condemnationQualitative studyInterlocking themesStigmaExperiences of adults who survived suicide attempts in rural Uganda: Stigma, support systems and reintegration
Lee Y, Asasira M, Chang L, Scott B, Krause A, Nakamanya M, Chung V, Kazungu R, Ssekalo I, Rosenheck R, Raue P, Fortney J, Unützer J, Tsai A. Experiences of adults who survived suicide attempts in rural Uganda: Stigma, support systems and reintegration. Cambridge Prisms Global Mental Health 2026, 13: e55. DOI: 10.1017/gmh.2026.10171.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchRural UgandaAttempt survivorsCommunity health workersStigma reduction initiativesMental health servicesFollow-up careExperiences of adultsStructured follow-up careDecriminalization of suicideProvider trainingHealth workersFamily aidFramework methodPolice involvementQualitative designEconomic hardshipSocial exclusionCommunal acceptanceIntense stigmaCommunity advocacyBureaucratic delaysHealthcare workersSemi-structuredPractical helpCompassionate response
2025
Mixed-methods evaluation of a Global South-North research fellowship in Uganda: Global health experiential fellowship (GHEF)
Lee Y, Kazungu R, Ssekalo I, Blackwell S, Nakaziba K, Monnig E, Mbabazi R, Muwereza P, Waiswa F, Ingabire H, Vega A, Brown A, Rohrbaugh R, Rosenheck R, Waiswa P, Kohrt B. Mixed-methods evaluation of a Global South-North research fellowship in Uganda: Global health experiential fellowship (GHEF). SSM - Mental Health 2025, 8: 100497. DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmmh.2025.100497.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMixed-methods evaluationGlobal SouthResearch capacityBuilding Research CapacityResearch trainingGlobal mental healthMental Health ProjectResearch training programsNorth-South partnershipsCultural exchangeFellows' skillsHealth ProjectMental healthRural UgandaResearch assistantsTraining programDaily activitiesGlobal healthQualitative dataPower imbalanceSimultaneous trainingTeam leadersIntensive programUgandaResearch FellowshipBeliefs about the causes and treatment of common mental illnesses and suicidality in rural Uganda
Lee Y, Mbabazi R, Jevremov O, Nakaweesi S, Brodey E, Wykoff J, Sivakumar R, Kazungu R, Ssekalo I, Rosenheck R, Tsai A. Beliefs about the causes and treatment of common mental illnesses and suicidality in rural Uganda. BJPsych Open 2025, 11: e146. PMID: 40624591, PMCID: PMC12247074, DOI: 10.1192/bjo.2025.10066.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMental illnessRural UgandaPerceptions of mental illnessGlobal burdenGlobal Burden of DiseaseCommunity health workersTreatment of mental illnessRural eastern UgandaMental health interventionsCommunity-based supportMiddle-income countriesBurden of diseaseFocus group discussionsHealth workersFramework methodHealth interventionsEffective interventionsHealthcare workersQualitative studyFinancial stressorsBiomedical interventionsCommunity supportGroup discussionsCommunity leadersCommunity membersPortrayals of alcohol use disorder treatment outcomes and their effects on stigma: Population-based, randomized survey experiment in rural Uganda
Lee Y, Jurinsky J, Baguma C, Ashaba S, Kakuhikire B, Namara E, Ahereza P, Kyokunda V, Satinsky E, Tsai A, Perkins J. Portrayals of alcohol use disorder treatment outcomes and their effects on stigma: Population-based, randomized survey experiment in rural Uganda. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2025, 274: 112718. PMID: 40483789, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2025.112718.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAverage marginal effectsRural UgandaStigma reduction interventionsDomains of stigmaMultivariable Poisson regression modelsPersonal beliefsPoisson regression modelsPerceived NormsStigmatizing attitudesPopulation-basedReduction interventionsSouthwestern UgandaTreatment effectsStigmaSurvey experimentRegression modelsParticipantsAlcohol use disorder treatment outcomesTreat AUDRandomized survey experimentAUDMenMultiple domainsExcess probabilityUgandaPerspectives of traditional healers, faith healers, and biomedical providers about mental illness treatment: qualitative study from rural Uganda
