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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APA Apologizes to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) for the Harm It Has Caused—and Continues to Cause—Them.
On January 18, 2021, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) admitted that, “[s]ince the APA’s inception, practitioners have at times subjected persons of African descent and Indigenous people who suffered from mental illness to abusive treatment, experimentation, victimization in the name of ‘scientific evidence,’ along with racialized theories that attempted to confirm their deficit status. Similar race-based discrepancies in care also exist in medical practice today as evidenced by the variations in schizophrenia diagnosis between white and BIPOC patients, for instance. These appalling past actions, as well as their harmful effects, are ingrained in the structure of psychiatric practice and continue to harm BIPOC…” The APA wrote that it is “committed to identifying, understanding, and rectifying our past injustices, as well as developing anti-racist policies that promote equity in mental health for all.” To read the APA press release, click here. (Courtesy of Oryx Cohen)
Disability Rights Advocates Make Recommendations to HHS Secretary-Designate Becerra
“Several weeks ago, a coalition of primarily national advocacy groups for Americans with disabilities met with Xavier Bercerra, President Biden’s nominee to serve as the nation’s next Secretary of Health and Human Services,” NYAPRS writes. “We all emphasized the need to take all efforts to protect the lives of people in institutional and congregate settings and to transition people out of these settings, as well as to bolster, not undermine, the Affordable Care Act. NYAPRS joined with the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law in urging Secretary-Designate Bercerra to reverse policies of the past Administration...At the same time, we urged him to step up hospital, prison and jail diversion and re-entry initiatives, including expanding the use of mental health rather than police first responders, to resume previous policies to advance strong enforcement of Olmstead ‘most integrated setting’ requirements, and to address widespread racism in mental health and criminal justice systems across the nation.” For details of their demands, click here. And for “COVID‐19 makes clear why deinstitutionalization is essential,” by NYAPRS executive director Harvey Rosenthal, published in Mental Health Weekly, click here.
TU Collaborative to Host a Virtual Story Slam on February 11, 2021, at 4 p.m. ET
The Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion invites you to its “virtual StorySlam, on February 11, 2021, at 4 p.m. ET! Our topic this time around is ‘Love is Love.’ There are so many different kinds of love to celebrate! Whether you have a story about a dear friend, a romantic partner, a family member, or even a pet, we would love for you to join us! Stories should be true to your life and experiences! We ask that stories do not exceed 5 minutes in length.” Questions? Kyra.baker@temple.edu. To register, click here.
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Covid-19 Vaccinations But Were Afraid to Ask; and See How the U.S. Is Doing Compared to the Rest of the World
On January 27, 2021, The New York Times published “Answers to All Your Questions about Getting Vaccinated for Covid-19.” Among the important facts: “You shouldn’t try to stave off discomfort [by taking painkillers] before getting the [Covid-19] shot”; side effects after the second shot are worse than after the first shot; there is no risk of developing Covid-19 from the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines; and “Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines reach about 50 percent efficacy 10 to 14 days after the first shot. You’ll get peak protection…about a week after you get the second dose.” To read the interactive article, click here. Please note that some sources advise not even taking painkillers—with the possible exception of Tylenol—after receiving the vaccination because they might interfere with your immune response (click here). One rare side effect the Times doesn’t mention is a “Covid arm” rash several days after the Moderna vaccine. For a USA Today story about it, click here. Comparatively, the U.S. is doing well on vaccinations, as of this writing ranking fifth in the world in regard to daily doses administered per 100 people. To track the vaccinations in the U.S., by state, and worldwide, click here.
Rand Corp. Recommends Ways to Transform Mental Health Care in the U.S.
The Rand Corporation recently published an eight-page research brief on “Transforming Mental Health Care in the United States.” Rand writes: “The U.S. mental health system has reached a moment when a historic transformation to address persistent problems appears realistic. These problems include high levels of unmet need for care, underdevelopment of community-based supports that can help avoid unnecessary emergency care or police engagement, and disparities in access and quality of services.” The paper offers “Goals for a Mental Health System Centered on the Patient Journey” followed by “15 strategies for transforming mental health care in the United States into a patient-centered system.” To read the research brief, click here.
