The National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse is affiliated with the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion.
TO CONTACT: THE CLEARINGHOUSE: SELFHELPCLEARINGHOUSE@GMAIL.COM … SUSAN ROGERS: SUSAN.ROGERS.ADVOCACY@GMAIL.COM … JOSEPH ROGERS: JROGERS08034@GMAIL.COM
The Key Update is compiled, written, and edited by Susan Rogers, Director, National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse.
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NOTE: The "FROM PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF THE KEY UPDATE BUT STILL FRESH!" Department, which is directly below the monthly Criminal Justice Digest, includes items that had been posted "above the fold" in earlier editions 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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What Is a "Mental Health Problem"? Some Researchers Want Service Users to Decide.
Researchers in the UK and Switzerland scoured more than 100 publications that mentioned mental health problems, and identified some 34 different models: biological, psychological, sociological, and others. But they found no criteria that could be used to prioritize one model over another. Because understanding mental health issues is crucial to diagnosis and treatment, the researchers suggest that "this debate needs greater input from non-medical professions and service users," Science Daily reports. One researcher said: "Uncertainties about what constitutes a mental health problem have become more pronounced in recent decades due to the increase in the number of mental health conditions being identified in the manuals which are used by general practitioners and psychiatrists." Another researcher noted: "One way out...could be to ask service users which model they feel to be most appropriate for them and their treatment. The consequence, however, would be that non-medical models might become more important than clinicians would be willing to accept." For the Science Daily article, which includes a link to the study (in the Journal of Mental Health), click here.
Judi's Room Panel: "Celebrating the Accomplishments & Embracing the Challenges of African American Leadership in our Movement"
On March 2, 2022, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET, MindFreedom International and "I Love You, Lead On" will present a "Judi's Room" event on "Celebrating the Accomplishments & Embracing the Challenges of African American Leadership in Our Movement." Featured speakers are Cindi Fisher, Jonathan P. Edwards, and Yvonne Z. Smith; Celia Brown will facilitate. "African American activists/leaders within the CSX movement share their firsthand experience of systemic racism and how they have been working to bend the arc toward justice. They will address the need for change by sharing experiences (accomplishments and lessons learned), and how these experiences relate to other movements such as prison abolition, Black Lives Matter (BLM), and school to prison pipeline." For more information and to register, click here.
"New Research Suggests 911 Call Centers Lack Resources to Handle Behavioral Health Crises"
Although many cities now field mobile crisis teams--often based on CAHOOTS in Eugene, Oregon--the system only works if 911 operators are knowledgeable enough to be able to funnel behavioral health crisis calls away from police to these teams. "The best mental-health responders in the world can help only if emergency dispatchers know when to deploy them," The Atlantic recently noted. But a "2021 Pew Charitable Trusts survey of 911 centers found that staff are seldom trained on mental-health issues and have few options for mental-health responses." When police get involved, the crisis may end in tragedy. (For evidence, click here and click here.) Even without a tragic ending, police often take people to institutions, including jails, "that do little for their mental health while also giving them the stigma, and real consequences, of a criminal record. 'You couldn’t go out of your way to invent a system that was less useful,” says Mike Gleason, who as Eugene’s city manager helped launch CAHOOTS in 1989." For "The Stumbling Block to One of the Most Promising Police Reforms" in The Atlantic, click here. For the Pew Charitable Trusts survey, click here.
Barnard Center for Research on Women to Host (Virtual) Scholar and Feminist Conference
From February through April 2022, the Barnard Center for Research on Women (BCRW) will present its 47th annual Scholar and Feminist Conference. Entitled “Living in Madness: Decolonization, Creation, Healing,” the conference will comprise five virtual events, four of which are in March and April. "This conference will explore experiences of madness, disability, survival, and refusal through the frameworks of mad studies, disability justice, and artistic practice," BCRW writes. "We ask how structural violence has both created maddening conditions and established the terms by which survivors are pathologized, criminalized and alienated." For more information and to register for upcoming presentations, the first of which is March 8, 2022, at 6:30 p.m. ET, click here. (Courtesy of Andrew Phelps)
TU Collaborative Shares Free "Resources for Remote Community Participation"
"During this time of physical distancing, we are sharing strategies to make you aware of opportunities for participation," the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion writes. "Many of these resources for staying connected while staying apart require internet access, which we understand can be a barrier to participation for many people." The 20-page document includes "a review of free and low-cost opportunities to access the internet and some options for learning how to use the internet effectively. Next, we discuss opportunities for community participation with a basic phone, with no need for a smartphone or internet access. This document concludes with a running list of online resources for community participation...These tips are helpful for anyone who wants to increase their community participation while staying at home, for any reason." For the free document, click here.
