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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NOTE: The "FROM PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF THE KEY UPDATE BUT STILL FRESH!" Department, which is directly below the monthly Criminal Justice Digest, includes items that had been posted "above the fold" in earlier editions of the newsletter but are still relevant. These items include ongoing research studies that are still seeking participants, as well as upcoming webinars and conferences, and other items of continued interest. Don't miss it!
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SAMHSA to Hold Open Virtual Meeting of ISMICC on October 27; Comments Due by October 20
The next "committee meeting and listening session" of SAMHSA’s Interdepartmental Serious Mental Illness Coordinating Committee (ISMICC) will be held on October 27, 2021, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET. More registration details are pending, NYAPRS E-News writes, "but please email Pamela.Foote@samhsa.hhs.gov before October 20 to offer public comments. The notice says that 'up to three minutes will be allotted for each approved public comment as time permits. Written comments received in advance of the meeting will be considered for inclusion in the official record of the meeting.'” The meeting is open to the public and can be accessed via telephone or webcast only. The agenda with call-in information and the draft report to Congress will be posted on SAMHSA's website prior to the meeting, which "will address feedback from the ISMICC members regarding the final report to Congress and include information on federal efforts related to serious mental illness (SMI) and serious emotional disturbance (SED)." For background about the ISMICC, click here. For more information as it becomes available, click here.
Free Webinar October 8: "Psychiatric Advance Directives (PADs): A Tool for Improving Crisis Care and Legal Issues for Implementation"
On October 8, 2021, at 12 p.m. ET--and available for viewing through November 7, 2021--a free, one-hour, SAMHSA-sponsored webinar on "Psychiatric Advance Directives (PADs): A Tool for Improving Crisis Care and Legal Issues for Implementation" will be presented. The organizers write: "PADs permit persons while in a competent state to consent [to] or refuse future treatment and appoint a proxy decision maker to speak for the incapacitated person to reinforce those preferences during a crisis....This webinar will discuss implementation of PADs and legal barriers to their use." For more information and to register, click here. (Courtesy of Dan Fisher)
"A Government Program That Controls The Lives of People Leaving Psych Hospitals"
"For those found not guilty of a crime by reason of insanity and put into California’s CONREP program, strict supervision can last decades," according to The Marshall Project. "CONREP, which oversees roughly 650 Californians, is meant to help patients transition from institutions to independence, while also trying to prevent violent relapses. But according to a Marshall Project investigation, many patients, family members, former employees and attorneys say the system can trap people for decades in a legal limbo, one that dictates where former patients live, whether they work, and whom they see." For the Marshall Project article, click here. See also "When Not Guilty Is a Life Sentence: What happens after a defendant is found not guilty by reason of insanity? Often the answer is involuntary confinement in a state psychiatric hospital—with no end in sight": (click here).
SAMHSA's Announcement of Its New Office of Recovery Highlights the Value of Peer-run Services
"Recovery [from mental health conditions and substance use disorders] is enhanced by peer-delivered services," according to SAMHSA's announcement of its Office of Recovery on September 30, 2021. "These peer support services have proven to be effective as the support, outreach and engagement with new networks help sustain recovery over the long term. Peer services are critical, given the significant workforce shortages in behavioral health. SAMHSA’s new Office of Recovery will promote the involvement of people with lived experience throughout agency and stakeholder activities, foster relationships with internal and external organizations in the mental health and addiction recovery fields and identify health disparities in high-risk and vulnerable populations to ensure equity for support services across the Nation." For SAMHSA's press release, click here. For the press release of the National Coalition for Mental Health Recovery about the Office of Recovery, click here.
October 10 Is World Mental Health Day
The World Health Organization's theme for World Mental Health Day 2021 (October 10) is "Mental health care for all: let's make it a reality." To read more about the WHO's suggestions, click here. For WikiHow's ideas about how to celebrate World Mental Health Day, click here. For the WHO's 296-page "Guidance on Community Mental Health Services: Promoting Person-centered and Rights-based Approaches" (courtesy of Janet Paleo), published in the September 2021 Key Update, click here. For a WHO press release--"New WHO Guidance Seeks to Put an End to Human Rights Violations in Mental Health Care," from the July Key Update, click here. For "Former UN Special Rapporteur Denounces 'Global Psychiatry’s Crisis of Values,'” from the June 2021 Key Update, click here. For "World Mental Health Day: Prioritize Social Justice, Not Only Access to Care," click here.