U Penn Researcher Invites Participants for a Study of Inpatient Psychiatric Treatment
“The purpose of this study is to gain a better understanding of former patients’ experiences with inpatient psychiatric care…as well as how these experiences may impact outcomes,” writes Principal Investigator Morgan Shields, Ph.D., of the University of Pennsylvania. “Findings from this study will provide important data for developing future research on this topic. Moreover, the hope is that results from this study will inform programs and policies to improve the quality of care in these settings…The survey is open to anyone who has had a psychiatric hospitalization within the past five years, is 18+ in age, and is in the U.S.” Participants who complete a 20-minute questionnaire can enter a lottery for one of 10 $20 gift cards. For details and questions and/or to participate, 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.
Regional Peer Worker Support Circle to Meet Every Other Week
The Regional Peer Worker Support Circle (RPWSC) is “a safe and welcoming virtual forum for mutual support, story sharing, discussion, and networking that unites peers from different professional and personal backgrounds.” Meetings will focus on a variety of topics, such as compassion fatigue, role clarity, systemic racism, self-care, and doing peer work amidst the pandemic. Although priority will be given to peer workers in the Northeast and Caribbean region (i.e., New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands), it is not limited to individuals within the region. The first hour-long session, on Zoom, will begin on Friday, February 12, 2021, at 4 p.m. ET, and continue every other Friday at 4 p.m. ET through the end of August 2021: February 12 & 26, March 12 & 26, April 9 & 23, May 7 & 21, June 4 & 18, July 2, 16 & 30, August 6 & 20. For details and to sign up, click here. Registrants will receive a Zoom meeting link as the date approaches. (Courtesy of Jacek Haciak)
Free Webinar: “Talking about Tobacco” on February 18, 2021
On February 18, 2021, from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET, you are invited to participate in “a new conversation about tobacco use and peer support.” The organizers write, “The webinar will include personal stories by the presenters related to their own tobacco use, common misconceptions about tobacco and nicotine, the continuum of use (quitting is not a realistic goal for everyone and reduction in use can be beneficial for almost anyone), effective methods for regaining control over tobacco use, and the ways in which peer support can offer a non-judgmental space for talking about and exploring changes related to tobacco use. We also describe how people with mental health conditions, people of color, and people in other marginalized communities have been targeted by the billions of dollars the tobacco industry spends on advertising each year and ways in which these groups have routinely been subjected to oppressive and coercive treatment related to tobacco use.” For the flyer, including a link to register, click here.
(Free!) Double Feature: Healing Voices & Medicating Normal Followed by Discussion
On February 20 at 1 p.m. ET, “Join the creators of Healing Voices for a virtual community screening of Medicating Normal, a 76-minute documentary film exploring our current mental health care system's reliance on psychiatric drugs to deal with trauma, grief, and distress. There will be an interactive community discussion immediately after the film focused on using film and community organizing as a means of activism, especially in the wake of a global pandemic…In addition to this live event, you will be sent a FREE link to the film Healing Voices to watch BEFORE attending the screening of Medicating Normal.” For more information and free tickets, click here. And for “Will antidepressant medications ever require informed consent? That question is at the heart of the new documentary Medicating Normal,” click here.
