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.
NOTE: THE "FROM PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF THE KEY UPDATE BUT STILL FRESH!" DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS DIRECTLY BELOW THE MONTHLY CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM DIGEST, INCLUDES ITEMS THAT HAD BEEN POSTED "ABOVE THE FOLD" IN EARLIER EDITIONS BUT ARE STILL RELEVANT. THESE 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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NEWS
Study Examines “The Economic Burden of Mental Health Inequities in the United States”
In “The Economic Burden of Mental Health Inequities in the United States,” the Satcher Health Leadership Institute (SHLI) reports on a four-year period (2016-2020) when, at minimum, nearly 117,000 lives and approximately $278 billion could have been saved. This study, led by Daniel E. Dawes JD, “aims to close an important gap in behavioral health and health equity research relative to mental health inequities.” “For the first time,” Dawes writes, “there is tangible evidence demonstrating how decades of systemic health inequities have yielded significantly worse outcomes for racial and ethnic minoritized, marginalized, and under-resourced populations.” For more information and to download the free, 62-page report, published by SHLI at the Morehouse College of Medicine, click here.
A Treatment for Schizophrenia? What about Dicing with Ego Death? Researchers Seek Answers about Psychedelics.
There has recently been a surge in research into psychedelic drugs because clinical studies have shown that microdosing such drugs as LSD, psilocybin (’shrooms) and mescaline can help treat anxiety, mood, and substance use disorders; suicidal ideation, and PTSD. But “Could Psychedelic Drugs Have a Role in the Treatment of Schizophrenia?” (click here). (See also “New Paradigms of Old Psychedelics in Schizophrenia” [click here].) Meanwhile, some people are using psychedelics to pursue “ego death,” i.e., “a loss of one’s sense of self.” However, “[w]hile some of those who seek out ego death find themselves happier after the experience, the scientific jury is still out on the topic,” according to “Why more people are seeking out ‘ego death’ via psychedelic drugs” (click here), in Salon. (Courtesy of Kevin Fitts)
CONFERENCES, TRAININGS, AND WEBINARS
You Are Invited to a National Stakeholder Call with the CMS Administrator (November 1)
On November 1, 2022, from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. ET, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will provide an update on their recent accomplishments and—CMS writes—“how our cross-cutting initiatives are advancing CMS's Strategic Plan.” After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing a link to join the call. When you click on the link on November 1, “you will see a message stating that the host will allow you to join the event momentarily. Please continue to wait at that screen until the CMS team begins the call.” These national stakeholder calls will be held quarterly. To register, click here.
Free, Virtual Alternatives 2022 Conference Publishes Exciting Schedule Details!
The National Coalition for Mental Health Recovery is finalizing plans for the FREE—donations are welcome!—virtual Alternatives 2022, on November 2 and November 3, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. ET; and November 4, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. ET. The conference theme is “Our Roots, Advocacy, Policies & Future.” Each day will feature keynote presentations offering a variety of perspectives on the past, present, and future of the peer movement. For details of the speakers and presentations, click here. Action Groups will meet every day. In addition to time dedicated to strategic planning, there will be short presentations from subject experts. For more information, click here. Networking, arts, and movement sessions are scheduled from 6 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET on Nov. 3 and Nov. 4 (click here). To register, click here.
Rutgers University Sponsors Free Wellness Self-Care Program for Service Providers
The Wellness Training Learning Collaborative of the Rutgers Center of Alcohol and Substance Use Studies Is sponsoring a series of free wellness trainings, designed as stand-alone sessions, for health care professionals. They write: “Join us to engage in a series of interactive sessions to empower [health care] professionals to practice simple self-care strategies to stay well. Learn how to build these wellness self-care habits into day-to-day life.” The upcoming sessions are on Nov. 3, Nov. 17, and Dec. 8, 2022; and Jan. 19 and Jan. 26, 2023. For descriptions and to register for one or more of the sessions, whose times vary, click here and scroll down to pages 4 and 5.
Mental Health America to Present Two Free Webinars in Early November
On November 3 at 1 p.m. ET, Mental Health America (MHA) will present “Creating a Mental Health Strategy with DEIB at the Core.” “Developing a meaningful mental health strategy with diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) in mind affects the culture, employees’ feelings of confidence and inclusion, and opportunities available to employees with diverse backgrounds. This panel-style webinar will discuss ways to approach your organization’s mental health strategy with DEIB at its core.” And on November 9 at 1 p.m. ET, MHA will present “Who Cares for the Caregiver?” “This webinar will answer that question and provide encouragement to caregivers, as well as offer tips to non-caregivers on how to support caregivers in their life.” For more information and to register for either or both webinars, click here.
