University of Minnesota-Twin Cities · Social ScienceYouth Mental Health Innovations Lab
Christopher J Mehus · Minneapolis, Minnesota
Research Focus
Dr. Christopher J. Mehus leads a research lab at the University of Minnesota focused on improving mental health outcomes for children and adolescents. His lab develops and tests innovative, eHealth-based parenting interventions that can be delivered easily through primary care settings. By enhancing the availability and effectiveness of these parent-focused programs, his research aims to prevent behavioral health problems such as depression in youth, making helpful resources more accessible to families.
eHealthparenting interventionsbehavioral healthprimary caremental health preventioncost-benefit analysisrandomized controlled trialsonline therapychild development
Research Aims
5AIM 01Test the effectiveness of an eHealth parent training program called Empowered Generations.
AIM 02Develop effective referral practices for primary care clinicians to support parents.
AIM 03Conduct randomized controlled trials to evaluate parenting interventions in real-world settings.
AIM 04Examine the cost-effectiveness of the eGen program when implemented by community therapists.
AIM 05Prevent behavioral health problems in children through accessible parenting programs.
Skills the Lab Values
online intervention deliverydata collectionrandomized controlled trials (RCT)cost-benefit analysisparent trainingcommunication strategiesprogram evaluationcollaborative therapy practicesmental health assessment
Output against the department
Publications57bottom 22% of dept.60th of 77
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations1.2kbottom 25% of dept.58th of 77
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.