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The National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse is affiliated with the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion.
DEADLINE ALERT! Please note that, under WEBINARS AND MEETINGS (the third category below, under NEWS and OPPORTUNITIES), there are three webinars tomorrow (Tuesday, November 19); a webinar, a CMS Listening Session and a PAIMI Advisory Council Empowerment Project meeting on Wednesday (November 20); and a webinar on Thursday (November 21)! And there are opportunities, resources, and upcoming deadlines throughout the Key Update, including in “…But Still Fresh!” Check them out!
TO CONTACT: THE CLEARINGHOUSE: SELFHELPCLEARINGHOUSE@GMAIL.COM … SUSAN ROGERS: SUSAN.ROGERS.ADVOCACY@GMAIL.COM … JOSEPH ROGERS: JROGERS08034@GMAIL.COM
THE KEY UPDATE IS COMPILED, WRITTEN, AND EDITED BY SUSAN ROGERS, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH CONSUMERS’ SELF-HELP CLEARINGHOUSE.
NOTE: THE "FROM PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF THE KEY UPDATE BUT STILL FRESH!" DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS DIRECTLY BELOW THE MONTHLY CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM DIGEST, INCLUDES ITEMS THAT HAD BEEN POSTED "ABOVE THE FOLD" IN EARLIER EDITIONS BUT ARE STILL RELEVANT. THESE INCLUDE ONGOING RESEARCH STUDIES THAT ARE STILL SEEKING PARTICIPANTS, AS WELL AS UPCOMING WEBINARS AND CONFERENCES, AND OTHER ITEMS OF CONTINUED INTEREST. DON'T MISS IT!
NEWS
“49% of Americans Live in a Mental Health Workforce Shortage Area”
According to the National Institute for Healthcare Management (NIHCM), “two-thirds of [mental health workforce] shortage areas are in rural or partially rural parts of the country…The Health Resources and Services Administration primarily relies on the availability of psychiatrists to define areas experiencing mental health workforce shortages. Additionally, shortages have been projected for psychologists, social workers, counselors, and marriage and family therapists.” Compounding the problem, “the behavioral health care workforce suffers from a lack of diversity.” Among the solutions offered in the NIHCM infographic is to “expand the paraprofessional [sic] workforce,” which NIHCM defines as “community health workers, peer supports, and recovery specialists.” For the 2023 infographic, click here. (Courtesy of Alliance Enews) (See under WEBINARS AND MEETINGS for “CMS’s Person-Centered Listening Sessions on Improving Health in Rural Communities on November 20.”)
“Finland Has Shown the World That Homelessness Is a Solvable Problem.”
“By focusing on prevention, early intervention, and a comprehensive support system through wraparound services, Finland has shown the world that homelessness is a solvable problem,” according to “Eradicating Homelessness in Finland,” in PD&R Edge, published by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Policy Development & Research (PD&R). “As part of Finland's commitment to the Housing First approach, the government converted homeless shelters into housing units to create new housing stock with supportive services,” the article continues. The authors also discuss other factors that have led to Finland’s success in reducing homelessness. For the article, click here. (Courtesy of Alan Feinberg)
New Study Confirms That Watchful Waiting Is the Best Treatment for Depression
In a recent study, “Watchful waiting for depression using depathologization, advice and shared decision making,” the authors write that “watchful waiting was shown to be an effective first line of treatment for non-suicidal patients with depressive symptoms.” For the article, in Elsevier’s Journal of Affective Disorders Reports, click here. And for “Study Finds Over 25% of Antidepressant Prescriptions Given to High-Risk, Long-Term Users: A recent study published in BMC Medicine reveals a 27% increase in antidepressant prescriptions in two Scottish regions from 2012 to 2019 and finds 1 in 4 antidepressant users have potential deprescribing indicators,” click here.
“Chronic Inflammation Linked to Depression”
“For patients with treatment-resistant depression or those exposed to chronic stress, inflammation-targeted treatments offer a hopeful new direction,” according to a recent report in NeuroscienceNews.com. “The research underscores the potential of addressing immune dysfunctions to manage depression effectively.” For the article, click here. (Courtesy of Fran Hazam) And for “So depression is an inflammatory disease, but where does the inflammation come from?” (2013), click here.
“Group Pitches Plan That Would Have Community Responders, not Police, Handle Some Non-Emergency Calls in Buffalo”
“A coalition of community policy and advocacy groups is launching a pilot program to bring community responders to nonviolent, non-emergency public safety calls that otherwise would be handled by police,” the Buffalo News recently reported. “ ‘Sending police where they’re not needed is costly, inefficient and dangerous, as police training and skills are mismatched with the response most needed in many situations,’ said Colleen Kirstich” of Partnership for the Public Good and the author of “Bringing Community Responders to Erie County,” a 78-page report. For the free report, click here. (Courtesy of Alliance Enews)
“How an Alberta Man Spent 12 Years Detained in a Psychiatric Hospital Despite Not Being Mentally Ill”
“An Alberta man who spent nearly 12 years detained in a psychiatric hospital has been freed after a court heard new evidence he does not have a mental illness,” the Edmonton [Alberta, Canada] Journal reported. The man had been found “not criminally responsible (NCR) due to a mental disorder for a 2012 break-in and assault in eastern Alberta. A doctor diagnosed him with schizophrenia, and a judge ordered him detained in hospital indefinitely…[Chando] Jackson was confined to hospital longer than many people convicted of crimes, including manslaughter, spend in prison,” his lawyer said. For the article, (click here). (Courtesy of Berta Britz) For “When ‘Not Guilty’ Is a Life Sentence: What happens after a defendant is found not guilty by reason of insanity? Often the answer is involuntary confinement in a state psychiatric hospital — with no end in sight” (2017), click here.
“More Than a Dozen States Sue TikTok, Alleging It Harms Kids and Is Designed to Addict Them”
“More than a dozen states, led by California and New York, are suing TikTok for allegedly duping the public about the safety of the popular video app, claiming it was deliberately designed to keep young people hooked on the service,” NPR reports. “The lawsuits, filed separately on [October 8, 2024] in 13 states and the District of Columbia, argue TikTok has violated consumer protection laws and contributed to a teen mental health crisis.” For the article, click here. In addition, “internal TikTok communications have been made public that show a company unconcerned with the harms the app poses for American teenagers. This is despite its own research validating many child safety concerns,” according to a second NPR article, available here.
OPPORTUNITIES
Behavioral Health News Solicits Articles for Its Winter 2025 Issue
December 10, 2024, is the deadline for articles and ads for the Winter edition of Behavioral Health News, focused on “Understanding Suicide and Its Impact on Family and Friends.” BHN writes: “If you plan to write an article, please contact us first to get approval for your proposed topic to avoid duplicate submissions” and for information about advertising. For details, including suggested article topics for the Winter issue, and information about future BHN issues, click here.
TU Collaborative Launches Peer Decision Coaching Research Study
The Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion writes: “Are you a young adult 18-30 living with a mental health condition? Are you interested in receiving support with making decisions about things you want to do in the community, such as working, going to school, and doing things for fun? We are looking for participants for our Peer Decision Coaching research study!” Peer Decision Coaching is provided by a peer specialist who will talk with you via videoconference about a decision related to your community participation and what could be done to help you with decision-making. Participants will participate in 2 research interviews and participate in the study intervention for 1-3 months. Participants will be compensated with electronic gift cards: $25 for the baseline interview and $30 for the post-intervention interview. Interested? Call 215.204.1699, text 215.664.2870, or email pdc@temple.edu
Lived Experience in Clinical Mental Health Education Survey Project Is Recruiting
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh are conducting a study to understand students’ experiences of postsecondary courses on “mental illness/psychiatric disorders.” “We are interested in experiences at all levels (undergraduate, graduate, doctoral), including fields such as psychology, counseling, and social work.” If you are 18+, a current or former student who has taken at least one class in a U.S. college or university pertaining to the understanding, diagnosis, and/or treatment of mental health conditions, and have at least one diagnosed mental health condition that has been covered in a course you took, you are eligible to participate. (There is no monetary compensation.) Questions? Callie Bennet, MSW (CJC204@pitt.edu or 412.525.7375, or Nev Jones, PhD (nevjones@pitt.edu). For the survey, click here.
UIC Is Recruiting for a Research Study on Enhancing Immune Health
Do you want to work on habits to enhance your immune health? University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) is testing a program where you work with a personal virtual instructor to learn about immune health and how it can be strengthened. People in the study have a 50/50 chance of entering the new program OR getting an incentive, but everyone will be paid $135 for completing 3 study interviews. To find out if you are eligible, contact enhanceimmune@gmail.com or text 312-725-2966. (Courtesy of Peggy Swarbrick via Jacek Haciak)
How to Apply for a SAMHSA Grant
SAMHSA writes: “All applicants must register with NIH's eRA Commons in order to submit an application. The registration process takes up to six weeks. If your organization is not registered and you do not have an active eRA Commons PI account by the deadline, the application will not be accepted.” For more information about how to apply for a SAMHSA grant, click here. For SAMHSA’s Grants Dashboard, click here. (The deadline to apply for a Statewide Consumer Network Grant passed on April 8, 2024. To see which organizations in which states received awards, click here.) (Courtesy of Kevin Fitts)
WEBINARS AND MEETINGS (FREE UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED)
“Peering: The Art of Using Our Stories”
On November 19, 2024, at 9 a.m. ET, the Mental Health Empowerment Project will host a three-hour training presented by Jeff Zitofsky of the Westchester County Office for People with Disabilities. For the Zoom link, click here: https://zoom.us/j/99396110267 To register, email jhastings@mhepinc.org or call 518.434.1393.
“Nervous System Informed Yoga for Holistic Healing”
On November 19, 2024, at 2 p.m. ET, the National Empowerment Center will present a 90-minute webinar in which the presenter, Joann Lutz, “will describe the major discoveries she made about yoga as a tool for self-healing and recovery from psychological distress, and give the viewers a sample of its power.” For details and to register, click here.
“Family Mental Health: Navigating the Holidays”
On November 19, 2024, at 3 p.m. ET, the Café TA Center will present “a transformative 90-minute webinar designed to help you navigate the season with a bit more preparedness and a bit less stress. Learn strategies to make this time more manageable and enjoyable for you and your family.” For more information and to register, click here. (Program Director Jeremy Countryman writes: “Recordings of all of our webinars [after the webinars air] are at https://cafetacenter.net/tac-trainings/. Just scroll down to “Recent Trainings and Webinars.”)
“Youth in Crisis: The Misdiagnosis and Labeling of Marginalized Youths in Schools”
On November 20, 2024, at 11:30 a.m. ET, SAMHSA will sponsor a 90-minute TA Coalition webinar on behalf of the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) titled “Youth in Crisis: The Misdiagnosis and Labeling of Marginalized Youths in Schools.” They write: “In this presentation, we will 1) discuss factors that contribute to the mental health crisis in youths, 2) explore the differences between a trauma response and serious emotional disturbance in marginalized youths, and 3) discuss what schools can do to mitigate the misdiagnosis and labeling of marginalized youth.” For more information and to register, click here. Questions? Contact Kelle Masten (kelle.masten@nasmhpd.org) or Paige Thomas (paige.thomas@nasmhpd.org).
