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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"As a Crisis Hotline Grows, So Do Fears It Won’t Be Ready," NY Times Writes; But Many Advocates Fear a Different Problem
A recent New York Times article highlighted the fear that the demand for 988 may exceed the ability of call centers to respond quickly. But many advocates focus on another problem: that callers' anonymity will be breached and that they may find police at their door, which would exacerbate the trauma caused by the crisis they are already experiencing. On the one hand, Representative Tony Cárdenas (D-CA) "said the reimagined Lifeline would reduce costs by limiting police interventions in mental health emergencies." But, according to recent Mad In America coverage reported in the Key Update (February 2022), "Even after their own advisory committee criticized call tracing, leaders of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (NSPL) have been lobbying government for cutting-edge mass surveillance and tracking technology. Privacy experts are raising concerns." For the Mad In America article, click here. For the New York Times article, click here.
NARPA Has Extended the Deadline for Workshop Proposals to April 7!
It's not too late to apply to present a workshop at the Annual Rights Conference of the National Association for Rights Protection and Advocacy (NARPA), which will be held October 26-29 at the Doubletree Newark Airport in Newark, New Jersey! The conference will address "strategies, ideas, programs, and emerging practices," in connection with 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." For more information and to apply to present a workshop, click here.
Revised DSM, Rolled Out in March, Has Its Good Points and Its Bad Points
The new Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, the DSM-5-TR, released on March 18, 2022, has its plusses and its minuses. On the plus side, the new edition highlights the psychological impact of the social determinants of health and mental health, including racism. It also highlights the effects of trauma, which is "enormously predictive of psychosis," as a DSM Steering Committee member opined to Psychiatric News. [It should be noted that the prevalence of trauma in the general population is very high, in comparison to the much lower prevalence of psychosis.] On the minus side, “prolonged grief disorder” has been added to the new edition. “You’ve got to understand that clinicians want diagnoses so they can categorize people coming through the door and get reimbursement,” Jerome C. Wakefield, a professor of social work at New York University, told The New York Times. Meanwhile, critics say “that the designation risks pathologizing a fundamental aspect of the human experience….And they fear grief will be seen as a growth market by drug companies that will try to persuade the public that they need medical treatment to emerge from mourning,” the Times writes. For the Psychiatric News article, click here. For the New York Times article, click here. For Medicating Normal, an award-winning documentary about “what can happen when profit-driven medicine intersects with human beings in distress,” click here.
Peer Advocates Over 50 Years Old Are Invited to a Weekly Empowering Support Group
"People over 50 who are mental health lived-experience advocates, change makers, visionaries, and current status quo challengers" are invited to join "a weekly, open, upbeat, peer-support empowering environment for seasoned peers with lived experience who are active, and were active, as advocates for positive change," the WiseCrackers write. The goal of the recently launched group is "to support mental health advocates over 50 years of age with pure peer support practices based on natural curiosity, acceptance, humor, and positive networking." The free, 90-minute Zoom meetings are held on Mondays at 7 p.m. ET, 6 p.m. CT, 5 p.m. MT, and 4 p.m. PT. The meetings are currently co-facilitated by "East and West Coast Peers" and sponsored by the Community for Positive Aging. To register and to review the WiseCracker Principles of support, click here. Questions? Contact info@choiceheals.com or 503.208.0065.
MFI to Host Judi’s Room on "Guardian/Conservator and Supported Decision Making" & Urges You to Sign a Petition About "The Dangers of an Unchecked Guardian System"
On April 6, 2022, at 6 p.m. ET, MindFreedom International will host a two-hour Judi's Room discussion of "Guardian/Conservator and Supported Decision Making." MFI writes: "In a supported decision-making model, individuals with disabilities whose decision-making autonomy has been restricted or completely removed are capable with the support and help of trusted family members and friends to make and communicate their own decisions. Explored by our three presenters are the needs for a more equitable system of assistance where it is recognized that people have a diverse range of abilities, a continuum in which they can adequately exercise their decision-making rights." For much more about this event and to register, click here. MFI also urges you to sign a petition about "The Dangers of an Unchecked Guardian System." To sign the petition, 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.
