The National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse is 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
The Key Update is compiled, written, and edited by Susan Rogers, Director, National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse.
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The Language That Clinicians Use Affects Recovery, Harvard Researchers Say
For decades, pharmaceutical companies have pitched the idea that depression is caused by a chemical imbalance. Now, a new study by Harvard researchers, in the Journal of Affective Disorders, suggests that, as clinical neuroscience language replaces psychotherapy vocabulary, expectations change and outcomes worsen for individuals in treatment. “Chemical explanations of mental health appear to benefit pharmaceutical companies far more than patients,” according to a Big Think article, which includes a link to the study abstract. “More recent studies indicate that participants who are told that their depression is caused by a chemical imbalance or genetic abnormality expect to have depression for a longer period, report more depressive symptoms, and feel they have less control over their negative emotions,” the researchers write. For the article, click here. And for “Let’s avoid talk of ‘chemical imbalance’: it’s people in distress,” in Psyche, which notes that “the growing endorsement of biological causation” has contributed to the prejudice and discrimination associated with mental health conditions, click here.
Free Webinar: “What Do I Do After a Mental Health Hospitalization: A Guide for Discharge and Aftercare Planning”
On January 12, 2021, at 2 p.m. ET, Disability Rights California will host a free webinar entitled “What Do I Do After a Mental Health Hospitalization: A Guide for Discharge and Aftercare Planning.” “Join us as we explore: What is a Treatment Plan? What Steps are Necessary for You to be Discharged from the Facility? The Components of Discharge Planning. How to Plan Effective and Realistic Aftercare Goals. Tips to Help Us Stay Engaged in Aftercare.” For more information and to register, click here. (Courtesy of Elizabeth R. Stone)
Doors to Wellbeing Will Host Two Free Webinars This Month (on Jan. 12 and Jan 26), and Publishes Its New Quarterly Newsletter
On January 12, 2021, at 2 p.m. ET, Doors to Wellbeing will host a “special webinar event”: “WRAP: An Approach to Person-Led Crisis and Post Crisis Planning.” The webinar will include “a discussion about shared decision making based on the principles and tools emphasized in the WRAP approach.” And on January 26, 2021, at 2 p.m. ET, there will be a webinar on “Enhancing Quality of Care with Psychiatric Advanced Directive (PAD) and Peer Support.” It will include the core elements of a PAD, and how peer specialists can aid a PAD’s development. For more information and to register, click here. And click here for the National Resource Center on Psychiatric Advance Directives. Also, for the “Advance Self-Advocacy Plan, A Guidebook for Creating a Mental Health Advance Plan or Psychiatric Advance Directive,” published by the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion, click here. And for Doors to Wellbeing’s new quarterly newsletter, the first issue of which highlights Live & Learn, Inc., “a [peer-run] California-based social enterprise specializing in partnerships between community members/service users and behavioral health researchers in public and academic settings,” click here.
Free Mad In America Webinar on “Recovery and Evidence: A New Paradigm”
On January 14, 2021, at 1 p.m. ET, Mad In America will host a 90-minute webinar on “Recovery and Evidence: A New Paradigm.” “Major topics will include the history of community mental health, recovery-oriented practices, evidence-based practices and system change. [The presenter] will address the importance of people with mental health challenges in defining recovery, and contrast this with the way professionals, researchers and others have defined it. He will then describe how evidence-based practices are determined, along with examples of key practices. Finally, he will address some of the misconceptions surrounding evidence-based practices and ways to respond to objections and also take advantage of opportunities to increase their adoption.” For more information and to register, click here.
TU Collaborative Offers Guidelines for Increasing Community Inclusion of People with Mental Health Conditions
“ ‘Hard To Be Out There If We Are Focused on Here’: Moving From Center-Based Communities To Community Inclusion,” published by the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion, explains that achieving the full community participation of individuals with mental health conditions “requires a change in perspective and three concerted sets of actions”: (1) the recognition that people who are socially isolated should have places to go—but, beyond that, these places should help people connect to their communities; (2) the commitment of clubhouses, peer centers, recovery centers, and other such places and agencies to support individuals as they explore community-based interests; and (3) that such agencies partner with congregations, colleges, civic associations, recreational programs, employers, arts organizations, and similar institutions to develop genuinely welcoming communities. To download the free 14-page guide, click here.
