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 SUSAN ROGERS: SUSAN.ROGERS.ADVOCACY@GMAIL.COM JOSEPH ROGERS: JROGERS08034@GMAIL.COM
Peerpocalypose Is Going Virtual!
Peerpocalypse is going virtual for the first time ever! This decision, by the Mental Health & Addiction Association of Oregon, follows a mandate by Oregon’s governor prohibiting gatherings of more than 25 people until a COVID-19 vaccine is developed. The conference will be held July 20-23, 2020, with pre-conference events on July 19. Virtual registration is $200 and includes a mailed T-shirt, program, and badge as well as CEU credits for pre-conference events and workshops. Virtual registration will also include access to keynote speeches and evening events. An update of the Peerpocalypse conference schedule will be released soon, the organizers say. “If you have already paid for an in-person registration, we will refund the difference,” they write. “Please look out for emails from our staff to ask if you would like to cancel or convert your registration to virtual. We thank you for your patience and grace during this unprecedented time in history.” To register for virtual participation, click here.
TU Collaborative Invites You to Participate in Two Studies
Are you a peer support specialist who uses spirituality in your practice? If so, the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion invites you to sign up for their study looking at psychological factors among peers who use spirituality and religion. “This study is completely remote, so contact us at tucollab@temple.edu if you’re interested.” The second study, on social connections, invites “adults aged 18 to 65 who have a diagnosis of schizophrenia, major depression, or major affective disorder to participate.” This would involve one online survey now and another in a few months. Questions? Contact Shinichi.nagata@temple.edu or 215.204.9664. To sign up and take the survey, click here.
“Heroes and Villains Populate the Pages of ‘The Zyprexa Papers’”
“Reading ‘The Zyprexa Papers’—Jim Gottstein’s riveting, heartbreaking, and ultimately inspiring new book—is like having a ringside seat at a boxing match where the challenger is on the ropes, taking a merciless beating from the reigning champion: It’s brutal and bloody, but you can’t look away.” So begins my review of Jim’s harrowing account of what happened when a New York Times reporter—who knew of Jim’s previous work to expose the depredations of the Big Pharma conglomerate and Zyprexa manufacturer Eli Lilly—asked Jim to provide him with Lilly’s “secret documents” about the drug. Jim, founder of the Law Project for Psychiatric Rights and a longtime human rights activist, found a way to do this. His book, “The Zyprexa Papers,” is a deep dive into the Bizarro World of psychiatry, Big Pharma, and the judicial system. For my review, click here. For more about the book, click here.
Free Worldwide Breathwork Session, May 24, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET and/or Whenever You Can Participate
Neurodynamic Breathwork Online—described as a way to “quiet the thinking mind and access your amazing inner intelligence”—is offering a free workshop on May 24; but if that is inconvenient, you can choose a time that works for you! Founder Michael Stone writes: “We will be dedicating this workshop to the healing of the planet and all of its inhabitants in this time of stress and anxiety. In our last free event, we had over 700 participants from 40 different countries. It was one of the most powerful sessions I have ever facilitated!” To register, click here; the free May 24 workshop is in the top row. But if you can’t make it on Sunday or prefer to participate in a smaller group, Stone adds, “due to the pandemic we are currently offering everybody a free session at the time of their choice right now. Click here and then click on ‘Try A Free Breathwork Session’ and follow the instructions. We host four to five live sessions every week.” Important: For more about how Breathwork Online works and how to participate, click here. (Courtesy of Kevin Fitts)
How Are You Doing During the Pandemic? Inquiring Researchers Want to Know.
“We”—fellow peers at the Collaborative Support Programs of New Jersey (CSPNJ)—“want to know how you are doing in these difficult times. For example, what has happened to your life and what kinds of help do you need? How have you helped others and how have they helped you? Thank you for answering these questions to help us understand your life right now!” The survey was designed by Peggy Swarbrick, PhD, OT, CPRP, who coordinates activities for the CSPNJ Wellness Institute. For more about Dr. Swarbrick, click here. To take the survey, click here.