Wildflower Alliance to Host a Virtual 16-Hour Training on the “Alternatives to Suicide” Approach
When Conversation Turns to Suicide is “a 16-hour training based on the Alternatives to Suicide approach, and intended as an alternative to ASIST, QPR, and similar approaches that remain rooted in conventional medicalized systems,” the Wildflower Alliance writes. “Participants will learn common myths about suicide, a framework for being in conversation with someone who is struggling, the links between trauma (including systemic oppression) and suicide, the importance of power sharing, and more!” The four-part training will be held on November 7, 8, 14, and 15, from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET, via Zoom. Tickets are on a sliding scale from $25 to $200; sales end on November 6. For details and to register, click here. (Courtesy of Judene Shelley)
Pathways Vermont to Host a Training on “Soteria: The Power of Human Connection”
On November 9, 2022, at 1 p.m. ET, Pathways Vermont will host a three-hour interactive online workshop on Soteria House. “In this workshop, we’ll cover the history of Soteria and its place in the larger history of mental health reform movements dating back to the 1950s…” For details about the rest of the agenda, and to register, click here. (“Tickets for this event are $50 per person. If this amount is a barrier to your attendance, please contact training@pathwaysvermont.org to explore possibilities.”) (Courtesy of Jim Gottstein)
“Madness: Fighting for Justice in Mental Health,” Streaming Free on Nov. 25-27
The 28th conference of the Disruption Network Lab (#DNL28) will take place November 25-27, 2022, in Berlin, Germany–and will be streamed internationally for free! The organizers write: “What does it mean to have a just mental health care system and who has access to it? Who decides who is labeled as mad?” Wilda White is among the keynote speakers. For details and to obtain a ticket, click here.
Doors to Wellbeing Will Host Its Next Free Webinar on November 29
On November 29, 2022, at 2 p.m. ET, Doors to Wellbeing will host the latest webinar in its monthly one-hour series. The topic will be “Peer Internship Program: Where Lived and Work Experience Make the Difference.” “Learn about [the Peer Internship Program in Delaware] and how it is benefiting their community.” For more information and to register, click here.
30th Annual (Virtual) Forensic Rights and Treatment Conference, Nov. 30-Dec. 1
The theme of Drexel University’s 30th Annual Forensic Rights and Treatment Conference, to be held November 30-December 1, 2022, is Homeward Bound: Exploring Issues Faced by Justice-Involved Persons. Drexel writes: “The conference will be available to registrants until December 31, 2022, and you will be able to see all of the workshop offerings. Once you complete the evaluation tool and a validation tool, you will receive your CE credit within two weeks…The times represented on the brochure may slightly change in the virtual event.” Questions? Write to bheweb@drexel.edu or call us at 215.831.4055. For more information and to register, click here.
RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES
Young Adults with Psychiatric Diagnoses Are Sought for Study on Community Participation
The Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion is recruiting young adults (ages 18-30) with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression to take part in ConnectionsRx, designed to support engagement in meaningful community activities. Participants will be enrolled in the peer-led study for six months, and receive support to help meet community participation goals. Interviews (approximately 60 minutes each) will take place on Zoom. Participants will receive a $15 Amazon gift card (to a maximum of $45) for each survey completed. For the website, click here. Questions? Write to ConnectionsRx@temple.edu.
Researchers Ask, How Can Community-Based Organizations Use Data to Thrive?
“Researchers at Live & Learn Inc. are exploring the needs and preferences of community-based organizations that want to use data to improve and sustain their programs. What we learn will help us to develop tools to support community-based organizations to conduct program evaluation. If you represent a community-based organization that offers programs and services to support the well-being of people with mental health and substance use concerns, please take 15 minutes to complete our survey. Survey respondents will be entered into a raffle for a $25 eGift card. After the survey, we may invite you to participate in an interview, for which you will be compensated. Responses to the survey and interviews will not be shared with anyone outside of the research team. For more information, visit our website or contact Morgan Pelot: morgan@livelearninc.net, 805.244.5262.”