NEC Will Present Two Virtual eCPR Trainings in January: One (Free) for Youth and Another (with a Sliding Fee Scale) for Adults
The National Empowerment Center will present two Emotional CPR (eCPR) trainings in January. The free training (over Zoom) for youth (aged 16-25) will be presented in partnership with the Zia Young Adult Access Center. This training will be spread over five days: January 18, 19, 20, 21, and 22, from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET. The training for adults (limited to 12 participants), with a sliding fee scale, will take place on January 12, 15, and 25, from noon to 4 p.m. ET. “eCPR is a profound process of reclaiming our Connection (to self and others), embodying emPowerment and ultimately feeling Revitalized…While the original intent of eCPR was to assist others through crisis (and the training still accomplishes this)…the consistent feedback is that it helps us become better listeners and supporters; it changes our perception of not only ourselves but of the world around us; it teaches us how to tap into our well of compassion and enhance all our relationships.” For more information and/or to register for the youth training, click here. For more information and/or to register for the adult training, click here.
A NY Times Report on “More Residential and Welcoming” Psychiatric Facilities Overlooks the Fact that Community-Based Treatment Is Far Superior
“Research into the health effects of natural and man-made surroundings is spurring the development of psychiatric facilities that feel more residential and welcoming,” according to a recent article in The New York Times (click here). But studies have shown that community-based treatment is superior to inpatient treatment. In fact, “[o]n June 22, 1999, the United States Supreme Court held in Olmstead v. L.C. that unjustified segregation of persons with disabilities constitutes discrimination in violation of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act.” An Olmstead amici brief (click here) co-authored by the National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse and the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law included “personal accounts illustrating the benefits of living in the community as opposed to institutional care.” And a European mental health organization noted, “Community-based services enable people with mental disorders to maintain family relationships, friendships and jobs while receiving treatment, which facilitates early treatment and rehabilitation” (click here).
Free NDRN Webinar: “Alternative Emergency Response to Mental Health Crisis”
On January 19, 2021, at noon ET, the National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) will host a one-hour webinar on “Alternative Emergency Response to Mental Health Crisis.” NDRN writes: “Some jurisdictions are realizing that conventional law enforcement responses to mental health matters too often do not turn out well. In the aftermath of tragedy, different response models are gaining favor in the country. Join this webinar for a robust discussion of these alternatives from NDRN staff and guests with lived experience.” For more information and/or to register, click here. (Courtesy of Jacek Haciak)
Guide to “Understanding Psychosis and Schizophrenia” for Young People Is Available for Free Download
“Understanding Psychosis: Voices, Visions and Distressing Beliefs—A Guide for Young People and Their Supporters” has been adapted from “Understanding Psychosis and Schizophrenia” by its editor, prominent British psychologist Anne Cooke. The 20-page manual is “about why people sometimes hear voices when there is no one there, feel very suspicious of others, or believe things that others find unusual or strange. Some people use the word psychosis to describe these experiences. We will work our way through these things and talk about where to find help.” The manual busts the “brain disease” myth and other false assumptions about mental health conditions that are “untrue and unhelpful.” It includes “understanding your own experience and what helps you.” For the manual, click here. For the original 180-page publication, “Understanding Psychosis and Schizophrenia,” which has previously been included in the Key Update, click here.