Free Webinar: "Reclaiming Employment: Self Employment Opportunities and Education"
On March 29, 2022, at 2 p.m. ET, Doors to Wellbeing will sponsor a free, one-hour webinar on "Reclaiming Employment: Self Employment Opportunities and Education," presented by Laysha Ostrow. "Reclaiming Employment® is an interactive virtual platform that provides self-employment education and support for people with mental health-related challenges around work. It was designed by Live & Learn, Inc., based on research and personal experiences with business development, to empower peers to start and sustain self-employment. This webinar will walk attendees through the platform, explain its conceptual development and offerings, and show how peers seeking to pursue self-employment can access support." For more information and to register, click here.
"‘Tokenistic’ Service-user Involvement Must Be Addressed, Says Report"
A new report by Shaping Our Lives, a disabled people's and service-user network, "highlights the importance of involving disabled people in planning and delivering services, but also the barriers they face when trying to share their lived experience," Disability News Service (DNS) reports. "The Tickboxes and Tokenism report says the inclusive involvement of disabled people and members of other marginalized communities in such activity is 'critical' in promoting 'system and social change,'" DNS writes. Shaping Our Lives notes: "This report is the result of a survey we ran in 2021 to explore people’s experiences of service user involvement...The report contains recommendations for those who want to run truly inclusive, meaningful involvement to shape their services and make them better for everyone." For the DNS article, click here. For the report, click here.
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)
"Is Electroconvulsive Therapy for Depression More Effective Than Placebo?"
According to this "Systematic Review of Studies Since 2009," the answer is No. Of the 91 studies reviewed, "only 2 aimed to evaluate the efficacy of ECT," the authors write. "Both were severely flawed. None of the other 89 produced robust evidence that ECT is effective for depression, primarily because at least 60% maintained ECT participants on medication and 89% produced no meaningful follow-up data beyond the end of treatment. No studies investigated whether ECT prevents suicide." In addition, "[o]nly 4 placebo-controlled studies have ever produced data beyond the end of treatment, none of which have found any advantage for ECT over placebo." The authors concluded: "There is still no evidence that ECT is more effective than placebo for depression reduction or suicide prevention. Given the well-documented high risk of persistent memory dysfunction, the cost-benefit analysis for ECT remains so poor that its use cannot be scientifically, or ethically, justified." For the study, published in Ethical Human Psychology and Psychiatry, click here.
2022 Virtual PEER-A-PALOOZA Peer Summit to Be Held May 7
Helping to Unite by Generating Mental Empowerment (HUG ME) Ink will host PEER-A-PALOOZA on Saturday, May 7, 2022, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. CST via Zoom. "Our 2022 theme is: Creating a Zest for Life Through Growth, Resilience, Recovery and Community," the organizers write. "We believe that unifying talented peers of diverse backgrounds provides a unique opportunity to interact and propose stronger solutions together." Registration is $25; it's free for peer specialists. Workshop topics include How to Address Isolation, Autism Spectrum and Alternative Treatments, Personal Experiences, and a Writing Workshop. To register or to sign up as an exhibitor or sponsor, click here.
"How to Report with Care on Disability," by the Disability Reporting Fellow of The NY Times
Amanda Morris, who reports on disability for The New York Times, writes that her goal is to "shift the way that the news media...writes about disabled people. Some of my work dismantles long-held stigmas and negative attitudes that many people have toward disability—such as the flawed idea that having a disability is inherently bad or is limiting." Describing herself as "a hard-of-hearing woman," she always asks those she interviews if they prefer identity-first or person-first language. And "[a]ny time I’m writing an article that affects a group of people with certain conditions or disabilities, I always reach out to multiple people living with the condition and include their voices in the story." Taking a stand against what has been called "inspiration porn," she writes: "Reducing disabled people’s lives into simplistic narratives about overcoming barriers to do ordinary things often misses the fact that society created those same barriers in the first place." For the article, click here.
