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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“Why is ‘electroshock’ therapy still a mainstay of psychiatry?”
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), a.k.a. shock treatment, “damages memory and cognition, and brings no lasting relief,” according to a recent article in Aeon. “So why is it still a mainstay of psychiatry?” asks John Read, a professor of clinical psychology at the University of East London. One answer: at least partly because its proponents think that brain damage—which autopsies have repeatedly shown—might be a good thing. “The idea that ECT causes brain damage was so obvious to the early proponents that they incorporated it into an explanation for how ECT worked,” Read writes. The article notes that other studies have shown that “ECT accelerates senile dementia,” and that “there’s no evidence of any benefits beyond the end of the course of treatments, and no evidence that ECT prevents suicide…Furthermore, some people kill themselves because of the damage done to them by ECT.” For the article, click here.
Deadline March 15 to Submit Proposals for First Virtual ESTSS Conference
The European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies will host its first virtual conference, on “Trauma and Mental Health During the Global Pandemic,” June 17-18, 2021 (with preconference workshops on June 16). ESTSS writes: “Our invited speakers will present their research and clinical work experiences regarding this complex topic from different perspectives (see Tracks).” Abstract submission is open until March 15th, 2021. For more information, click here.
How Homelessness Is Criminalized, Which Leads to Tragedies
On October 23, 2019, police officers in Albany, Oregon, killed James Plymell III, an unarmed homeless man. Such tragedies are not uncommon. “Plymell’s crimes involved sleeping in public parks, littering, drinking in public or being intoxicated—the kind of infractions that housing advocates and legal experts say cities and towns use to criminalize homelessness, poverty, addiction and the behavior of people with mental health issues,” High Country News noted. Paul Boden, director of the Western Regional Advocacy Project, said: “Sleeping, sitting and standing still, by massive percentages, were the top three criminal offenses people are being hit with. Sleeping, sitting and standing still—who doesn’t do that?” A 2014 report by the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty (NLCHP) reported that “indicators of both homelessness and the criminalization of homelessness have increased steadily in recent years.” According to the High Country News article, “In 2019, an estimated 568,000 people in the U.S. experienced homelessness. And the issue is particularly severe on the West Coast.” However, said Donald Whitehead, executive director of the National Coalition for the Homeless, “There is not one city in the entire United States where there is enough shelter for people that are homeless.” Although James Plymell was white, Black people who are homeless are at even higher risk, according to “Police Violence, Homelessness, and Black Lives,” by endhomelessness.org. For the High Country News article, click here. For the NLCHP report, click here. For the endhomelessness.org article, click here. For “State of Homelessness: 2020 Edition,” click here.
Journalist Seeks Sources for Book on Mental Health Coercion
Rob Wipond, an independent investigative journalist, writes: “I’m working on a book for U.S. publisher BenBella about people’s experiences of psychiatric coercion, detention, and involuntary treatment. One of my main goals is to show the general public how people can be subjected to this kind of intimidating power and authority in many other situations, too. For example, have you ever felt pressured to submit to psychological or psychiatric evaluations, programs, or treatments at a school, long-term care facility, or workplace? When applying for welfare or vocational training? When in conflict with a landlord or shelter staff? Or maybe you received an unexpected police Wellness Check? Or the hospital where you were detained was later found guilty of fraud? Or perhaps you experienced repercussions of a psychiatric detention when the incident was brought up later during a child custody case or when you tried to cross a border? Whatever the situation, I’d like to hear from you! Please complete my survey or contact me using the contact form on my website. "Anonymity is available on request. I’m also interested in hearing from anyone who has worked in this field or witnessed such situations, such as social workers, psychiatric nurses, police, peer support workers, and other professionals.”
Free Webinar: “Sailing on Self-Management, the Organization of Empowerment” on March 16
On March 16, 2021, at 2 p.m. ET, the National Empowerment Center (NEC) will host a free, 90-minute webinar on “Sailing on Self-Management, the Organization of Empowerment.” NEC writes: “Over the last ten years, Max Huber has studied self-managed crisis alternatives (a.k.a. peer respites or consumer run programs)…In this webinar, Max will discuss the main findings of his research and the implications for further development of self-managed alternatives, both in practice and in policy. There will be ample room for questions and discussion.” For more information and to register, click here.