Four-Session Lunchtime Learning Series on Action Planning and Implementation Is Free
The New York City Peer and Community Health Worker Workforce Consortium is offering a free, four-session “Peer Workforce Integration” learning series to help organizations drive change toward practices that support the integration of the peer workforce. The series guides the transition from assessing organizational strengths and needs to the process of collaboratively developing and implementing a measurable, action-oriented plan. Each 90-minute session will begin at noon ET on four successive Wednesdays: May 20, May 27, June 3, and June 10. (The May 20 session—"Getting the Conversation Started”—will be archived.) The May 27 session is on “Building a Plan”; for details and to register, click here. The June 3 session is on “Keeping the Action Active”; for details and to register, click here. And the June 10 session will cover “How did it go? Evaluation of your implementation”; for details and to register, click here. Questions? Contact Rita Cronise, Coordinator: academy.virtual.community@gmail.com.
USA Today Reports on Suicide Attempt Survivors and Their Life-Saving Lessons
A recent, in-depth story in USA Today includes interviews with mental health activists and suicide attempt survivors Jess Stohlmann-Rainey, director of program development at Rocky Mountain Crisis Partners in Denver; Dese’Rae L. Stage, who founded the website Live Through This; and Leah Harris, a frequent reporter at Mad In America. It also includes numerous links to additional information, such as “Suicide prevention: Self-care tips, true stories on how survivors cope” (click here) and “Suicide prevention experts: What you say (and don't say) could save a person's life: Mental health experts say it's time to normalize conversations about suicide” (click here); as well as “What Actually Happens When You Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline” (click here). To read the current article—“The life-saving lesson suicidal people can teach a world in pandemic”—click here.
World Psychiatry Offers Its Current and Back Issues for Free
World Psychiatry, the official journal of the World Psychiatric Association, is offering its current and back issues for free. The latest issue (June 2020) includes “Addressing mental health needs: an integral part of COVID-19 response,” “Psychiatry in the age of COVID-19,” “What is resilience: an affiliative neuroscience approach,” “Intergenerational psychiatry: a new look at a powerful perspective,” and nine separate cannabis “Commentaries.” Among the articles in the last issue (February 2020) are “Euthymia: why it really does matter,” “Economics and mental health: the current scenario,” “Gender competence and mental health promotion,” “Constructing a liberated and modern mind: six pathways from pathology to euthymia,” “Why the field of moral philosophy must guide any discussion on well-being,” and many others. For the link to the archive, click here.
Two New Websites Are Launched to Address Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic
The Pandemic Crisis Response Services Coalition and the City of Philadelphia, respectively, recently launched campaigns to address mental health concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic. “While there is suffering as a result of COVID-19 that is unavoidable, mental health suffering can be prevented or minimized with the right interventions. The Pandemic Crisis Response Services Coalition is committed to doing all that we can to prevent deaths of despair due to the consequences of the pandemic,” the Coalition writes. For the Coalition website, click here. At the same time, Philadelphia has launched a new public awareness campaign, #mindPHL (pronounced “mindful”) Together, which aims to improve the community’s understanding of mental health and well-being, reduce the prejudice associated with needing mental health support, encourage Philadelphians to seek help for themselves and others, and offer such support to those who need it. “Amid the heightened uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, mental well-being is more important than ever,” said Philadelphia’s mayor, Jim Kenney. The campaign includes a new website, MindPHLtogether.com, to make mental health resources more readily available. For the Philadelphia press release, click here.
“Mapping the Disability Experience: Share Your Stories”
“We invite you to draw a map of your neighborhood or environment to capture how the coronavirus pandemic has impacted (or not) your use and understanding of space,” researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago write. “This can include drawings/images of your home, your neighborhood, your city or beyond. Maps can come in many forms, styles, perspectives, and mediums. We are interested in collecting these maps to capture and better understand the experiences of disability and the environment during the coronavirus pandemic.” Submissions will be accepted through June 30, 2020. For more information or to participate, click here. Questions? Contact Yochai Eisenberg, PhD, yeisen2@uic.edu (Courtesy of Elizabeth Stone)
Have You Ever Smoked, Drunk, Vaped, or Used Other Drugs? Or Do You Now? New Zealand COVID-19 Study Is Now Open to US Residents
“We want to find out how people are coping [during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown],” writes the New Zealand-based Centre of Research Excellence: Indigenous Sovereignty & Smoking. “We are especially interested in adults aged 18 and over who, before lockdown, regularly drank alcohol, smoked or used other tobacco products, or other drugs. We also want to hear from people who have taken up smoking or drinking or other drugs during this frightening time.” The study has been approved by the US-based independent review board SolutionsIRB and is now open to US residents. “The study website includes helpful Coping in Lockdown tips, tips on Dealing with Cravings, and information on alternatives to smoking tobacco.” To participate or for more information, click here.