"COVID-19 Vaccination Boosts Mental Health Along with Immunity, Study Finds," while "Covid Patients May Have Increased Risk of Developing Mental Health Problems"
"Getting vaccinated for COVID-19 measurably improved the psychological well-being of participants in the Understanding Coronavirus in America study, a large longitudinal look at the impact of the pandemic on individuals in the United States. Vaccination was associated with declines in distress and perceived risks of infection, hospitalization, and death. The study, appearing in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, validates the intuitive but previously unanswered questions of whether becoming vaccinated reduces perceived risks associated with COVID-19, and whether the reduction of these fears leads to improvements in mental health and quality of life." For the Science Daily story, click here. At the same time, "[a] new, large study found that in the year after getting Covid, people were significantly more likely to be diagnosed with psychiatric disorders they hadn’t had than people who didn’t get infected," The New York Times reports. For that story, click here.
Trauma Survivors May Admit to Crimes, Even When They Are Innocent, Experts Say
"Psychological research has shed light on why police sometimes misjudge innocent people as guilty, why innocent people sometimes confess to crimes they didn’t commit, and why stereotypes sometimes produce erroneous medical judgments," according to Psychology Today. The magazine focuses on trauma survivor Melissa Lucio, who was convicted of killing her 2-year-old daughter despite her likely innocence. For the Psychology Today article, click here. For "How Melissa Lucio Went From Abuse Survivor to Death Row: Why some trauma victims are more likely to take responsibility for crimes, even when they may be innocent," click here. And for "As state executions ramp up, prosecutors pledge changes in handling of death penalty cases: 'We have all now arrived at the same inexorable conclusion: Our country's system of capital punishment is broken,' said a joint statement signed by 56 prosecutors," click here. For the Free Melissa Lucio campaign, click here.
Latest Edition of Café TA Center's Newsletter Focuses on Supported Education Survey
"The latest edition of CAFE TAC’s Focus 2.0 newsletter is here! This time, we share some information on the ongoing National Supported Education Database survey that CAFE TAC is working on along with its partner national consumer and consumer-supporter TA centers. Not sure what supported education is or how it works? You can find a quick overview of this promising practice too! We also share an update on our efforts to connect employers and people with mental health conditions, and share a survey where you can let us know about your employment experiences and needs. Finally, our 'Capacity Corner' column returns with a look at how an Executive Director and Board Chair can work together to help a peer-run organization succeed." For the latest Focus 2.0, click here.
These Three National Mental Health Conferences (Among Others) Are Coming Up in 2022
The annual meetings of the American Psychiatric Association, Mental Health America, and the International Conference on Trauma and Mental Health will take place in 2022. The American Psychiatric Association 2002 annual meeting, to be held both in-person in New Orleans May 21-25 and online June 7-10, will focus on the theme of "Social Determinants of Mental Health." For more information, click here. The theme of Mental Health America's 2022 annual conference, to be held June 9-11 at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill and live-streamed, is "Forward Together: Recovery, Healing, Hope." For more information, click here. The International Conference on Trauma and Mental Health will take place November 3-4, 2022, in San Francisco. For more information, click here. (Note: See FROM PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF THE KEY UPDATE BUT STILL FRESH!--below the Criminal Justice Digest--for more conferences, including NARPA [deadline for workshop proposals: March 31; conference October 26-29], A Disorder for Everyone: AD4E (April 28), Peerpocalypse (March 14-17), and the International Conference on Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal (May 6-7).
US News & World Report Covers "Mental Health Support Groups: Pros and Cons." (Peer Support Is an Evidence-Based Practice.)
"Support groups can provide a safe place to connect and learn to cope. Consider these pros and cons before joining a group," U.S. News & World Report posted on February 24, 2022. Among the "pros" is that support groups are normally led by people with lived experience, "which can be inspiring and comforting to those who are struggling." The "cons" include the difficulty that some people may have in revealing their personal mental health challenges to a group. For the article, including other pros and cons, click here. Meanwhile, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) declared peer support an evidence-based practice in 2007. In a letter to state mental health directors, CMS wrote: “CMS recognizes that the experiences of peer support providers, as consumers of mental health and substance use services, can be an important component in a State’s delivery of effective treatment." For the CMS letter, click here. For more information about the value of peer support, click here. For Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance support groups, click here. For Hearing Voices Network USA support groups, click here.