South Southwest MHTTC Launches Youth and Young Adult Peer Supporters Survey
“Are you a peer specialist who provides peer support to other people under the age of 30? We want to hear from you! Please fill out the survey to assist the South Southwest Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (South Southwest MHTTC) in learning more about youth peer support across the country! The intent is to be able to include these peer supporters in research, training, and technical assistance activities surrounding youth peer support. The form should take 5-10 minutes to fill out, and can be done from a phone or a computer browser. To take the survey, click here.” Questions? Write to southsouthwest@mhttcnetwork.org.
RESOURCES
From You, I Get the Story: Amplifying the Voices of Students with Mental Health Issues on College Campuses
This free, 33-page manual, published by the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion, “brings more than 50 student voices to the forefront to help college faculty, administrators, and staff better understand and serve students with significant mental health issues. Read their thoughts about what students think faculty, staff, administrators, and other students should understand about them, advice they would give to other students about being successful and dealing with discrimination, and more. (The title is excerpted from “See Me, Feel Me,” by The Who.) To download From You, I Get the Story: Amplifying the Voices of Students with Mental Health Issues on College Campuses, click here.
Wellness Activity Manual Helps People Learn Healthy New Behaviors & Habits
The free, 64-page Wellness Activity Manual: A Guide for Group Leaders “focuses on helping people with mental health conditions learn new behaviors and habits to improve their personal wellness. Each lesson has been constructed as a group activity that maximizes learning through building positive interpersonal relationships and actively involving participants. The Wellness Group meets weekly for one hour. The manual contains nine lessons focused on physical, emotional, and intellectual wellness. Each lesson can be used as a stand-alone group or combined into a multi-session series.” For details and to download the free manual, click here. (Courtesy of Peggy Swarbrick, via Jacek Haciak)
MHA Toolkit Offers Free Mental Health Resources for Students, Parents, and Teachers
“Mental Health America has created free resources that look at the issues young people face that are having an impact on their mental health and offer tips on how to deal with these issues and the resulting emotions. The MHA toolkit can also help parents and school personnel better understand the issues, such as the effects of social media on youth mental health and how to be supportive.” To download the free toolkit, click here.
30 Comics About Mental Health That You Might Relate To
“My comics cover a variety of topics, like love, depression, self-reflection, and anxiety,” artist Holly Chisolm writes. “After about 6 months of making comics, I decided to quit my job and freelance part-time so that I could dedicate more time to making and promoting Just Peachy. In the future, I hope to make a book and raise awareness about mental illnesses and my personal struggle with depression.” For Holly’s comics, click here.
The November 22 Digest of Articles Offering Healthy Lifestyle Advice
For “Taking a break from the news can improve mental health, study finds,” click here. For “Small Daily Practices to Boost Mental Health: Positive psychological behaviors promote good mental health hygiene, which reduces stress and improves overall well-being,” click here. For “In stressful jobs, depression risk rises with hours worked, study in new doctors finds,” click here. For “Patients believe in psychotherapy more when practitioners demonstrate warmth and competence,” click here. For “How to Fall Back Without Missing a Beat: Earlier mornings and shorter evening light can be a tough adjustment. But there are ways to prepare for the end of daylight saving,” click here.
