The National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse is now affiliated with the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion!
TO CONTACT THE CLEARINGHOUSE: SELFHELPCLEARINGHOUSE@GMAIL.COM
TO CONTACT SUSAN ROGERS: SUSAN.ROGERS.ADVOCACY@GMAIL.COM
TO CONTACT JOSEPH ROGERS: JROGERS08034@GMAIL.COM
PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE ARE MANY CONFERENCES AND WEBINARS AMONG THE ITEMS BELOW, NOT NECESSARILY IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER.
CDC and BBC Offer Advice on Stress and Coping During the Coronavirus Pandemic
“Coronavirus has plunged the world into uncertainty and the constant news about the pandemic can feel relentless,” the BBC writes. “All of this is taking its toll on people's mental health, particularly those already living with conditions like anxiety and OCD. So how can we protect our mental health?” And the CDC writes: “The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be stressful for people. Fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children. Coping with stress will make you, the people you care about, and your community stronger.” To read more about the BBC’s advice on protecting our mental health during the pandemic, click here. For the CDC advice on managing stress and anxiety during this difficult time, click here.
NYAPRS Offers FREE Virtual 3-Part Series: “2020 Vision: Leadership and Innovation in Turbulent Times”
“Since 2004, the NYAPRS Executive Seminar has led the way in helping to shape the direction of New York’s mental health policy while showcasing leading edge management and innovative program advances,” the New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services (NYAPRS) writes. “In order to keep everyone safe due to the COVID-19 outbreak, we are pleased to offer you a virtual three-part Seminar webinar series to take place on successive Tuesday mornings April 21, April 28 and May 5 at no charge. Come and take part in these inspiring and informative discussions, which will feature presentations by Pat Deegan and Peggy Swarbrick, among other distinguished presenters!” After registering in advance for each webinar, “you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.” The first two webinars run from 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. ET; the third webinar runs from 9 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. ET. To register for April 21, click here. To register for April 28, click here. To register for May 5, click here.
Hearing Voices Network Is Now Hosting Online Groups
“There are now ONLINE opportunities to connect, share experiences, and find mutual support,” the Hearing Voices Network (HVN) writes. “These groups are accessible via web-based platforms and by phone…Online groups are specifically for those with personal lived experience with hearing voices, seeing visions, and/or negotiating alternative realities. They are voice-hearer facilitated. With further questions and for details on how to access the group[s], please email info@hearingvoicesusa.org.” To read this announcement online and for more information, click here. For the HVN’s recorded discussion on how to bring groups online, click here. (Courtesy of Jacek Haciak)
TU Collaborative to Host Virtual “Story Slam” and Free Storytelling Workshops
The Temple University (TU) Collaborative on Community Inclusion is hosting a virtual “Story Slam” on May 7, 2020, at 3 p.m. ET, and free storytelling workshops every Tuesday (2 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET) and Thursday (2 p.m. to 4 p.m. ET). For more information and/or to sign up for the “Story Slam,” whose first topic is Long-Distance Connections, click here. For workshop information, email Kyra at kyra.baker@temple.edu. In a related initiative, the TU Collaborative wants to hear your story! For the link, click here.
If You Can’t Attend Peerpocalypse in Person, You Can Attend Virtually!
“As you may already know, Peerpocalypse has been rescheduled for July 20-23, 2020 due to COVID-19,” the Mental Health & Addiction Association of Oregon, organizer of the conference, writes. “While we hope everyone can make it to Seaside, Oregon, we do understand that these are uncertain times. So, for those who can't make the trip, we are offering the conference virtually!” Virtual registration includes virtual access to workshops, with CEU credits; virtual access to keynote speeches; and T-shirt, conference program, and name badge. (The T-shirt, program, and name badge will be sent via mail.) If you want to receive a T-shirt, your $200 virtual registration must be received no later than June 26, 2020. To register, click here.