Registration Open for CMS’s Person-Centered Listening Sessions on Improving Health in Rural Communities on November 20
On November 20, 2024, at 12 p.m. ET, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Innovation Center will host a one-hour Person-Centered Listening Session on Improving Care Experience, Outcomes, & Equity in Rural Communities. “This listening session will focus on access and delivery in rural health care, and key takeaways from CMS Innovation Center Rural Health Hackathons and a listener Q&A. Attendees may submit written comments or questions before the webinar via the registration page or during the Q&A session. “Please indicate if you would prefer not to have your comments read or wish to remain anonymous.” To register, click here.
PAIMI Advisory Council Empowerment Project to Meet on November 20
On November 20, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. ET (3:30 p.m. PT), the PsychRights PAIMI Advisory Council Empowerment Project will host a meeting to strategize about empowering PAIMI Advisory Councils (PACs) to use their statutory authority under the federal Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI) Act to jointly determine their respective Protection and Advocacy (P&A) agencies’ priorities. The highest priority should be deploying the P&A system’s army of lawyers to combat “the massive and pervasive violation of people's rights and infliction of great harm through psychiatric incarceration and forced drugging,” PsychRights writes. For more information, click here. To register (which is required), click here. The Zoom link will be shared with registrants. (This item was also included in the October-November 2024 Key Update.)
“Financing Peer Crisis Respites in the United States”
On November 21, 2024, at 2 p.m. ET, SAMHSA and the Center for Financing Reform and Innovation will sponsor a webinar presenting “findings from 26 peer respites across 16 states that contributed to a new SAMHSA report. The report explores the characteristics, services offered, and funding streams used by peer crisis respites. It will feature a panel discussion and Q&A session with national leaders of peer crisis respites who will discuss the report findings and opportunities for expanding the availability of these programs.” For more information and to register, click here.
Hearing Voices & Alternative Realities Group Facilitation Training (3 Days)
On November 25, 26, and 27, the London Hearing Voices Network, in collaboration with Voices Unlocked, will present a three-day online training course, “open to people who would like to develop or sustain a Hearing Voices Peer Support Group. It is suitable both for professionals and for those with lived experience of voices, visions or beliefs. The training caters to those working across a number of settings, including community settings and secure or forensic settings, and to those working with diverse populations, including young people.” On each of the three days, the training will run from 5 a.m. to 11 a.m. ET, 4 a.m. to 10 a.m. CT, 3 a.m. to 9 a.m. MT, and 2 a.m. to 8 a.m. PT. (For those in the GMT time zone, the training will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) Registration entails a commitment to attend all three sessions. For more information, including the fee schedule, and to register, click here. (Courtesy of Nev Jones)
Mental Health America to Present Two Upcoming Webinars
On November 26, 2024, at 12 p.m. ET, Mental Health America (MHA) will present “I don’t know how to care for myself in stressful times.” “There are so many factors impacting a parent's mental health during stressful times. Knowing how to take care of yourself and prioritizing that can be difficult,” MHA writes. “Learn simple ways to manage stress and feel more confident as a parent.” And on December 3, 2024, at 1 p.m. ET, MHA will present “Coping during times of crisis: Creating stability when life is unstable.” during which the presenters “will explore strategies for managing mental health during a time of crisis.” Each webinar is one hour in duration. For more information and to register, click here.
“Creating Cultures of Wellness for Peer Professionals”
On November 26, 2024, at 2 p.m. ET, this webinar, presented by Doors to Wellbeing, will “center the experiences of [Transition-Age Youth peer supporters] while providing guidance for colleagues on how to help them build and maintain wellness habits that can support them throughout their entire careers. Though the research that informs this webinar focuses on the transitional age group, the skills and strategies discussed can be used at any age or career stage. All are welcome to join for this session that emphasizes personal wellness as a necessary component of community care.” For details and to register, click here.
The December Judi’s Room Will Explore Global Questions of How to Foster Resilience and Healing in Each Other and the Earth
On December 4, 2024, at 6 p.m. ET (3 p.m. PT), MindFreedom International will present a Judi’s Room panel to discuss exploring ecology – how human beings relate to one another and the Earth – and to collectively understand how we can develop resilience from crisis, and how we can heal. The presenters write, “We will propose some solutions to some of the most complex problems we face in our world today, from the individual to the planetary.” The panelists are Rev. Luke A. Shootingstar Walters, the founder and Chief Architect of Global Community Designs (GCD); Rangi Ahipene, a Māori cultural consultant and the Cultural Advisor for the New Zealand forest ecosystem restoration project, Recloaking Papatuanuku; and Nina Cherry, a Certified Hakomi Therapist. Immediately following the presentation, I Love You, Lead On will host an “after hours” Judi’s Room support group dialogue. The Zoom link is https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82375518189.
“Inclusion in Action: Building a Network of Advocates to Promote Community Participation”
On December 12, 2024, at 1 p.m. ET, the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion is hosting a free, virtual conversation with Joseph Rogers, Kelechi Ubozoh, and BeaJae North. It is the first in “a new series of conversations intended to support the development of advocacy skills and build connections among those engaged in promoting community inclusion of individuals with mental health issues.” For more information and to register, click here.
CONFERENCES AND TRAININGS
“Now I See a Person” Virtual Conference on December 1
On December 1, 2024 (1 p.m. - 4 p.m. ET, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. PT), the Now I See a Person Institute will host a conference on the theme of Normalizing Ourselves for the Other: Polyphonic Dialogues Among Clinicians and Clients on Themes of Coercion, Confinement, and Inviting the Context.” The organizers write: “We’d like to invite you to join Dr. Susan Swim, founder of Now I See a Person Institute, and a panel of medical doctors, psychologists, master clinicians, recovery consultants, and coaches as they share their experiences and how a more humanized approach radically changed their lives and led them all towards finding freedom.” The suggested fee is $40. For details and to register, click here.
Mad Studies Symposium: Interdisciplinary Innovations in Mental Health
On December 8, 2024, from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. ET, the Institute for the Development of Human Arts (IDHA) will present a virtual (and recorded) event to celebrate “publication of the “Mad Studies Reader,” a book that brings together writing and artwork from service users, daring activists, critical scholars, concerned clinicians, and innovative artists!” For more information, including the schedule-at-a-glance, the (very reasonable) fee structure, and the registration link, click here. (Courtesy of Jacek Haciak)
10-Session Intentional Peer Support Core Training Will Begin on January 7, 2025
“Intentional Peer Support [IPS] provides a powerful framework for creating relationships where both people learn and grow together. We offer a range of trainings to examine and practice what is necessary to build mutual support…The following online IPS Core training will run for 10 sessions with a 4-hour session timeblock set for each training date. There will be at least 2 scheduled breaks. The sessions will be on Tuesdays and Thursdays, as follows: January 7, 9, 14, 16, 21, 23, 28, 30, and February 4 and 6, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. ET.” For more information, including the fee schedule, and to buy tickets, click here. (Courtesy of APS-News)
Save the Date! PeerTAC Will Host a Free, Virtual Supervision Summit in January
On January 28 and January 30, 2025, the Peer Support Services Technical Assistance Center (PeerTAC) will host a free, virtual Supervision Summit. Its theme is “Creating a Shared Vision of Peer Support Supervision.” The deadline to submit a proposal has passed, but more information about the event will be available soon. To join the PeerTAC listserv to get the latest updates on the event and other offerings, click here.
RESOURCES
The Ethics International Press Critical Psychology and Critical Psychiatry Series Offers Its Books at Discounted Prices
“The Critical Psychology and Critical Psychiatry Series presents solicited chapters from international experts on a wide variety of underexplored subjects…The series recognizes and appreciates those who have contributed to the abundance of literature critiquing the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), the biomedical model of mental health, and the practice of psychiatric diagnosing.” For more information and to order any of the books – “Critiquing the Psychiatric Model,” “Humane Alternatives to the Psychiatric Model,” “Theoretical Alternatives to the Psychiatric Model of Mental Disorder Labeling,” and “Practical Alternatives to the Psychiatric Model of Mental Illness” –click here. (Ordering via EIP is less expensive than ordering via Amazon.)
MHA Offers Caregiver Resources in Honor of National Family Caregivers Month
November is National Family Caregivers Month, and Mental Health America is offering a variety of caregiver resources. For the caregiver web page, click here.
The November-December 2024 Digest of Articles Offering Healthy Lifestyle Advice
For “CDC Recommends Second Dose of 2024-2025 COVID-19 Vaccine for People 65 Years and Older and for People Who are Moderately or Severely Immunocompromised,” click here. For “Friendship breakups and how to recover from them,” click here. For “‘Forever chemicals’: Top 3 ways to lower your exposure,” click here. For “8 Expert Tips to Stop Being a People Pleaser,” click here. For “Tip Sheet: Ten Things Physicians and [Older] Patients Should Question,” click here. For “I Have Hard Time Setting Boundaries; Where Do I Begin?” click here. For “A Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Study Evaluating the Efficacy of an Oral Supplement in Women with Self-perceived Thinning Hair,” click here. For “8 Ways to Enjoy Your Commute!” click here. For “COVID Tests Might Not Be Your Best Option This Winter—Here's What You Could Use Instead,” click here. For “Should You Eat Before or After Working Out?” click here. For “Why Is It A Bad Idea To Stay In Bed For Too Long?” click here. For “What You Should Eat During and After Antibiotics,” click here. For “Mucus: It’s Snot What You Think,” click here. For “To Achieve Big Goals, Start with Small Habits,” click here. For “Signs You Aren’t Getting Enough Sleep,” click here. For “Full Body Workouts: These time-efficient routines will work your upper and lower body,” click here. For “Grounding Guided Meditation For Anxiety | Stay Present: Connecting Your Body & Mind,” click here. For “The Dangers of Sitting: Why Sitting Is the New Smoking,” click here. For “Online yoga classes prove helpful for back pain in new study,” click here. For "Ten questions predict mental health risk after emergency hospitalizations: Some patients hospitalized for an emergency illness or injury will develop mental health problems months after the experience. A new screening tool can anticipate who’s most at risk,” click here.
