William Alanson White Institute Center for Public Mental Health

William Alanson White Institute Center for Public Mental Health

The William Alanson White Institute Center for Public Mental Health was founded to apply psychoanalytic understanding and expertise to address social and mental health issues.  The Center focuses its work on urgent concerns facing policymakers, academic researchers, government agencies and advocacy groups. Our aim is to establish a context for thoughtful dialogue with these stakeholders.  The Center's initiatives may include but are not limited to creating a public space for dialogue, training first responders or other service providers, developing psycho-educational materials, working with philanthropic and governmental organizations, researching public mental health issues, and providing direct treatment through one of the Institute's training programs. The Center will collaborate with other organizations that are active in the public mental health arena to accomplish its goals.

Two of our recent projects address the deportation crisis facing families with undocumented members. We contributed a chapter, The Psychological Aspects of Deportation, to Appleseed Networks' Deportation manual.  We are also offering psychological treatment to staff on the front line of the immigration crisis.

For more information and for press inquiries, email cpmh@wawhite.org

Read our press release on Forced Separation

Cleonie White, Ph.D. and Kathleen White, Ph.D.

Co-Directors