SAMHSA to Host Webinar (April 22) and Discussion (April 23) on Landlord Cultivation and Retention
The free 90-minute webinar, “Talking the Talk: A Guide to Housing Resources,” April 22, 2020, at 3 p.m. ET, and one-hour discussion, April 23 at 3 p.m., are geared toward, among others, policy makers and direct service providers, including peer providers, who work with people who have complex backgrounds including serious mental health conditions, substance use disorders, co-occurring disorders, and homelessness. The discussion for webinar participants the following day “will be an opportunity to interact with experts in a question-and-answer session on landlord engagement and finding housing, as well as discuss effective ways to help clients secure housing.” For more information and to register, click here. (Courtesy of Jacek Haciak)
Next Up in the MHTTC Webinar Series Is “The Role of Health and Wellness in Recovery”
The next free, 90-minute webinar in the Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network (MHTTC) series is on April 23, 2020, at 1 p.m. ET. The topic is “Role of Health and Wellness in Recovery: Interventions to Reduce the High Rates of Morbidity and Mortality Among People with Serious Mental Illnesses.” To register, and for information about upcoming webinars—to be held on May 7 (“Role of Religion and Spirituality in Recovery: Benefits and Challenges of Religion and Spirituality in Recovery and Strategies for Navigating this Topic”), and May 21 (“Recovery in the Hispanic and Latinx Community: What is the Understanding of Recovery in the Hispanic and Latinx Community and How Can We Support It”), click here.
Why Are Therapists Rarely Trained in How to Help People Who Are Considering Suicide?
“Suicide is the nation’s 10th-leading cause of death, yet experts say training for mental health practitioners who treat [people who have thoughts of suicide]—psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, among others—is dangerously inadequate,” according to a recent article in USA Today. “’Any profession’s ethical standards require that you not treat a problem you don’t know, and yet every day thousands of untrained service providers see thousands of suicidal patients and perform uninformed interventions,’ said Paul Quinnett, a clinical psychologist and founder of the QPR Institute, an organization that educates people on how to prevent suicide.” The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention figures, released in January 2020, show that, since 1999, the suicide rate has climbed 35%, and 2018 data show that “54% of people who died by suicide had no known mental health condition. For the USA Today article, click here.
NIMH Launches Study of How COVID-19 Stressors Affect Mental Health Over Time
“Researchers at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) are conducting an online research study to learn about how stressors related to the COVID-19 virus affect mental health over time,” NIMH writes. “We hope to better understand the experiences of participants during this difficult time. Participation involves completing online questionnaires every two weeks, for six months. The questionnaires take about 20 minutes to complete. You must be at least 18 years old to participate. Participation is voluntary, and you may withdraw at any time. Compensation is not provided.” Questions? Call 240.665.0697 or email NIMHResearchVolunteer@nihg.gov. For more information and/or to begin participating, click here. (Courtesy of Jacek Haciak)
Until April 20, You Can Download No Comfort Zone: Notes on Living with PTSD for Free
Author Marla Handy, Ph.D., is offering a free download of her book, No Comfort Zone: Notes on Living with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, until April 20. Smashwords, which published the book, offers this description: “No Comfort Zone challenges the reader to understand a bit of what it’s like to live with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). With insight, clarity and humor, the author describes the fear and unpredictability of her past and links them to her perceptions, reactions and hopes in the present.” For more information and to download the book, click here. (Courtesy of Surviving Spirit newsletter)
Peer Researchers Launch an Employment Study of CPS Graduates: Four States So Far
If you received your certified peer specialist (CPS) credential after July 2019 in Pennsylvania, Oregon, Texas, or North Carolina, you may soon receive a letter inviting you to participate in peer-led research aimed at finding out how—or if—the credential has made a difference in your life. Funded through the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR), the researchers will survey peer specialists regardless of their employment status. The 30-minute, invite-only survey will be repeated in 2021 and 2022 to see how participants’ employment prospects have changed over time. Participants in all three surveys will receive a total of $45—an unconditional cash incentive of $5 mailed with each invitation, followed by a $10 gift card after completing each survey. “This research is more important than ever, to provide evidence of how peer certification helps people with psychiatric histories, and to improve our employment and financial circumstances,” says Laysha Ostrow, PhD, founder of Live & Learn Inc., which developed the study. For more information, write to cps@livelearninc.net or click here.
