Center for Mental Health Services Research

Director: Enola K. Proctor

Home Page: http://gwbweb.wustl.edu/Users/cmhsr/support.html Location: School of Social Work

The Center for Mental Health Services Research (CMHSR) supports a core faculty of social work researchers who collaborate with researchers in other fields to study mental health services from a variety of care providers, ranging from mental health specialists to family members.

News Stories & Tip Sheets:

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Doing 'more good than harm' Scathing critiques of mandated reporting laws, Child Protective Services have 'little basis in reality,' say child welfare services experts June 19, 2007 -- Studying Child Protective Services' effectiveness Efforts to improve Child Protective Services (CPS) would be more effective if they were based on evaluations of available data instead of assertions that are not supported by evidence, say two child welfare services experts. "While there is no doubt that the current child welfare system has flaws, we can find little empirical data supporting the scathing critiques of mandated reporting laws and CPS. We now have enough empirical evidence to scientifically evaluate many longstanding criticisms of CPS, and many of those criticisms appear to be without basis in reality," write Brett Drake, Ph.D., and Melissa Jonson-Reid, Ph.D., in an article titled "A Response to Melton Based on the Best Available Data," published in the current issue of the international journal Child Abuse & Neglect. More...

Offering alternative, culturally relevant services Traditional healers are legitimate resources for youth in American Indian communities, says mental health expert Sept. 8, 2006 -- According to numerous studies, American Indian youth experience disproportionate rates of mental health and behavioral problems, including substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and suicidal thoughts. To address this critical problem, an adolescent mental health expert at Washington University in St. Louis says that traditional healers in American Indian communities may be a valuable but under-recognized resource offering alternative and culturally relevant services that complement conventional medical treatment. More...

Social stresses overlooked Quality of care varies for older adults with depression Aug. 3, 2006 -- When thinking about the well-being of older adults, most people focus on medical care, but mental health care is a growing, pressing concern for older adults and their families. "At least one in five older adults suffer from a mental disorder and experts in geriatric mental health anticipate an 'unprecedented explosion' of older adults with disabling mental disorder," says Enola K. Proctor, Ph.D., mental health care expert and professor of social work at Washington University in St. Louis. "While older adults may receive adequate medical and psychiatric care, they rarely receive the care necessary to deal with the general 'problems with living,' or social stresses. These psychosocial problems, such as isolation and family stress, may exacerbate psychiatric problems, depression in particular, and contribute to functional decline."

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Faculty Experts:

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Enola Proctor Frank J. Bruno Professor of Social Work Research Enola Proctor Download Enola K. Proctor's research interests center on mental health and health service delivery, post-acute health and mental health community care, development of knowledge to guide the delivery, and evaluation of clinical social work. Expertise: clinical social work evaluation, mental health and health service delivery, post-acute health and mental community care Direct contact: (314) 935-6660 / ekp@gwbmail.wustl.edu

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Related News Clips:

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Disaster strikes psyches of victims, rescuers and a transfixed nation Associated Press, Fox News online and 66 others Sept. 7, 2005 -- Hurricane Katrina has greatly affected the lives of survivors, rescue workers and even a transfixed nation that watched the catastrophe unfold. Experts say survivors may suffer significant psychological trauma, but stress that people are remarkably resilient, and that most who survived the storm and floodwaters won't be permanently impaired. One of the experts commenting is WUSTL psychiatry professor Barry Hong.