The November-December 2024 Digest of Articles about the Criminal Legal System, in Which Many Individuals with Mental Health Conditions Are Incarcerated (and the Key Update continues after this Digest)
For “Police Want the Password to Your Phone: Without a warrant and specific proof of incriminating evidence, police should never be allowed past your phone’s lock screen,” click here. For “A Gun Law the NRA Opposes Could Have Saved Its Employee’s Life: The National Rifle Association once supported red flag gun laws, which are meant to protect people like Dawn Williams-Stewart, a staffer who was shot and killed by her husband,” click here. For “Neil Gorsuch’s New Book Is an Embarrassment: The conservative Supreme Court justice produced a tendentious account of the legal system in service of a political narrative — and he won’t answer his critics,” click here. For “This Might Be the Worst Thing Happening in Texas Right Now,” click here. For “Why We Need Prison Journalism More Than Ever: If we lose incarcerated journalists, we lose a whole voice from the conversation,” click here. For “Wisconsinites who lost voting rights after felonies share what voting means to them: Some Wisconsin people with felony convictions say losing voting rights was among the most painful part of their punishment,” click here. For “A mentally ill man was restrained in a chair for 68 hours at Franklin County Jail, violating policies, report says: One man was restrained for 68 hours, another for 27 hours. Both were mentally ill. The jail’s own policies say restraint should never last more than 10 hours,” click here. For “They Went to Jail. Then They Say They Were Strapped to a Chair for Days. Allegations in a Missouri lawsuit shed light on how some jail officials use restraint chairs, which have been linked to dozens of deaths (2020),” click here. For “After 200th death row exoneration, it's time to end death penalty,” click here. For “They wrote a book while locked in solitary confinement. Texas won’t let them read it,” click here. For “Computer Book Bans and Other Insights From a Year Investigating Prison Censorship: Incomplete data. Inconsistent policies. How banned books in prison can strip away an incarcerated person’s vision of the outside world,” click here. For “‘Trump Remains Very Popular Here’: We Surveyed 54,000 People Behind Bars About the Election. Support for the former president is strong inside prisons and jails — even as his party tries to roll back voting rights for people with felony convictions,” click here. For “What People Behind Bars Really Think About the ‘Cop vs. Felon’ Election” People in prisons and jails weigh in on Harris’ qualifications for president, Trump’s potential sentence and more,” click here. For “A Prison Newspaper Hopes to Bridge ‘Inside’ and ‘Outside’ Worlds in Rural California: Rural prisons tend to have fewer programs for incarcerated residents than urban prisons do. A new media project at the Central California Women’s Facility is bucking that trend,” click here. For “Why Are We Still Sending People to Jail for Being Poor? It's Time to Truly Abolish Debtors' Prisons,” click here. For “This AI Tool Helped Convict People of Murder. Then Someone Took a Closer Look: Global Intelligence claims its Cybercheck technology can help cops find key evidence to nail a case. But a WIRED investigation reveals the smoking gun often appears far less solid,” click here. For “How Did It Get This Bad?” click here. For “ Former Rikers Worker Says DOC Locks Mentally Ill Detainees Inside Cells for Weeks,” click here. For “Should Political Violence Be Addressed Like a Threat to Public Health? Treating political violence as a contagion could help safeguard the future of American democracy,” click here. For “The strange case that the Supreme Court keeps refusing to decide: A mysterious Supreme Court case could change everything about criminal punishment,” click here. For “In Memoriam: Joe Giarratano: Joe Giarratano, a former death row prisoner in Virginia who spent nearly 40 years behind bars before being released on parole, died earlier this month. Before and after his release from prison, Giarratano helped other incarcerated people pursue their rights, click here. For “50 years after Philadelphia halted prison medical testing, families seek reparations,” click here. For “The Prison Telecom Free-For-All is Over: New rules from the Federal Communications Commission are putting the brakes on the prison telecom industry’s exploitative practices,” click here. For “Erin Moriarty on what we owe the wrongfully convicted,” click here. For “ ‘It’s Crushing’: The Lasting Trauma of the Exonerated: Proving your innocence is only part of the battle to put your life back together,” click here. For “Effort to Provide Low-Cost Health Care Behind Bars Stirs Controversy: Examining a company providing low-cost health care services at jails across the U.S., and a formerly incarcerated person shares how a mentor behind bars saved his life,” click here. For “Without Knowledge or Consent: For decades, gun makers secretly gave sensitive, personal information about gun buyers to political operatives to use in lobbying elected officials to oppose gun regulations. ‘The hypocrisy of warning about a governmental registry and at the same time establishing a private registry for political purposes is stunning,’ says a Democratic U.S. senator,” click here. For “Survival Art: ‘Art is not a leisure activity. Art is a redemptive, powerful, meditative, actionable force within a person—within a human being,’” click here. For “How a Book Club Helps Me Find Hope Behind Bars,” click here. For “Prison work assignments used to lure and rape female inmates. Guards sometimes walk free,” click here. For “Don’t Talk to the Cops: Your right against self-incrimination is not safe in a criminal system that cares more about coercing convictions than finding the truth,” click here. For “South Carolina inmates help retired race horses transition for adoption: For two decades, inmates in Sumter have found purpose, passion, and new beginnings through a unique program,” click here. For “The Prison They Let You See: The San Quentin Film Festival offered a feel-good image of prison life—one far removed from the reality faced by most incarcerated Californians,” click here. For “Assaulted by Her Cellmate, a Trans Woman Took the Federal Prisons to Court: When you are harmed in a place whose purpose is punishment, why is it so hard to get justice?” click here. For “3 Things to Know About Prison Violence Against Transgender People: Key takeaways from our story about one trans woman’s legal battle for accountability,” click here. For “Unhoused People Have Property Rights Too: A recent Supreme Court decision spurred a crackdown on people experiencing homelessness. Here’s how some are still fighting back,” click here. For “Does the First Amendment Protect Military Extremism? The Defense Department faces inherent First Amendment limitations in its efforts to counter extremism within its ranks,” click here. For “Joe Biden Can Preemptively Halt One Brutal Trump Policy,” click here. For “Jail and Prison Populations Have Decreased Since 2019—but Continued Progress Isn’t Promised: New Vera research raises the alarm about stalling progress and warns that recent gains can’t be taken for granted,” click here. For “It used to be a notoriously violent prison. Now it’s home to a first-of-its-kind higher education program: Cal Poly Humboldt’s bachelor’s program offers new opportunity to people incarcerated at maximum-security Pelican Bay State Prison,” click here.
FROM PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF THE KEY UPDATE BUT STILL FRESH!
CONFERENCES AND TRAININGS
NEC’s “Neurodiversity Gifts” Is a Multi-dimensional Encounter Workshop
The National Empowerment Center’s three-hour “Neurodiversity Gifts” course, which you can take at your own pace, “features two hours of immersive video exploration and group discussion, and an hour of exercises to bring the content home to your life,” NEC writes. For more about the presenter and the fee schedule for the individual workshop, as well as the “Train-the-Trainer curriculum and license that empowers you to run the full 12-hour “Neurodiversity Gifts” workshop in your community,” click here.
“The Promise of Litigation to Decriminalize Mental Illness”
“The Sozosei Foundation held a virtual convening on August 1, 2024, considering the role of litigation in the work to decriminalize mental illness. We were honored to host panelists Sarah J. Gregory, Litigation Counsel, Disability Rights California; Kevin Martone, M.S.W., L.S.W., Executive Director, Technical Assistance Collaborative; Leslie Napper, Mental Health Consumer (Peer) and Senior Advocate for Disability Rights California; Megan Schuller, Legal Director, Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law; and Luke Sikinyi, Director of Public Policy and Public Engagement, The Alliance for Rights and Recovery. The panel was moderated by New York Times best-selling author Robert Kolker and introduced by Sozosei Foundation Executive Director, Melissa Beck. To watch the recording, click here.” (Courtesy of Jacek Haciak)
APS Announces Open Enrollment for the New, 5-Part “Honest, Open Proud” Series
“The Academy of Peer Services (APS) is excited to announce open enrollment for the new, five-part, Continuing Education Series ‘Honest, Open, Proud’ (HOP)! Register for these online modules and complete the series at your convenience! For more information about HOP, click here. To enroll in the HOP Modules, you need to create an account on the APS website. To get started, click here. HOP Modules 1 through 4 are eligible for 5 hours of Continuing Education (CE) credit toward the maintenance of the NYS Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) credential. To apply credits earned from these modules to another certification or credential, consult your certification/credentialing entity.”
NEWS ABOUT RESEARCH STUDIES
“New Study Exposes the Trauma of Involuntary Psychiatric Detention”
“A recent study highlights the negative experiences of involuntary psychiatric hospital admissions, revealing deep-seated issues of racism, discrimination, and lack of support within the mental healthcare system,” Mad In America (MIA) reports. For the MIA article, which includes a link to the Open Access study published in BMC Psychiatry, click here. In addition, studies have shown that “in the week following discharge from a psychiatric hospital, people are at a dramatically high risk for suicide.” For “Suicide Risk in Relation to Psychiatric Hospitalization,” click here.
“Patients on These Antidepressants Were More Likely to Gain Weight, Study Says” and Other Information to Consider Before Taking Antidepressants
A recent study in the Annals of Internal Medicine analyzed the data of 183,118 individuals across eight U.S. health systems from 2010 to 2019. It found that some antidepressants were associated with more weight gain than others. Although a correlation with weight gain doesn’t mean the drug directly caused the weight gain, there are still many reasons to be wary of taking antidepressants. Previous editions of the Key Update included “Antidepressants Could Trigger Some Cases of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome”: click here; “Warning Over Antidepressants as Top Experts Say They May Raise Risk of Suicide”: click here; “Antidepressants associated with increased risk of suicidal thoughts in healthy adults”; click here; “Many People Taking Antidepressants Discover They Cannot Quit”: click here; and “Psychotherapy Without Antidepressants Shows Best Results for Depression”; click here. And for the “Harm Reduction Guide to Coming Off Psychiatric Drugs,” click here.
RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES
“Taking Action for Whole Health and Wellbeing” Research Study Is Recruiting College Students
The Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion is recruiting college students for a paid research study on mental health challenges. “Taking Action is a peer-delivered group intervention that helps participants create a personalized system for improving and maintaining wellness and recovery. All participants will participate virtually in three research interviews. Then half the participants will be randomly assigned to five Taking Action group sessions, on Mondays from October 28 to November 25, 2024, from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. ET. The other half will be randomly assigned to receive information about how to be successful in college. Participants will be compensated with up to $105 in electronic gift cards. For the eligibility screener, click here. Questions? takingaction@temple.edu
Copeland Center Is Offering Memberships for $35/Year
The Copeland Center’s annual membership fee entitles members to participate in wellness events. Two such upcoming events are “Identifying Wellness Tools for Empowerment and Recovery,” on November 13, 2024, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. ET, and “Vision Boards for Personal Growth and Recovery,” December 6 and December 27, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. ET. Non-members pay $35 for each event. To become a member, click here. For questions about membership, contact Amethyst Lee at alee@copelandcenter.com
“How Do You Make a Difference in Your Community? We Would Love to Hear From You!”
The Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion is “looking to highlight at least 12 people experiencing mental health challenges who would like to share their story of a time when they made a difference in their community.” First, you would answer questions on Zoom about why you got started, your biggest challenge and biggest success, what helped you, and your advice to others. (If your story is used in an online resource, you could choose to be anonymous or use your name/image.) To learn more or to volunteer to participate, email KTPLACE@temple.edu and someone will be in touch.
BJA and CSG JC Offer Free TA on “National Guidelines for Post-Conviction Risk and Needs Assessment”
“The Bureau of Justice Assistance and The Council of State Governments Justice Center invite all state, local, and Tribal jurisdictions to request technical assistance to adopt the National Guidelines for Post-Conviction Risk and Needs Assessment. Participants in this opportunity will become leaders in improving accuracy, fairness, and transparency in post-conviction assessments with cutting-edge strategies that benefit criminal justice agencies and improve outcomes for individuals in the system and the broader community. Schedule a brief introductory meeting with our staff to learn more about how we can help your jurisdiction become a national leader. Learn more about the National Guidelines, take the Self-Assessment, watch previous webinars, and view resources tailored for a variety of audiences on our website!”
Mad in America Invites You to Share Your “Song of the Week”!
“Mad in America wants to know what songs you listen to that relate to your experience of psychiatry, or your thoughts and opinions about it. Check out the Staff Recommendations that have been published over the last few months and add your own by submitting here. Your song may be featured in our Song of the Week highlight and shared on Mad in America’s social media!” For previous songs of the week and the reasons for submitting them, click here.
SAMHSA Is Recruiting Peer Grant Reviewers. Do You Qualify?
“SAMHSA's three Centers are always looking for qualified grant peer reviewers who can evaluate applications for discretionary grants,” SAMHSA writes. “SAMHSA peer reviewers must have related program experience and education.” (SAMHSA's Office of Recovery has confirmed that peer reviewers do not need a graduate degree.) One incentive to apply is that “[r]eviewers will receive $140 per application reviewed and returned to SAMHSA in the timeline specified for each program.” For details about qualifications for peer reviewers and how to apply, click here.
PENTAC Is Seeking Speakers on Leadership and Professional Development for Peers
“We’re looking for engaging speakers in the Northeast, Southwest, West, and/or Midwest regions,” PENTAC (Peer Experience National TA Center) writes. Topics include “Mapping out a personal career advancement plan,” “Gain and enhance your presentation skills,” “What employers want: resume and interviewing skills,” and “What funders want: how to pitch your ideas.” For more information, email Sherry Warner at sherry@peersupportfl.org
TU Collaborative Wants to Hear Your Story!
“We are working on a project to better understand social connections among adults with significant mental health challenges,” the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion writes. “We are seeking your stories on your social connections generally” and “what those connections mean to you.” The TU Collaborative will compile these stories based on a series of brief surveys. For details and to share your story, 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.
Hearing Voices Network Is Now Hosting Online Groups
“There are now ONLINE opportunities to connect, share experiences, and find mutual support,” the Hearing Voices Network (HVN) writes. “These groups are accessible via web-based platforms and by phone…Online groups are specifically for those with personal lived experience with hearing voices, seeing visions, and/or negotiating alternative realities. They are voice-hearer facilitated. With further questions and for details on how to access the group[s], please email info@hearingvoicesusa.org.” To read this announcement online and for more information, click here.
Virtual Group Works to Advance Peer Research Capacity, Leadership, and Involvement
Nev Jones, PhD—a strong advocate for building research capacity, leadership, and involvement among peers, survivors, and service users—leads a virtual group dedicated to this effort. Dr. Jones—assistant professor, School of Social Work, University of Pittsburgh—was part of the team that developed “User/Survivor Leadership & Capacity Building in Research: White Paper on Promoting Engagement Practices in Peer Evaluation/Research (PEPPER),” published by the Lived Experience Research Network. For the white paper, click here. Anyone interested in joining the virtual group can email Nev at nev.inbox@gmail.com.
TU Collaborative Seeks Input on Its Community Integration Calendars
The Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion writes: “Each year, we release a calendar resource designed to help individuals engage more in the community!” The TU Collaborative is considering adding a guided component and would like your input on how to structure it. For more information and to participate in an anonymous survey, click here.
“Are You a Leader with a CMHC? Partner with the Temple University Collaborative!”
“The Clinical Treatment Act is a new law to encourage participation of low-income and minoritized healthcare recipients in research as a matter of equity. The Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion seeks to partner with community mental health centers (CMHCs) across the U.S. to help get information about current and future research studies to service recipients in various programs. In return we are also available to support your organization with free trainings and other supports. Please contact Professor Bryan McCormick (bryan.mccormick@temple.edu) about this important partnership opportunity.” To read this announcement online, click here.
“Thieves Like Us” Survey Is Recruiting Participants
“The effectiveness of a positive psychology intervention on burnout, compassion fatigue, and the loss of compassion satisfaction among peer support specialists” is the focus of a study by researchers at the University of Texas at El Paso. The study “aims to combat these issues and empower participants through individual character strengths.” Participants, who can be any gender and ethnicity, must work either full-time or part-time as a peer support specialist, and must speak English. Participants can earn “up to $25 in certificates.” For more information, contact Eugene Lopez, 915.316.6158 or elopez48@miners.utep.edu. (Courtesy of Peer Support Coalition of Florida)
Peer Workers Sought for Participation in Doctoral Research
A PhD candidate in the College of Nursing at the University of Central Florida is "seeking to interview peer workers about their professional roles, experiences as part of an interdisciplinary team, and how that role impacts their lives and recovery. [The researcher] would love the opportunity to include peers who are active in advocating for the value peers bring to a recovery experience. Participation involves an approximately one-hour long interview over Zoom. Those who complete the interview will be compensated $30 for their time." To screen for the study, click here. (Courtesy of the N.A.P.S. News Brief)
Latina/o/e/x or Hispanic Volunteers with a Diagnosis of Psychosis Are Sought
University of Pittsburgh and University of Texas/Dallas researchers write: “We are looking for individuals who have been given a schizophrenia spectrum diagnosis to participate in a study on everyday social situations. The study will involve a 90-minute virtual interview via Zoom. We will NOT ask you to change medications or any part of your treatment. We will ask you about your Latina/o/e/x culture and have you perform various tasks (for example, answering questions about pictures of people). You will be paid $50 for your time and participation.” Interested? Click here. (Courtesy of Nev Jones)
Researchers Seek Input on “Understanding Psychosis in Asian Diasporas”
“Individuals from Asian diasporas have unique experiences, concerns, challenges, and opportunities when engaging with mental health care in the United States,” University of Pittsburgh researchers write. “This study seeks to interview Asian and Pacific Islander (API) individuals who have experienced psychosis or been diagnosed with a psychotic disorder. The perspectives of the API community are essential to understanding their experiences and creating meaningful supports.” For more information, click here. (Courtesy of Nev Jones)
Learn How to Engage in More Meaningful Activities! Join the TU Collaborative’s Research Study.
The Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion writes: “We are looking for individuals who are willing to participate in a six-month intervention to get out of the house and engage in more meaningful activities; who are available to meet on the day the intervention takes place; who are experiencing significant mental health issues; who live in the U.S.; and who are at least 18 years old. If you are interested in participating, please contact switch@temple.edu. You may be eligible for compensation of up to $440 for your time and effort.”
“Interested in Participating in More Meaningful Activities?” (NOTE: THIS IS A DIFFERENT STUDY FROM THE ONE ABOVE)
The Copeland Center for Wellness and Recovery has “developed a new online peer group workshop called REACH (Resilience, Education, Action, Community, Health) with the goal of bringing activity into, or back into, your life. The Copeland Center is partnering with Temple University on a research study to examine the impact of REACH…You may be eligible for up to $100 in gift cards as compensation for your time.” The study involves a 12-session peer-delivered online intervention. If you are interested, please contact tucollab@temple.edu.
Researchers Seek to Better Understand the Day-to-Day Social Experiences of People Diagnosed with Serious Mental Health Conditions
The Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion seeks participants diagnosed with serious mental health conditions to participate in a paid research study of their “day-to-day experiences of social isolation and loneliness…so that we can develop better interventions for people in the future.” Eligible participants will complete an intake interview (for a $20 gift card) and an exit interview (for a $30 gift card). Four one-minute surveys will be sent via smart phone in the 14 days between interviews. Questions? Contact drrp@temple.edu or 215.204.9021.
Young Adults with Psychiatric Diagnoses Are Sought for Study on Community Participation
The Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion is recruiting young adults (ages 18-30) with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression to take part in ConnectionsRx, designed to support engagement in meaningful community activities. Participants will be enrolled in the peer-led study for six months, and receive support to help meet community participation goals. Interviews (approximately 60 minutes each) will take place on Zoom. Participants will receive a $30 Amazon or Visa gift card (to a maximum of $90) for each survey completed. For the website, click here. Questions? ConnectionsRx@temple.edu.
Are You Interested in Pursuing Graduate School and/or a Research Career? Read Below.
Stephania Hayes (UC Davis), Shannon Pagdon (Columbia/NYS Psychiatric Institute/University of Pittsburgh), and Nev Jones (University of Pittsburgh) write: “We are gathering information from people with lived experience in the Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) or early psychosis space (including peer specialists, current/former CSC participants, and CSC youth coordinators) who are potentially interested in pursuing graduate school and/or a research career. All of us identify as having lived experience, work in CSC, and are invested in supporting the next generation of scholars who also have lived experience. We would like to create a discussion group and/or other supports for people interested in this career path. The link below leads to a very brief survey that will help us understand the level of interest in such supports, as well as areas of career interest. (Please note that this is not a research study.)” To participate in the anonymous survey, click here.
“Help Us Map the Landscape of Lived Experience and Family Involvement in 988 Policy and Related Crisis Response System Planning!”
“As 988 implementation rolls out alongside additional efforts to strengthen crisis response systems throughout the U.S., it's important to gauge the extent to which direct stakeholders (i.e., individuals who use or have used mental health crisis services and their families) have been involved in related policy, implementation and evaluation at the local, regional, state or federal levels. To map out involvement nationally, Mental Health America (lead: Kelly Davis), Nev Jones (University of Pittsburgh) and Keris Myrick (National Association of Peer Supporters) have developed a survey aimed at documenting the extent of stakeholder involvement, the forms this involvement has taken, and, where available, what concerns stakeholders have raised. Any individual with knowledge of lived experience and family involvement is eligible to participate; individuals completing the survey do not have to have lived experience themselves.” For more information and to access the survey, click here.
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.
Supported Education Survey Needs Your Help
Do you operate a program that provides dedicated supported education services for individuals with psychiatric disabilities/mental health conditions? If so, you are invited to complete the survey at the link below. The primary goal of the survey is to help create a National Supported Education Database (NSEdD) that will be "a searchable listing of diverse supported education programs and services for individuals experiencing psychiatric disabilities and/or mental health challenges...across the US and its territories." The NSEdD project is sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and co-administered by the five SAMHSA-funded national consumer and consumer-supporter technical assistance centers, in collaboration with research partners Drs. Nev Jones (University of Pittsburgh) and Mark Salzer (Temple University). For a link to the survey, which includes a definition of supported education, click here. For a flyer with information about the survey, click here.
