Drafts by Dr. Charles W Eproson
For many who are members of the LGTBQIA community, mental health access and assistance is fraught... more For many who are members of the LGTBQIA community, mental health access and assistance is fraught with discrimination, ignorance, and isolation. Mental healthcare is often lacking or borderline negligent in the way it deals with those who are Lesbian, Gay, Trans, Bi-Sexual, or other members of this often overlooked group. This paper seeks to understand some of the issues and look at ways to assist those of this community in finding the right mental healthcare for themselves or loved ones.
A Burgeoning Problem: Youth Suicide , 2021
Suicide is a huge health problem in the world. It destroys not only the lives of those who decide... more Suicide is a huge health problem in the world. It destroys not only the lives of those who decide to destroy themselves, but it decimates those who are left behind. Family members, friends, and even those who may be connected to all of those mentioned. However, suicide is especially difficult to talk about when it centers on younger people who seemingly have their whole lives ahead of them. Suicide ends hopes and dreams and sends survivors down a path of anger, resentment, guilt, and other emotions that some never recover from. In this paper I am going to discuss the effects of suicide as it pertains to younger people. While this is a difficult topic, it is one that must be talked about as it may lead to better answers, ways to help those who are suffering from thoughts of suicide, and lead all of us towards some type of methodology to help lower the incidences of suicide in young people.
Disparity in African American Women’s Health, 2021
According to Reskin (2012), “As a structured system, racism interacts with other social instituti... more According to Reskin (2012), “As a structured system, racism interacts with other social institutions, shaping them and being reshaped by them, to reinforce, justify, and perpetuate a racial hierarchy. Racism has created a set of dynamic, interdependent, components or subsystems that reinforce each other, creating and sustaining reciprocal causality of racial inequities across various sectors of society.”
Affordable Mental Healthcare in the United States, 2021
and record the incidences of mental illness in the United States. And, behind these numbers are t... more and record the incidences of mental illness in the United States. And, behind these numbers are the families and friends of those who are struggling with mental illness and who may be unable to find the resources they need to get back to some semblance of a normal life. It is here that the importance of resources comes mind. First, it should be noted, resources are sometimes easy to find, such as clinics, agencies, and organizations that one would find in bigger metropolitan areas. In rural areas, resources may very well be harder to find and require travel to get to. Also, the level of one's ability to pay for services is another issue that often precludes individuals from being able to obtain quality mental health care. The following tries to approach some of these issues and tackle the burgeoning problem of mental health care and how it affects those who may not have the ability to afford it.
Mental Illness and the LGBTQIA: There is Hope, 2021
It is well known that mental illness has increased dramatically over the last few decades. Curren... more It is well known that mental illness has increased dramatically over the last few decades. Currently it is said that 19% of all Americans are currently experiencing mental illness in the United States (roughly 47 million people) and 4.55% are struggling with severe mental illness (Mental Health America, 2021). Also, according to Mental Health America, "The percentage of adults reporting serious thoughts of suicide is 4.34%. The estimated number of adults with serious suicidal thoughts is over 10.7 million. This is an increase of over 460,000 people from last year's data set." These are startling statistics by any measure and bring to the forefront of our concerns that the issue of mental illness is continuing to spiral out of control. But there is one group in particular where mental health and mental illness are particularly desperate and in need of attention. The LGBTQIA community has suffered horribly from the devastation of mental illness and it is hoped that what is reported here will help shed a light on the problem, stir up conversation on what to do, and where mental health for the LBGTQIA is headed on its current pace.
I verify that my dissertation represents original research, is not falsified or plagiarized, and ... more I verify that my dissertation represents original research, is not falsified or plagiarized, and that I accurately reported, cited, and referenced all sources within this manuscript in strict compliance with APA and Grand Canyon University (GCU) guidelines. I also verify my dissertation complies with the approval(s) granted for this research investigation by GCU Institutional Review Board (IRB).