Three Articles in the Mainstream Media Highlight the Value of Peer-Support Programs
Three articles, published in recent months, cover peer-support programs in New York, North Carolina, and Alaska. "...[A]n innovative community-based behavioral health program--EnTRy (Enhanced Treatment and Recovery)--is bringing novel peer-to-peer counseling, telehealth, advanced psychiatric care, and early intervention programs for youth and young adults to Southeast Brooklyn." The program, based at the Family Health Centers at NYU Langone, is made possible by a $5 million SAMHSA grant. (Click here.) A second article covers "[a] peer-run center in North Carolina [that] offers alternative for psychiatric care. At Retreat @ the Plaza, guests use their experiences with mental illness, homelessness and domestic violence to help one another regain their footing." (Click here.) A third article covers a peer-run drop-in center in Fairbanks, Alaska, where "members say ‘you can just be you.’" (Click here.)
"We've All Wondered What Animals Could Say If They Could Speak..."
"In his funny and unique comic series called 'They Can Talk,' [artist Jimmy Craig] shows what would happen if animals started talking. He also puts his very own unexpected twists into his comics, making them a lot more memorable. Although he draws mostly cats and dogs, he includes other critters like birds, bugs, reptiles, and fish. Check out some of his hilarious work below!" For the comics, click here.
The March 2022 Digest of Articles Offering Healthy Lifestyle Advice
For "Why We All Need to Have More Fun: Prioritizing fun may feel impossible right now. But this four-step plan will help you rediscover how to feel more alive," click here. For "Are You Dreaming Too Big? Lifelong, hard-to-achieve goals might not make you happier. Small steps will," click here. For "You Can Learn to Love Being Alone: Solitude doesn’t have to feel lonely. It can be restoring and refreshing with a little practice," click here. For "How to feel more pride: Get comfortable owning and enjoying your achievements, big and small, and you will nourish your mental health and self-esteem," click here. For "Hard on Yourself? 4 Emotionally Abusive Habits to Replace: An emotionally abusive inner critic can take a toll on your mental health. When your self-talk is hurtful, here’s how to flip the script," click here.
The March 2022 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 "Why It’s So Impossible to Get Decent Mental Health Care in Prison,” click here. For "The first shots wounded their 16-year-old. His parents wonder: Did police need to fire the second round?" click here. For "‘I can’t let him out on society,’ sheriff says: Murder suspect found incompetent to stand trial remains in jail," click here. For "Prison And Jail Reentry And Health: People reentering communities after incarceration are sicker than the general population and face barriers to accessing health care and other supports. Along with criminal justice reform, policy makers must work to improve evidence-based reentry programming that supports healthy people and communities," click here. For "Smoke-filled cells. Triple-digit temperatures. Chest-deep water. People behind bars can’t flee when climate disasters strike. The Intercept mapped climate risks for 6,500 detention facilities. In some already miserable places, the suffering is set to intensify," click here. For "Opinion: With Amir Locke’s death, ‘officer safety’ claims another victim," click here. For "A sentence that never ends: How probation kept a Pennsylvania man locked up through the pandemic — even after his release date," click here. For "Connecting inmates with health and social care upon reentry can help end the prison cycle: A growing number of transition programs are focused on healthcare planning–helping formerly incarcerated individuals with enrollment in Medicaid, and supporting them to access covered programs to treat medical and physical health conditions," click here. For "Here's Why Abolishing Private Prisons Isn't a Silver Bullet: The vast majority of prisoners are held in publicly run prisons. But the private sector affects their incarceration in different ways," click here. For "Prosecutors push U.S. to limit life sentences for juveniles," click here. For "State of Justice," the February 25, 2022, newsletter of the Council of State Governments Justice Center, click here. For "Who Writes the Rules for Cops? After years of high-profile shootings, policing in America is under more scrutiny than at any time in our history. Meanwhile, one company—which sells policy handbooks to police departments across the country—seems determined to give officers cover," click here. For "Opinion: Call solitary confinement what it is: Torture," click here. For "New Pardon Board Official Wants to Expand Clemency in Pennsylvania, Where Thousands Are Sentenced to Die in Prison: Celeste Trusty, a longtime activist for sentencing reform, speaks with Bolts about her recent appointment to the state’s clemency system, and her desire to 'help liberate people,'” click here. For "He got a second chance after 27 years in prison. Then he went missing. Kevin Flythe, now 52, has serious mental and physical disabilities. His attorneys say the Bureau of Prisons released him without a plan," click here. For "Fitness trainer uses his decade behind bars to inspire clients and help former inmates transform their lives," click here.