Free Webinar: “Healing from Past and Current Trauma,” February 22
On February 22, 2021, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET, SRQ Strong will present a free webinar on “Healing from Past and Current Trauma.” “Unemployment, poverty, lack of access to basic health services, years of neglect, and racism—all have a negative impact on health and well-being. Our communities are suffering from cumulative trauma, compounded by the pandemic. Dr. Lisa Merritt from the Multicultural Health Institute, SRQ Strong’s Helen Neal-Ali, and Charlene Johnson of Newtown and Erianna Sanders of Bradenton will discuss the current crisis in the community and share strategies for empowering residents to heal from past and current traumas.” For more information and to register, click here. (Courtesy of Deb Trueheart)
Vibrant Emotional Health Seeks Peer Supporters to Work Part-time (Remotely) for Pilot Program
Vibrant Emotional Health—formerly the Mental Health Association of New York City—is seeking peer supporters with a health care background for the national Disaster Distress Helpline’s new Healthcare Peer Support Communities pilot program. (Peer supporters whose background is only in mental health are not eligible.) Peer supporters will work within a Facebook group dedicated to health care workers impacted by Covid-19. “The peer supporter will engage peers in meaningful discussion on relevant topics and provide timely and trusted resources. Peer supporters will receive free trainings in evidence-informed models of peer support and disaster emotional care, in order to utilize foundational principles and best practices. Peer supporters will also work closely with a designated DDH crisis center to connect peers to a trained crisis counselor when a member is, or appears to be, in emotional distress”—e.g., experiencing suicidal thoughts—“for follow-up care and support.” The position involves 28 (flexible) hours per month at $18/hour. For more about the position, click here and then scroll down to Disaster Distress Helpline and click on “Healthcare Peer Supporters (Per-Diem).”
“It Wasn’t the First Time the NYPD Killed Someone in Crisis. For Kawaski Trawick, It Only Took 112 Seconds.” And, in Louisiana, a Sheriff’s Deputy Dies By Suicide After Calling Out Police Brutality and Demanding a Revolution in Law Enforcement
ProPublica recently reported on the tragic death of Kawaski Trawick, a 32-year-old Black man who was “a personal trainer and aspiring dancer who had struggled with addiction and other mental health issues.” “[S]ince the NYPD started its current de-escalation training five years ago, at least 16 people who were experiencing a mental health crisis, including Trawick, have been killed by the police...Fourteen have been people of color,” reported ProPublica. “Trawick was alone in his apartment when an officer pushed open the door. He was holding a bread knife and a stick. ‘Why are you in my home?’ he asked. He never got an answer.” For the article, click here. For “ ‘Constant breaking of your heart’: How Utah police respond to mental health crises,” click here. For “Family called police to help a mentally ill teen—cops shot him to death after he surrenders,” click here. And for “In videos posted before his death, Lafayette sheriff's deputy called for police reform,” click here. (For more about the criminal justice system, scroll down for the monthly criminal justice digest.)
“State of Mental Health” Survey “Takes the Pulse of Millennials & Gen Zers”
Project Healthy Minds released its “State of Mental Health Survey: Taking the Pulse of Millennials and Gen Zers in America,” a national survey of more than a thousand 18- to 34-year-olds. Nearly all (96 percent) of the respondents report experiencing anxiety, with almost half (48 percent) saying they are anxious frequently or all the time. Forty percent cited work/financial security as the primary sources of anxiety. Two out of three consider mental health when evaluating jobs and employers, but the majority of young adults have never seen a therapist, with 32 percent saying it’s too expensive, and 21 percent concerned about prejudice and discrimination or afraid to talk to someone. Project Healthy Minds—whose advisers include former deputy attorney general Sally Yates, distinguished mental health researcher Dr. Bernice Pescosolido, and Dr. Thomas Insel, former director of the National Institute of Mental Health—notes that the Covid-19 pandemic “continues to raise fears about the future.” For more about the survey, click here. And for “Will the Pandemic Result in More Suicides? It’s too soon to know. But some recent data, especially from specific groups, is cause for worry,” click here.
Doors to Wellbeing to Host Free Webinar on “Gender Inclusive Facilitation Skills for Peer Specialists”
On February 23, 2021, at 2 p.m. ET, Doors to Wellbeing will present a free webinar on “Gender Inclusive Facilitation Skills for Peer Specialists.” “Creating a safe learning environment for support groups and educational workshops is an important job for peer specialists,” Doors to Wellbeing writes. Learning objectives include “to identify at least three ways to navigate the use of gender-neutral pronouns, to design inclusive personal and group introductions, and to list at least three tools to prepare for greater gender diversity with attendees and create a toolbox of gender-neutral language.” To register, click here.