Two-Part Roundtable on “Innovative High-impact Strategies” to Address COVID-19 Begins April 23, 2020
National Network to Eliminate Disparities (NNED) in Behavioral Health will host a two-part series— “Communities Respond to COVID-19 with Innovative High-impact Strategies”—on “actionable and accessible strategies that diverse communities are initiating to move through these difficult times,” beginning on April 23, 2020, at 3 p.m. ET. NNED writes: “This NNED Virtual Roundtable series will highlight issues associated with COVID-19, including: Unique experiences of individuals in underserved communities; Strategies for providing culturally and linguistically appropriate health information; and Specific actions taken by select NNED communities to deliver high-impact and easy to implement approaches that support behavioral health needs.” Save the date for Part Two on May 21, 2020, at 3:00 pm ET. For more information and to register, click here. (Courtesy of the Café TA Center)
Free Webinar on “A Path to Crisis Recovery & Resilience—Helping Rural Communities”
The next free one-hour webinar in Doors to Wellbeing’s series, on April 28, 2020, at 2 p.m. ET, covering “A Path to Crisis Recovery & Resilience—Helping Rural Communities,” will be presented by Dr. Jacque Gray. The webinar “will explore Dr. Gray’s successful implementation of a community-based crisis team model in rural communities in Oklahoma, as well as her current ongoing efforts in other locations. She will discuss topics such as steps to create a local crisis team, how and why to involve community members in the creation and implementation phases, and identifying strengths and barriers in your community. Dr. Gray will draw on her decades of experience working with tribes and rural communities in various regions across the United States and abroad.” For more information and to register, click here.
How Long Does Effective Therapy Really Take? Researchers Weigh In
How long does therapy take? Spoiler alert: “Therapy takes time,” according to a March 8, 2020, Foundation for Excellence in Mental Health Care article. “Meaningful change began at about the six-month mark, and clients who stayed in therapy for a year did substantially better. Those who stayed for two years improved still more. There was an unmistakable dose–response curve: ‘The longer people stayed in therapy, the more they improved.’” The results cited were from a 25-year-old study conducted by Consumer Reports. “A noteworthy feature of the Consumer Reports study—besides being conducted by an unbiased consumer organization with no ax to grind about psychotherapy—is that it did not prejudge what people wanted from their therapy. The three outcome questions left it to respondents to decide whether they’d gotten what they needed.” For more, click here.
ITRC Announces Spring 2020 Webinar Series
The International Transformational Resilience Coalition (ITRC) has announced the schedule for its Spring 2020 webinar series. On April 30, 2020, at 3 p.m. ET, it will host a one-hour webinar on “Introduction to Transformational Resilience for Climate Traumas, Toxic Stresses, and Other Emergencies.” To register, click here. On May 7, it will host “The Resilient Growth Model for Building Transformational Resilience.” To register, click here. On May 14 at 3 p.m. ET, the webinar will be “Building a Culture of Transformational Resilience Within Communities.” To register, click here. For more information about the ITRC, whose mission is “to promote and support comprehensive preventative initiatives in North America and internationally to proactively build psychological and psycho-social-spiritual resilience for climate change,” click here. (Courtesy of Elisha Coffey)
Upcoming Conference for Individuals and Families Affected by Incarceration Moves Online
“Take Courage” A Conference for Individuals & Families Impacted by Incarceration,” organized by Gift of Voice with tech support by the Safer Foundation, is now happening online! Pre-conference “how-to” workshops will begin on April 30, from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET, and the conference will take place on May 1, from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET. “Most sessions will last 1.5 hours, with 30-minute wellness breaks in between sessions,” said Gift of Voice founder AJ French. “The number of tickets is limited and available on a first come, first served basis.” For more information and to register, click here.
Mental Health America Offers Free Toolkit for Mental Health Month; UK Chooses “Kindness” as Theme of Mental Health Awareness Week 2020
May is Mental Health Month in the U.S., and Mental Health America (MHA) is offering a free toolkit to help. MHA writes: “In 2020, our theme of ‘Tools 2 Thrive’ will provide practical tools that everyone can use to improve their mental health and increase resiliency regardless of the situations they are dealing with.” For more information and a link to download the free toolkit, click here. Across the Atlantic, the Mental Health Foundation, which has hosted, Mental Health Awareness Week—May 18-24—in the UK for the last two decades, has chosen “Kindness” as its theme. “We want to use Mental Health Awareness Week to celebrate the thousands of acts of kindness that are so important to our mental health,” said Mark Rowland, the Foundation’s chief executive. “And we want to start a discussion on the kind of society we want to shape as we emerge from this [COVID-19] pandemic.” For more information, click here.