National Survey on Student Rights, Discrimination, and Accommodations in Higher Education Seeks Respondents
"Have you experienced psychiatric disability-based discrimination or the denial of an accommodation in a postsecondary institution in the United States? Interested in informing national advocacy focus on psych disability rights in higher ed? Mental Health America (lead: Kelly Davis) and collaborators Dr. Nev Jones (University of Pittsburgh), Stefanie Kaufman-Mthimkhulu (Project LETS) and Brit Vanneman Esq. (Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law) have developed "a survey aimed at providing a more comprehensive understanding of student experiences of campus-based discrimination, mandated leaves of absence, and/or denial of academic, administrative and/or student-work accommodations in the U.S. Data will be used to inform national advocacy efforts and future projects, and in reports, presentations and publications." For eligibility and to access the survey, click here.
If You've Had, or Been Labeled with, "Negative Symptoms" in the Context of Psychosis...
"If you have experienced or been labeled with 'negative symptoms' in the context of psychosis, please consider contributing an anonymous account of your views and experiences," Dr. Nev Jones writes. "Currently, there is nowhere one can go to find lived experience perspectives/accounts on this topic—even though 'negative symptoms' regularly feature in research and clinical trials. Help us change this!" This survey is a companion to Psychosis Outside the Box; for a publication in Psychiatric Services about “Psychosis Outside the Box: A User-Led Project to Amplify the Diversity and Richness of Experiences Described as Psychosis,” click here. For more information and/or to share your story about "negative symptoms," click here.
“Are You Between the Ages of 21 and 60 and Drink Alcohol?”
"Researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are seeking adults--[both smokers and non-smokers]--to study whether a gene and smoking may affect drinking alcohol. Volunteers should be healthy and drug-free, and not seeking treatment for alcohol-related problems. Research participation includes three outpatient visits at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, MD; alcohol consumption; brain scans (MRI), blood draws, and filling out questionnaires. There is no cost to participate and compensation may be provided." For more information, click here. (Courtesy of Fran Hazam)
TU Collaborative Seeks Participants for Its Parenting Through Leisure Project; See Also the TU Collaborative's Parenting Resources, Including Information on Custody Issues
The Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion is seeking parents with lived experience of a mental health condition to participate in a paid research study. The TU Collaborative writes: "Our program, Parenting Through Leisure, focuses on helping parents with a serious mental illness participate in leisure activities with their child. We are looking for individuals who are 18 and older; are an adult parent with a diagnosis of schizophrenia-spectrum disorder, bipolar disorder, or depression; have a child who is 7 to 15 years old and is interested in participating in family leisure with you; have legal visitation rights, joint custody or full custody of the child, with at least weekly contact; and have a desire to engage in more leisure activities with their child." For details about the study and the remuneration as well as other benefits to eligible participants, and a link to sign up, click here. Questions? Please contact TUCollab@temple.edu. And for the TU Collaborative's Parenting web page--which includes links to many resources for parents with lived experience, including information about custody laws and a model family reunification statute--click here.
Survey Seeks Respondents Who Are in Administrative/ Leadership Positions in the Mental Health Field
If you are in an administrative/leadership position in the mental health arena, “the Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry (GAP) Committee on Psychiatric Administration and Leadership invites you to participate in the International Survey on Administrative Psychiatry. The survey has two purposes: 1. To identify the concerns and needs of mental health professionals/psychiatrists in administrative and leadership positions. 2. To determine training needs in administrative psychiatry. We ask you to complete this brief, [15- to 20-minute] questionnaire to help us in developing recommendations for action. We also want to let you know that, if you fill out this questionnaire, you permit the committee to use your anonymous data for scientific work.” Peer providers are included. For the survey, click here. (Courtesy of Oryx Cohen)
RESOURCES
New Report Examines “The Problem with 988: How America’s Largest Hotline Violates Consent, Compromises Safety, and Fails the People”
“This report addresses critical issues related to suicide and crisis hotlines in the United States, particularly focusing on the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Though originally intended as a safe and confidential support service, many crisis hotlines, including all crisis centers within the 988 network, have evolved to adopt policies and practices that compromise the safety, privacy, and autonomy of those seeking help.” To download the free 108-page report, click here. To view the recording of “The Problem with 988” virtual report launch event, click here. (Courtesy of Yulia Mikhailova)
SAMHSA Launches New Technical Assistance Center to Serve the Needs of Individuals with Serious Mental Health Conditions
On September 26, 2024, SAMHSA announced the launch of its new Serious Mental Illness Training & Technical Assistance Center (SMI TTAC), which “will build upon the work previously done through the SAMHSA-funded SMI Adviser,” according to a SAMHSA press release. “This project will be an invaluable source of information and resources for mental health clinicians, caregivers, advocates, and people living with SMI and early SMI,” the press release notes. For more information, click here.
“The Armory Project (TAP) Helps Prevent Firearm Suicides”
“The Armory Project (TAP) helps prevent firearm suicides by facilitating safe, voluntary, out-of-home firearm storage with trusted firearms dealers and other vetted partners in local communities. Firearm owners, including military members and veterans, now have more options whenever they need to get firearms out of the home, for any reason.” To learn more, click here.
“The Soteria Project Recounted by Mosher and Its Clinical Resonances Today”
“[T]here is today growing and promising scientific evidence validating the principles of the Soteria project. Undoubtedly, this would not have been possible without the pioneering work of [Loren] Mosher, who, imbued with the tenets of interpersonal phenomenology, shook the psychiatric establishment, leading others to follow the path that he had begun.” For the article, click here. (Courtesy of Peggy Swarbrick and Jim Gottstein) For more about Soteria, click here.
“2023 Disability Equality Index Report” and “Government-wide Strategic Plan to Advance Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in the Federal Workforce”
“The Disability Equality Index (DEI) has become the leading independent, third-party resource for benchmarking disability inclusion policies and programs inside corporate America, and is now trusted by more than 70% of the Fortune 100 and nearly half of the Fortune 500.” For more information and to download the free 25-page report, click here. On a different note, for the free 23-page “Government-wide Strategic Plan to Advance Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in the Federal Workforce” (2021), click here. And for “Government-wide DEIA: Our Progress and Path Forward to Building a Better Workforce for the American People” (2022 Annual Report), click here.
“Stress Reduction: Emotional Health and Wellness” and Results from a National Parenting Survey
“ ‘Stress Reduction: Emotional Health and Wellness’ discusses how you can reduce your stress by taking care of your mental and emotional health,” the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion writes. “Working at staying healthy emotionally will reduce your stress; it might improve your mental health so you have fewer symptoms or less of a need for emergency interventions.” For the 23-page document, targeted to parents, click here. The TU Collaborative continues: “Through research, we hope to better understand the challenges parents face and what supports may be necessary for improving parenting efficacy and overall well-being of parents with mental illnesses. Research from Dr. Katy Kaplan highlights some of the challenges parents with mental illnesses face.” For the visual abstract of the article, click here. For the article, click here. For the U.S. Surgeon General’s 36-page Advisory on the Mental Health & Well-Being of Parents, “Parents Under Pressure,” click here. (Note: “Parents Under Pressure” was included in the September-October 2024 Key Update.)
MHA Offers Complete Set of 2024 “Supporting Young Minds” Guides in Spanish
MHA writes: “Mental Health America’s 2024 Supporting Young Minds guides provide tools for youth to help them feel empowered to address their mental health and support each other. The guides also offer tools for adults to support young people as they explore and navigate complex situations and emotions [where] they live, learn, and play.” For the free guides, click here. For MHA’s complete collection of Spanish resources, click here.
“7 Memoirs Therapists Think You Should Read”
This New York Times article is about suggestions from “mental health experts on the stories that helped them and their patients through tough times.” For those who are blocked by the New York Times paywall, the seven memoirs are “An Unquiet Mind,” “Just Kids,” “The Glass Castle,” “Born to Run,” “Strangers to Ourselves,” “The Noonday Demon,” and “Wave.” For the New York Times article, click here.
“Therapists Share the 1 Tip That’s Changed Their Lives” and “The 7 Books Every Therapist Must Read”
TIME Magazine writes: “Being a therapist means listening to a lot of clients' problems. Between their schooling, reading, continuing-education requirements, workplace mentors, general curiosity, and learnings from patients, therapists are full of practical advice to improve mental health and well-being. But what’s the one mighty mental-health tip that stands out above all others? We tapped psychotherapists and psychologists for the single piece of advice that has changed their own lives for the better.” For the TIME article, click here. And for “The 7 Books Every Therapist Must Read,” click here.
“Listening to the Peer Support Workforce — Top Ten Priorities: An Action Agenda”
“Following more than six years of participatory action activities at peer support workforce conferences, three researchers and practitioners with lived experience — Jeremy Reuling, Rita Cronise, and Jessica Wolf — have developed this agenda identifying ten peer support workforce priorities with recommendations for action based on what they heard from members of the workforce,” the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion writes. For more information, and for the link to download the free, 46-page document, click here.
SAMHSA Offers a Recording of Its Webinar on Psychiatric Advance Directives, and Several Resources
For a link to SAMHSA’s webinar on “Psychiatric Advance Directives to Promote Community Living,” click here. For accompanying resources, click on each title: National Resource Center on Psychiatric Advance Directives (NRC-PAD); A Practical Guide to Psychiatric Advance Directives | SAMHSA; Psychiatric Advance Directives | Copeland Center; Olmstead v. L.C. Resources | SAMHSA; National Training and Technical Assistance Center for Early Serious Mental Illness | SAMHSA; Doors to Wellbeing PADs Resources and Webinars; Peer Recovery Center of Excellence; SAMHSA Program to Advance Recovery Knowledge (SPARK). (Courtesy of Mark Karmatz)
“Why Lived Experience, Not Psychiatry, Is Now the New Authority in the Behavioral Health and Wellness Field”
This online publication, by Becky Brasfield, includes links to many additional resources. It is available here.