Free Webinar: “Definitions and Tools to Prevent Abuse/Neglect”
On March 16 at 2 p.m. ET (11 a.m. PT), Disability Rights California will present a free webinar on “Definitions and Tools to Prevent Abuse/Neglect.” The hosts write: “Whether you live in your own home, group home, nursing home or residential facility like a board and care home you have rights that protect you from being abused, neglected or targeted for a crime. California Mental Health Law defines what is abuse, neglect and crime, who you should report the abuse/neglect to, and who is a mandated reporter.” (The webinar will be repeated in Spanish on March 25.) For details and to register, click here.
Copeland Center to Present Free “WRAP® and Talking About Tobacco” Webinar on March 18
The second webinar in the “Talking About Tobacco” series—"WRAP® and Talking About Tobacco”— will be held on March 18, 2021, 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET. “Presenters Gina Calhoun, Chacku Mathai, and Rita Cronise will provide an orientation to the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP®) and discuss how WRAP® can be used for exploring options for wellness, including the use of tobacco and the impacts that use might have on one’s life. The presenters will share elements of their own stories related to tobacco use, and audience members will be able to contribute their own ideas about wellness tools and action plans throughout the orientation to WRAP®.” For the flyer, which includes more information and a link to register, click here. (After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about how to join the meeting.)
New Jersey Mental Health Players Virtually Perform “Racism and Mental Health”
On March 18, April 29, and May 13, 2021, at 12:30 p.m. ET, the New Jersey Mental Health Players (NJMHPs) will present a free virtual performance on “Racism and Mental Health.” “People of color and all those whose lives have been marginalized by those in power…experience overt racism and bigotry far too often, which leads to a mental health burden that is deeper than what others may face,” the Mental Health Association in New Jersey writes. “The NJMHP program combines performance art and advocacy. Our virtual performance is 45 minutes and mimics the live show with a few new added features.” For more information and to register for one of the two dates, click here.
APA Creates App to Help People Develop a Psychiatric Advance Directive
The American Psychiatric Association recently announced the development of a mobile app to help people create a psychiatric advance directive (PAD) to guide their treatment in a mental health crisis. The APA writes: “Informational videos in the app—My Mental Health Crisis Plan—explain to users what PADs are and how they work. The app also includes state-specific requirements, such as signatures or witnesses, for completing the PAD.” For the APA press release, click here. For the National Resource Center on Psychiatric Advance Directives, click here. For the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion’s guide to creating a psychiatric advance directive, comprising two documents, click here and click here.
Free NYAPRS Webinar: Connection Between Race and Solitary Confinement in NYS Prisons
On March 19, 2021, at 12 p.m. ET, NYAPRS will present a free 90-minute webinar on “The Connection Between Race and Solitary Confinement in New York State Prisons.” The presenters will give powerful personal testimony of experiences in the Box & why NYAPRS has joined them to fight to pass the Humane Alternatives to Long-Term (HALT) Solitary Confinement Act. To register, click here.
Free Webinar: “Trauma and Adversity in Mental Health Services”
On March 19 at 1:30 p.m. ET, Noel Hunter, the author of “Trauma and Madness in Mental Health Services,” will present a free, 90-minute webinar on “Trauma and Adversity in Mental Health Services: What it means to be trauma-informed in the age of medicalized managed care.” Hunter writes: “This presentation will explore what is meant when referring to ‘trauma,’ and ways in which various biases and conflicts may hinder implementation of a truly trauma-informed approach in clinical settings. An overview of the research as it pertains to rates of adversity in people diagnosed with mental illness; findings within the neurological and psychological research on the cognitive and neurocognitive effects of trauma, and the ways in which mental health professionals can practice more trauma-informed care will be provided.” For more information and to register, click here.