SAMHSA Shares Its National Guidelines for Mental Health Crisis Care: A Best Practices Toolkit
“Crisis services are an integral component of addressing mental illness in communities across the nation,” SAMHSA writes. “These guidelines are intended to assist states and communities with the development and implementation of effective crisis services and systems.” To download the 12-page Executive Summary and the 80-page toolkit, click here.
May 19 Is Next Free Webinar in Peer-Run Organization Learning Collaborative Series
Mark your calendars! Although the topic of the next free webinar in the series by the Peer-Run Organization Learning Collaborative, comprising the five SAMHSA-funded national consumer/consumer supporter technical assistance centers, has not yet been announced, the webinar is certain to be educational and possibly even entertaining! To register for the 90-minute webinar, on May 19 at 2 p.m. ET, click here.
Antipsychotic Medication Linked to Adverse Change in Brain Structure, Study Shows
“In a first-of-its-kind study using advanced brain imaging techniques, a commonly used antipsychotic medication was associated with potentially adverse changes in brain structure,” NeuroscienceNews.com has reported. The study, recently published in JAMA Psychiatry, examined individuals diagnosed with major depression who also experience psychosis who were prescribed antipsychotic medications olanzapine and sertraline for 12 to 20 weeks. “The study found evidence that sustained use of olanzapine verses a placebo was associated with potentially adverse changes in brain structure, namely a thinning of the cortex…But participants who experienced a relapse of psychotic symptoms also had potentially adverse changes in brain structure…‘With the increased off-label prescribing of antipsychotic medications, especially in children and the elderly, our findings support a reexamination of the risks and benefits,’” the lead author said. For the NeuroscienceNews.com article, click here. For the JAMA Psychiatry article, click here. (Courtesy of Kevin Fitts)
“Laughing Matters” Documentary Considers Relationship Between Comedy and Mental Health
“’Laughing Matters’ is a 30-minute documentary that explores the complicated relationship between comedy and mental health,” Decider.com reports. “Currently streaming for free on SoulPancake’s YouTube channel, the equal parts essential and entertaining film features a slew of comedians—including Rainn Wilson, Sarah Silverman, Neal Brennan, Wayne Brady, Sara Benincasa, Chris Gethard, and Rachel Bloom—courageously opening up about their own struggles with mental health.” For the article, which includes a link to the 28-minute documentary, click here.
The April 2020 Digest of Articles about the Criminal Justice System, in Which Many Individuals with Mental Health Conditions Are Incarcerated (and the Key Update continues after this Digest)
Here is the April 2020 wrap-up of stories about the criminal justice system. (Note: Some of the titles and other language are not politically correct but are reproduced as written.) For “Bail Someone Out of Jail Today: Covid-19 is an unfolding catastrophe in America’s houses of detention,” click here. For “Prosecutors need to rethink suicide: It's a mental health issue, not a crime: Attempting suicide signals the need for mental health care. But prosecutors often highly scrutinize people for it, hindering their access to help,” click here. For “America’s Mental Health Crisis Hidden Behind Bars,” click here. For “What Happens When More Than 300,000 Prisoners Are Locked Down? The United States is about to find out as officials struggle to contain the coronavirus,” click here. For “Lessons Learned from Germany: Avoiding Unnecessary Incarceration and Limiting Collateral Consequences,” click here. For “For Those Serving Long Sentences, Politics Is a Lifeline: Respondents who’ve spent decades behind bars were more politically engaged than their peers, but they’re also the most cynical,” click here. For “Mental Disability Blog: California Jails Taking Different Approach to Solitary Confinement, click here. For “How prepared are state prison systems for a viral pandemic? We sent state prison systems a 5-question survey, and the answers—largely—are not encouraging,” click here. For “Out of Prison With Nowhere Safe to Go: As states grant early release to slow the spread of Covid-19, many people are leaving incarceration broke and without a net,” click here. For “Reforms without Results: Why states should stop excluding violent offenses from criminal justice reforms,” click here. For “What Would a World Without Prisons Look Like? The architect Deanna Van Buren designs civic spaces that are healing alternatives to correctional facilities,” click here. For “Unthinkable: Her children were dead before she realized she’d stabbed them. Does she belong in prison?” click here. For “Perspective: Flattening the Curve for Incarcerated Populations—Covid-19 in Jails and Prisons,” click here.