National Low Income Housing Coalition Publishes Free “Advocates Guide 2020”
“Advocates Guide 2020: A Primer on Federal Affordable Housing & Community Development Programs,” has been published by the National Low Income Housing Coalition. The free 493-page manual “comprises hundreds of pages of useful resources and practical knowhow, written by leading experts in the affordable housing and community development field with a common purpose: to educate advocates and affordable housing providers of all kinds about the programs and policies that make housing affordable and accessible to low-income people across America…For many years, the ‘Advocates’ Guide’ has been the leading authoritative reference for advocates and affordable housing providers seeking a quick and convenient way to understand affordable housing programs and policies.” To download the free guide, click here. (Courtesy of Elizabeth R. Stone)
“80 Awesome Mental Health Resources When You Can’t Afford a Therapist”
“Sure, pretty much everyone could benefit from therapy. But not everyone can afford it,” writes Greatest.com. “Thankfully, there’s a whole world of free or affordable mental health care out there designed to help you with just about every issue. Whether your issue is kicking an addiction, managing your emotions, finding a group of like-minded peers, or recovering from trauma, affordable help is available. Even better? Some of these resources are available whenever you need them. We’ve rounded up 80 of the very best affordable (or free) mental health resources.” For the list, including links to each and details, click here. (Courtesy of Surviving Spirit Newsletter)
January 2021 Edition of Free PARC “National Prison Resource Directory” Is Out
The Prison Activist Resource Center has published the January 2021 edition of its “National Prison Resource Directory. “Our 24-page resource guide is used by over 50,000 prisoners a year all across the United States,” writes PARC, a prison abolitionist group based on Oakland, California “committed to exposing and challenging the institutionalized racism, sexism, ableism, heterosexism, and classism of the Prison Industrial Complex.” To download the free guide, click here. (For the monthly digest of articles about the criminal justice system, scroll down.)
TU Collaborative Hosts “Collab Chats” Podcast Series
The Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion writes: “ ‘Collab Chats’ is our podcast series to introduce listeners to research findings and its application for increasing opportunities for individuals with mental illnesses to live and participate in the community. We will feature work from the Temple University Collaborative as well as research from other NIDILRR [National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research]-funded Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers. The latest edition, on October 30, 2020, was a conversation with Miranda Spencer, a staff editor at Mad In America, about her article ‘Voting While ‘Mentally Ill’: A Legacy of Discrimination.’ ” For the article, click here. For the Collab Chats archive, click here.
Diversion, Instead of Detention, Works for Youth with Behavioral Health Issues, Study Finds
A study of the Ohio Behavioral Health Juvenile Justice (BHJJ) Initiative, in which 5,300 youth have been enrolled since 2006, has found that, from 2017 through 2019, 81 percent of the participants (aged 10-17) “successfully completed the state's juvenile diversion program, and…79 percent of youth reduced their contact with police while in treatment,” according to Case Western Reserve University researchers. “Nearly half of the boys and more than a quarter of the girls in the program have both substance abuse and mental health disorder[s]…‘and have experienced a great deal of trauma,’ ” an article in The New Indian Express notes. “ ‘Ohio's Behavioral Health Juvenile Justice Initiative was intended to transform and expand the local systems’ options to better serve these youths.’ ” The program is cost-effective, costing about $5,200 per child, as opposed to $196,000 per child in a state-run detention institution, the article notes. For more information, click here.
Free Webinar on “Innovation, Collaboration, and Partnership between Crisis Services and 1st Responders in Harris County, Texas”
On January 28, 2021, at 2:30 p.m. ET, a SAMHSA-sponsored webinar on “Innovation, Collaboration, and Partnership between Crisis Services and 1st Responders in Harris County, Texas” will be presented. “The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD… has a long history of effective and innovative collaboration with first responders,” according to the promotional material for the webinar. The presentation will cover some of the Center’s innovative programs, and how the “Harris Center was able to coordinate with first responder partners to bring these programs to fruition, and the outcomes they are seeing in their community due to these collaborations.” For details and to register, click here. (Courtesy of Judene Shelley)
CNN Offers “A Guide to Helping and Getting Help During the Coronavirus Crisis”
CNN writes: “The coronavirus pandemic is overwhelming, and one of the most excruciating parts for many people is the feeling of utter helplessness in the face of widespread suffering and hardship. CNN’s Impact Your World has compiled a list of donation opportunities and tips to help those affected by the crisis. Click on a category or scroll down to browse a list of organizations, resources and ideas. Need help? Most categories also include resources for financial, emotional or social support.” For the free guide, click here. (For “The January 2021 Digest of Articles Offering Healthy Lifestyle Advice, Including Ways to Cope During the Pandemic,” scroll down.)