New Edition of TU Collaborative Newsletter Focuses on College Students with Mental Health Issues
The new edition of the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion's newsletter is here! It includes three free guides: "From You, I Get the Story: Amplifying the Voices of Students with Mental Health Issues on College Campuses" (33 pages), along with a new podcast on the same topic; "Your College Community: How People with Psychiatric Disabilities Can Make the Most of Their College Experience" (35 pages); and "Campus Engagement-Oriented Supported Education" (49 pages). For the newsletter, click here.
Free Webinar: "Navigating Trauma for Kids & Teens: Back-to-School & COVID"
On October 12, 2021, at 2:30 p.m. ET, Mental Health America will present a free, one-hour webinar on "Navigating Trauma for Kids & Teens: Back-to-School & COVID." MHA writes.: "Trauma can have varying effects on a child's developing brain, oftentimes significantly impacting their ability to succeed, socially and academically, in school. These 18 months [of the pandemic] and all that have come with them have compounded already-present traumatic stress for so many kids, and in turn increased the likelihood of behavioral, academic, and social challenges. Join Brightline's webinar to learn more about how these experiences can alter a child’s ability to function in school and the ways we can support them and their families." For more information and to register, click here. MHA's previous webinars are archived and available for viewing. For details, click here.
There Are Three Days Still to Come for the 2021 (Virtual) NARMH Conference
The final three days of the 2021 annual (virtual) conference of the National Association for Rural Mental (NARMH) will take place on October 13, 20, and 27. (The first day was October 6.) The theme is "Emerging from COVID-19: Lessons Learned and Future Directions for Rural Mental Health." The registration fee includes a one-year NARMH membership. For membership details, click here. For conference information and to register, click here. Note: Discounted rate of $75 for the remaining sessions.
A Brain Implant Lifts Depression in One Person, While an Earlier Implant-for-Depression Study Failed
"An electrical implant that sits in the skull and is wired to the brain can detect and treat severe depression, U.S. scientists believe after promising results with a first patient," BBC News reports. "Sarah, who is 36, had the device fitted more than a year ago and says it has turned her life around. The matchbox-sized pack in her head is always 'on' but only delivers an impulse when it senses she may need it. The experimental study is described in Nature Medicine journal." However, in a related story, from 2018, about the Broaden Trial, which began in 2008, all of the trial participants interviewed by a reporter "had suffered a range of debilitating adverse effects, & ultimately had the device explanted." "The trial had been terminated in 2013, due to a low 17% success rate among at least 75 patients that received the controversial brain implant," Mad In America reports. "But the public was given no additional details from the sponsor about the trial’s protocols, or the outcome of at least 128 people that had enrolled in this risky experimental study." For "Brain implant may lift most severe depression," click here. For "Brain Implants: Spinning the Trial Results to Protect the Product," click here.
(Virtual) National Dialogues on Behavioral Health Continue on October 14
There's still time to register for the last four sessions of the 2021 National Dialogues on Behavioral Health Virtual Conference; the cost is $25 per session. The final four sessions will take place on consecutive Thursdays: October 14, 21, and 28, and November 4; each session is from 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET. The theme is “Behavioral Health in the 21st Century: Fast Forward After the Pandemic Age.” The organizers write: "The purpose of the conference is to bring experts, administrators, providers, consumers, family members and advocates together to discuss the cutting edge in the topic of interest with a focus on implementation and 'how to do it.' A distinctive feature is the opportunity for extended dialogue and interaction among the participants." The conference is sponsored by the National Association of County Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Directors (NACBHDD), the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) Behavioral Health Program, and the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD). For more information and to register, click here.