FROM PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF THE KEY UPDATE BUT STILL FRESH!
“How to Stay Mentally Healthy During the Coronavirus Pandemic”
“There’s a lot of advice being offered right now about how to keep yourself physically healthy during the coronavirus pandemic, such as washing your hands and practicing social distancing. But managing mental health during this time is just as vital to your overall well-being…Fortunately, there are steps you can take to improve your mental health right now even if you’re social distancing,” writes VeryWellMind.com. “Despite [the] ongoing uncertainty of the situation, take small steps every day to address your emotional needs.” For the article, published on March 20, 2020, which includes many links to additional information, click here. And for a related article, “10 Ways to Ease Your Coronavirus Anxiety,” click here.
To Support iNAPS’s “One Classification Counts” Campaign, Take Its Survey
The International Association of Peer Supporters (iNAPS) is calling on all peer workers—regardless of job title, population served, or workplace setting—to complete a one-minute survey indicating their job title (and providing a little more information), to help with its “One Classification Counts” campaign. iNAPS writes: “What is this campaign and why is one classification important to peer support specialists? Currently, the Department of Labor (DOL) does not recognize peer support work as a unique occupation. Because there are hundreds of different job titles, peer support ends up classified under a number of different helping professions, many of which do not require (and sometimes actively prohibit) having and sharing lived experience as a defining feature.” For more about the background and goal of the campaign, click here. To take the survey, click here.
Survey Seeks Respondents Who Are in Administrative/Leadership Positions in the Mental Health Field
If you are in an administrative/leadership position in the mental health arena, “the Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry (GAP) Committee on Psychiatric Administration and Leadership invites you to participate in the International Survey on Administrative Psychiatry. The survey has two purposes: 1. To identify the concerns and needs of mental health professionals/psychiatrists in administrative and leadership positions. 2. To determine training needs in administrative psychiatry. We ask you to complete this brief, [15- to 20-minute] questionnaire to help us in developing recommendations for action. We also want to let you know that, if you fill out this questionnaire, you permit the committee to use your anonymous data for scientific work.” Peer providers are included. For the survey, click here. (Courtesy of Oryx Cohen)
Free Resources for Peer Worker Supervisors Are Posted on the iNAPS Website
The International Association of Peer Supporters (iNAPS) has posted an array of resources for supervisors of peer support staff. The sources of the 18 disparate resources include the Transformation Center, the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD), the Café TA Center, the Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services (DBHIDS), the Carter Center, the Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network, SAMHSA-HRSA and the Center for Integrated Health Solutions, and other organizations and individual experts. For the peer support supervision resources, click here.
If You Have Experienced Psychosis, “Psychosis Beyond the Box” Wants to Hear From You.
“Psychosis Beyond the Box” seeks to gather anonymous descriptions of “aspects of psychosis that are often neglected, such as felt presences, visual or quasi-visual experiences, and alterations of space, time or distance,” as well as strategies to help with any distressing or challenging aspects of the experiences. The narratives will be compiled and shared in early psychosis programs and other service settings across the U.S. A major aim of the project—which is not a research project—is “to validate the diverse range of things people with psychosis experience, and help people, especially young adults experiencing psychosis for the first time, feel less alone and isolated (in these experiences).” For more information about the project, based at the University of South Florida, or to share your story, click here. Questions? Write to Nev Jones (genevra@usf.edu) or ShannonPagdon@gmail.com.