“How does the environment influence consumers’ perceptions of safety in acute mental health units?”
A new study exploring “how the physical and social environment of acute mental health units influences consumers’ perception and experience of safety” has found that a “supportive environment”—“experienced when consumers had privacy, felt safe from other consumers and had meaningful activities to participate in within the acute mental health unit”—was vital in promoting recovery. The qualitative study, which involved interviews with 15 individuals who had been in an acute mental health unit, concluded that “[p]ersonal spaces should address consumers' privacy needs without compromising staff access,” and “[m]eaningful activities link consumers to their lives outside of the hospital and can enhance recovery.” For the abstract, click here. (Courtesy of Nev Jones)
Robot Dogs Could Be a Helpful Alternative to Real Therapy Dogs, Researchers Say
Robotic animals may be better than real-life therapy dogs in helping children and youth to increase their feelings of well-being, improve their motivation, and reduce their stress levels, according to a new study by University of Portsmouth researchers. The study, published in The International Journal of Social Robotics, has found that, because robot dogs can’t trigger allergies, and because they can be thoroughly cleaned, don’t get tired or stressed, can work for long periods of time, and can be very lifelike, they might be a better choice for children than real dogs. “Although lots of people in schools and hospitals benefit greatly from receiving visits from a therapy dog, we have to be mindful of the welfare of the therapy dog,” said Olivia Barber, who owns a therapy dog herself, and is first author of the paper. “Visits can be stressful and incredibly tiring for therapy dogs, meaning that we should be exploring whether using a robotic animal is feasible.” For the University of Portsmouth press release, which includes details and a link to the study, click here.
Mental Health Issues Are Often Featured in “Dilbert,” A Comic Strip Drawn by Scott Adams
“ ‘Dilbert’ portrays corporate culture as a Kafkaesque world of bureaucracy for its own sake and office politics that stand in the way of productivity, where employees' skills and efforts are not rewarded, and busy work is praised,” Wikipedia writes. “Much of the humor emerges as the audience sees the characters making obviously ridiculous decisions that are natural reactions to mismanagement.” So, obviously, the comic strip, drawn by Scott Adams, is a great place to find mental health themes. For lots of examples, click here.
The January 2021 Digest of Articles Offering Healthy Lifestyle Advice, Including Ways to Cope During the Pandemic
For “The Mysterious Link Between COVID-19 and Sleep: The coronavirus can cause insomnia and long-term changes in our nervous systems. But sleep could also be a key to ending the pandemic,” click here. For “What You Need to Know About Getting Tested for Coronavirus: Long lines, slow results and inconsistent advice have left many of us confused about when and how to get tested. We talked to the experts to answer your questions,” click here. For “When Can We Start Making Plans? We asked Dr. Anthony S. Fauci and other experts when they thought life would start to feel more normal,” click here. For “Small Number of Covid Patients Develop Severe Psychotic Symptoms: Most had no history of mental illness and became psychotic weeks after contracting the virus. Cases are expected to remain rare but are being reported worldwide,” click here. For “Nurtured by Nature: How the pandemic has intensified our connection to the outdoors,” click here. For “For a Healthier 2021, Keep the Best Habits of a Very Bad Year: Our 7-Day Well Challenge will show you how to build on the healthy habits you learned during pandemic life,” click here. For “Don't Let The Pandemic Winter Get You Down: 9 Creative Ways To Socialize Safely,” click here.