Free Webinar on “Growing Through: Peer Support for Life’s Most Difficult Moments,” March 2
On March 2, 2021, at 1 p.m. ET, you are invited to participate in a 90-minute webinar on peer-based crisis support. The organizers write: “How can peer supporters bring their best and integrate their values at times of crisis and intensity? Join us for a conversation on ‘Peer Support for Life’s Most Difficult Moments’ and the Growing Through advanced peer specialist training program. Growing Through is a strengths-based approach to support skills based in the growth/recovery model of mental health, humanistic psychology, peer coaching, and trauma-informed care. Using mindfulness, non-clinical language, and best practices for suicide prevention, along with the expertise of those ‘who have been there,’ Growing Through trainings give people the skills and confidence to support others in times of intensity or distress, including effectively sharing one’s own journey.” To register, click here.
“Becoming More Comfortable with Ridicule, Rejection and the Disdain of Others” Is Good for Our Mental Health
“We should step off the path of conformity–as to conform means to seek social validation through the ideal of external success–and we should re-orient our life so as to bring more order, harmony, and strength to our psyche.” This was the advice of Academy of Ideas in “Why Caring What Others Think Breeds Mental Illness.” The author quotes ancient and medieval philosophers such as Epictetus, who wrote, “Put up with being laughed at on occasion…”; and Montaigne, who wrote, “Whatever it be…that has inscribed in us this condition of living by reference to others, it does us much more harm than good.” To overcome an obsession with worrying about the opinions of other people, Cato and Diogenes purposely behaved in ways that were likely to trigger their disapproval. The article notes: “[T]he world does not end when someone shames us, and no harm really comes to us when others disapprove of our ways so long as we are comfortable with the actions we take.” For more, click here. (Courtesy of Kevin Fitts)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) May Help with Anxiety and Other Mental Health Issues
In a New York Times opinion piece posted on March 12, 2020—right before Covid-19 changed everyone’s world—the author wrote about Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which had helped her deal with her anxiety. ACT helps people “recognize how they often overreact to unpleasant feelings, to see their unpleasant feelings as just feelings—not reality—and to accept that parts of life are hard and that that’s OK…[It] doesn’t suggest that we need to change the thoughts that bubble up and cause us pain. Instead, it says, negative feelings are an inevitable part of life, and we can best deal with them by accepting them, learning from them, and then acting in accordance with our larger life goals.” For the New York Times article, click here. For the abstract of a study published in the journal Psychosis—“My voices are just part of me, they don’t own me”: a qualitative investigation of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy groups for people experiencing psychosis,” click here. For more about ACT in Psychology Today, click here.
Applications Open for 2021-22 Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism; and Schneider Disability Reporting Competition Announces Winners
Applications for journalists who are U.S. citizens and residents are now being accepted for the Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism. “The yearlong, non-residential fellowships aim to equip journalists with resources to produce compelling and balanced reporting on mental health and substance use, and to develop a diverse cohort of journalists who can effectively report on the topics across evolving and emerging platforms,” according to the announcement. The application deadline is April 7, 2021. Said former U.S. First Lady Rosalynn Carter, “[People with lived experience of a mental health condition] are valuable members of society, and their stories deserve to be told.” For more information and to apply, click here. In a related story, “ProPublica Illinois, the Chicago Tribune, and the Argus Leader win top prizes in the 2020 Schneider Disability Reporting Competition.” For details and for links to the winning stories, click here.
New Study Measures “The Paradox of Self-Stigma.” Also, “What Is Self-Stigma and Why Does It Hurt?” Suggests Ways to Combat It.
The aim of a study recently published in Annals of General Psychiatry was “to develop and validate a brief tool to measure stereotype endorsement, righteous anger, and non-disclosure across different groups of stigmatized persons...” Using focus groups with mental health professionals and people with lived experience, the researchers ended up with “a short but psychometrically rigorous tool designed to measure self-stigma and related constructs in French language, developed in collaboration with users.” They call it “a first step towards implementing and evaluating programs aimed at reducing negative consequences of self-stigma.” For the open-access study, click here. (Courtesy of Elizabeth R. Stone) And for “What Is Self-Stigma and Why Does It Hurt?,” which includes information about how to combat self-stigma, click here. But “stigma” that is not “self-stigma” should be called by another name: See “Let’s Call Mental Health Stigma What It Really Is: Discrimination” (click here).
