Wayne State University’s Institute of Mental Health held its first Symposium on September 8, 2006. The symposium was designed to facilitate the organizational development of the Institute, lay the groundwork for the establishment of effective collaborations, identify further research topics of common interest and need, and establish a means of communicating best practice standards.

Patrick Barrie, Deputy Director of Michigan’s Mental Health Substance Abuse Administration was the keynote speaker. Mr. Barrie described the current state of mental health services in Michigan and emphasized the need for researchers and service providers to work together to build a better system of mental health services. Susan Moran, Acting Director of the Medicaid Services Administration, followed with a presentation of the current Medicaid eligibility and enrollment, and trends for the past several years. The morning ended with presentations of the clinical research projects that have been funded by the Michigan Department of Community Health.

The Symposium included representatives from universities, regional or state mental health organizations, and mental health service providers. The afternoon session was focused on developing recommendations for the Institute in six areas: Building Public/Academic Relationships, Planning and Fostering Continuity and Coordination of Care, Developing Pilot Programs in Health Services Research, Dissemination of Best Practice Models of Care, Evaluating Best Practice Models, and Mental Health Policy.

The idea to develop an Institute of Mental Health at WSU arose from the Michigan Mental Health Commission’s October 2004 recommendations for reforming the State’s mental health system. One of the Commission’s key recommendations was to establish an Institute where evidence-based mental health practices throughout Michigan could be identified, developed, evaluated and implemented.

In response to the Commission’s recommendation Dr. Helene Lycaki spearheaded a successful effort to build an Institute around a core of collaborative research projects already in place at Wayne State University. The State accepted WSU’s proposal and in November 2005, WSU awarded a provisional charter to the new Institute of Mental Health.

A key component of WSU’s proposal to the State involves the development of statewide collaborations between researchers and providers. The Institute currently has affiliations with 13 Colleges and Departments at WSU, three Michigan Universities, five Community Mental Health agencies, and three advocacy groups. More collaborators will be added during the next year.

To view the Michigan Mental Health Commission’s Final Report and MDCH’s Transforming Mental Health Care in Michigan: A Plan for Implementing Recommendations of the Michigan Mental Health Commission, go to http://www.michigan.gov/mentalhealth.