The January 2021 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)
For “How Thousands of American Laws Keep People ‘Imprisoned’ Long After They’re Released: Across the country, people with felony convictions face a daunting web of small obstacles to rebuilding normal lives. What will it take to fix?” click here. For “How States Transformed Criminal Justice in 2020, and How They Fell Short: This year of crises, revisited. Nearly 90 state-level bills and initiatives. 17 themes. 7 maps,” click here. For “End the Cops’ Cannibalization of Our Budgets: ‘Defund the police’ is not an austerity measure. It’s a demand that we put police department budgets to better use,” click here. For “What Language Game Are the Defunders Playing? The national conversation about police reform has devolved into a never-ending argument over words,” click here. For “Resentencing Units Can Rectify, Rehabilitate, and Restore: A concerted effort to review, resentence, and release is the right thing to do for those who have been unjustly sentenced. It is also the right thing to do for our community,” click here. For “Is the Legal System an Effective Solution to Domestic Violence? FKA Twigs has highlighted a problem that 1 in 3 American women face. But it is still rare for aggressors to face charges, convictions or financial penalties,” click here. For “Defund the crime beat” ‘Let’s be honest: Crime coverage is terrible. It’s racist, classist, fear-based clickbait masking as journalism,’” click here. For “’No Choice but to Do It’: Why Women Go to Prison: Many of the 230,000 women and girls in U.S. jails and prisons were abuse survivors before they entered the system. And at least 30 percent of those serving time on murder or manslaughter charges were protecting themselves or a loved one from physical or sexual violence,” click here. For “From rehabilitation to penal communication: The role of furlough and visitation within a retributivist framework,” click here. For “What To Expect When You Visit Someone In Prison,” click here. For “Systemic Racial Bias in the Criminal Justice System Is Not a Myth,” click here. For “Why Is Karl Taylor Dead? Our prisons are our mental wards. One fatal case in New York shows where that can lead,” click here. For “The Man I Saw Them Kill: The Trump administration has resumed federal executions after a 17-year hiatus. I witnessed the latest one,” click here. For “Exclusive: Read Elizabeth Warren’s Scathing Report on ‘Corrupt’ Prison Audits: ‘The result has been the rubber-stamping of dangerous facilities and the waste of millions of taxpayer dollars,’” click here. For “1 in 5 Prisoners in the U.S. Has Had COVID-19 [Compared to 1 in 20 in the general population]: Even as the first Americans begin to receive COVID-19 vaccines, the spread of the virus behind bars shows no signs of slowing,” click here. For “Some of Our Best Work of 2020: From the sweeping impacts of COVID-19 to the protests against racial injustice, 2020 was a year like no other,” click here. For “Firefighting After Prison: Can California’s formerly incarcerated make firefighting a career?” click here. For “Abused, then condemned: For women on death row, a history of gendered violence is the norm. A majority of the women sentenced to capital punishment have experienced ongoing abuse since childhood,” click here. For “Congress clinches deal to restore Pell grants for prisoners 26 years after ban: The compromise also includes language to simplify the application for federal financial aid and grant more than $1 billion in loan forgiveness for HBCUs,” click here. For “Program allows incarcerated students to further education,” click here.
FROM PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF THE KEY UPDATE BUT STILL FRESH!
Here's Your Chance to Help Transform Mental Health Services Research in the U.S.!
If you’ve ever served on an advisory board for a research or evaluation project, provided even limited consultation, or partnered as a peer-run organization in such research, you’re eligible to participate in a national survey aimed at better understanding researchers’ and stakeholders’ experiences of participatory research! The anonymous, 10-20 minute survey includes both closed- and open-ended questions about your experiences with such research, perspectives on barriers, and potential targets for policy change and resource development. Findings will be used to inform future projects focused on building stakeholder research capacity and strengthening participatory research in the U.S. All participants will receive a $20 Amazon gift card. This new study is connected to “Building Capacity for Stakeholder Involvement and Leadership in Mental Health Services Research,” included in the August 2020 Key Update, which involved detailed interviews. Principal Investigator Dr. Nev Jones (genevra@usf.edu) writes, “We are still doing interviews ($50 per interview) so feel free to contact me about that too.” The survey IRB ID# is 001319; the project including this survey was developed with the PCORI-funded PathED Collaborative, co-led by Drs. Nev Jones (genevra@usf.edu) and Linda Callejas (callejas@usf.edu). For more information and/or to participate, click here.