Law enforcement has a difficult time understanding, interacting with, and helping the mentally il... more Law enforcement has a difficult time understanding, interacting with, and helping the mentally ill. What can be do ne to help law enforcement do a better job of assisting the mentally ill?
The historical record of the treatment of native American people in the United States has left a ... more The historical record of the treatment of native American people in the United States has left a scar on American history. The maltreatment of Native Americans, from stolen lands and displacement to the exposure to disease that killed millions of native people, Native Americans have suffered greatly and continue to do so. While only two percent of the United States population is made up of Native Americans, they represent eight percent of the homeless population and at some point, in their lifetimes, 7 out of 10 Native Americans can expect to suffer from some sort of mental illness (Center for Disease Control, 2018). This breaks down to 45,000 homeless Native Americans and more than 4 million Native Americans suffering from Mental Illness. When compared to the general population, Native Americans suffer from depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues at a rate that is 1.5 times greater than that of the general population of the United States (Indian Health Service, 2019).
Papers by Dr. Charles W Eproson
According to Reskin (2012), “As a structured system, racism interacts with other social instituti... more According to Reskin (2012), “As a structured system, racism interacts with other social institutions, shaping them and being reshaped by them, to reinforce, justify, and perpetuate a racial hierarchy. Racism has created a set of dynamic, interdependent, components or subsystems that reinforce each other, creating and sustaining reciprocal causality of racial inequities across various sectors of society.”
Academia Letters
The historical record of the treatment of native American people in the United States has left a ... more The historical record of the treatment of native American people in the United States has left a scar on American history. The maltreatment of Native Americans, from stolen lands and displacement to the exposure to disease that killed millions of native people, Native Americans have suffered greatly and continue to do so. While only two percent of the United States population is made up of Native Americans, they represent eight percent of the homeless population and at some point, in their lifetimes, 7 out of 10 Native Americans can expect to suffer from some sort of mental illness (Center for Disease Control, 2018). This breaks down to 45,000 homeless Native Americans and more than 4 million Native Americans suffering from Mental Illness. When compared to the general population, Native Americans suffer from depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues at a rate that is 1.5 times greater than that of the general population of the United States (Indian Health Service, 2019).
Academia Letters, 2021
According to Reskin (2012), "As a structured system, racism interacts with other social instituti... more According to Reskin (2012), "As a structured system, racism interacts with other social institutions, shaping them and being reshaped by them, to reinforce, justify, and perpetuate a racial hierarchy. Racism has created a set of dynamic, interdependent, components or subsystems that reinforce each other, creating and sustaining reciprocal causality of racial inequities across various sectors of society." Throughout the world there has been a troubling trend that is neither new nor surprising to African American women. That is, racism in healthcare. This problem is ongoing, and despite some advances, the issue remains an issue and has troubling outcomes for black females. From unequal medical care in the mental healthcare system to black women suffering higher rates of miscarriage and death in pregnancy, racism is not only worrisome but also deadly in some cases. Historically, the sexual and reproductive health of African American women has been compromised due to multiple experiences of racism, including discriminatory healthcare practices from slavery through the post-Civil Rights era (Prather, Fuller, Jefferies IV, Marshall, Howell, Belyue-Umole, & King, 2018). Throughout the times of colonialism and slavery through the Civil Rights era, black women have suffered greatly and, often times, in silence. For black women, eugenic programs emerged after slavery to try and control the size of the black population (
Academia Letters, 2021
The greatest event affecting the world in the past two years is undoubtedly the rise of the pande... more The greatest event affecting the world in the past two years is undoubtedly the rise of the pandemic brought on by the Covid-19 and ensuing Delta Variant. At the time of this writing, the pandemic has claimed the lives of close to 4.5 million people worldwide. The virus has disrupted economies around the world, damaged the health of millions of others, and sparked an increase in the number of mental health issues in all countries that it has been detected. Perhaps, though, one of the greatest issues is how the virus has affected our most important asset and the most important members of all our generations: our children. While studies suggest Covid-19 and the Delta Variant do not hit younger people as hard as older generations, the truth is, it is damaging children and will continue to do so for years to come. When taken in totality, Covid has closed schools, severed social outlets for youth, and created divisiveness in society between those who see vaccines as the answer and those who question their usage in small children and adolescents. That is not the impetus behind this research though. Instead, the thought is, what