The November 2022 Digest of Articles about the Criminal Legal System, in Which Many Individuals with Mental Health Conditions Are Incarcerated (and the Key Update continues after this Digest)
For “‘A Moral Disgrace’: How The U.S. Stopped Counting Deaths Behind Bars: The Department of Justice is failing miserably at collecting data on deaths. Experts say that makes it hard to identify the worst prisons and jails,” click here. For “The First Step Act’s Prison Reforms: The law has failed to reach many of its intended beneficiaries in federal prisons. Congress and the Department of Justice must act to fulfill its promise,” click here. For “Banned From Jobs: People Released From Prison Fight Laws That Keep Punishing Them. Post-conviction employment bans put many on the road back to prison,” click here. For “Defund Social Workers. They’re often just cops by another name,” click here. For “A new community safety blueprint: How the federal government can address violence and harm through a public health approach,” click here. For “I spent years in solitary confinement. End this horrific mistreatment of people in prison. Choose care over punishment. Listen to alternatives proposed by people who, like me, have survived the same prison conditions,” click here. For “Biden pledged to end solitary confinement. Federal prisons are increasing its use. Data from the federal Bureau of Prisons shows inmates held in "restrictive housing" increased 7% from May to September and more than 11% from spring 2021,” click here. For “Increasing the Demand for Workers with a Criminal Record: The partner for our study is a large nationwide staffing platform based in the United States, which third‐party businesses use to connect with available workers,” click here. For “How I Survived a Year in ‘the Hole’ Without Losing My Mind: In prison, going to ‘the hole’ can mean spending 23 hours a day alone in a tiny cell. Here, incarcerated author Michael J. Nichols shares his top 10 tips for enduring long stretches of ‘administrative segregation,’” click here. For “Shackles, depression, 100 days in solitary: Records shed light on NC prison suicides,” click here. For “Rikers Could Soon Have a Federal Receiver—How Have Takeovers Worked in Other U.S. Jails? Corrections departments in California and Chicago highlight benefits and challenges of moves to place chaotic lockups under outside control,” click here. For “International Wrongful Conviction Day is Nothing to Celebrate | Opinion,” click here. For “They’re in federal prison, and they’re done staying quiet. One D.C. man in a federal facility describes a ‘revolving door of death and depression’ in a new report that offers a unique look into the nation’s prisons,” click here. For “New Yorkers can now look up the records of police they encounter,” click here. For “What an Alabama Prisoners’ Strike Tells Us About Prison Labor: Exploitation of incarcerated people isn’t limited to lockups. Voters in some states have a chance to curtail it,” click here. For “Murder Rate Mystery: New FBI Crime Stats Don’t Include NYC, LA. Biggest US cities haven’t converted to new reporting system. Policymakers urged to exercise care amid data ‘blind spots,’” click here. For “What Can FBI Data Say About Crime in 2021? It’s Too Unreliable to Tell. The transition to a new data system creates huge gaps in national crime stats sure to be exploited by politicians in this election year,” click here. For “NYPD is Illegally Sending People to Rikers Without Ever Seeing a Judge, Lawsuit Claims: ‘Nothing short of an extrajudicial campaign of terror and kidnapping,’” click here. For “Opinion: For those freed after wrongful convictions, gratitude is a lot to ask,” click here. For “ ‘It’s Crushing’: The Lasting Trauma of the Exonerated. Proving your innocence is only part of the battle to put your life back together,” click here. For “‘A Moral Disgrace’: How The U.S. Stopped Counting Deaths Behind Bars: The Department of Justice is failing miserably at collecting data on deaths. Experts say that makes it hard to identify the worst prisons and jails,” click here. For “A Jury Acquitted Them of Various Charges. They Served Prison Time for Them Anyway. The Supreme Court may soon consider if acquitted conduct sentencing is illegal,” click here. For “Thousands of eligible Wisconsin voters face ballot barriers in jail: While many incarcerated people retain the constitutional right to vote, Wisconsin counties can do more to ensure that right can be exercised,” click here. For “Opinion Why D.C. has rehired fired police—and given them back pay,” click here. For “The Department of Corrections Couldn’t Stop This Lifer From Winning a Pulitzer Prize—It Tried,” click here. For “A Los Angeles Supportive Housing Program Interrupted the Cycle Between Jail and Homelessness—and Largely Paid for Itself,” click here.
FROM PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF THE KEY UPDATE BUT STILL FRESH!
OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN RESEARCH
Researcher Seeks Peer Supporters for Survey of Burnout and Job Satisfaction
“Evidence has demonstrated that peer support is beneficial to individuals receiving services for mental health treatment,” writes PhD candidate Melody Madaris, a therapist who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and PTSD. “However, there is little research showing how providing peer services affects the peer support worker. The goal of this 20-minute, anonymous survey—for which respondents will not be compensated—is to give supervisors and policy makers information to better support peers in the workforce.” About her experience as a therapist, Melody has written, “I have seen how my just being real about my own story with clients has sometimes created better outcomes than the use of regimented, evidence-based curriculums.” For the informed consent statement (pages 1 and 2), and the Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval letter (page 3), click here. To participate in the survey, click here.
Are You Interested in Pursuing Graduate School and/or a Research Career? Read Below.
Stephania Hayes (UC Davis), Shannon Pagdon (Columbia/NYS Psychiatric Institute/University of Pittsburgh), and Nev Jones (University of Pittsburgh) write: “We are gathering information from people with lived experience in the Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) or early psychosis space (including peer specialists, current/former CSC participants, and CSC youth coordinators) who are potentially interested in pursuing graduate school and/or a research career. All of us identify as having lived experience, work in CSC, and are invested in supporting the next generation of scholars who also have lived experience. We would like to create a discussion group and/or other supports for people interested in this career path. The link below leads to a very brief survey that will help us understand the level of interest in such supports, as well as areas of career interest. (Please note that this is not a research study.)” To participate in the anonymous survey, click here.
