Photo Credit: UPROOTEDPHOTOGRAPHER: ZACH FRAILEY
RISE-MH was established upon decades of mental health research at the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work. Mental health practice, policy, and the evaluation of the development of new interventions are the heart of our work.
Since 1918, the School of Social Work at the University of Pittsburgh has focused on improving mental health in our community through practice at the MSW level. Pitt awarded its first doctoral degree in Social Work in 1949 (DSW) and its first PhD in 1963. The following is a brief history of our focus on increasing well-being, addressing mental health problems, and the intersections with race, class, poverty, and gender to create and disseminate evidence-informed mental health policies, advocacy, and services. RISE-MH builds on a storied history of mental health research, policy, and innovation in care.
- 1981-1990 Industrial decline in Pittsburgh severely challenged our river communities and the local economy as thousands of jobs were lost and communities decimated. The School of Social Work began documenting this process, including the impact on mental health in The Rivers Communities Project, led by Dr Jim Cunningham. This research influenced the neoliberal and global manufacturing policies on the economic, social, psychological, and spiritual health of individuals. It conducted community-led advocacy and the development of community centers that remain today. The roots of their work reside in the “one-stop” shop centers such as “The Homewood Children’s Village,” the Community Engagement Centers, and “Age Well Pittsburgh”.
- 1994 to 2002 Center for Mental Health Services Research, co-directed by Dr Wynne Korr and Dr. Carol Anderson, created a platform for researchers in mental health services to support and disseminate their findings. Dr Catherine Greeno, Co-Director of RISE-MH, and Dr Shaun Eack began their distinguished mental health services research careers in the center. Close collaboration with Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic was forged in this center.
- 2018-2022 Ci-TECH, the Center for Interventions to Enhance Community Health, directed by Dr Shaun Eack, focused on practice innovation. Some grants awarded were to enhance church congregations, address community mental health challenges, family coaching, and reduce community violence. The list of Ci-TECH awards can be found here.
The School of Social Work at Pitt has one of the oldest doctoral programs in social work. Many critical thinkers in the social work and mental health space obtained their Ph.D. from Pitt, such as Michael E Lindsey, Dean of the Silver School of Social Work at NYU, and Johannes John-Langba, an international champion for mental health rights and Professor at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
The School of Social Work has long-standing relationships with mental health providers such as UPMC, Allegheny County Department of Human Services, and many smaller community and religious organizations. At the School of Social Work and RISE-MH, we consider the region as our campus and our collaborators in improving the well-being of the citizens of Western Pennsylvania.