FROM PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF THE KEY UPDATE BUT STILL FRESH!
NARPA Issues Call for Papers for Its 2022 Conference
The National Association for Rights Protection and Advocacy (NARPA) 2022 Annual Rights Conference, to be held October 26-29 at the Doubletree Newark Airport in Newark, New Jersey, has issued its call for workshop proposals. The deadline is March 31; selected presenters will be notified by April 30. "NARPA is seeking proposals which address strategies, ideas, programs, and emerging practices. Workshops [of approximately 90 minutes] will be selected based on adherence to the NARPA mission--"to support people with psychiatric diagnoses to exercise their legal and human rights, with the goals of abolishing forced treatment and ensuring autonomy, dignity and choice"--"with an emphasis on diversity and multicultural perspectives." For more information, contact NARPA at narpa4rights@gmail.com or 256.650.6311. "Mail proposals to NARPA, P.O. Box 855, Huntsville, AL 35804 or e-mail to narpa4rights@gmail.com. Electronic submissions preferred." For the Call for Papers, click here.
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.
On April 28, AD4E Will Host a Prominent British Journalist and a Distinguished British Psychologist to Discuss Their New Books
On April 28, 2022, at 10 a.m. EDT (2 p.m. GMT), A Disorder for Everyone (AD4E) will welcome Johann Hari (author of Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention) and Lucy Johnstone (author of A Straight Talking Introduction to Psychiatric Diagnosis) to talk about their new books. "Crucial Conversations is a series of 'A Disorder for Everyone' online events in which authors of recently published books that contribute to challenging the culture of diagnosis and disorder are invited to talk about their work. There will be audience questions and a panel discussion afterwards." When you register, AD4E requests a donation based on what you can afford. For details, 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)
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.
Please Sign a Petition to Help Save a Public Mental Health Model in Italy
"Trieste is recognized by the World Health Organization as the model of global best practice in mental health care," according to a change.org petition highlighted in a recent NPR article. "It has inspired dozens of programs throughout the world to create an integrated network of community services focused upon the whole-person needs of its users; maintaining their dignity as citizens; and minimizing the coercive practices of old fashioned institutional settings...Trieste has shown us how community inclusion improves people’s lives. But this great achievement is now threatened by a new right-wing regional government that, on poorly informed and ideological grounds, is fast and impulsively dismantling Trieste's wonderful system of community care...As a Friend of Trieste and all that it stands for, please sign this petition and distribute it widely. For updates on this situation, please consult www.accoglienza.us." For the NPR article, "A public mental health model in Italy earns global praise. Now it faces its demise," click here. For the petition, click here. (Courtesy of Laura Van Tosh)
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.
Lancet Offers Stakeholders New Opportunities Re: Psychosis & Participatory Research
Check out these opportunities for stakeholder involvement! (1) The Lancet Psychiatry Commission's "Lived Experience Hub" invites stakeholders to contribute blogposts to convey criticisms, concerns and/or ideas relevant to the work of the Commission. For details, click here. To submit a blog, email lancetcommissionpsychosis@gmail.com. (3) The Lancet Psychiatry Commission's "lived experience research group" is a new listserv focused on lived experience advocacy and activism on participatory psychosis research and related policy and practice. In part, this will serve as a sounding board for Lancet Commission work and a place to engage in dialogue about what needs to change. To join, email lancetcommissionpsychosis@gmail.com.
(Courtesy of Dr. Nev Jones)
“Mental Health System: Open Letter to the Media” Seeks Signatures
“Everyone who believes that the problematic aspects of the mental health system are not adequately represented in the media is invited to sign this letter,” writes Yulia Mikhailova, who launched this initiative to educate the media. The letter begins: “We, a group of people with first-hand experience of the mental health system, write to express our concern about what we see as one-sided coverage of this system in the media and to draw the attention of civil rights organizations to the systemic discrimination that we witnessed and experienced. We, our loved ones, or inmates in the facilities where we worked, were exploited for monetary gain and victimized in various other ways. We saw how abuse, corruption, and exploitation were covered up, while victims and critics of the system were silenced and marginalized.” For a short version of the letter, which includes a link to a longer version, click here. Questions? Contact Yulia Mikhailova at yuliamikh@gmail.com.