“Help Us Map the Landscape of Lived Experience and Family Involvement in 988 Policy and Related Crisis Response System Planning!”
“As 988 implementation rolls out alongside additional efforts to strengthen crisis response systems throughout the U.S., it's important to gauge the extent to which direct stakeholders (i.e., individuals who use or have used mental health crisis services and their families) have been involved in related policy, implementation and evaluation at the local, regional, state or federal levels. To map out involvement nationally, Mental Health America (lead: Kelly Davis), Nev Jones (University of Pittsburgh) and Keris Myrick (National Association of Peer Supporters) have developed a survey aimed at documenting the extent of stakeholder involvement, the forms this involvement has taken, and, where available, what concerns stakeholders have raised. Any individual with knowledge of lived experience and family involvement is eligible to participate; individuals completing the survey do not have to have lived experience themselves.” For more information and to access the survey, click here.
Survey Seeks Respondents Who Have Taken Mental Health Courses Involving Their Own Diagnoses
Have you taken a mental health course that covers a diagnosis you have? If so, you are invited to participate in a brief, anonymous, online survey--designed by a University of Pittsburgh MSW student--about what it's like for students with lived experience to study their own diagnoses in a classroom. The survey covers students' experiences of studying such subjects as "abnormal psychology," "psychopathology," and diagnosis and assessment when their own diagnoses are covered. "The goal of the project is to better understand what it feels like to take courses in which someone’s diagnosis is being taught/defined/discussed. There is currently no literature or reporting on the experiences of students in the above circumstances, or the associated impact." Interested? Please click here. Questions? Please email the project lead, Charlie Clement, at cjc204@pitt.edu
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.
BU Seeks Peer Support Specialists for a Research Study
The Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation at Boston University is developing and testing the effectiveness of a coaching service called Coaching and Advancement for Peer Providers (CAPP) “to increase organizational commitment and job satisfaction and decrease turnover among mental health peer providers.” BU CPR writes: “We need Peer Support Specialists (PSS) to participate in our study. Who can participate? People who are in a paid job as a Peer Support Specialist providing support to other people with mental health challenges, who are employed at least 10 hours per week, who have worked for the past six months in a mental health program, and who are experiencing stress because of challenges in the workplace. The study involves 16 one-hour sessions of coaching over a four-month period designed to help you with your job, meeting online (through Zoom, for example) with your coach, and filling out surveys one time before coaching starts and three additional times. You will have a 50/50 chance of getting a coach or having a one-time meeting to give you information about challenges at work. Benefits? You may learn strategies to help make work less stressful.” For more information, click here. For questions, contact Principal Investigator E. Sally Rogers, Sc.D., at erogers@bu.edu or 617-353-3549.
Supported Education Survey Needs Your Help
Do you operate a program that provides dedicated supported education services for individuals with psychiatric disabilities/mental health conditions? If so, you are invited to complete the survey at the link below. The primary goal of the survey is to help create a National Supported Education Database (NSEdD) that will be "a searchable listing of diverse supported education programs and services for individuals experiencing psychiatric disabilities and/or mental health challenges...across the US and its territories." The NSEdD project is sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and co-administered by the five SAMHSA-funded national consumer and consumer-supporter technical assistance centers, in collaboration with research partners Drs. Nev Jones (University of Pittsburgh) and Mark Salzer (Temple University). For a link to the survey, which includes a definition of supported education, click here. For a flyer with information about the survey, click here.
National Survey on Student Rights, Discrimination, and Accommodations in Higher Education Seeks Respondents
"Have you experienced psychiatric disability-based discrimination or the denial of an accommodation in a postsecondary institution in the United States? Interested in informing national advocacy focus on psych disability rights in higher ed? Mental Health America (lead: Kelly Davis) and collaborators Dr. Nev Jones (University of Pittsburgh), Stefanie Kaufman-Mthimkhulu (Project LETS) and Brit Vanneman Esq. (Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law) have developed "a survey aimed at providing a more comprehensive understanding of student experiences of campus-based discrimination, mandated leaves of absence, and/or denial of academic, administrative and/or student-work accommodations in the U.S. Data will be used to inform national advocacy efforts and future projects, and in reports, presentations and publications." For eligibility and to access the survey, click here.