“ ‘Peer Respites’ Provide an Alternative to Psychiatric Wards During Pandemic”
A recent Kaiser Health News (KHN) article reported on the benefits of peer-run crisis respites “as the nation grapples with a severe shortage of psychiatric beds that has been exacerbated by the pandemic.” However, even before the pandemic, studies showed the benefits of peer-run crisis respites. For example, research published in Psychiatric Services found that “guests had fewer hospitalizations and accounted for lower Medicaid spending for nearly a year after a respite stay than people with similar conditions who did not stay in a respite.” And another study, of Second Story, the peer respite covered by KHN, found that visitors spent less time in the hospital and emergency room the longer they stayed in the respite.” A third study, by DePaul University School of Nursing researchers, found that “persons in a mental health crisis may be better served in an alternative recovery-oriented, homelike environment instead of a traditional emergency department” (click here). For the KHN article, click here. For more about peer respites, including “Resources for Starting a Peer-run Crisis Alternative in Your Area,” and a “Directory of Peer Respites,” and links to more studies, click here.
Six Comics That Explore Living with a Mental Health Condition
There are a lot of comics that explore mental health conditions, but here are six graphic novels and memoirs that describe how it feels to live with one. Most are at least partly autobiographical. For more, click here.
The February 2021 Digest of Articles Offering Healthy Lifestyle Advice
For “To Create a Healthy Habit, Find an Accountability Buddy: Whether it’s a person or an app that sends us reminders, we make better choices when we’re being watched (even by ourselves),” click here. For “Just Move: Scientist Author Debunks Myths About Exercise And Sleep,” click here. For “Street Trees Close to the Home May Reduce the Risk of Depression: Researchers show positive effect of urban nature on mental health,” click here. For “Is It Really Too Late to Learn New Skills? You missed your chance to be a prodigy, but there’s still growth left for grownups,” click here. For “Therapists Are on TikTok. And How Does That Make You Feel? Mental health professionals are going viral on the app, captivating an anxious generation,” click here.
The February 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; it includes many opportunities to participate in exciting research!)
For “He's Too Mentally Ill to Execute. Why Is He Still on Death Row After 45 Years? Raymond Riles has been on death row longer than anyone in America. He's one of many who have languished there for decades with severe mental illnesses,” click here. For “Alpena criminal justice system struggles with lack of resources for those with mental illness,” click here. For “Second chances stalled: Advocates wait for pardons on Gov’s desk to be signed. ‘[Pardon recommendations] could sit on his desk for two years. He has no accountability to do it or he has nobody pushing him,’ Rev. Michelle Simmons tells Generocity contributor Brandon Dorfman in this deep dive into PA's pardons logjam,” click here. For “Jailed juveniles find a collective voice through a collaborative play,” click here. For “Oregon Program Gets Renewed National Attention as a Policing Alternative,” click here. For “Albuquerque’s vision for non-police first responders comes down to earth,” click here. For “Local Spending on Jails Tops $25 Billion in Latest Nationwide Data: Costs increased despite falling crime and fewer people being admitted to jail,” click here. For “AG Becerra, LA County Enter into Groundbreaking Settlements to Protect the Rights of Youth in the Juvenile Justice System,” click here. For “California to phase out Division of Juvenile Justice, creating an opportunity for substantial reform,” click here. For “Trump’s criminal justice commission produced some helpful results. Biden should build on them, click here. For “THE NYPD FILES: Still Can’t Breathe: How NYPD officers continue to use chokeholds—which can be deadly and are explicitly prohibited by the department—on civilians, while officers with substantiated claims of abuse go without any meaningful punishment,” click here. For “New report: Austin police training videos reinforce racial stereotypes, bias,” click here. For “Maurice Chammah: The Rise and Fall of the Death Penalty: The author of Let the Lord Sort Them talks about violence, redemption, and culpability in a broken system,” click here. For “One of Joe Biden's first steps should be to fix Donald Trump's broken criminal justice reform. After the photo ops ended, the former president's vaunted First Step Act was barely implemented. The new administration