Alternatives 2021 Is Over, but You Can View Many of the Presentations—and the Work Continues!
If you missed Alternatives 2021—the oldest national conference organized by and for individuals with lived experience of a mental health condition—you can see many of the presentations on the Alternatives conference website! The conference—whose theme was “Connecting, Organizing, Activating!”—was held July 8, 10, 15, and 17, and was organized by the National Coalition for Mental Health Recovery. This year the conference was virtual—and free! One highlight was the three Action Groups—on Promoting Racial and Social Justice, National and Statewide Advocacy, and Crisis Prevention and Alternatives to Institutionalization—which met on all four days. Reports from each of the groups are posted on the Alternatives conference website, and it is hoped that people will continue to work together to make progress on the goals that were determined by participants during the conference. For information about the Action Groups, click here. Recordings of many of the workshops, keynotes, and special activities are available on the Alternatives conference website (click here).
Disability Rights California Invites You to Its Past, Present, and Future (Free) Webinars
Disability Rights California (DRC) writes: “You are cordially invited to join us in our virtual disability rights trainings. Our webinars are twice a week, on Tuesdays at 2 p.m. ET (11 a.m. PT) in English and Thursdays at 7 p.m. ET (4 p.m. PT) in Spanish. Our free trainings provide information and resources on different topics related to mental health, self-advocacy, our legal rights (based on California law) and access to services that are informative and empowering. We welcome all peers (people with lived experience), service providers, family members and people in the community.” To view the webinars, click here.
"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.
International Conference on Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal Scheduled for May 2022
The first conference of the International Institute for Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal is tentatively scheduled for May 2022 in Reykjavik, Iceland. “The three themes underpinning the conference are safe withdrawal from psychiatric medication, alternatives to psychiatric medication, and the need to question the dominance of medication in mental health care.” Confirmed speakers include Robert Whitaker (journalist and founder of Mad in America), Professor Joanna Moncrieff (psychiatrist and researcher), Laura Delano (co-founder of the Inner Compass Initiative and a person with lived experience), Dr. Carina Håkansson (founder of Family Care Foundation and The Extended Therapy Room Foundation), and Dr. Magnus Hald (Psychiatrist at the Drug-Free Treatment Unit, Norway). For more information, click here.
National Survey Seeks Input from Certified Peer Specialists
“Routine peer support has shown to increase individuals’ hope, sense of personal control, ability to make positive changes, and decreased psychiatric symptoms,” writes Dr. Karen Fortuna of the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. “Despite these benefits, the organizational structure of peer support is not known. Dartmouth College is initiating a national survey of trained Certified Peer Specialists to help us understand the organizational structure of peer support services.” For more information and/or to participate in the 15-minute survey, click here. (Courtesy of Judene Shelley)
Hearing Voices Network Is Now Hosting Online Groups
“There are now ONLINE opportunities to connect, share experiences, and find mutual support,” the Hearing Voices Network (HVN) writes. “These groups are accessible via web-based platforms and by phone…Online groups are specifically for those with personal lived experience with hearing voices, seeing visions, and/or negotiating alternative realities. They are voice-hearer facilitated. With further questions and for details on how to access the group[s], please email info@hearingvoicesusa.org.” To read this announcement online and for more information, click here.