If You've Had, or Been Labeled with, "Negative Symptoms" in the Context of Psychosis...
"If you have experienced or been labeled with 'negative symptoms' in the context of psychosis, please consider contributing an anonymous account of your views and experiences," Dr. Nev Jones writes. "Currently, there is nowhere one can go to find lived experience perspectives/accounts on this topic—even though 'negative symptoms' regularly feature in research and clinical trials. Help us change this!" This survey is a companion to Psychosis Outside the Box; for that survey, click here. For more information and/or to share your story about "negative symptoms," click here.
"Are You Between the Ages of 21 and 60 and Drink Alcohol?"
"Researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are seeking adults--[both smokers and non-smokers]--to study whether a gene and smoking may affect drinking alcohol. Volunteers should be healthy and drug-free, and not seeking treatment for alcohol-related problems. Research participation includes three outpatient visits at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, MD; alcohol consumption; brain scans (MRI), blood draws, and filling out questionnaires. There is no cost to participate and compensation may be provided." For more information, click here. (Courtesy of Fran Hazam)
TU Collaborative Seeks Participants for Its Parenting Through Leisure Project; See Also the TU Collaborative's Parenting Resources, Including Information on Custody Issues
The Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion is seeking parents with lived experience of a mental health condition to participate in a paid research study. The TU Collaborative writes: "Our program, Parenting Through Leisure, focuses on helping parents with a serious mental illness participate in leisure activities with their child. We are looking for individuals who are 18 and older; are an adult parent with a diagnosis of schizophrenia-spectrum disorder, bipolar disorder, or depression; have a child who is 7 to 15 years old and is interested in participating in family leisure with you; have legal visitation rights, joint custody or full custody of the child, with at least weekly contact; and have a desire to engage in more leisure activities with their child." For details about the study and the remuneration as well as other benefits to eligible participants, and a link to sign up, click here. Questions? Please contact TUCollab@temple.edu. And for the TU Collaborative's Parenting web page--which includes links to many resources for parents with lived experience, including information about custody laws and a model family reunification statute--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)
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
CONFERENCES
“So You’re Ready to Work; Now What?”
On October 11, 2022, at 12 p.m. ET, Rebel Leadership Group LLC and CAFE TAC launched a new, 12-part interactive employment training series! “This series will be recovery-centered and strengths-based, examining the process of finding, applying for, and succeeding in a job through the lens of recovery, helping attendees to identify strengths and skills, align the job-seeking and employment experience with their personal recovery path, and providing opportunity for discussion in a peer-centered space…Registering for any of the 12 sessions will automatically register you for all future sessions.” For details and to register, click here.
National Association for Rural Mental Health Conference to Be Held November 2-4, 2022
The 47th Annual National Association for Rural Mental Health (NARMH) conference will be held at the Embassy Suites in Boulder, Colorado, November 2-4, 2022. The theme is “Beyond the Pandemic—Building on Rural Resiliency.” The early-bird registration fee is $500; for people who are retired or students, it’s $250. For more information as it becomes available, click here.
The International Conference on Trauma and Mental Health Will Take Place November 3-4
The International Conference on Trauma and Mental Health will take place November 3-4, 2022, in San Francisco. For more information, click here.
ISPS-US (Hybrid) 2022 Conference to Be Held November 4-6
The 2022 ISPS-US (International Society for Psychological and Social Approaches to Psychosis—U.S. Chapter) conference will be held November 4-6 in Sacramento, California, as well as online. The conference theme is Opportunity Through Experience: Psychosis, Extreme States, and Possibilities for Transformation. ISPS-US writes: “People with lived experience, family members, clinicians, and researchers are all invited to propose presentations that promote mutual collaboration and respect, and can allow us to offer each other both greater understanding and more light. We especially welcome proposals from members of marginalized groups whose experiences have included systemic as well as relational traumas and challengesFor more information, click here. (Courtesy of Jacek Haciak)
ISEPP’s 2021 Conference Is Available to View Online
The 2021 conference of the International Society for Ethical Psychology and Psychiatry can be viewed online. The theme of the conference, convened October 9-10, 2021, was “The Destructive Propaganda of the Mental Health Industry: How Did We Get Here? Where Are We Going?” It was dedicated to the life and memory of Paula J. Caplan, Ph.D. To buy a ticket to watch the full conference recording for $22.85, click here.
