As part of our monthly series, we’re introducing team members from the Texas Institute for Excellence in Mental Health. In each feature, you’ll learn more about their interests, the projects they support, and the work they’re leading across TIEMH.
This month, we’re spotlighting Mahgul Mansoor. Mahgul is a Research Associate at TIEMH and holds a master’s degree in Global Health from Duke University, where she conducted research focused on supporting family coping during the pandemic in North Carolina.
In her current role, Mahgul evaluates length of stay for forensic populations in Texas state hospitals. She and her team are working to identify bottlenecks at admission, throughout hospitalization, and during discharge — while highlighting practical strategies that can help address these barriers and improve system flow.
Let’s dive into Mahgul’s interview:
What projects do you work on?
I work on projects that support individuals with mental health, behavioral health, and/or substance use challenges who are also involved with the justice system. Some individuals may find themselves committed to the state hospital if they are deemed incompetent to face their charges after arrest or if they successfully plead not guilty by reason of insanity to an offense. Currently, my main focus is evaluating the length of stay for such forensic populations at Texas state hospitals. We are identifying bottlenecks individuals face at admission, during their stay, and at discharge, and developing strategies to address these barriers. As part of this project, it was my great privilege to have traveled across Texas, hearing directly from front-line staff, which deepened my understanding of the mental health and justice landscape (both physically and figuratively).
What do you enjoy about working at TIEMH?
I love that we all come from such diverse backgrounds, yet are all passionate about similar things. The care we have for our community also shows up in how we treat each other as colleagues. This workplace makes me feel safe and supported, which is not always common in academic settings.
What are you currently reading, watching, or listening to?
I am currently reading And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie. I keep promising myself I will read more, and every year I fail at that. Recently, I realized I was just choosing really boring books that were preventing me from meeting my goals. This will be the year of murder mysteries for me!
February is often seen as a month of self-love — what’s one small way you practice self-care?
I practice self-care by screaming my favorite songs from high school while driving around town. It is the perfect space for me to be unapologetically myself and is joyously cathartic. It makes me feel 17 again!
Thanks for sharing, Mahgul!
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