New Research Evaluates Feasibility and Effectiveness of Emotional CPR
A research study evaluating the feasibility and effectiveness of the National Empowerment Center’s peer-led training program, Emotional CPR (eCPR), has been published in the Journal of Participatory Medicine. The researchers write: “Findings indicate that it is feasible for people with a lived experience of a mental health condition to develop a program and train people to deliver eCPR with fidelity…Promising evidence indicates that eCPR, a peer-developed and peer-delivered program, may increase feelings of belonging while increasing supportive behaviors toward individuals with mental health problems and improving clinical outcomes related to positive and negative affect and feelings of loneliness.” For more information on eCPR, visit https://emotional-cpr.org. For the full article, click here.
“Gender Inclusive Peer Support Workshop” on March 23
On March 23 at 1 p.m. ET, Peer Support Space will present a 90-minute “Gender Inclusive Peer Support Workshop.” The goals of the workshop are “to learn skills and information to help create safer, affirming spaces for our trans, nonbinary, genderqueer, and nonconforming community members. We are asking peer support providers to prioritize this important education because it can be life saving for our LGBTQ+ community. Mental health space holders and other professionals are welcome too. To make the workshop accessible, we are providing it on a donation basis (of any amount). Fifty percent of the donations will go to the facilitator and 50 percent will go to Peer Support Space's resources supporting gender diverse communities.” Registrants will receive the zoom link. To register, click here. Questions or accessibility needs? Contact Dandelion@peersupportspace.org (Courtesy of Oryx Cohen)
“Empathetic Phone Call Program Reduces Loneliness, Depression & Anxiety In Older Adults: Study”
“A four-week, telephone-based, empathy-focused program delivered during the summer of 2020 reduced loneliness, depression, and anxiety in homebound, largely single, adults who require meals from a community-based provider,” according to a new study published in JAMA Psychiatry and reported by Forbes. Some 63 percent of the participants were 65 years old; nearly four out of five were women. More than half lived alone. “ ‘Empathy was functionally defined as prioritizing listening and eliciting conversation from the participant on topics of their choice,’ the researchers wrote.” It was unclear if the benefits would continue after four weeks. For the Forbes article, click here.
Free Webinar: “Workforce Development of Youth Peer Counselors”
On March 30, 2021, at 2 p.m. ET, Doors to Wellbeing will host a free webinar on “Workforce Development of Youth Peer Counselors.” “Join SPARK (Students Providing and Receiving Knowledge) for a webinar on how Washington State is encouraging youths (17- to 26-year-olds) to explore careers as Certified Peer Counselors. This program, started at New Horizons Alternative High School in Pasco, Washington, has partnered with Washington Health Care Authority to help build workforce development of youth peer counselors and provide access to the 40-hour Certified Peer Counselor (CPC) training after graduation.” For more information and to register, click here.
Peer Ink Magazine Seeks Submissions on Mental Health Awareness Month Theme
HUG ME Ink, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to advocate and educate on mental health awareness through the arts, is seeking original poems, stories, articles or artwork for upcoming issues of its quarterly peer-to-peer publication, Peer Ink. The theme of the May issue will be Mental Health Awareness Month; the submission deadline is March 31, 2021. To submit articles, stories, and poems, “send a Word document on any topic you feel would benefit peers…Send artwork (e.g., photography, drawings, etc.) as a JPEG or PNG file. Please include your name, age, city and state, and a short bio (photo optional) and send to hugmeink@gmail.com.” To read the December 2020 issue and for advertising rates, click here.
NYAPRS Announces 17th Annual Executive Seminar: April 20, 22, and 28
NYAPRS has announced that its 17th Annual Executive Seminar will be held virtually on April 22, 22, and 28, 2021. “During these multi-faceted challenging times, the Executive Seminar will provide topics addressing each challenge and how organizations can move forward and take charge of their future,” NYAPRS writes. “Topics will include ‘No More Conference Rooms: How to Run an Agency with Reduced Physical Offices’; ‘Organizational COVID-19 Response: Health Equity in Action’; ‘Taking Charge to Recharge Our Workforce’; ‘Engagement, Connection and Communication in a Virtual Workplace’; and many more!” For more information and to register, click here.