National Association of Peer Supporters to Hold 2021 (Virtual) Annual Conference October 21-22
The 2021 conference of the National Association of Peer Supporters (N.A.P.S.) will be held October 21-22. Its theme is "Uniting the Peer Workforce." N.A.P.S. writes: "This two-day virtual event features networking, breakout sessions, and the N.A.P.S. annual meeting. Certificates of Completion will be offered for attendance." For ticket information and to register, click here." (The website includes a link to the program, indicating (at this writing) that it is "coming soon.")
"The Participation Ladder: A Consumer/Survivor Lens"
"The Participation Ladder: A Consumer/Survivor Lens" is a four-page infographic that covers how "[m]oving up the ladder is a way to address social injustice and inequity. The higher you move up the participation ladder, the more say we get to have about our own lives." The infographic includes a "Participation Ladder"--with the categories "Type of Participation" (from "Consumer-owned" on the top rung to "Exclude: Consumers are unable to access services or systems or decision making" at the bottom), "What Happens at Each Level," "Implications and Views," and "Power"--as well as a checklist to measure the level of participation (and, therefore, the impact) that your project can achieve. For the infographic, click here. (Courtesy of Nev Jones and Jacek Haciak)
APA to Present Its (Virtual) Mental Health Services Conference on October 14-15, 2021
The American Psychiatric Association is hosting its Mental Health Services Conference online on October 14-15, 2021. The theme is "Sociopolitical Determinants: Practice, Policy and Implementation." The APA writes: "The Mental Health Services Conference highlights educational programs and innovations in clinical services designed to ensure equal access to high-quality mental health care for all populations regardless of race/ethnicity, age, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic status, or geographical background." For details, including ticket costs and the complete agenda, and to register, click here.
"Taking the Call"--a National Conference Exploring Innovative Community Responder Models--Will Take Place October 20-21
Taking the Call, on October 20-21, 2021, "will bring people together from across the U.S. to delve into how jurisdictions are serving as laboratories for innovation to ensure that emergency calls receive the appropriate response. The virtual conference will explore how communities are working to build more comprehensive crisis systems including the opportunities and challenges of emerging community responder models and whether or how the approach may improve community health, lessen the burden on law enforcement, and reduce unnecessary justice system contact. The conference is presented by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance, The Council of State Governments Justice Center, and the University of Cincinnati. The national conference is free and open to the public; pre-registration is required. For more information and to register, click here. (Note: This conference was first publicized in the May 2021 Key Update.)
Free Virtual Mental Health Summit to Be Hosted by MHA and IDONTMIND
Mental Health America and IDONTMIND, in partnership with Youtube, will present Our Future In Mind: Mental Health Summit, a free live conference, on November 5, 2021, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET, and November 6 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. ET. Mental Health America writes: "The first of its kind, this event will give you a front-row seat to the stories behind some of the biggest movements in mental health and the tools you will need to be part of the change." For more information and to register, click here.
Mindspring Alliance Is Sponsoring Several Free Webinars in October 2021
Mindspring Alliance, a mental health agency based in Des Moines, Iowa, has eight free webinars coming up in mid- to late October. "Delivering comprehensive outreach & education is the heart of our mission," they write. "These events are absolutely free and everyone is welcome." All of the webinars are one hour in length, at 1 p.m. ET, 12 p.m. CT, 11 a.m. MT, 10 a.m. PT. The choices are "Understanding Bipolar Disorder" (October 12), "Understanding Obsessive Compulsive Disorder" (October 13), "Understanding Hoarding" (October 14), "The Psychological Origins of Stigma & Bias" (October 19), "The Science Behind Mental Health" (October 20), "Stress: Signs, Symptoms, Management, & Prevention" (October 21), "Understanding Schizophrenia" (October 27), and "Understanding Seasonal Affective Disorder" (October 28). For more information and to register, scroll down at this link (click here).