Save the Date! MHAAO to Host Peerpocalypse 2023 May 8-11
The Mental Health & Addiction Association of Oregon will host the tenth annual Peerpocalypse conference May 8-11, 2023. More information will follow on the conference web page; stay tuned!
OTHER OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES
“Crisis Now” Offers a “Roadmap to Safe, Effective Crisis Care”
The goal of Crisis Now: Transforming Crisis Services—led by the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) and developed with the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, and RI International—is “to provide all communities a roadmap to safe, effective crisis care that diverts people in distress from the emergency department and jail by developing a continuum of crisis care services that match people’s clinical needs.” Among the resources offered on the website are SAMHSA’s 80-page “National Guidelines for Behavioral Health Crisis Care Best Practice Toolkit” (2020), an “Overview of Crisis Funding Sources Available to States and Localities” (last updated March 2, 2022), and assessment tools, such as “How Does Your Crisis System Rate?” The Crisis Now partners write: “Are you interested in adding your organization to the list supporting Crisis Now, or do you have questions? Reach out to us at info@crisisnow.com. For the website, click here. (Courtesy of Kevin Fitts)
“What Is the Meaning of Life?” This Free Online Collection Offers Answers
Excellence Reporter offers more than “1,200 articles-interviews on ‘What Is the Meaning of Life?’ written by renowned spiritual leaders, mindfulness experts, great thinkers and authors, elders, artists, musicians, CEOs, etc.” The contributors include such renowned figures as Bertrand Russell; Carl Jung; the Dalai Lama; Eleanor Roosevelt; Epicurus; Erich Fromm; Kahlil Gibran; Buckminster Fuller; Robert Louis Stevenson; and Ron Bassman, executive director of MindFreedom International. To browse the free compendium, click here.
Rutgers Releases W-TLC Virtual Toolbox and Training/Learning Collaborative Series
“The Rutgers Center of Alcohol & Substance Use Studies has announced the release of the Wellness Training Learning Collaborative (W-TLC) virtual toolbox and Training/Learning Collaborative series…This toolkit provides peer support, individual, and organizational approaches to support the wellbeing of the critical health care workforce.” For descriptions of the 12 upcoming sessions—including two in July (July 7 and July 28), with the remaining sessions to be held August 2022 through January 2023—and to register for them, click here. For the “Journey to Wellness Guide,” click here. (Note: Information about the Journey to Wellness Guide was included in the April 2022 Key Update.)
The UIC Center’s Solutions Suite for Health & Recovery Offers Free Tools
"The UIC Center offers tools, curricula, and implementation manuals for free use in community-based programs, peer-run programs, or one's own life. You can introduce the entire complement of products to foster improved health, wellness, and mental health recovery. Or, you can choose the ones that will work best for your program or your life. The Suite was developed in collaboration with Collaborative Support Programs of New Jersey. The UIC Center is funded by NIDILRR (National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research). For the UIC Solutions Suite for Health & Recovery, click here. (Courtesy of Peggy Swarbrick via Jacek Haciak)
Poetry Coalition to Launch "Poetry & Disability Justice" Initiative
"This year, the 25+ organizations nationwide that comprise the Poetry Coalition will launch 'The future lives in our bodies: Poetry & Disability Justice,' the coalition’s sixth annual programming initiative...Poetry Coalition members aim to demonstrate how poetry can inspire questions in their communities about disability justice and spark increased engagement with this important theme. Member organizations are committed to offering programming that is accessible and that includes disabled, neurodivergent, and d/Deaf poets and those of diverse racial, ethnic, and gender identities, backgrounds, and communities. All organizations and others interested are invited to create programs on this theme in 2022 and share their efforts using the hashtags #DisabilityJustice and #PoetryCoalition. For some additional resources to assist with programming, particularly in creating accessible programming, click here.
U.S. Surgeon General Creates Community Toolkit for Addressing Health Misinformation
"The U.S. Surgeon General’s Community Toolkit for Addressing Health Misinformation, developed in collaboration with the HHS Office of Evaluation Sciences (OES), provides specific guidance and resources for health care providers, educators, librarians, faith leaders, and trusted community members to understand, identify, and stop the spread of health misinformation in their communities." For information about the toolkit (a 22-page overview of health misinformation, and resources to stop it), and links to a “Talk to Your Community About Health Misinformation” Infographic, a “Health Misinformation Checklist” Infographic, and the Surgeon General's press release, click here.