must change that,” click here. For “Virginia moves toward banning capital punishment, in a shift for prolific death penalty state,” click here. For “Biden Moves to End Federal Private Prisons as Part of Racial Equity Plan,” click here. For “How Do You Deradicalize a Cop? As law enforcement agencies search their ranks for extremists, deeper questions have emerged about the racist, conspiratorial thinking embedded in those institutions,” click here. For “Trump’s Pardons Show The Process Has Always Been Broken: Donald Trump’s volatile approach to granting clemency epitomizes a system that many have long hoped to change,” click here. For “When should boys who go to prison get a second chance? | Commentary,” click here. For “Vera Institute reports on ‘People in Jail and Prison in 2020’ and finds US total now well below two million,” click here. For “Police officials should ban chokeholds on suspects, limit or ban ‘no-knock raids,’ and protect cops who report misconduct, concludes a new report from a national, bipartisan task force on policing,” click here. For “I Did 340 Pushups a Day to Prepare for the TV Version of Prison. Then I Got There. After a steady diet of shows like ‘Oz,’ I was convinced that prison would be a paradise for monsters. Turns out, the abuse I experienced came directly from the system,” click here. For “Nearly 20 Million Americans Have a Felony Record. What Happens After They’ve Served Their Time?” click here. For “ 'You just want to...have a chance': Ex-offenders struggle to find jobs amid COVID-19,” click here. For “ ‘It always escalated to the chair’: Allegheny County Jail used the restraint chair more than any other county jail in PA. Experts say the device is safe if used correctly, but some former jail staff and incarcerated people are concerned it’s used punitively and without enough oversight,” click here.
FROM PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF THE KEY UPDATE BUT STILL FRESH!
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.
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)
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.
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 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.
“Experiences with Hospitalization” Survey Seeks Participants
“The purpose of this survey is to help us understand people's lived experience with voluntary and involuntary treatment because of suicidal thoughts. It was created by people with lived experience…We are planning to use this information to facilitate discussions with suicidologists and the suicide prevention community about the impact of the use of these interventions, particularly within marginalized populations. We feel the voice of people with lived experience with these interventions has not had adequate opportunity to be heard, and hope that by completing this survey anonymously, people who have been most impacted can find a safe way to share their experiences. Please note that this is not a research project.” For more information and/or to participate, click here. (Courtesy of Leah Harris)
International Survey on Antipsychotic Medication Withdrawal Seeks Respondents
“Have you taken antipsychotic medication (such as Zyprexa, Seroquel, Abilify, Risperdal, Haldol, Geodon, Stelazine, and others), for any condition or diagnosis, with or without other medications? And did you ever stop taking antipsychotics, or try to stop taking them? Are you 18 years or older? If yes, you can take this survey about antipsychotic withdrawal and attempts to withdraw, including if you stopped taking them completely or if you tried to come off and still take them. The survey aims to improve mental health services by better understanding medication withdrawal. Lead researcher is Will Hall, a therapist and Ph.D. student who has himself taken antipsychotics. Service users/survivors/consumers from around the world also gave input. The study is sponsored by Maastricht University in the Netherlands; co-sponsors include the International Institute for Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal. Questions? Please contact will.hall@maastrichtuniversity.nl.” For more information or to take the survey, click on www.antipsychoticwithdrawalsurvey.com
Virtual Group Is Launched to Advance Peer Research Capacity, Leadership, and Involvement
Nev Jones, Ph.D., and Emily Cutler, a doctoral candidate, have launched a 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 Key Update is the free monthly e-newsletter of the National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse. Volume 17, No. 8, February 2021. For content, reproduction or publication information, please contact Susan Rogers at selfhelpclearinghouse@gmail.com. Follow Susan on Twitter at @SusanRogersMH