are the ramifications on the mental health of children as it relates to the upheaval of social constructs brought on by the Covid pandemic? What can be done about it? And what are the foreseeable consequences to a world that has been thrust into pandemonium over the Covid pandemic? These are questions that we must grapple with as we, as one world, emerge from the foreboding shadow of the Covid pandemic. This article is not an indictment on any political group, country, or argument for or against vaccines. Rather, the author wishes to present information in a manner that will provide thought on what the consequences are to our children's mental health as the pandemic rages on. The truth is, no one knows how long Covid and the Delta Variant will last. Between the fight to save lives, develop newer and stronger medicines to combat the virus, and establishing mandates to stem the spread, our children often suffer in silence from isolation, loneliness, inattention, and boredom. Many of the direct effects of Covid on the family, a sick family
Academia Letters, 2021
The historical record of the treatment of native American people in the United States has left a ... more The historical record of the treatment of native American people in the United States has left a scar on American history. The maltreatment of Native Americans, from stolen lands and displacement to the exposure to disease that killed millions of native people, Native Americans have suffered greatly and continue to do so. While only two percent of the United States population is made up of Native Americans, they represent eight percent of the homeless population and at some point, in their lifetimes, 7 out of 10 Native Americans can expect to suffer from some sort of mental illness (Center for Disease Control, 2018). This breaks down to 45,000 homeless Native Americans and more than 4 million Native Americans suffering from Mental Illness. When compared to the general population, Native Americans suffer from depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues at a rate that is 1.5 times greater than that of the general population of the United States (Indian Health Service, 2019).
Academia Letters, 2021
The issue of mental illness stigma is tremendous in the United States. But perhaps this no truer ... more The issue of mental illness stigma is tremendous in the United States. But perhaps this no truer than in the African American community. Studies from the past census in 2010 show that 16 % of African Americans reported that they suffer from some sort of mental illness (U.S. Census, 2010). African Americans make up roughly 13.4% of the United States population (U.S. Census, 2019). This extrapolates out to over 7 million African-Americans who self-identify as being mentally ill. Overall, it is believed that mental illness strikes African American people with as much or slightly less frequency as white people (Mental Health America, 2021). While these statistics are startling, they may not paint a full picture of the toll and the struggle that members of the African American community experience when a diagnosis of mental illness is made. While there is little research to make a solid conclusion empirically regarding this issue, the obvious need for both qualitative and quantitative methodological research remains high and yet elusive. It is the intention here to shed light on the subject and potentially garner interest in the subject so that further research may be initiated. Statistics show the trend of mental illness is on the increase in the United States (MHA, 2021). There are many reasons why this is true. The increase of stress and anxiety from a global pandemic, more people who are living into the later years, more people on the earth, economic disparities, racial inequity and inequality, higher drug use among Americans, and many other stressors that contribute to altered thinking, mood disorders, and general deterioration of mental health. But perhaps the greatest enemy and roadblock to people who may
Books by Dr. Charles W Eproson
Pastor Preparation to Support Congregants With Mental Health Issues: A descriptive Study dy, 2021
This qualitative study explores the preparation pastors need to support mentally ill
congregation... more This qualitative study explores the preparation pastors need to support mentally ill
congregational members. The unit of analysis was Missouri Synod Lutheran pastors. The
theoretical framework was Maslow’s Transpersonal Theory. Three research questions
guided the study: What were Missouri Synod Lutheran pastors taught, pre-ordination,
about mental illness? How were Missouri Synod Lutheran pastors taught, pre-ordination,
about supporting congregants who are mentally ill? What pre-ordination preparation would
Missouri Synod Lutheran pastors recommend for supporting congregants with mental
illness? Data sources were archival data, questionnaires, and individual interviews. Eight
themes were generated: 1) Pre-ordination pastors were taught very little about mental
illness. 2) Pre-ordination pastors had one class in which anxiety or depression were
sometimes discussed. 3) The subject of mental illness was not a focus of pre-ordination
training. 4) When taught about supporting congregants who are mentally ill, seminarians
were taught through some role play. 5) Missouri Synod Lutheran pastors were taught, preordination, through the use of one book usually a counseling book. 6) Missouri Synod
Lutheran pastors were taught, pre-ordination, that vicarage was the place to gain
experience. 7) Missouri Synod Lutheran Pastors recommend pre-ordination preparation
surrounding education about mental illness. 8) Missouri Synod Lutheran Pastors
recommend pre-ordination preparation that includes networking with experienced pastors
to learn better support systems for congregation members who are mentally ill.