Free Webinar on “Trauma and Mental Health Peer Support” on May 26
The next free one-hour webinar in Doors to Wellbeing’s series, on May 26, 2020, at 2 p.m. ET, covering “Trauma and Mental Health Peer Support,” will “describe basic information about the characteristics and prevalence of trauma, relevant to the work of mental health peer specialists. Risk factors and protective factors will be reviewed so that peer supporters are better grounded in providing trauma-informed care in supporting recovery and resilience. The presentation will review the importance of language and perspective in working with someone who has or is experiencing trauma. It will also highlight how mental health peer specialists can benefit by shifting the focus to emotional understanding and strengths-based interactions that support successful recovery.” For more information and to register, click here.
Free Webinar on “Providing Employment Services in a Virtual World”
On May 27, at 1 p.m. ET, NYAPRS will host a one-hour webinar on “Providing Employment Services in a Virtual World.” NYAPRS writes: “The COVID-19 pandemic radically altered our economic and social norms. This webinar will prepare employment professionals to work remotely to help people with psychiatric disabilities to navigate employment services. It will also help us to better understand the current economic challenges that people face while promoting strong relationships in a virtual world.” The presenters are Robert Statham, BA CESP, and Len Statham, MS, CBP, CPRP. To register, click here.
The New Yorker & Mad In America Cover the Added Dangers in U.S. Psychiatric Facilities During the Pandemic
In “America’s Psychiatric Facilities Are ‘Incubators’ for COVID-19,” published by Mad In America, and “Why Psychiatric Wards Are Uniquely Vulnerable to the Coronavirus,” in The New Yorker, journalists Leah Harris and Masha Gessen, respectively, report on the increased dangers of life in an inpatient psychiatric facility during the COVID-19 era. In the best of times, there are risks inherent in inpatient psychiatric treatment, such as forced or coerced drugging, as well as the heightened risk of suicide after release from involuntary hospitalization (click here). But now, Harris writes that “whistleblowers at American psychiatric facilities paint a picture of mismanaged COVID-19 responses and lax safety protocols, putting patients, workers, and the surrounding communities in harm’s way. Some allege coverups of deaths.” And Gessen writes, “The coronavirus, and the public-health measures undertaken to slow its spread, [are] uniquely hostile to psychiatric care.” For the New Yorker article, click here. For the Mad In America article, click here. For Harris’s follow-up, “Life Inside America’s Psychiatric Facilities During the Pandemic: Eyewitness Accounts—Insiders paint a picture of chaos and fear in public and private psychiatric hospitals across the country,” click here.
Two Free SAMHSA-sponsored Webinars Are Coming Up, on May 27 and May 28
Two free 90-minute SAMHSA-sponsored webinars—one aimed at families, the other aimed at peers—will be presented by the National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health and the National Coalition for Mental Health Recovery, respectively. The first is on May 27 at 2 p.m. ET, on “Improving Access to Care by Using Creative Support to Address Families Waiting for Services.” For more information and to register, click here. The second—“Ways That Peers and Supervisors Use Principles of Recovery to Improve Engagement of Adults in Crisis”—on May 28 at 2 p.m. ET, will cover the range of crisis services employing peers, ways that peers are uniquely suited to engaging persons in acute distress in services, how supervisors help peers balance their peer role with the clinical expectations of the system, how peers and supervisors facilitate self-care and supports enabling peers to build resilience and avoid burnout, and unique recruitment and training needs for peers working in crisis services. For more information and to register, click here. For questions, contact Kelle Masten: kelle.masten@nasmhpd.org or 703.682.5187.
“Humorist Lightens Depression’s Darkness by Talking (and Laughing) About It”
“For much of his life, humorist John Moe has dealt with clinical depression that's triggered by stress. Now, faced with the COVID-19 crisis, he says, ‘my depression wants to flare up.’ On his podcast, ‘The Hilarious World of Depression’—[which Mother Jones called ‘one part stand-up comedy and one part therapy session’]—Moe interviews people who have depression—mostly comics. His new book, also called ‘The Hilarious World of Depression,’ details his own experiences, his brother’s suicide and his family's history of mental illness.” Moe was recently interviewed on NPR’s “Fresh Air.” For the podcast and transcript, click here. For Moe’s podcast, “The Hilarious World of Depression,” click here.