Doors to Wellbeing Offers Free Webinar on "The Season for Self-Care"
The next free webinar in Doors to Wellbeing's series is "The Season for Self-Care," on October 26, 2021, at 2 p.m. ET. "As Autumn arrives, we move inward, becoming aware of what is really needed to care for ourselves and those around us. It is essential for those of us who take care of others to spend some time taking care of ourselves first. For peer specialists, this webinar will explore changing self-care to fit the season, applying techniques that foster a positive attitude, and engaging others in ways that support wellness." For more information and to register, click here.
Researchers Construct a Model of Psychological Balance
A recent article in Frontiers in Psychology by researchers at the University of Zurich describes their efforts to create a model of "psychological balance." "...[I]t has to do with the degree to which someone is able to possess a consistent yet flexible outlook on life while also spending the right amount of time taking care of oneself versus others," therapytips.org reports. The model contains 10 value domains: "Self-direction (e.g., 'I decide about which way my life goes'); Stimulation ('I am open to discovering new things in life'); Hedonism ('I can enjoy life to the fullest'); Achievement ('I strive to do my best and succeed in what I do'); Power ('I strive to gain resources and influence over others'); Security ('I want to be safe wherever I am'); Conformity ('I follow social rules out of respect for others'); Tradition ('I follow ideas of my culture or religion'); Benevolence ('I care about my family, friends, and other people'); and Universalism ('I care about all things on the planet')...The researchers suggest that individuals who devote relatively equal amounts of time to themselves and others... are most likely to exhibit psychological balance." For the therapytips.org article, "4 Traits of Psychologically Balanced People," click here. For the Frontiers in Psychology article, click here.
Latest Live & Learn Newsletter Offers Research, News, and Resources
Live & Learn--"the only survivor-run research organization in the U.S."--writes: "This month we are devoting our newsletter to updates from our projects and our efforts to share the information we learn through our work. Make sure to check out the opportunity to contribute to the development of our self-employment resource platform!" For the September 2021 newsletter, click here.
"Study Finds 'Serious Problems with Privacy' in Mobile Health Apps," BMJ Reports
A recent "in-depth analysis of more than 20,000 health-related mobile applications (mHealth apps) published by The BMJ finds 'serious problems with privacy and inconsistent privacy practices.' The researchers say the collection of personal user information is 'a pervasive practice' and that patients 'should be informed on the privacy practices of these apps and the associated privacy risks before installation and use.'...[R]esearchers at Macquarie University in Australia identified more than 15,000 free mHealth apps in the Google Play store and compared their privacy practices with a random sample of more than 8,000 non-health apps. They found that while mHealth apps collected less user data than other types of mobile apps, 88% could access and potentially share personal data...Only 4% of mHealth apps actually transmitted data (mostly user's name and location information). However, the researchers say this percentage is substantial...The researchers also found that 28% (5,903) of the mHealth apps did not offer any privacy policy text, and at least 25% (15,480) of user data transmissions violated what was stated in the privacy policies." For the article, click here.
And Now for Something Completely Different…
For some comic relief, click here.
The October 2021 Digest of Articles Offering Healthy Lifestyle Advice
For "Research Shows People Become Increasingly Unhappy Until Age 47.2. Here's How to Minimize the Negative Effect of the 'Happiness Curve': While middle age 'misery' reaches its low point in our late 40s, still: There are definitely ways to minimize the effect of a global phenomenon," click here. For "The Difference Between Hope and Optimism: For starters, hope is better," click here. For "We Need to Understand the Difference Between Isolation and Loneliness: Both can pose distinct dangers to our mental and physical health," click here. For "Four Light Exercises to Help You Sleep," click here. For "The Opposite of Toxic Positivity: 'Tragic optimism' is the search for meaning during the inevitable tragedies of human existence, and is better for us than avoiding darkness and trying to 'stay positive,'” click here.