Netflix and Zoom Move Toward Inclusion of People with Disabilities
Netflix will invest $100 million over the next five years “in organizations that help bring underrepresented communities into the television and film industries and in programs to train and hire new talent at the company,” Disability Scoop reports. This commitment follows a study, by a researcher at the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, which found that characters with disabilities accounted for just 5.3% of leads and 4.7% of the main cast in films and series on Netflix.” “When all speaking characters were factored, only 2.1% had disabilities. This is far short of reflecting the 27.2% of the population who have disabilities, the report noted.” For the Netflix article, click here. At the same time, Zoom has announced that, by autumn of 2021, it will add automatic closed captioning to its free accounts. For the Zoom article, click here.
“New Instrument Developed to Assess Workplace Depression”
The new Occupational Depression Inventory (ODI) is a nine-item questionnaire assessing work-related depression, Psychiatric News reports. “The ODI assesses the nine DSM-5 criteria for major depression, including cognitive impairment, psychomotor alterations, and suicidal ideation. Consistent with DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for major depression, ODI respondents are asked to report on symptoms experienced over the past two weeks, but symptoms are specifically framed with such phrases as ‘because of my job’ or ‘at work,’ ” the article notes. The 2,200 people in the test sample—in France, New Zealand, and the U.S.—were primarily schoolteachers. “This may limit the generalizability, but teachers are a good reference since their work experiences fall on a broad spectrum from literally hostile to exceptionally life fulfilling,” one of the ODI developers said. For the article, click here.
“30 Wholesome Comics About Mental Health And Everyday Life By ‘Haley Drew This’ ”
Haley Weaver’s “comics surrounding issues like mental health, relationships, and selfhood encompass so many aspects of the human experience, you could just say they are about life,” according to boredpanda.com. “Yes, that might sound a little abstract, but Haley's work is multi-dimensional and can't be described with one adjective. So a broad noun will have to do.” For the comics, click here.
“Human Rights Protections for Children in the U.S. Justice System—2020 National State Ratings Report”
Human Rights for Kids, a bipartisan advocacy organization founded in 2017, has created “the first ever national review and rating of how well or how poorly states are doing at protecting the human rights of children in the justice system.” They write: “Our findings reveal that the overwhelming majority of the nation—42 states—have made minimal to no efforts to create a legal framework to protect the human rights of children in the justice system. The worst offenders include Alabama, Georgia, Maryland, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Wyoming.” The best states at protecting the human rights of kids are California, North Dakota, and Arkansas, according to the report. To read the article, which includes a link to the report, click here. (Note: Scroll down for the monthly digest about the criminal justice system, in which many individuals with mental health conditions are incarcerated.)
The March 2021 Digest of Articles Offering Healthy Lifestyle Advice, Including Ways to Cope During the Pandemic
For “The Pandemic Brought Depression and Anxiety. Reaching Out Helped: Connecting with others on social media has helped ease the fear and loneliness of pandemic living,” click here. For “Imlonely: How a YouTube music channel became a mental health hub,” click here. For “A Counterintuitive Way to Cheer Up When You’re Down: When you most need to get happier, try giving happiness away,” click here. For “Mediterranean Diet Could Keep Aging Brains Sharp,” click here. (The following three articles are courtesy of Doug Briscoe of www.mentallyfit.info): For “10 Ways to Deal with Feelings of Isolation as a Home-based Employee,” click here. For “From Fired to Hired: How to Deal with Sudden Job Loss,” click here. For “5 breathing exercises for anxiety: try these breathing techniques to calm your mind. These breathing exercises help relieve anxiety by bringing awareness and control to your breath,” click here.