The BMJ Writes About "The Illusion of Evidence-Based Medicine"
"Evidence-based medicine has been corrupted by corporate interests, failed regulation, and commercialization of academia." This is the subhead on "The Illusion of Evidence-Based Medicine," a recent BMJ opinion piece. It begins: "The advent of evidence-based medicine was a paradigm shift intended to provide a solid scientific foundation for medicine. The validity of this new paradigm, however, depends on reliable data from clinical trials, most of which are conducted by the pharmaceutical industry and reported in the names of senior academics. The release into the public domain of previously confidential pharmaceutical industry documents has given the medical community valuable insight into the degree to which industry sponsored clinical trials are misrepresented. Until this problem is corrected, evidence-based medicine will remain an illusion." For the opinion piece, click here. (Courtesy of Berta Britz)
TU Collaborative Launches Parenting Through Leisure Webinar Series
"The Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion is excited to announce our Parenting Through Leisure webinar series! The first one-hour webinar is April 14, 2022, at 12 p.m. ET. This webinar series features strategies that parents who experience mental health issues can use to spend quality time with their children, and ways to use family leisure to improve connection and communications. In the first webinar, learn about the benefits of family leisure and specific strategies for parents to use to connect with their kids. Participation certificates are available upon request. Webinar hosts include Dr. Gretchen Snethen and Dr. Bryan McCormick." For more information and to register, click here.
NYAPRS to Host Virtual "Career Chat 2.0" on April 19
On April 19, 2022, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. ET, NYAPRS will host "Career Chat 2.0: Exploring Change through Education, Credentialing and Professional Development." NYAPRS writes: "This Zoom meeting will provide attendees with the opportunity to share their experience and perspectives on navigating the potential challenges on the road to change. Led by Jonathan Edwards, Gita Enders, and Emily Vaianella, this conversation is for anyone who is interested in exploring change through education and/or employment. Because of the nature of this conversation, we will be limiting registration to 75, so register today!" To register, 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.
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.
“Kracking Up (in a Good Way): A [Free] Night of Stand Up for Mental Health Comedy,” April 25
On April 25, 2022, at 7:30 p.m. ET, Fountain House, SchizophrenicNYC, City Voices, and Stand Up for Mental Health will present “Kracking Up (in a Good Way): A [Free] Night of Stand Up for Mental Health Comedy.” The organizers write: “Kracking Up will feature eight amateur comics who poke fun at their mental health challenges and try to krack us up.” For more about Stand Up for Mental Health, click here. For your free ticket for this virtual two-hour event, click here. (The Zoom link will follow 14 days before the event.)
NYAPRS to Host (Virtual) 18th Annual Executive Seminar on April 26-27
On April 26-27, 2022, NYAPRS will host its 18th Annual Executive Seminar. The theme of the entirely virtual event is "Mindful Leadership: Reconnect, Replenish, & Redesign." NYAPRS writes: "Join a special CEO Plenary, 'Experience, Strength and Hope,' for a discussion with our national leaders," which include the current or former heads of the National Council for Mental Well Being, Forward Movement Inc., Association for Mental Health and Wellness, and Mental Health America, respectively. "Many of the things we take for granted within our system now were hard-fought wins for this group of leaders. We bring them back to the NYAPRS Executive Seminar to share their thoughts about our future and engage with you in a heartfelt discussion of what we can all do to assure that our behavioral health system keeps moving forward despite all the challenges and changes we are facing." For the member and non-member rates and to register, click here.
Promoting Spiritual and Religious Participation Among Individuals with Psychiatric Disabilities: A Factsheet and Resource Guide
The Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion writes: "Engaging in spirituality and/or religion is an important area of community participation that has health benefits. This fact sheet describes the health benefits of spiritual and religious participation and to provide resources to support people with serious [mental health conditions] to engage more." For the four-page fact sheet and resource guide, click here.
Open Dialogue Is Good. Would Peer-supported Open Dialogue Be Even Better?