The October 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 "Mental Illness In Solitary Landed These Men An Extra 842 Years In Illinois Prisons, Advocates Say: A civil-rights group wants the governor to commute sentences for 43 people whose mental health and behavior deteriorated in solitary," click here. For "Doing No Harm: Criminal charges against paramedics in Elijah McClain’s death raise questions about when emergency medical responders should be held accountable for fatalities in police custody," click here. For "The Cover-up Machine: Activists in Aurora, Colorado, wanted justice for Elijah McClain. Instead, they found themselves facing decades in prison," click here. For "Seattle police intervening in fewer mental health calls, data show: Since Washington implemented new police use-of-force laws, SPD officers have sent fewer people in mental health crisis to the hospital," click here. (The following six articles are about the brutal conditions at New York City's Rikers Island and the need to shut it down.) For "A hellhole yesterday, today and tomorrow: Mayor de Blasio’s epic Rikers Island failure," click here. For "What to Do About Closing Rikers," click here. For "Opinion: Closing Rikers Island is a matter of life and death," click here. For "Dispatch From Deadly Rikers Island: ‘It Looks Like a Slave Ship in There’: Rikers Island has been notorious for violence and neglect for decades. But detainees, corrections officers and officials tell us the New York City jail complex has plunged into a new state of emergency," click here. For "There’s No Fixing Rikers. Close It, and Let People Go. Bill de Blasio and the correctional officers’ union say the crisis at Rikers Island is about understaffing. But no number of guards will solve the underlying problems with the jail," click here. For "'I Just Want to Be Normal’: A Mentally Ill Man’s Death at Rikers: Esias Johnson had been in and out of Rikers Island during his two years in New York. Now two correction officers have been suspended in connection with his death," click here. For "Officer Faces Discipline 5 Years After Killing Mentally Ill Woman: Acquitted of murder in the death of Deborah Danner, Sgt. Hugh Barry is being brought up on administrative charges in a long-delayed hearing," click here. For "Jurors don’t know what the penalties for a guilty verdict will be. They should. If juries knew the consequences of their decisions, they’d deliberate more carefully—and could serve as a check on punitive laws," click here. For "How I Went From Prison Cook to Pizza Chef at One of Philly’s Best New Restaurants: At Down North Pizza in Philadelphia, all the employees are formerly incarcerated, including executive chef Michael Carter. This is his story," click here. For "In Arizona, a radical change in juvenile detention: How a rural town transformed a juvenile facility into a safe space for teens," click here. For "Violence Behind Bars: The Hidden Abuse," click here. For "Pregnant Behind Bars, Part One: Second Chances," click here. For "Custodial Sanctions and Reoffending: A Meta-Analytic Review" (Abstract), click here. For "What I learned visiting Alaska’s only maximum-security prison: The reforms at the Spring Creek prison show what can be done when people are treated humanely and prepared for life on the outside," click here. For "Peer education initiative for prisoners goes mainstream," click here.
FROM PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF THE KEY UPDATE BUT STILL FRESH!
Yale Study of COVID-19’s Mental Health Impact Seeks Focus Group Participants with Physical and/or Mental Health Challenges
A study at Yale University led by people with lived experience is recruiting individuals who live with physical and/or mental health challenges to talk about how their lives have changed since the COVID-19 pandemic started. “The Wisdom project: exploring the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of persons who experience adverse living conditions” is led by Larry Davidson, PhD, and Ana Florence, PhD. Ana is a Brazilian psychologist, activist, and postdoctoral associate, and Larry is Director of the Yale Program for Recovery and Community Health. If you live with mental and/or physical health challenges and would like to participate, you can email wisdomprojectyale@gmail.com or call 475-355-5393. “All focus groups will be held virtually, and a $50 e-gift card will be provided to each participant,” the researchers say.
NARPA’s 2021 (Virtual) Annual Rights Conference Will Present Five Free Webinars
The 2021 annual Rights Conference of the National Association for Rights Protection and Advocacy (NARPA) will consist of five free webinars (which will be archived), in September and October 2021. The five webinars—all of which are 90 minutes long and begin at 2 p.m. ET—are "Advocating for Institutionalized People During COVID: The Massachusetts Experience" (September 13); "The Promise and the Pitfalls of 988: Survivor Advocacy Perspectives" (September 27); "Advocating for Equitable Health Care in a Public Health Emergency" (October 4); "How to Create Change in Police Services: Transparency, Accountability, and Reform" (October 13); and "The Unacceptable Institutionalization of People with Psychiatric Disabilities in Nursing Homes" (October 19). All of the webinars will be archived on the NARPA YouTube channel within a couple of weeks of the presentation date (click here); at this writing, the September 13th and September 27th webinars are posted. For details and to register, click here. In addition, NARPA's free 2020 webinars are available for streaming on NARPA's YouTube Channel. For more information, click here.