Study of “Experiences in Accessing Mental Health Treatment” Seeks Parent/Guardian Participants
Two outpatient therapists at Children’s Friend Inc. have launched an anonymous survey of the experiences of families accessing mental health treatment for their children. “The purpose of this research is to explore the experiences in, and barriers to, accessing mental health services for parents who are caring for children with mental health conditions, medical conditions, and/or rare disease. We intend to compare three groups: caregivers of children with one or more mental health conditions, caregivers of children with mental health conditions and common medical conditions, and caregivers of children with mental health conditions and rare disease.” To be eligible, “you are a parent or guardian of a child under the age of 18, with a mental health condition, a medical condition, and/or a rare disease, and the child lives in your home.” For more information and/or to participate, click here. Questions? Email Kim Hager, LICSW: khager@childrensfriend.org
2021 (Virtual) Global Mental Health Research Without Borders Conference to Be Held April 5-7, 2021
“The National Institute of Mental Health and Grand Challenges Canada are sponsoring the 11th Global Mental Health Research Conference on April 5-7, 2021, which will bring together researchers, innovators, and other stakeholders from around the globe. The [virtual] conference will showcase findings from cutting-edge science and explore new opportunities for groundbreaking research. Stay tuned for details!” (Courtesy of Janet Paleo)
National Survey Seeks Input from Certified Peer Specialists
“Routine peer support has shown to increase individuals’ hope, sense of personal control, ability to make positive changes, and decreased psychiatric symptoms,” writes Dr. Karen Fortuna of the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. “Despite these benefits, the organizational structure of peer support is not known. Dartmouth College is initiating a national survey of trained Certified Peer Specialists to help us understand the organizational structure of peer support services.” For more information and/or to participate in the 15-minute survey, click here. (Courtesy of Judene Shelley)
A Service-User-Led Survey of “Experiences of the Intersections of Psychosis, Difficult Events, and Trauma” Seeks Participants with Firsthand Experience
A study developed by researchers at the University of South Florida “aims to better understand the relationships between prior experiences of trauma or adversity and experiences such as hearing voices, unusual beliefs and paranoia, as well as the ways in which these experiences themselves can contribute to trauma or distress.” The researchers, who themselves have lived experience, are seeking respondents “who self-identify as having current or prior experiences that would conventionally be labeled psychosis.” The anonymous survey takes approximately 15 minutes to complete; every 10th respondent will be compensated with a $50 gift card, up to five gift cards. Questions? Contact Dr. Nev Jones at genevra@usf.edu. For more information and/or to participate, 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 R. Stone)
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.
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.
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 NAPS Website
The National Association of Peer Supporters (NAPS) 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.
“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 Aims to Advance Peer Research Capacity, Leadership, and Involvement
Nev Jones, Ph.D., and Emily Cutler, a doctoral candidate, have launched a 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.
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.
PsychAlive Offers a Variety of Webinars on Mental Health Topics, Many Free, Others $15
PsychAlive is a free, nonprofit resource created by the Glendon Association, whose mission is “to save lives and enhance mental health by addressing the social problems of suicide, violence, child abuse and troubled interpersonal relationships.” Psychalive.org offers a variety of upcoming and archived webinars, many of which are free, while others are available for $15. Among the myriad topics are “From Anxiety to Action: How to Stay Sane While Fighting Climate Change,” “How to Overcome Insecurity,” “Powerful Tools to Fight Depression,” and “Understanding and Overcoming Adverse Childhood Experiences.” To check out the webinars, click here.
Doors to Wellbeing Offers “State Selfies: A Picture of Peer Services Reported by Peers”
Doors to Wellbeing’s “Peer Album” is a directory of nearly 600 peer-run organizations throughout the U.S. They invite updates and offer instructions for providing them and add, “If your entry has not made this first draft, we encourage you to re-submit.” For the 158-page directory, 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 17, No. 7, January 2021. For content, reproduction or publication information, please contact Susan Rogers at selfhelpclearinghouse@gmail.com. Follow Susan on Twitter at @SusanRogersMH