A British study to test a model of Peer Supported Open Dialogue (POD) recruited 50 service users treated by the POD team, along with participants from their families and social networks. The study found that "[s]ervice users reported significant improvements in wellbeing and functioning," and "a marked increase in perceived support" by those in the individual's support network. The results, recently published in BMC Psychiatry, indicate that it is possible to deliver a clinically effective POD service in the UK's National Health Service. For "Peer-supported Open Dialogue in the NHS: Implementing and Evaluating a New Approach to Mental Health Care," click here.
Rutgers University Invites Peer Specialists to Take a Survey on Their Wellness and Self-Care Needs
Behavioral health care workers, including peer support specialists, are invited to participate in a survey on behalf of the Rutgers Center for Alcohol and Substance Use Studies. The purpose of the survey is “to better understand your wellness and self-care needs and to gauge your interest in the Wellness Training & Learning Collaborative (W-TLC) and virtual resources.” The team writes: “You know better than most that behavioral health care workers need support, compassion, and care to sustain the energy and commitment to provide quality services. Your responses will help the Rutgers team identify what will be most useful so we can offer you the opportunity to access a free online resource: W-TLC Virtual Toolbox. This toolkit and 12 learning collaborative sessions (conducted between June 2022 and January 2023) will be available to you and other members of the behavioral health care community at no cost.” For the survey, click here. (See a related story below.)
Rutgers Center of Alcohol & Substance Use Studies Offers Free Wellness Guide
"Your Journey to Wellness Begins Here," writes the Rutgers Center of Alcohol & Substance Use Studies. "This Journey to Wellness Guide will help you find new ideas to use to begin or continue on your personal journey, no matter where you are in your life. If you have ever experienced chronic stress, addiction, trauma, or another life challenge, you will find examples here that have helped many to pursue and continue a journey to wellness." To view the 20-page Wellness Guide, click here. (Courtesy of Peggy Swarbrick via Jacek Haciak)
Doors to Wellbeing Presents Free Webinar on “Finding and Sharing Meaningful Work”
On April 26, 2022, at 1 p.m. ET, Doors to Wellbeing will present the latest in its monthly series of free one-hour webinars: “Finding and Sharing Meaningful Work.” Doors to Wellbeing writes: “Join us for this presentation on finding where you thrive at work and how to motivate others to seek out meaningful work. Peer specialists will be engaged to reflect on your own experience with employment and learn ways to share that experience with others.” The learning objectives are: Define meaningful work; list 3-4 ways to support others in discovering meaningful work; describe 3-4 keys to wellbeing at work; and discuss how to share our journey to employment to support others in their journey. To register, click here.
(Virtual) International Conference on Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal Scheduled for May 6-7, 2022
The first conference of the International Institute for Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal is scheduled for May 6-7, 2022 and will be held online due to the Covid pandemic. (It was originally planned to be held 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.
MHA Offers "May Is Mental Health Month" Toolkit and Additional Resources
"This year, the theme of MHA’s 2022 Mental Health Month Toolkit is 'Back to Basics,'" Mental Health America writes. "Our goal is to provide foundational knowledge about mental health & mental health conditions and information about what people can do if their mental health is a cause for concern. Our toolkit includes sample materials for communications and social media as well as printable handouts on the following topics: Starting to Think About Mental Health, What Plays a Role in Developing Mental Health Conditions, Maintaining Good Mental Health, Recognizing When You Need Help with Your Mental Health, and What To Do When You Need Help. The toolkit will be available in Spanish in April." For more information and for a link to download the free, 34-page toolkit along with other resources, including toolkits of past years and "Tools 2 Thrive," click here.
Video Tributes in Memory of Some Movement Leaders Are Available on NCMHR YouTube Channel
To honor some of the movement leaders who had recently died, the National Coalition for Mental Health Recovery (NCMHR) created short video tributes to air at Alternatives 2021. All of the videos are available on the NCMHR Youtube Channel, RecoveryandHope. Or you can click on each of these links: Effie Smith by Michelle Dyson Click here; George and Maryanne Ebert by James Rye Click here; Emily Hoffman by Michael Finkle Click here; Deron Drumm by Paul Acker Click here; Mark Davis by Bluebird Click here; Linford Gayle by Khatera Aslami Click here; Kinike Bermudez by Celia Brown Click here; Pat Risser by Steve Stone Click here; Janet Foner by Lauren Spiro Click here; Jay Mahler by Sally Zinman Click here. If you are interested in recording a short video in memory of others who have died since these videos were recorded, please contact Judene Shelley at jshelley@gmail.com.