Here Are Four Articles That Debunk the “Chemical Imbalance” Theory
These four articles can be used to contradict the widespread but incorrect theory that mental health conditions are caused by a “chemical imbalance” in the brain. In "A Short Guide to Psychiatric Diagnosis," published by Mental Health Europe, it says: “Despite many, often misleading, reports in the media, scientists have yet to discover any genetic markers, chemical imbalances or other differences in brain function which reliably predict or identify mental illness. Clearly there are genetic differences which impact on the way we respond to life events, and distressing experiences can produce consequences in the chemistry of our brains, but this is not at all the same as suggesting that brain diseases ‘cause’ mental illnesses.” And here are three more articles that also debunk this “theory”: “Serotonin and depression: A disconnect between the advertisements and the scientific literature” (click here); “Psychiatry’s New Brain-Mind and the Legend of the “Chemical Imbalance” (click here); and “Is the chemical imbalance an ‘urban legend’? An exploration of the status of the serotonin theory of depression,” click here. (Courtesy of Yulia Mikhailova)
“Psychometric Adequacy of Recovery Enhancing Environment (REE) Measure: CHIME Framework as a Theory Base for a Recovery Measure”
“The aim of this study was to assess to what extent the recovery elements of the Recovery Enhancing Environment (REE) instrument measured the dimensions proposed by the CHIME framework, (Connectedness, Hope and optimism about future, Identity, Meaning in life and Empowerment dimensions), so as to evaluate personal recovery in people with severe mental illness.” For the study, click here. (See the next item, which refers to CHIME.)
“Personal Recovery: A Guide Towards Good Mental Health for Consumers”
“The aim of this workbook is to help you understand recovery oriented practice and what you can expect from your service provider. It will guide you through the C.H.I.M.E. framework providing a definition and understanding of personal recovery and addresses the working practices which will further strengthen your ability to engage in self-management.” For the free, 40-page workbook, click here.
MHA Issues Report on Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health 2024 Outcomes
“This year, Mental Health America (MHA) celebrates the 5th anniversary of its Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health, the first national certification recognizing U.S. employers committed to supporting a mentally healthy workforce. Since 2019, MHA has received over 500 applications from employers, representing a combined workforce of 4.3 million employees. Sourced from all 2024 applications, the ‘Workplace Mental Health 2024 Report: Trends and Best Practices of Top Employers’ provides benchmarking and identifies emerging trends that can help support all employers' workplace wellness efforts.” For the free, 51-page report, which includes highlights on Page 2, click here.
New HIPAA Administrative Simplification Fundamentals Fact Sheet
“The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has published a new HIPAA Administrative Simplification Fundamentals Fact Sheet (PDF), located on the HIPAA and Administrative Simplification webpage of the Administrative Simplification website. The new resource provides an overview of Administrative Simplification, its purpose, goals, and how the health care industry benefits from it. Administrative Simplification requirements, which were authorized by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and subsequent legislation, govern how providers, health plans, and clearinghouses—otherwise known as HIPAA covered entities—handle electronic administrative transactions and set standards for transmitting health information.”
“Expanding Peer Support and Supporting the Peer Workforce in Mental Health”
This 20-page SAMHSA Issue Brief, published in June 2024, “summarizes the benefits of peer support and discusses how states can support inclusion of the peer workforce across the behavioral health continuum. Information in this issue brief will enhance states’ knowledge of peer support and assist in the inclusion and expansion of peer support throughout the behavioral health continuum.” To download the free report, click here.
“Reducing the Number of People with Mental Illnesses in Jail: Six Questions County Leaders Need to Ask”
“This new edition of ‘Reducing the Number of People with Mental Illnesses in Jail: Six Questions County Leaders Need to Ask’ advances the original Stepping Up framework, published in 2017, by embedding a racial equity lens and uplifting the voices of people with lived experience. It provides six guiding questions for county leaders, offers tips gleaned from counties across the country that answered the call to action, and addresses ongoing challenges.” For more information and a link to the 17-page document from the Council of State Governments Justice Center, click here.
“Unlocking Qualitative Data in Mental Health Research”
The researchers write: “This paper presents the results of a scoping review of qualitative diary methods (QDMs) in mental health research, aimed at clarifying how diary methods are used in mental health research, and outlining key decisions and considerations in planning and conducting a qualitative diary study. Forty-eight papers were reviewed, and the findings highlight different elements of QDMs.” For the website, click here. For the article, published in European Psychologist, click here. (Courtesy of Yulia Mikhailova)
“The Modern Psychiatrist’s Guide to Contemporary Practice”
“ ‘The Modern Psychiatrist’s Guide to Contemporary Practice: Discussion, Dissent, and Debate in Mental Health Care’ provides an overview of psychiatry, starting with the most fundamental question of all: why does psychiatry exist? Key topics are covered, such as diagnosing mental illness, controversial treatments, involuntary admission, human rights, suicide, and global inequality.” The author, Brendan Kelly, is a professor of psychiatry at Trinity College Dublin. For the Open Access version of this 272-page book, published on July 3, 2024, click here.
“Twenty-five Years of Olmstead: Life in the Community for All”
The Cafe TA Center writes: “This edition of Focus 2.0 looks back on twenty-five years of the Olmstead decision, which effectively ended legal institutionalization and the placement of people with mental health disabilities in segregated settings. How far have we come, and what remains to be done?” For the newsletter, click here.
“Schizophrenia, stigma and systems hold so many back, which made it tough to celebrate my hard-won tenure”
Nev Jones, Ph.D., writes: “17 years passed between enrollment in a graduate program that didn’t want me and receipt of tenure at Pitt. Along the way, I learned the hard way that the mental health system often doesn’t listen closely to its consumers.” For the article, click here.
“Report on Improving Mental Health Outcomes” Is Published
The Report’s Executive Summary begins: “The mental health system’s standard treatments are colossally counterproductive and harmful, often forced on unwilling patients. The overreliance on psychiatric drugs is reducing the recovery rate of people diagnosed with serious mental illness from a possible 80% to 5% and reducing their life spans by 20 years or so…” To download the free, 55-page report—by James B. (Jim) Gottstein, Esq.; Peter C. Gøtzsche, MD; David Cohen, PhD; Chuck Ruby, PhD; and Faith Myers—click here. (Note: The Report is intended to be used by advocates and is a modification of an earlier "White Paper," without the Alaska-specific information that it included. The "White Paper" was first included in the Key Update in April 2023, and in every subsequent edition in the “…But Still Fresh!” Department.)
Artists for Change Picks Up Where Altered States of the Arts Left Off
Artists for Change, created by a team led by movement pioneer Gayle Bluebird, has evolved from Altered States of the Arts, which was co-founded decades ago by Bluebird, Howie the Harp, and others. Artists for Change is a “ ‘home’ for historical works of artists who participated in the Consumer/Survivor Movement,” and “is intended to serve as a remembrance for those who were there, a resource for those who want to know more about the movement, and a place to view some of the art of that period.” The site also provides “historical videos and presentations, information about peer-run art centers, art programs, and art projects that peer specialists can easily do with people to help them use creative expression in healing trauma.” Bluebird writes: “Art that elicits emotions in the viewer–whether shock, surprise, disgust, humor, anger, or joy–requires time to sink in, not only to appreciate what is seen but also to feel at a deeper level what the artist might be communicating.” To view the website, click here.
“Peer-Run Respite Approaches to Supporting People Experiencing an Emotional Crisis”
“Research shows that guests experience peer-run respites as empowering and safe places where they feel more seen, heard, and respected than they do in conventional settings.” So begins a recent article by Lauren Spiro, MA, and Margaret Swarbrick, PhD, FAOTA, published by the American Psychiatric Association. “In a discussion informed by their experiences and the literature, the authors examine how peer-run respites differ from conventional psychiatric crisis response services in their basic philosophy: how emotional crisis is understood, the goal of crisis response, how trauma is viewed, the importance of self-determination, power dynamics, and relationality.” For the article, click here.
MHA Has Published a Free BIPOC Mental Health Toolkit
Mental Health America writes: “July is Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month,” and its new toolkit will “provide free, practical resources to help navigate mental health stigma, bridge generational differences, dismantle mental health myths, and encourage meaningful conversations. The toolkit is available for download at mhanational.org/july and a Spanish translation is also available. We’re also working to improve our online BIPOC Mental Health Resource Center.”
“Inpatient Psychiatric Care in the United States: Former Patients’ Perspectives on Opportunities for Quality Improvement”
The researchers write: “We fielded a national survey online in 2021, in which we asked participants to report their recommendations for care improvement through a free-response box….Most responses described negative experiences, with suggested improvements implied as the inverse or absence of the respondent's negative experience. Among 510 participants, we identified 10 themes: personalized care, empathetic connection, communication, whole health approach, humane care, physical safety, respecting patients’ rights and autonomy, structural environment, equitable treatment, and continuity of care and systems….” For the article, click here.
“New NCAPPS Resource: A National Environmental Scan of Technical Assistance Needs for Person-Centered Planning”
NCAPPS writes: “Despite progress, states continue to grapple with how to effectively implement person-centered planning in a way that aligns with the Home and Community-Based Services Final Rule requirements. Many states continue to seek technical assistance to support maintaining or coming into compliance with the requirements. This environmental scan seeks to understand common themes across those states that continue to need technical assistance around person-centered planning.” For the 32-page document, click here.
NCAPPS Offers Resources on Person-Centered Planning
The National Center on Advancing Person-Centered Practices and Systems (NCAPPS) is featuring several resources on person-centered planning: “Person-Centered Planning: Choosing the Approach that Works for the Person” (eight pages), “Office of Healthcare Information and Counseling Person-Centered Thinking Toolkit” (39 pages), “Person-Centered Planning,” a 14-page SAMHSA issue brief, and the Community Living Policy Center’s “Association of Person-Centered Planning with Improved Community Living Outcomes” (10 pages). For links to all four documents, click here.
STAT Offers Free E-Book on “Improving Care for the Aging Population”
“Aging populations can often feel lonely, need to make nutritional sacrifices, or find themselves unable to pay essential bills. Many also have difficulty navigating the health care system and government and community resources, all of which pose substantial challenges. This collection of STAT journalism tackles these and other critical issues facing an aging population. STAT reporters spotlight gaps in care, including the absence of tailored food delivery services for Medicare recipients and the hurdles faced in accessing insurance coverage due to AI-based denials.” To download STAT’s free e-book, click here.