“Mental Health System: Open Letter to the Media” Seeks Signatures
“Everyone who believes that the problematic aspects of the mental health system are not adequately represented in the media is invited to sign this letter,” writes Yulia Mikhailova, who launched this initiative to educate the media. The letter begins: “We, a group of people with first-hand experience of the mental health system, write to express our concern about what we see as one-sided coverage of this system in the media and to draw the attention of civil rights organizations to the systemic discrimination that we witnessed and experienced. We, our loved ones, or inmates in the facilities where we worked, were exploited for monetary gain and victimized in various other ways. We saw how abuse, corruption, and exploitation were covered up, while victims and critics of the system were silenced and marginalized.” For a short version of the letter, which includes a link to a longer version, click here. Questions? Contact Yulia Mikhailova at yuliamikh@gmail.com.
Alternatives 2021 Is Over, but You Can View Many of the Presentations—and the Work Continues!
If you missed Alternatives 2021—the oldest national conference organized by and for individuals with lived experience of a mental health condition—you can see many of the presentations on the Alternatives conference website! The conference—whose theme was “Connecting, Organizing, Activating!”—was held July 8, 10, 15, and 17, and was organized by the National Coalition for Mental Health Recovery. This year the conference was virtual—and free! One highlight was the three Action Groups—on Promoting Racial and Social Justice, National and Statewide Advocacy, and Crisis Prevention and Alternatives to Institutionalization—which met on all four days. Reports from each of the groups are posted on the Alternatives conference website, and it is hoped that people will continue to work together to make progress on the goals that were determined by participants during the conference. For information about the Action Groups, click here. Recordings of many of the workshops, keynotes, and special activities are available the Alternatives conference website (click here).
Disability Rights California Invites You to Its Past, Present, and Future (Free) Webinars
Disability Rights California (DRC) writes: “You are cordially invited to join us in our virtual disability rights trainings. Our webinars are twice a week, on Tuesdays at 2 p.m. ET (11 a.m. PT) in English and Thursdays at 7 p.m. ET (4 p.m. PT) in Spanish. Our free trainings provide information and resources on different topics related to mental health, self-advocacy, our legal rights (based on California law) and access to services that are informative and empowering. We welcome all peers (people with lived experience), service providers, family members and people in the community.” To view the webinars, click here.
(Virtual) 2021 Disability & Intersectionality Summit (DIS) Conference Info
The theme of the Disability & Intersectionality Summit (DIS)—"a biennial national conference that centers the multiple oppressions that shape the lived experiences of disabled individuals, as told by disabled people, in a setting organized by disabled activists”—is “Disabled Community Care and Survival: Strategies and Brilliance.” The organizers write: “This year’s DIS 2021 will have presentations scheduled from June - December.” For more about the Summit, click here. (Courtesy of Dan Fisher)
Free Webinar: "New Frontiers for Activism: Youth Involvement & Leadership in Research"
On October 12, 2021, at 4:30 p.m. ET, the National Empowerment Center (NEC) will sponsor a free, 90-minute webinar on "New Frontiers for Activism: Youth Involvement & Leadership in Research." NEC writes: "This webinar will showcase different ways in which youth leaders are influencing research and using research in order to challenge existing ideas and practices and to further advocacy for systems change. Projects conducted both within and outside traditional academic settings will be featured. Although a still under-developed area in other communities, youth activist research and scholarship have played a powerful role in systems transformation. We hope that this webinar will help inspire more discussion and interest in the strategic use of research within the youth and adult peer communities, and among academic allies." For more information and to register, click here.
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.