Survey Seeks Respondents Who Are in Administrative/Leadership Positions in the Mental Health Field
If you are in an administrative/leadership position in the mental health arena, “the Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry (GAP) Committee on Psychiatric Administration and Leadership invites you to participate in the International Survey on Administrative Psychiatry. The survey has two purposes: 1. To identify the concerns and needs of mental health professionals/psychiatrists in administrative and leadership positions. 2. To determine training needs in administrative psychiatry. We ask you to complete this brief, [15- to 20-minute] questionnaire to help us in developing recommendations for action. We also want to let you know that, if you fill out this questionnaire, you permit the committee to use your anonymous data for scientific work.” Peer providers are included. For the survey, click here. (Courtesy of Oryx Cohen)
“Experiences with Hospitalization” Survey Seeks Participants
“The purpose of this survey is to help us understand people's lived experience with voluntary and involuntary treatment because of suicidal thoughts. It was created by people with lived experience…We are planning to use this information to facilitate discussions with suicidologists and the suicide prevention community about the impact of the use of these interventions, particularly within marginalized populations. We feel the voice of people with lived experience with these interventions has not had adequate opportunity to be heard, and hope that by completing this survey anonymously, people who have been most impacted can find a safe way to share their experiences. Please note that this is not a research project.” For more information and/or to participate, click here. (Courtesy of Leah Harris)
International Survey on Antipsychotic Medication Withdrawal Seeks Respondents
“Have you taken antipsychotic medication (such as Zyprexa, Seroquel, Abilify, Risperdal, Haldol, Geodon, Stelazine, and others), for any condition or diagnosis, with or without other medications? And did you ever stop taking antipsychotics, or try to stop taking them? Are you 18 years or older? If yes, you can take this survey about antipsychotic withdrawal and attempts to withdraw, including if you stopped taking them completely or if you tried to come off and still take them. The survey aims to improve mental health services by better understanding medication withdrawal. Lead researcher is Will Hall, a therapist and Ph.D. student who has himself taken antipsychotics. Service users/survivors/consumers from around the world also gave input. The study is sponsored by Maastricht University in the Netherlands; co-sponsors include the International Institute for Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal. Questions? Please contact will.hall@maastrichtuniversity.nl.” For more information or to take the survey, click on www.antipsychoticwithdrawalsurvey.com
Virtual Group Works to Advance Peer Research Capacity, Leadership, and Involvement
Nev Jones, PhD—a strong advocate for building research capacity, leadership, and involvement among peers, survivors, and service users—leads a virtual group dedicated to this effort. Dr. Jones—assistant professor, School of Social Work, University of Pittsburgh—was part of the team that developed “User/Survivor Leadership & Capacity Building in Research: White Paper on Promoting Engagement Practices in Peer Evaluation/Research (PEPPER),” published by the Lived Experience Research Network. For the white paper, click here. Anyone interested in joining the virtual group can email Nev at nev.inbox@gmail.com.
Peer Support in Higher Education Survey Seeks Respondents
“Peer support programs are growing on college campuses across the U.S. Mental Health America, Doors to Wellbeing, and the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion want to better understand the availability of peer support in higher education as well as the experiences and needs of students accessing peer support programs…We hope to use this research to support the expansion of peer support in higher education, including developing a national database of peer support programs in higher education and documenting pressing issues in campus programs…You may also indicate if you are interested in having your school’s peer support program listed in a national database of peer support programs in higher education.” For more information and to complete the survey, click here.
Registration Is Open for Peerpocalypse, to Be Held March 14-17, 2022!
The Mental Health and Addiction Association of Oregon (MHAAO) has announced registration for Peerpocalypse 2022, to be held March 14-17, 2022! “MHAAO is pleased to present its first hybrid conference! In-person attendance allows access to pre-conference events, keynote speeches, all workshops, evening events, and the job fair and exhibit hall. Virtual attendance includes access to keynote speeches and all workshops. In-person early registration—[deadline unspecified]—is $300; regular registration is $375. Virtual registration is $200. Lunch meals (sic), CEUs, a T-shirt, a printed program, and a badge are included for both in-person and virtual attendees. Registration must be received no later than February 14, 2022, to receive a T-shirt.” To register, click here.
Mad In America Invites You to Submit Your Personal Story (Within Certain Guidelines)
Mad In America writes: “A ‘personal story’ is defined as your story of being in relationship to psychiatry and/or the mental health system, whatever that means to you. It might involve your opinions and analysis of what happened to you, as well. It can be about a specific event, or about your overall journey, provided it fits the length requirements (1,500 to 3,000 words) and has a narrative arc. The piece should be about your personal experiences, not psychiatry or the mental health system in general. Submissions should fall under the theme of rethinking psychiatry and the mental health system, and should be original works not previously published elsewhere. For examples of the types of stories we publish, view our personal stories archive here.” For more information and/or to submit a personal story, click here.
PsychAlive Offers a Variety of Webinars on Mental Health Topics, Many Free, Others $15
PsychAlive is a free, nonprofit resource created by the Glendon Association, whose mission is “to save lives and enhance mental health by addressing the social problems of suicide, violence, child abuse and troubled interpersonal relationships.” Psychalive.org offers a variety of upcoming and archived webinars, many of which are free, while others are available for $15. Among the myriad topics are “From Anxiety to Action: How to Stay Sane While Fighting Climate Change,” “How to Overcome Insecurity,” “Powerful Tools to Fight Depression,” and “Understanding and Overcoming Adverse Childhood Experiences.” To check out the webinars, click here.