SAMHSA Offers Behavioral Health Barometers, Region 1-10, Volume 7: Indicators as Measured in the 2021-2022 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health”
SAMHSA writes: “The ‘Behavioral Health Barometers, Region 1-10, Volume 7: Indicators as Measured in the 2021-2022 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health’ is a series of 10 reports that provide a snapshot of behavioral health in each of the 10 HHS regions. The reports [published in April 2024] present a set of substance use and mental health indicators as measured in the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH).” To download the report on the Indicators, click here. For a map of the SAMHSA Regional Offices, click here. (Courtesy of Jacek Haciak)
“Lost in Translation: A Narrative Review and Synthesis of the Published International Literature on Mental Health Research and Translation Priorities (2011–2023)”
The background of this study, published online on March 27, 2024, is that “Priority-setting in mental health research is arguably lost in translation. Decades of effort has led to persistent repetition in what the research priorities of people with lived-experience of mental ill-health are.” From the abstract, the conclusion is as follows: “One lived-experience research led survey was identified. Few studies reported lived-experience design and development involvement. Five of the seven papers reported responses, but no further progress on priorities being met was reported.” For the full paper, click here. (Courtesy of Nev Jones)
“Forced ≠ Treatment: Carceral Strategies in Mental Health”
“...there is a broad recognition that far too often people experiencing mental health challenges encounter the criminal legal system rather than accessing mental health supports. In response, many policymakers have championed policies that aim to divert people experiencing mental health challenges away from prisons and jails and into mental health treatment. However, some of these policies, particularly those involving forced treatment, rely on carceral tactics and replicate incarceration. The following brief analyzes state and local policies that adopt carceral approaches to mental health treatment.” For more information and to download the free 16-page report, published by the Center for Law and Social Policy, click here. (Courtesy of Joe Marrone via Jacek Haciak)
“We Gotta Stop Criminalizin’ Mental Illness” Developed by the University of Chicago
This report, subtitled “Experiences with Mental Health Crisis Response in Chicago,” was developed by a team of sociologists from the University of Chicago, who interviewed 23 residents of Chicago about their experiences with mental health crisis response from July through October 2023. To download the free 34-page report, click here. (Courtesy of Fran Hazam)
The Recent Cafe TA Center Newsletter, Focus 2.0, Issue 13, Highlights “When There’s a Crisis, Call a Peer”
A free 94-page manual published by the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, and subtitled “How People with Lived Experience Make Mental Health Crisis Services More Effective,” is the focus of Focus 2.0, Issue 13. The Bazelon Center writes: “As state and local governments seek alternatives to a police response to calls involving people with mental health disabilities or who are in crisis, stakeholders are asking critical questions about the effectiveness of alternative approaches. Among these are whether the alternative response will come quickly enough to keep people safe…There is an answer: Make the supports provided by people with lived experience serving as peer support workers, working in peer-led organizations, central to the delivery of mental health crisis services.” (The manual was featured in the February 2024 edition of the Key Update.) To download the free manual, click here. For the newsletter, click here.
CAFÉ TAC Offers Consumer Pathways to Inclusion and Engagement Model (CPIEM)
“The Consumer Pathways to Inclusion and Engagement Model (CPIEM) is a [138-page] guidebook created by peers, for peers, to help them develop the skills they need to turn their lived mental health experience into meaningful change in the mental health system of care.” For more about the guidebook, including a link to download it (or you can click on the link attached to the title, above), click here. A webinar to introduce the guidebook was presented on March 14, 2024. For a recording of the webinar, click here. (Jeremy Countryman writes: “Recordings of all of our webinars are at https://cafetacenter.net/tac-trainings/. Just scroll down to “Recent Trainings and Webinars.”)
A Digital Booklet Explains the UN’s “Principles for the Protection of Persons with Mental Illness and the Improvement of Mental Health Care”
MindFreedom International writes: “Monirul, a MindFreedom member in Bangladesh, has launched a website called MindfulRights in order to promote human rights in various fields in Bangladesh, including mental health care, and to raise public awareness of related issues within the country. Although the site is still a work in progress, it already offers educational resources, such as a digital booklet that Monirul has composed to explain the United Nations' Principles for the Protection of Persons with Mental Illness and the Improvement of Mental Health Care in simple terms...To access these resources, click on the links above.
“Is Psychiatry Working?” The BBC Offers a Series of Eight Episodes Organized Under This Topic
Besides “Is Psychiatric Working?” the topics covered on these half-hour podcasts are, broadly stated, Anxiety, Healing and Recovery, Therapy, Medication, Diagnosis, Detention, and Crisis. To listen to the free podcasts, click here.
Crestwood’s Recovery Resilience Solutions Offers “Welcome to Recovery Practices”
The latest podcast by Recovery Resilience Solutions is about “the power of a recovery-based welcoming practice.” Dr. Lori Ashcraft writes: “In this podcast on welcoming, I give you lots of ideas about how to welcome (not intake) people into your programs. It is so important to get this right because it’s the first and lasting impression the person has of both us and our program. We can set the stage for a solid working relationship, or for a struggle as you try to connect later on.” For a link to the podcast and more information about “Viva La Evolution,” click here.
“The Ethics of Survivor Research: Guidelines for the Ethical Conduct of Research Carried Out by Mental Health Service Users and Survivors”
“Drawing on the experience of survivors and service users, [this accessible manual] considers key issues such as informed consent and confidentiality with particular reference to mental health settings.” For more information and to download the free, 56-page manual, click here. (Courtesy of Konstantina Poursanidou)
WHO Publishes Operational Framework for Monitoring Social Determinants of Health Equity
The World Health Organization writes: “This Operational Framework for Monitoring Social Determinants of Health Equity provides countries with critical guidance on monitoring the social determinants of health–broadly defined as the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age, and people’s access to power, money and resources–and actions addressing them, and using data for policy action across sectors to improve health equity. The publication is meant as a resource for national governments and their partners.” For more information and to download the free 140-page manual, click here.
IAAPA Proposes a Pathway to End Coercive Psychiatry
Following up on the landmark report on “Mental Health, Human Rights and Legislation”–launched on October 9, 2023, by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations’ Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights–the International Association Against Psychiatric Assault (IAAPA) has issued a proposal to end coercive psychiatry. For details, click here. (Courtesy of Dan Fisher) To download the 208-page “Mental Health, Human Rights and Legislation: Guidance and Practice”—originally reported in the September 23 edition of the Key Update—click here.
SAMHSA’s Overdose Prevention and Response Toolkit
“SAMHSA’s updated Overdose Prevention and Response Toolkit provides guidance to a wide range of individuals on preventing and responding to an overdose. The toolkit also emphasizes that harm reduction and access to treatment are essential aspects of overdose prevention.” For more information and to download the free toolkit, click here.
“Embracing Authenticity: A Guide to Authenticity and Cultural Awareness at Work”
“This comprehensive guide is designed to support BIPOC employees, allies, and leadership in fostering a more inclusive and supportive workplace environment,” the New England MHTTC writes. “By recognizing and addressing the unique challenges faced by People of Color, promoting allyship, and empowering leadership, we can create a workplace where everyone feels valued, supported, and able to thrive. This guide provides practical strategies, exercises, and resources to enhance well-being and promote equity within your organization.” To download the free 65-page guide and to view a series of webinars for guidance and support for the use and implementation of the guide, click here.
“Study: To Reduce Jail Populations, Increase Mental Health Services in Communities”
A new study by researchers at George Mason University “concludes that U.S. jails are de facto mental health institutions, with nearly 10 times as many individuals with serious mental health conditions in prisons and jails than in state psychiatric hospitals. The study also found that access to affordable healthcare services and behavioral health treatment in the community changes how the jail is used and reduces the size of the jail population.” For more information and a link to the study, click here.”
“Solving Homelessness Through Better Information”
At the link below are six reports about how to address homelessness in the Portland, Oregon, region. Although the reports, by Homeless Strategic Initiatives of Portland, are geared specifically for the Portland area, many of their lessons are broadly applicable. For the reports, click here. (Courtesy of Jacek Haciak)
SAMHSA TIP 59: “Improving Cultural Competence”
“The primary objective of this TIP [Treatment Improvement Protocol] is to assist readers in understanding the role of culture in the delivery of behavioral health services (both generally and with reference to specific cultural groups).” For the free, 341-page manual, click here.
“The State of Mental Health in America”
“Millions of adults in the U.S. experience serious thoughts of suicide, with the highest rate among multiracial individuals,” according to Mental Health America’s report on “The State of Mental Health in America.” Among other “2023 Key Findings” is that “[o]ver half (54.7%) of adults with a mental illness do not receive treatment, totaling over 28 million individuals,” and “[o]ver 1 in 10 youth in the U.S. are experiencing depression that is severely impairing their ability to function at school or work, at home, with family, or in their social life.” In addition, “59.8% of youth with major depression do not receive any mental health treatment.” To download a free copy of the report, click here.
World Mental Health Report: Transforming Mental Health for All
“The World Mental Health Report: Transforming Mental Health for All is designed to inspire and inform better mental health for everyone everywhere. Drawing on the latest evidence available, showcasing examples of good practice from around the world, and voicing people’s lived experience, it highlights why and where change is most needed and how it can best be achieved. It calls on all stakeholders to work together to deepen the value and commitment given to mental health, reshape the environments that influence mental health, and strengthen the systems that care for mental health.” For the free, 296-page report by the World Health Organization (WHO), click here.
“Mental Health Crisis Services: Promoting Person-Centred (sic) and Rights-based Approaches”
The World Health Organization (WHO), which published this 80-page “Technical Package” in 2021, writes: “By showcasing good practice mental health services from around the world this guidance supports countries to develop and reform community-based services and responses from a human rights perspective, promoting key rights such as equality, non-discrimination, legal capacity, informed consent and community inclusion. It offers a roadmap towards ending institutionalization and involuntary hospitalization and treatment and provides specific action steps for building mental health services that respect every person’s inherent dignity.” For the manual, click here.
Frontiers in Psychology Adds to Its Archive of Articles About Open Dialogue
The latest addition to Frontiers in Psychology’s trove of articles about Open Dialogue is “Open Dialogue services around the world: a scoping survey exploring organizational characteristics in the implementation of the Open Dialogue approach in mental health services.” For the article, published online on November 10, 2023, click here. For all 21 articles, click here. (Courtesy of Ann Kasper)
Prison Activist Resource Center (PARC) Directory Offers Helpful Resources
“PARC mails a free national directory of resources to prisoners, their friends and family members. This year, we have expanded the content and the directory is now 28 pages listing nearly 300 organizations serving folks on the inside!! Thank you to all of our community partners for supporting the mailing of this directory.” For the PARC website, which includes a link to the Directory, click here.
WHO and UN Publish Landmark Report on “Mental Health, Human Rights and Legislation”
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations’ Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) have jointly issued an important report on “Mental Health, Human Rights and Legislation: Guidance and Practice.” To view a video about the launch, click here. To download the 208-page publication, click here. ACTION ALERT: Share it with elected officials and mental health policymakers! (Courtesy of Janet Paleo) (The October 9, 2023, launch of the joint publication was announced in the September 2023 edition of the Key Update.)
“The Lived Experience of Depression: a Bottom-up Review Co-written by Experts by Experience and Academics”
"This journey in the lived experience of depression can also help us to understand the nature of our own emotions and feelings, what is to believe in something, what is to hope, and what is to be a living human being." For the article, click here. (Courtesy of Ann Kasper)
Movement History of the Consumer/ Client/ Survivor/ Expatient/ Ex-Inmate/ User Community
This 647-page comprehensive history and timeline, mostly compiled by award-winning mental health advocate Pat Risser (b. 1952, d. 2016), begins: “The history of the Consumer/ Client/ Survivor/ Ex-patient/ Ex-Inmate/ User Community is deeply enmeshed in and with other civil and human rights movements. To understand the depth of this intertwining, it is necessary to cover the history of slavery, women, children, people with disabilities, education, labor and other factors that play a role in creating who we are today.” To download the document, click here. (Courtesy of Judene Shelley)
MHA Offers "Evidence for Peer Support"
For Mental Health America's nine-page fact sheet offering evidence of the benefits of peer support, click here.