“Experiences with Hospitalization” Survey Seeks Participants
“The purpose of this survey is to help us understand people's lived experience with voluntary and involuntary treatment because of suicidal thoughts. It was created by people with lived experience…We are planning to use this information to facilitate discussions with suicidologists and the suicide prevention community about the impact of the use of these interventions, particularly within marginalized populations. We feel the voice of people with lived experience with these interventions has not had adequate opportunity to be heard, and hope that by completing this survey anonymously, people who have been most impacted can find a safe way to share their experiences. Please note that this is not a research project.” For more information and/or to participate, click here. (Courtesy of Leah Harris)
International Survey on Antipsychotic Medication Withdrawal Seeks Respondents
“Have you taken antipsychotic medication (such as Zyprexa, Seroquel, Abilify, Risperdal, Haldol, Geodon, Stelazine, and others), for any condition or diagnosis, with or without other medications? And did you ever stop taking antipsychotics, or try to stop taking them? Are you 18 years or older? If yes, you can take this survey about antipsychotic withdrawal and attempts to withdraw, including if you stopped taking them completely or if you tried to come off and still take them. The survey aims to improve mental health services by better understanding medication withdrawal. Lead researcher is Will Hall, a therapist and Ph.D. student who has himself taken antipsychotics. Service users/survivors/consumers from around the world also gave input. The study is sponsored by Maastricht University in the Netherlands; co-sponsors include the International Institute for Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal. Questions? Please contact will.hall@maastrichtuniversity.nl.” For more information or to take the survey, click on www.antipsychoticwithdrawalsurvey.com
Virtual Group Is Launched to Advance Peer Research Capacity, Leadership, and Involvement
Nev Jones, Ph.D., and Emily Cutler, a doctoral candidate, have launched a new listserv dedicated to building research capacity, leadership, and involvement among peers, survivors, and service users. Dr. Jones, assistant professor, Department of Mental Health Law & Policy, University of South Florida, was part of the team that developed “User/Survivor Leadership & Capacity Building in Research: White Paper on Promoting Engagement Practices in Peer Evaluation/Research (PEPPER),” published by the Lived Experience Research Network. For the white paper, click here. Anyone interested in joining the virtual group can email Nev at nev.inbox@gmail.com.
Do You Supervise Peer Support Workers? Then Researchers Have Some Questions for You
Researchers in the University of South Florida’s Department of Psychiatry and at Magellan Health are investigating the backgrounds, training, and experiences of individuals who currently supervise at least one peer support worker in a behavioral health setting or agency. “To the best of our knowledge, this will be the first comprehensive research study of the landscape of peer support supervision practices in the United States,” writes Dr. Nev Jones, the primary investigator of the study (Protocol Number 00040223). Participants must be at least 18 years old and work in the United States or U.S. territories. An online survey lasting approximately 10 minutes will ask about respondents’ backgrounds, training and preparation for supervision, perspectives and practices, and views on barriers and facilitators to high-quality supervision. There is no monetary compensation. Questions? Contact Dr. Nev Jones (genevra@health.usf.edu) or the co-primary investigator, Dana Foglesong (dfoglesong@magellanhealth.com). To access the survey, click here.
What Happens to People after Discharge from First Episode Psychosis/Early Intervention Programs? New Study Seeks Answers—and Participants
A study led by Dr. Nev Jones at the University of South Florida seeks current and former clients as well as family members of clients previously enrolled in early intervention in psychosis (EIP)/coordinated specialty care (CSC) services. The study aims to better understand what happens after discharge from EIP/CSC programs, including in the areas of school or work and access to/use of other mental health services. Eligible participants must be at least 18 years old and must be “current clients within one month of discharge from an EIP/CSC program, former clients discharged at least six months (at the time of the scheduled interview), and the family members of former clients.” In exchange for a phone interview of approximately 1.5 hours, each participant in the study (Protocol Number 00035193) will receive a $75 money order. Questions? Contact Dr. Jones at 813.415.5532 or by email at genevra@health.usf.edu.
Mad In America Invites You to Submit Your Personal Story (Within Certain Guidelines)
Mad In America writes: “A ‘personal story’ is defined as your story of being in relationship to psychiatry and/or the mental health system, whatever that means to you. It might involve your opinions and analysis of what happened to you, as well. It can be about a specific event, or about your overall journey, provided it fits the length requirements (1,500 to 3,000 words) and has a narrative arc. The piece should be about your personal experiences, not psychiatry or the mental health system in general. Submissions should fall under the theme of rethinking psychiatry and the mental health system, and should be original works not previously published elsewhere. For examples of the types of stories we publish, view our personal stories archive here.” For more information and/or to submit a personal story, click here.
Disclaimer: The Clearinghouse does not necessarily endorse the opinions and opportunities included in the Key Update.
About The Key Update
The National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse is now affiliated with the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion!
The Key Update is the free monthly e-newsletter of the National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse. Volume 16, No. 10, April 2020. For content, reproduction or publication information, please contact Susan Rogers at selfhelpclearinghouse@gmail.com. Follow Susan on Twitter at @SusanRogersMH