International Conference on Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal Scheduled for May 2022
The first conference of the International Institute for Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal is tentatively scheduled for May 2022 in Reykjavik, Iceland; the dates will be confirmed this month (June 2021). “The three themes underpinning the conference are safe withdrawal from psychiatric medication, alternatives to psychiatric medication, and the need to question the dominance of medication in mental health care.” Confirmed speakers include Robert Whitaker (journalist and founder of Mad in America), Professor Joanna Moncrieff (psychiatrist and researcher), Laura Delano (co-founder of the Inner Compass Initiative and a person with lived experience), Dr. Carina Håkansson (founder of Family Care Foundation and The Extended Therapy Room Foundation), and Dr. Magnus Hald (Psychiatrist at the Drug-Free Treatment Unit, Norway). For more information, click here.
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)
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.
Conference on Stigma to Take Place November 15-19, 2021, at Howard University
The 12th Annual International Conference on Stigma will be held November 15-19, 2021, at Howard University. "The goals of this hybrid conference are to increase awareness of the stigma of HIV and other health conditions and to explore interventions to eradicate this stigma. The conference also serves to educate healthcare providers and the general public about stigma as both a human rights violation and a major barrier to prevention and treatment of illnesses." The theme of the conference is "Trauma…Recovery…Healing." For more information, click here. (Courtesy of Sharon Wise)
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)
“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 Works to Advance Peer Research Capacity, Leadership, and Involvement
Nev Jones, PhD—a strong advocate for building research capacity, leadership, and involvement among peers, survivors, and service users—leads a virtual group dedicated to this effort. Dr. Jones—assistant professor, School of Social Work, University of Pittsburgh—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.
Peer Support in Higher Education Survey Seeks Respondents
“Peer support programs are growing on college campuses across the U.S. Mental Health America, Doors to Wellbeing, and the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion want to better understand the availability of peer support in higher education as well as the experiences and needs of students accessing peer support programs…We hope to use this research to support the expansion of peer support in higher education, including developing a national database of peer support programs in higher education and documenting pressing issues in campus programs…You may also indicate if you are interested in having your school’s peer support program listed in a national database of peer support programs in higher education.” For more information and to complete the survey, click here.
Registration Is Open for Peerpocalypse, to Be Held March 14-17, 2022!
The Mental Health and Addiction Association of Oregon (MHAAO) has announced registration for Peerpocalypse 2022, to be held March 14-17, 2022! “MHAAO is pleased to present its first hybrid conference! In-person attendance allows access to pre-conference events, keynote speeches, all workshops, evening events, and the job fair and exhibit hall. Virtual attendance includes access to keynote speeches and all workshops. In-person early registration—[deadline unspecified]—is $300; regular registration is $375. Virtual registration is $200. Lunch meals (sic), CEUs, a T-shirt, a printed program, and a badge are included for both in-person and virtual attendees. Registration must be received no later than February 14, 2022, to receive a T-shirt.” To register, click here.
International Peer Respite/Soteria Summit to Be Held Every Sunday in October 2021
Rethinking Psychiatry and MindFreedom International are sponsoring the International Peer Respite/Soteria Summit, to be held on October 3, 10, 17, 24, and 31, from 12 p.m. ET to 3 p.m. ET. The theme is "Creating Compassionate Alternatives to Systemic Interventions for People in Crisis and Distress." "This free international, online, participatory conference will give people the inspiration, tools, resources, networks and ongoing support to bring Peer Respite or Soteria House to their communities," the organizers write. The Day 2 moderator will be Jim Gottstein, founder of the Law Project for Psychiatric Rights and author of "The Zyprexa Papers." For details and to register, click here. (Courtesy of Kevin Fitts)
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.