Wellness Activity Manual Helps People Learn Healthy New Behaviors & Habits
The free, 64-page Wellness Activity Manual: A Guide for Group Leaders “focuses on helping people with mental health conditions learn new behaviors and habits to improve their personal wellness. Each lesson has been constructed as a group activity that maximizes learning through building positive interpersonal relationships and actively involving participants. The Wellness Group meets weekly for one hour. The manual contains nine lessons focused on physical, emotional, and intellectual wellness. Each lesson can be used as a stand-alone group or combined into a multi-session series.” For more information and to download the free manual, click here.
“A Manual for Coping with Extraordinary and Remarkable Experiences”
“Extraordinary and remarkable experiences should not interfere with your mood and daily functioning. This manual will help you to keep your extraordinary experiences manageable in daily life, although your extraordinary experiences may be annoying and intruding at times. You can work through this manual with your therapist…Solutions will be sought for your problems. The described method consists of a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy and an educational course.” For the free, 34-page manual, copyrighted in 2013 by Mark van der Gaag, Dorien Nieman, and David van den Berg, click here. (Courtesy of Yulia Mikhailova) Note: This manual has not been reviewed, so no judgment about its value should be inferred from its inclusion in this e-newsletter.
Lived Experience Leadership Offers Numerous Research Studies Focused on Peer Supporters
Lived Experience Leadership features the findings of 12 years of research studies focused on [the peer support] workforce in a range of settings, to foster a better understanding of 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.” For the website, click here.
International Peer Respite/Soteria Summit Offers Abundant Related Resources
For numerous resources about peer respites, Soteria, and related movements, click here.
“SAMHSA TIP 64: “Incorporating Peer Support into Substance Use Disorder Treatment Services”
“This TIP [Treatment Improvement Protocol’ supports learning about the key aspects, functions, and uses of Peer Support Services (PSS) in recovery from problematic substance use, which will help providers, supervisors, and administrators in SUD treatmen tprograms getter understand and respond to these changes.” To download the free, 301-page document, click here.
Resources for Supervisors of Peer Workers Offered by BRSS TACS and Pat Deegan
BRSS TACS writes: “This group of resources helps supervisors understand how to supervise peer workers in behavioral health services.” For details, click here. And the Northwest MHTTC offers a recorded webinar on ”How supervision can help peer specialists remain peer when working on clinical teams,” presented by Pat Deegan. For details, click here.
“Podcast: The Rise in Forced Treatment and Abusive Guardianships”
“[M]illions of Americans are subjected to psychiatric detention or forced treatment every year. Often well meaning family members are trying to ‘help,’ but end up traumatizing and permanently damaging their loved ones. Join us as investigative journalist Rob Wipond explains how most states have broadened their criteria for psychiatrically detaining someone far beyond ‘imminent harm’ and that as a practical matter, this could happen to almost anyone.” For the podcast, click here.
“Alternatives to Coercion in Mental Health Settings: A Literature Review”
This 214-page report was commissioned by the United Nations Office at Geneva to inform the report of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It was published in 2018 by the Melbourne Social Equity Institute. To download the free report, click here.
“Training of Lived Experience Workforces: A Rapid Review of Content and Outcomes”
“Recently, the lived and living experience (LLE) workforce in mental health and alcohol and other drugs (AOD) sectors has expanded,” researchers at La Trobe University and the Self Help Addiction Resource Center in Australia write. “Despite widespread benefit of this inclusion, some LLE practitioners have encountered personal and professional challenges in their workforce roles…[W]e present recommendations for improving training processes for this workforce.” For the article, published in Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services (Springer), click here.
“WHO’s New Series to Enhance the Meaningful Engagement of People with Lived Experience”
The World Health Organization’s “new ‘Intention to Action’ series is tackling both an evidence gap and a lack of standardized approaches on how to include people with lived experience into decision- and policy-making…The first publication—‘People power: Perspectives from individuals with lived experience of non-communicable diseases, mental health conditions and neurological conditions’—includes six detailed case studies from 12 individuals with lived experience of diverse health conditions.” For more information and a link to download the 80-page publication, click here. (Courtesy of Matthew Jackman)
“What Is Mental Illness?”
“This conversation between Justin Garson (philosopher), Nev Jones (community mental health researcher), and Marco Ramos (psychiatrist/historian)”--sponsored by The Philosopher–“will aim to offer a sense of the scope of what is at stake in our understanding of mental illness, considering the place of biology, society, histories of oppression, evolution, and lived experience in such an understanding.” For the video, click here. (Courtesy of Kevin Fitts)
“Optimizing Recovery Funding, Volumes 1 & 2”
“In 2021, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) provided the Peer Recovery Center of Excellence (PR CoE) with supplemental funding for a special project to identify and recommend best practices and strategies to optimize funding for high-quality and effective recovery support services. The result was 'Volume 1: Barriers to Acquiring Funding for Organizations in the Ecosystem of Recovery Volume' and 'Volume 2: Strategies for State Funding of Recovery Support Services.'” To download the full, 130-page report, click here.
Common Threads: Stories of Survival & Recovery from Mental Illness
Common Threads: Stories of Survival & Recovery from Mental Illness, a 108-page compendium, includes “tales of survival and recovery” by a number of Floridians. To quote from the Introduction, “Many of the people in these stories have lived significant portions of their lives in psychiatric institutions, and only through their strengths have they found their way back to the community…In these tales, we hear about the importance of education and peer support…” To download the free document, click here.
“Crisis Now” Offers a “Roadmap to Safe, Effective Crisis Care”
The goal of Crisis Now: Transforming Crisis Services—led by the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) and developed with the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, and RI International—is “to provide all communities a roadmap to safe, effective crisis care that diverts people in distress from the emergency department and jail by developing a continuum of crisis care services that match people’s clinical needs.” Among the resources offered on the website are SAMHSA’s 80-page “National Guidelines for Behavioral Health Crisis Care Best Practice Toolkit” (2020), an “Overview of Crisis Funding Sources Available to States and Localities” (last updated March 2, 2022), and assessment tools, such as “How Does Your Crisis System Rate?” The Crisis Now partners write: “Are you interested in adding your organization to the list supporting Crisis Now, or do you have questions? Reach out to us at info@crisisnow.com. For the website, click here.
“What Is the Meaning of Life?” This Free Online Collection Offers Answers
Excellence Reporter offers more than “1,200 articles-interviews on ‘What Is the Meaning of Life?’ written by renowned spiritual leaders, mindfulness experts, great thinkers and authors, elders, artists, musicians, CEOs, etc.” The contributors include such renowned figures as Bertrand Russell; Carl Jung; the Dalai Lama; Eleanor Roosevelt; Epicurus; Erich Fromm; Kahlil Gibran; Buckminster Fuller; Robert Louis Stevenson; and Ron Bassman, executive director of MindFreedom International. To browse the free compendium, click here.
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)
U.S. Surgeon General Creates Community Toolkit for Addressing Health Misinformation
"The U.S. Surgeon General’s Community Toolkit for Addressing Health Misinformation, developed in collaboration with the HHS Office of Evaluation Sciences (OES), provides specific guidance and resources for health care providers, educators, librarians, faith leaders, and trusted community members to understand, identify, and stop the spread of health misinformation in their communities." For information about the toolkit (a 22-page overview of health misinformation, and resources to stop it), and links to a “Talk to Your Community About Health Misinformation” Infographic, a “Health Misinformation Checklist” Infographic, and the Surgeon General's press release, click here.
“Psychiatrist with Philosophical Interests” Leads “Conversations in Critical Psychiatry,” a Psychiatric Times Series
Awais Aftab, who describes himself as a "psychiatrist with philosophical interests" in his Twitter bio, leads "Conversations in Critical Psychiatry," which, he says, "explores critical and philosophical perspectives in psychiatry and engages with prominent commentators within and outside the profession who have made meaningful criticisms of the status quo." Among those interviewed are Jim Gottstein, author of The Zyprexa Papers, on “The Fight for Pharma Accountability and Psychiatric Rights”; 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.
U.S. DOL Releases Guidance on FMLA Leave and Mental Health
The U.S. Department of Labor’s newly issued Fact Sheet #280 about the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) explains when eligible employees may take FMLA leave to address mental health conditions, and new Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) offers additional information. (Although the FMLA covers public and private employers nationwide, only those private employers who have 50 or more employees for at least 20 workweeks in a year are required to provide their eligible employees with FMLA leave.) For details, click here.
“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)
“New Federal Guidance for Alternatives to Police for People with Behavioral Health or Other Disabilities”
The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law and the Vera Institute have published a seven-page report entitled “New Federal Guidance for Alternatives to Police for People with Behavioral Health or Other Disabilities.” “Vera and the Bazelon Center agree with the new guidance, from the U.S. Departments of Justice (DOJ) and Health and Human Services (HHS), that ‘jurisdictions should not assume that the proper response to a crisis is always to send law enforcement.’” Boiling down the guidance, they write, “sending police in response to a mental health crisis where there is no immediate safety risk to the public is discriminatory and violates civil rights laws.” For the seven-page document, click here. (Courtesy of Jacek Haciak)
SAMHSA Publishes Results from the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH)
“This infographic accompanies the more comprehensive NSDUH annual national report. Together, they provide researchers, clinicians, policymakers, and the public with data that can be used to better understand and improve the nation’s behavioral health,” SAMHSA writes. For the 21-page infographic, click here. For the 162-page “Key Substance Use and Mental Health Indicators in the United States: Results from the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health,” click here.
“New Year’s Resolutions: Building Good Mental Health Habits”
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration recently published some suggestions about building good mental health habits. SAMHSA writes: “Setting New Year’s resolutions can be a positive way to focus on self-improvement, but it's important to approach them in a manner that promotes good mental health and well-being and maximizes our chances of sticking with them.” For SAMHSA’s guidance, click here. And for “Top 8 New Year's Resolutions to Make if You Have Anxiety: Making unrealistic New Year's resolutions can be damaging to your mental health. Here's how to do it right,” click here. And for “9 Mental-Health Resolutions for 2024, According to Therapists,” click here.
Two Mental Health Toolkits Can Help Develop, Maintain, and Expand Rural Mental Health Services
The Rural Health Information Hub offers the “Mental Health in Rural Communities Toolkit,” which “features evidence-based models, resources, and program examples for the successful development and implementation of mental health programs to serve rural communities,” and the “Rural Suicide Prevention Toolkit,” which “highlights innovative, evidence-based models and resources to develop and implement successful suicide prevention programs in rural communities.” For more about rural mental health, click here. (Courtesy of Amy Smith)
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 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 21, No. 6, November-December 2024. For content, reproduction or publication information, please contact Susan Rogers at selfhelpclearinghouse@gmail.com. Follow Susan on Twitter at @SusanRogersMH