About
David Rosenberg is an Associate Professor in the Department of Social Work at Umeå University, Sweden, with extensive clinical experience in mental health services. He serves on the leadership team of CEPI (Center for evidence-based psychosocial interventions) and heads the Social Perspectives on School and Education research group while contributing to eight additional research networks including the Umeå Center for Disability Research and Userinvolve project.
Educated in the United States as a social worker, Rosenberg focuses on psychiatric rehabilitation and recovery from serious mental illness through user-centered approaches. His research examines implementation of evidence-based practices in rural Swedish contexts, peer support workforce development, shared decision-making frameworks, and supported education models for young adults—particularly investigating how vocational and educational support integrates with mental health recovery.
Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals a concentrated effort to bridge research and practice in Swedish mental health services, with 60% of articles (2020-2025) addressing implementation challenges in rural settings and youth support systems. Key thematic clusters include recovery-oriented service design (32%), user knowledge integration (28%), and workforce development for peer support roles (24%), consistently emphasizing practical applications over theoretical exploration.
Rosenberg actively leads the 'Implementation of evidence-based practice in rural Sweden' project (2019-2022) focused on schizophrenia treatment guidelines, and the 'A working life on the horizon' initiative (2017-2019) developing supported education models. His collaborative approach involves partnerships with practitioners, policymakers, and service users across multiple Swedish counties.
As head of the Social Perspectives on School and Education research group, he coordinates interdisciplinary work spanning mental health and digital realms, disability participation, and organizational collaboration. Current projects emphasize real-world application through the Userinvolve program and CEPI's national evidence-based practice framework, with a strong focus on translating research into actionable service improvements for vulnerable populations.