The May 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 May 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 “For Mentally Ill Defendants, Coronavirus Means Few Safe Options: While their mental health deteriorates, some are stuck in jail as hospitals are decreasing admissions to prevent the spread of infections,” click here. For “The Urgency of Reducing the Jail Population During the COVID-19 Crisis,” click here. For “Lessons From Juvenile Justice Reform Could Help Reduce Pandemic’s Impact on Confined Youth: Research and state experiences show population reductions can be done safely,” click here. For “Quarantine Could Change How Americans Think of Incarceration: Nationwide forced isolation, along with media coverage of the pandemic’s toll in U.S. jails and prisons, could shift public perceptions of carceral punishment,” click here. For “How Can We Protect The Health of Justice-Involved Populations During the COVID-19 Pandemic? Decarceration and Timely Access to Medicaid Are Essential,” click here. For “Covid-19 Exposes the Death Penalty’s Selfishness,” click here. For “Death Penalty States Won’t Turn Over Scarce COVID-19 Drugs,” click here. For “‘Prisons Are Microcosms of the Broader Society’: An Interview with Heather Ann Thompson,” click here. For “New Study Finds 1% Recidivism Rate Among Released Philly Juvenile Lifers,” click here. For “Resentencing of Juvenile Lifers: The Philadelphia Experience,” click here. For “Can College Programs in Prison Survive COVID-19? Many educators found workarounds now that they can no longer enter the prisons. But they fear the coronavirus could undermine a critical component: teaching in person,” click here. For “Incarcerated Lives Matter: Issue 4 of ‘News Inside’ features a prison-specific coronavirus survival guide and results from our groundbreaking political survey of incarcerated people,” click here. For “Lockdown diaries: Pennsylvania prisoners are spending the pandemic locked in ‘bathroom-like’ cells 23 hours a day. It’s the longest statewide lockdown ever, and some say it’s pushing them to the brink,” click here. For “Bureau of Prisons to Expand Rapid Testing Capabilities,” click here. For “Mass Incarceration Poses a Uniquely American Risk in the Coronavirus Pandemic,” click here. For “Voting in Jails: While the COVID-19 pandemic presents challenges for voters during the 2020 election cycle, voting access for the 700,000 people held in local jails around the country has long been critically compromised. This report highlights jurisdictions around the country that actively support ballot access for people detained in jails,” click here. For “D.C.’s Restorative Justice Program Sheds New Light On Prosecutions With A Focus On Conflict Resolution,” click here. For “COVID-19 should steer us away from jails and towards restorative justice,” click here. For “Restorative Justice, COVID-19 and ‘Virtual Circles,’” click here. For “Incarceration and the Law,” click here. FOR “Locked Up During Lockdown: Professor Dan Berger Says Incarcerated People Must Be Freed to Prevent Virus Spread,” click here. For “NY prisons see sharp rise in deaths since coronavirus outbreak, blacks hit hardest behind bars,” click here. For “Oregon to close death row, reassign inmates to general population, other housing,” click here. For “Justice Briefing” from the Council of State Governments Justice Center: “Data reveals reentry service provider needs during COVID-19; why criminal records shouldn’t block federal aid; a new grant program in Oregon; & more,” April 22, 2020, click here. For “Bail Reform: 6 Myths And Misconceptions About Cash Bail, Busted: Eliminating the cash bail system does not mean that communities will become less safe,” 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.
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?” To read more, click here. 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.” For the CDC advice on managing stress and anxiety during this difficult time, 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)
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)
TU Collaborative Hosts Free Storytelling Workshops
The Temple University (TU) Collaborative on Community Inclusion is hosting free storytelling workshops every Tuesday (2 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET) and Thursday (2 p.m. to 4 p.m. ET). 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.
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
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)
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. 11, May 2020. For content, reproduction or publication information, please contact Susan Rogers at selfhelpclearinghouse@gmail.com. Follow Susan on Twitter at @SusanRogersMH