The March 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 “The Problems With Public Defense Are Big, But They’re Fixable: A growing number of public defenders are refusing to submit to a brutal and soul-crushing system,” click here. For “In the first six months of health care professionals replacing police officers, no one they encountered was arrested. DPD Chief Pazen, who is fond of the STAR program, says it frees up officers to do their jobs: fight crime, click here. For “A State-by-State Look at Coronavirus in Prisons: The Marshall Project is collecting data on COVID-19 infections in state and federal prisons. See how the virus has affected correctional facilities where you live,” click here. For “U.S Marshals Act Like Local Police with More Violence and Less Accountability: The federal agency’s teams have killed an average of 22 suspects and bystanders a year,” click here. For “Mental health crisis feared in Colorado jails and prisons due to COVID-19 lockdowns: Coronavirus outbreaks at correctional and detention facilities account for 1 in every 24 cases in the state,” click here. For “Colorado jail deputies failed to check on inmate after he made suicidal comments. They didn’t find his body for 8 hours. The mother of 27-year-old Jackson Maes is suing the Saguache County Sheriff’s Office,” click here. For “To truly reform criminal justice, women need more access to diversion programs | Opinion,” click here. For “As California preps to ‘transform’ its youth prisons, can counties take up the slack?” click here. For “Policing by the Numbers,” click here. For “What 120 Executions Tell Us About Criminal Justice in America: The Marshall Project tracked every execution in America for more than five years. For condemned people, the path to death grew longer, more winding and erratic,” click here. For “The Carceral Force of Prosecutor Associations, Explained,” click here. For “Victoria Law’s ‘Prisons Make Us Safer’ Looks At Resistance Behind Bars: This new book dismantles myths about mass incarceration,” click here. For “The Government Has Not Explained How These 13 People Were Selected to Die: The federal death penalty cannot be fixed. It’s time to end it,” click here. For “Man with mental illness disappeared hours after release from Cuyahoga County Jail, family accuses jail of switching meds,” click here. For “Civil Forfeiture Does Not Seem To Reduce Drug Use or Help Fight Crime: A new study provides further evidence that property seizures are driven by financial motives rather than public safety concerns,” click here. For “Reforming Juvenile System For Girls Requires Stories, Three Experts Say,” click here. For “Death Penalty Information Center Adds 11 People to Innocence List: New Analysis of Death Row Exonerations Shows that Official Misconduct Was More Likely in Cases with Innocent Black and Latinx Defendants,” click here. For “Should Public Defenders Be Tweeting? Once in the shadows, public defenders have found their voice on Twitter. But criminal justice reform advocates and formerly incarcerated people question whether they’re the ones to tell these stories,” click here. For “What Biden’s Win Means for the Future of Criminal Justice: Joe Biden ran on the most progressive criminal justice platform of any major party candidate in generations. So what can he actually do?” click here. For “Rigging the jury: How each state reduces jury diversity by excluding people with criminal records,” click here. For “Opinion: Study finds cognitive bias in how medical examiners evaluate child deaths,” click here. For “No charges against officers involved in Daniel Prude’s death,” click here. For “Navy veteran in mental health crisis died after police knelt on his neck for nearly five minutes, his family says,” click here. For “Lawyers who were ineligible to handle serious criminal charges were given thousands of these cases anyway: In the only state with no public defenders, people charged with murder and other serious crimes can get assigned attorneys who are legally ineligible to take on their cases. The state claims it was unaware,” click here. For “The nation’s oldest juvenile lifer, Joe Ligon, left a Pa. prison after 68 years. He won release through a legal maneuver that has given hope to hundreds of other juvenile lifers all serving lifetime parole,” click here. For “Prosecutors Must Add Sentencing Review Units to Their Offices,” click here. For “People’s Paper Co-op is Freeing Incarcerated Women, Helping Them Re-enter Society,” click here. For “In Pursuit Of Healing: Restorative Justice Program In Barron County Fosters Forgiveness,” click here. For “We Asked People Behind Bars How They Feel About Getting Vaccinated: A Marshall Project survey of the incarcerated showed widespread interest in the coronavirus vaccine as well as pervasive distrust of the prison medical system,” click here. For “The ‘Hidden Punishment’ of Prison Food: In Maine, inmates are growing vegetables and making meals from scratch to replace the deadly diets they have long been served,” click here.
FROM PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF THE KEY UPDATE BUT STILL FRESH!
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. 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 US is doing well on vaccinations, as of this writing ranking fourth in the world, behind only Israel and the U.K. To track the vaccinations in the U.S., by state, and worldwide, 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.
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.
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 links to the winning stories, 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
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.
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 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 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. 9, March 2021. For content, reproduction or publication information, please contact Susan Rogers at selfhelpclearinghouse@gmail.com. Follow Susan on Twitter at @SusanRogersMH