Seven Ways to Keep a Digital Copy of Your Vaccination Card on Your Smartphone
“You'll need proof of vaccination to go back to work or enter many restaurants, gyms and event venues, so keep your COVID-19 card handy.” This is the advice of CNET.com, a tech support website. Besides the obvious—taking a photo of the card to store on your phone—there are six other suggestions. For details, click here. (Courtesy of Yvonne Smith)
Many Research Studies Are Seeking Participants, Mad In America Reports
Mad in America recently posted an assortment of research studies that are looking for participants. The studies include International Online Survey of Members of Peer Support Groups About Their Experiences of Withdrawing From Antidepressants; Study on Psychosocial Disability Advocacy and Global Mental Health; University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine study: Experiences of inpatient psychiatric care among former patients; Dissertation research study: Spiritual/religious experience misdiagnosed as “mental disorder”; Have you had a diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder and decided to stop taking medication?; and others. For details and to participate, click here.
ISEPP Circulates Petition to Support Human Rights in Psychiatric Treatment
ISEPP seeks signatures on a petition to "[m]ake a strong statement that any psychiatric or psychotherapeutic interventions without full and honest informed consent are unethical and inhumane." For the petition, click here. (Courtesy of Amy Smith)
ISPS-US Offers an Array of Archived Webinars--Free but Donations Are Welcomed
The ISPS-US (The International Society for Psychological and Social Approaches to Psychosis-US Chapter) is offering a whole raft of archived webinars, which are free (although donations are welcomed). Among the webinars are "Cognitive Behavioral & Related Therapies for Psychosis: Diverse Approaches to Supporting Recovery," "How Can the Uncontainable Be Contained? Paradoxes of Madness & Philosophy," "Robert Whitaker: The Rising Non-Pharmaceutical Paradigm for 'Psychosis,'" "Life with Voices: A Guide for Harmony," "COPE Project: Non-Pharmaceutical Research on Influencing Voices and Visions," "What Hurts and What Helps In Treatment For 'Psychosis': Insider Perspectives," and many others. For more information and to access the webinars, click here.
“Where DNA and Medications Meet”
Not all drugs are effective for all people; therapeutic response rates for many drugs are only 50%-75%. “OneOme, co-founded by [the] Mayo Clinic, provides evidence-based pharmacogenomic solutions that help improve patient outcomes and reduce costs through more personalized medication decisions.” OneOme’s RightMed Test is “a doctor-ordered pharmacogenomic (PGx) test that analyzes your DNA and provides your doctors with genetic information to help them determine how you may respond to certain medications. The results may help your doctors reduce medication trial and error, minimize risk of side effects, save you time and money, and make more informed prescribing decisions. Because your DNA doesn’t change over time, your doctors can use your test results to make more personalized medication decisions for you over the course of your lifetime.” For more information, click here. (Courtesy of Robin Osborne)
Lived Experience Leadership Features 12 Years of Research Studies...
"Lived Experience Leadership features 12 years of research studies focused on this workforce in a range of settings, to foster a better of understanding and respect for Lived Experience as a distinct discipline and build clarity on what makes this work unique and valuable. Importantly, this body of research was led by Lived Experience researchers. Lived Experience Leadership provides clear and simple to read research summaries to allow community members and people employed within various industries the opportunity to easily understand and apply strategies within their own workplace. This website also includes easy to download definitions, audio/visual resources, and key work by other Australian and International sources. The website will continue to grow to include larger collections of our research as well as other key work. For the Lived Experience Leadership website, click here. (Courtesy of Jacek Haciak)
Doors to Wellbeing Offers “State Selfies: A Picture of Peer Services Reported by Peers”
Doors to Wellbeing’s “Peer Album” is a directory of nearly 600 peer-run organizations throughout the U.S. They invite updates and offer instructions for providing them and add, “If your entry has not made this first draft, we encourage you to re-submit.” For the 158-page directory, click here.
Disclaimer: The Clearinghouse does not necessarily endorse the opinions and opportunities included in the Key Update.
About The Key Update
The National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse is now affiliated with the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion!
The Key Update is the free monthly e-newsletter of the National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse. Volume 18, No. 9, March 2022. For content, reproduction or publication information, please contact Susan Rogers at selfhelpclearinghouse@gmail.com. Follow Susan on Twitter at @SusanRogersMH