"Psychiatrist with Philosophical Interests" leads "Conversations in Critical Psychiatry," a Psychiatric Times Series
Awais Aftab, who describes himself as a "psychiatrist with philosophical interests" in his Twitter bio, leads "Conversations in Critical Psychiatry," which, he says, "explores critical and philosophical perspectives in psychiatry and engages with prominent commentators within and outside the profession who have made meaningful criticisms of the status quo." Among those interviewed are Allen Frances, M.D., author of Saving Normal; Sandra Steingard, M.D., and G. Scott Waterman, M.D., on "Integrating Academic Inquiry and Reformist Activism in Psychiatry"; Susannah Cahalan, author of Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness, on "50 Shades of Misdiagnosis"; Kathy Flaherty, J.D., executive director of the Connecticut Legal Rights Project, Inc., on "Reconsidering Care and Coercion in Psychiatry"; Nev Jones, Ph.D., on "Phenomenology, Power, Polarization, and the Discourse on Psychosis"; Dainius Puras, M.D., on "Global Psychiatry's Crisis of Values"; and many others. For the archived interviews, 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.S. DOL Releases Guidance on FMLA Leave and Mental Health
The U.S. Department of Labor’s newly issued Fact Sheet #280 about the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) explains when eligible employees may take FMLA leave to address mental health conditions, and new Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) offers additional information. (Although the FMLA covers public and private employers nationwide, only those private employers who have 50 or more employees for at least 20 workweeks in a year are required to provide their eligible employees with FMLA leave.) For details, click here.
Hearing Voices Network Is Now Hosting Online Groups
“There are now ONLINE opportunities to connect, share experiences, and find mutual support,” the Hearing Voices Network (HVN) writes. “These groups are accessible via web-based platforms and by phone…Online groups are specifically for those with personal lived experience with hearing voices, seeing visions, and/or negotiating alternative realities. They are voice-hearer facilitated. With further questions and for details on how to access the group[s], please email info@hearingvoicesusa.org.” To read this announcement online and for more information, click here.
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.
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.
NASMHPD’s 2014 Webinar Series on Trauma-Informed Peer Support Is Still Relevant“
SAMHSA’s National Center for Trauma-Informed Care (NCTIC) hosted a series of three 75-minute webinars in September 2014 that introduced key concepts in NCTIC’s day-long Trauma-Informed Peer Support (TIPS) training. Peer support providers are the primary audience. For more information and to listen to the recordings and download the PowerPoint slides, 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.
Learning Collaborative Webinar Series Offers Several Archived Presentations
The Doors to Wellbeing website offers a number of webinars that you may find of interest: “The Importance of Policies and Procedures in Peer-run Organizations”; “Building Partnerships to Enhance the Peer Workforce,” by Kyneta Lee, Tim Saubers, and Todd Noack; “Handing Over the Keys: Leadership Succession Planning in Non-Profit Organizations,” by Elise Padilla and Maxine Henry; “How to Embed Strategic Planning into the Culture of Your Organization,” by Oryx Cohen; “Fundraising and Sustainability: Building your Organization by Telling the Right Story to the Right Audience”; “Developing a Board of Directors for Mental Health Organizations,” by Amey Dettmer and Matthew Federici; and “Conflict Management in Peer-Run Organizations: Tools for Effective Conversations.” Certificates of attendance are not available for any of these presentations. For more information and to register for any or all of them, click here.
National Safety Council Offers a Free Webinar Series Focusing on Mental Health in the Workplace
"The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic will affect employees well beyond the initial crisis," the National Safety Council writes. "Employers have a unique ability and responsibility to address the mental health and wellbeing of their workers, which is a true organization-wide effort. This free Mental Health Webinar Series led by the National Safety Council, and first presented in August 2020, speaks to a variety of positions within an organization and how each one can address stress and mental health." Four of the five webinars are titled: "Supporting Employee Mental Health" and respectively subtitled "Resources for Employees," "Actions for Leadership," "Actions for Supervisors," and "Actions for HR Professionals." To view the free, archived 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)
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.
“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 19, No. 5, November 2022. For content, reproduction or publication information, please contact Susan Rogers at selfhelpclearinghouse@gmail.com. Follow Susan on Twitter at @SusanRogersMH