The April 2022 Digest of Articles Offering Healthy Lifestyle Advice
For "How to Live With the Anxiety and Grief You Can’t Escape: There are ways to help alleviate the very worst of your stress, whether through support, sleep or radical self-care," click here (Courtesy of the Surviving Spirit newsletter). For "Find More Ways to Be an Outsider: Doing so may feel painful, but it’s one of the best investments you will ever make," click here. For "The Dangers of Self Hatred," click here.
The April 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 "Debunking the 'Excited Delirium' Diagnosis for Deaths in Police Custody—Report breaks down how the term was created and misused for years," click here (Courtesy of Marie Verna). For "Colorado police department uses mental health professionals to help deescalate certain 911 calls," click here. For "The hidden billion-dollar cost of repeated police misconduct: More than $1.5 billion has been spent to settle claims of police misconduct involving thousands of officers repeatedly accused of wrongdoing. Taxpayers are often in the dark," click here. For "What you need to know about the cost of police misconduct: Key takeaways from The Post’s investigation into payments at some of the nation’s largest departments," click here. For “Too Many Locked Doors: The Scope of Youth Confinement is Vastly Understated,” click here. For "Majority of L.A. County sheriff’s deputies did not complete training requirements, audit says," click here. For "Inmates leaving gangs, stripping tats for jobs, better lives," click here. For "Guaranteed income experiment provides hope for formerly incarcerated: The program is being tested in Gainesville, Florida," click here. For "Editorial: ‘Zero bail’ and release from jail are not the same thing," click here. For "Ex-inmates can get up to $8K for each year they didn’t get special ed classes in N.J. prisons, court says," click here. For "How Debevoise Scrubbed 1,000 Years From ‘Unjust’ Prison Terms," click here. For "Criminal defendants stuck in yearslong legal limbo with incompetency findings: According to the Colorado Department of Human Services, 1,567 defendants were referred to the state last year for competency restoration. That’s nearly triple the rate it was in 2017, when just 553 defendants entered state custody for treatment," click here. For "California Prepares for a ‘Future Without Youth Prisons,’" click here. For (video) "The Dehumanizing Theater of the Parole Process: In 'The Interview,' directed by Jon Miller and Zach Russo, formerly incarcerated people describe what it’s like trying to convince a group of strangers that they are more than the worst thing they ever did," click here. For "Death row inmate seeking new trial in Atwater murders gets access to withheld records," click here. For "Abolish the Debt Sentence," click here. For "Waiting for a Second Look: People given lengthy sentences at a young age are seeking relief through D.C.’s landmark sentencing reforms, but they face hurdles due to the pandemic and a dysfunctional federal prison system," click here. For "Police Officer Kills Dog for Walking Toward Him With Tail Wagging: Bradley Brock says his dog Moose was walking toward a police officer wagging its tail when the officer gunned his pet down," click here. For "Restorative Justice Group Calls For Sweeping Reform Of Women’s Prison System: The Women’s Prison Project helped introduce 12 bills they say would improve the state’s prison system for women," click here.
FROM PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF THE KEY UPDATE BUT STILL FRESH!
Barnard Center for Research on Women to Host (Virtual) Scholar and Feminist Conference
From February 23 through April 12, 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)
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)
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.
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.
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 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. (2) 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.
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.
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)
Mad In America Continually Posts Research Studies Seeking Participants
Mad in America continually posts research studies that are looking for participants. The studies change as old ones close and new ones are launched. 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. 10, April 2022. For content, reproduction or publication information, please contact Susan Rogers at selfhelpclearinghouse@gmail.com. Follow Susan on Twitter at @SusanRogersMH