Lee Y, Coleman M, Nakaziba K, Terfloth N, Coley C, Epparla A, Corbitt N, Kazungu R, Basiimwa J, Lafferty C, Cole K, Agwang G, Kathawala E, Nkolo T, Wogali W, Richard E, Rosenheck R, Tsai A. Perspectives of traditional healers, faith healers, and biomedical providers about mental illness treatment: qualitative study from rural Uganda. Cambridge Prisms Global Mental Health 2025, 12: e29. PMID: 40070774, PMCID: PMC11894403, DOI: 10.1017/gmh.2025.18.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchBiomedical providersFaith healersTraditional healersRural UgandaQualitative studyMental healthcare systemMental illness treatmentMiddle-income countriesFocus group discussionsFramework analysisSeeking CareProvider relationshipMental illnessProvider perspectiveTheoretical saturationHealthcare systemBiomedical approachIllness conceptualizationsProvidersGroup discussionsBiomedical treatmentIll treatmentHealersData collectionBuyende district
2024
Community perspectives to inform the development of a radio program to destigmatize mental illness in rural Uganda: a qualitative study
Lee YJ, Fickling B, Goode M, et al. Community perspectives to inform the development of a radio program to destigmatize mental illness in rural Uganda: a qualitative study. Journal of Global Health Reports. 2024;8:e2024019. doi:10.29392/001c.120280Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCommunity perspectives to inform the development of a radio program to destigmatize mental illness in rural Uganda: a qualitative study
Lee Y, Fickling B, Goode M, Gallaher A, Kazungu R, Coffin P, Abdel-Megid M, Isabirye F, Ssekalo I, Ashaba S, Rosenheck R, Tsai A. Community perspectives to inform the development of a radio program to destigmatize mental illness in rural Uganda: a qualitative study. Journal Of Global Health Reports 2024, 8 DOI: 10.29392/001c.120280.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMental illness stigmaCommunity health workersMental illnessIllness stigmaHealth workersRural UgandaDecrease mental illness stigmaReduce mental illness stigmaHealthcare seeking behaviorDestigmatize mental illnessOne-on-oneFocus group discussionsProgram acceptabilityScalable interventionsFramework methodResults ParticipantsBusoga regionProgram interventionsSub-themesFocus groupsQualitative studySeeking behaviorSeeking treatmentIndividual recoveryCommunity supportDifferences in mental illness stigma by disorder and gender: Population-based vignette randomized experiment in rural Uganda
Lee YJ, Christ R, Mbabazi R, Dabagia J, Prendergast A, et al. (2024) Differences in mental illness stigma by disorder and gender: Population-based vignette randomized experiment in rural Uganda. PLOS Mental Health 1(1): e0000069. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmen.0000069Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchDifferences in mental illness stigma by disorder and gender: Population-based vignette randomized experiment in rural Uganda
Lee Y, Christ R, Mbabazi R, Dabagia J, Prendergast A, Wykoff J, Dasari S, Safai D, Nakaweesi S, Aturinde S, Galvin M, Akena D, Ashaba S, Waiswa P, Rosenheck R, Tsai A. Differences in mental illness stigma by disorder and gender: Population-based vignette randomized experiment in rural Uganda. PLOS Mental Health 2024, 1: e0000069. PMID: 39188639, PMCID: PMC11345708, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmen.0000069.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMental illness stigmaIllness stigmaAnxiety disordersMental disordersLevels of mental illness stigmaRural UgandaImprove population mental healthAnti-stigma initiativesLevel of stigmaPopulation mental healthGeneralized anxiety disorderDSM-5 criteriaAlcohol use disorderEmpirical p-valuesVignette studyMental illnessPairwise mean comparisonsDistricts of UgandaPopulation-basedMental healthDepressive disorderGender combinationsUse disorderSecondary analysisStudy participants
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
News
News
- July 14, 2025
Department of Psychiatry Honors Residents, Fellows, Faculty, Staff at 2025 Annual Commencement Ceremonies
- June 02, 2025
Yale Psychiatrists Visit Rural Uganda to Address Mental Health Stigma
- September 20, 2024
Lee Named 2025 Laughlin Fellow of The American College of Psychiatrists
- June 03, 2024
Bookman, Lee, Nunes, Salahou Honored with APAF Fellowships
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