Keywords: Preparation, Pre-ordination, Mental Illness, Vicarage, Networking,
Support Systems, Training, Experience, Teaching.
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Drafts by Dr. Charles W Eproson
Papers by Dr. Charles W Eproson
Books by Dr. Charles W Eproson
congregational members. The unit of analysis was Missouri Synod Lutheran pastors. The
theoretical framework was Maslow’s Transpersonal Theory. Three research questions
guided the study: What were Missouri Synod Lutheran pastors taught, pre-ordination,
about mental illness? How were Missouri Synod Lutheran pastors taught, pre-ordination,
about supporting congregants who are mentally ill? What pre-ordination preparation would
Missouri Synod Lutheran pastors recommend for supporting congregants with mental
illness? Data sources were archival data, questionnaires, and individual interviews. Eight
themes were generated: 1) Pre-ordination pastors were taught very little about mental
illness. 2) Pre-ordination pastors had one class in which anxiety or depression were
sometimes discussed. 3) The subject of mental illness was not a focus of pre-ordination
training. 4) When taught about supporting congregants who are mentally ill, seminarians
were taught through some role play. 5) Missouri Synod Lutheran pastors were taught, preordination, through the use of one book usually a counseling book. 6) Missouri Synod
Lutheran pastors were taught, pre-ordination, that vicarage was the place to gain
experience. 7) Missouri Synod Lutheran Pastors recommend pre-ordination preparation
surrounding education about mental illness. 8) Missouri Synod Lutheran Pastors
recommend pre-ordination preparation that includes networking with experienced pastors
to learn better support systems for congregation members who are mentally ill.
Keywords: Preparation, Pre-ordination, Mental Illness, Vicarage, Networking,
Support Systems, Training, Experience, Teaching.
congregational members. The unit of analysis was Missouri Synod Lutheran pastors. The
theoretical framework was Maslow’s Transpersonal Theory. Three research questions
guided the study: What were Missouri Synod Lutheran pastors taught, pre-ordination,
about mental illness? How were Missouri Synod Lutheran pastors taught, pre-ordination,
about supporting congregants who are mentally ill? What pre-ordination preparation would
Missouri Synod Lutheran pastors recommend for supporting congregants with mental
illness? Data sources were archival data, questionnaires, and individual interviews. Eight
themes were generated: 1) Pre-ordination pastors were taught very little about mental
illness. 2) Pre-ordination pastors had one class in which anxiety or depression were
sometimes discussed. 3) The subject of mental illness was not a focus of pre-ordination
training. 4) When taught about supporting congregants who are mentally ill, seminarians
were taught through some role play. 5) Missouri Synod Lutheran pastors were taught, preordination, through the use of one book usually a counseling book. 6) Missouri Synod
Lutheran pastors were taught, pre-ordination, that vicarage was the place to gain
experience. 7) Missouri Synod Lutheran Pastors recommend pre-ordination preparation
surrounding education about mental illness. 8) Missouri Synod Lutheran Pastors
recommend pre-ordination preparation that includes networking with experienced pastors
to learn better support systems for congregation members who are mentally ill.
Keywords: Preparation, Pre-ordination, Mental Illness, Vicarage, Networking,
Support Systems, Training, Experience, Teaching.