Seven Ways to Keep a Digital Copy of Your Vaccination Card on Your Smartphone
“You'll need proof of vaccination to go back to work or enter many restaurants, gyms and event venues, so keep your COVID-19 card handy.” This is the advice of CNET.com, a tech support website. Besides the obvious—taking a photo of the card to store on your phone—there are six other suggestions. For details, click here. (Courtesy of Yvonne Smith)
Many Research Studies Are Seeking Participants, Mad In America Reports
Mad in America recently posted an assortment of research studies that are looking for participants. The studies include International Online Survey of Members of Peer Support Groups About Their Experiences of Withdrawing From Antidepressants; Study on Psychosocial Disability Advocacy and Global Mental Health; University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine study: Experiences of inpatient psychiatric care among former patients; Dissertation research study: Spiritual/religious experience misdiagnosed as “mental disorder”; Have you had a diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder and decided to stop taking medication?; and others. For details and to participate, click here.
ISEPP Circulates Petition to Support Human Rights in Psychiatric Treatment
ISEPP seeks signatures on a petition to "[m]ake a strong statement that any psychiatric or psychotherapeutic interventions without full and honest informed consent are unethical and inhumane." For the petition, click here. (Courtesy of Amy Smith)
ISPS-US Offers an Array of Archived Webinars--Free but Donations Are Welcomed
The ISPS-US (The International Society for Psychological and Social Approaches to Psychosis-US Chapter) is offering a whole raft of archived webinars, which are free (although donations are welcomed). Among the webinars are "Cognitive Behavioral & Related Therapies for Psychosis: Diverse Approaches to Supporting Recovery," "How Can the Uncontainable Be Contained? Paradoxes of Madness & Philosophy," "Robert Whitaker: The Rising Non-Pharmaceutical Paradigm for 'Psychosis,' "Life with Voices: A Guide for Harmony," "COPE Project: Non-Pharmaceutical Research on Influencing Voices and Visions," "What Hurts and What Helps In Treatment For 'Psychosis': Insider Perspectives," and many others. For more information and to access the webinars, click here.
"Researchers Reveal New Suicide Prevention Tools from Survivors," and AAS Suicide Attempt Survivors Web Page Offers Many Such Tools
"Strategies to Stay Alive: Adaptive Toolboxes for Living Well with Suicidal Behavior" was published July 29, 2021, in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. "In the study, the authors present a series of interviews with suicidal individuals that opens new avenues of research into suicide prevention and offers a rare window into the minds of those who have considered or attempted suicide." Meanwhile, the American Association of Suicidology (AAS) Suicide Attempt Survivors webpage offers links to many suicide prevention resources. For "Strategies to Stay Alive," which includes a link to the study, click here. For the AAS Suicide Attempt Survivors web page, click here.
“Where DNA and Medications Meet”
Not all drugs are effective for all people; therapeutic response rates for many drugs are only 50%-75%. “OneOme, co-founded by [the] Mayo Clinic, provides evidence-based pharmacogenomic solutions that help improve patient outcomes and reduce costs through more personalized medication decisions.” OneOme’s RightMed Test is “a doctor-ordered pharmacogenomic (PGx) test that analyzes your DNA and provides your doctors with genetic information to help them determine how you may respond to certain medications. The results may help your doctors reduce medication trial and error, minimize risk of side effects, save you time and money, and make more informed prescribing decisions. Because your DNA doesn’t change over time, your doctors can use your test results to make more personalized medication decisions for you over the course of your lifetime.” For more information, click here. (Courtesy of Robin Osborne)
Lived Experience Leadership Features 12 Years of Research Studies...
"Lived Experience Leadership features 12 years of research studies focused on this workforce in a range of settings, to foster a better of understanding and respect for Lived Experience as a distinct discipline and build clarity on what makes this work unique and valuable. Importantly, this body of research was led by Lived Experience researchers. Lived Experience Leadership provides clear and simple to read research summaries to allow community members and people employed within various industries the opportunity to easily understand and apply strategies within their own workplace. This website also includes easy to download definitions, audio/visual resources, and key work by other Australian and International sources. The website will continue to grow to include larger collections of our research as well as other key work. For the Lived Experience Leadership website, click here. (Courtesy of Jacek Haciak)
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 18, No. 4, October 2021. For content, reproduction or publication information, please contact Susan Rogers at selfhelpclearinghouse@gmail.com. Follow Susan on Twitter at @SusanRogersMH