The National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse is affiliated with the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion.
TO CONTACT: THE CLEARINGHOUSE: SELFHELPCLEARINGHOUSE@GMAIL.COM … SUSAN ROGERS: SUSAN.ROGERS.ADVOCACY@GMAIL.COM … JOSEPH ROGERS: JROGERS08034@GMAIL.COM
The Key Update is compiled, written, and edited by Susan Rogers, Director, National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse.
We Must Address the Social Determinants of Mental Health, Experts Say
“We need to focus on prevention. This means identifying the factors that contribute to mental illness and tackling them. A good place to start is social psychiatry,” according to a recent article in TheConversation.com. Citing a 1939 book, “Mental Disorders in Urban Areas,” the author reports that the study covered in the book “showed that poverty, combined with stress, chaos and isolation, was likely to lead to poor mental health.” Another study, reported in a 2007 book, Social Class and Mental Illness, noted that people “in the lower classes were more likely to receive invasive, somatic therapies. These included drugs, electroshock treatment and lobotomy. [People] from higher classes were more likely to receive psychoanalysis.” The author suggests introducing a universal basic income, and adds that “other progressive policies, ranging from reducing the working week to ensuring we all have ample time to commune with nature, could also make a difference.” For WHO’s explanation of the social determinants of mental health, click here. For “Social psychiatry could stem the rising tide of mental illness” in TheConversation.com, click here.
“The ADA at 30: Beyond the Law’s Promise”
To coincide with the 30th anniversary of when the ADA was signed into law, on July 26, 1990, The New York Times published a special section exploring “how the Americans With Disabilities Act has shaped modern life for people with disabilities in the 30 years since it was passed.” In an editorial, The New York Times wrote: “The act does more than enlarge the independence of disabled Americans. It enlarges civil rights and humanity, for all Americans.” To read the articles included in the special section, such as “Nothing About Us Without Us”: 16 Moments in the Fight for Disability Rights,” click here.
Should People in Mental Health Treatment Be Able to See Therapists’ Notes?
While the vast majority of individuals in treatment for mental health issues believe that access to their notes is beneficial, mental health professionals are not as certain, reports Psyche, a digital publication. While a very small percentage of people have found reading their notes unhelpful, “[a] study at an outpatient psychiatry center in Boston found that, after 20 months of open notes, patients reported better understanding of their mental health condition, increased recall about their care plan, and more knowledge about the potential side-effects of their medications.” Other studies have found similar outcomes. At the same time, “when it comes to mental health care, psychiatrists and clinical psychologists remain cautious,” Psyche reports. “Perhaps the prudent response, while we await further evidence, is the call to reimagine clinical notes: not just as a record for clinicians, but as a communication tool with patients…For many patients, access to notes can be hugely helpful, reducing stigma and improving care. In the new era of transparency, clinicians must adapt. And by treating patients like care partners, health professionals might find themselves empowered too.” For the Psyche article, click here. (Courtesy of Marie Verna)
For a Tribute to George Ebert, Share Your Memories of George and Mental Patients Liberation Alliance!
On August 23 and August 30, at 6 p.m. ET, share your memories of George Ebert and his more than 40 years of advocacy with the Mental Patients Liberation Alliance! Join in a collective reading of the Declaration of Principles (1982)! Your contributions will be edited into a video honoring George Ebert and his work. These video conferences are courtesy of Surviving Race: The Intersection of Injustice, Disability, and Human Rights. For the Declaration of Principles, adopted at the Tenth Annual International Conference on Human Rights and Against Psychiatric Oppression (1982), click here. For the historical documents of The Alliance, click here. For more information, click here. For the Zoom link for August 23, click here or enter this link in your browser: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86757448910. For the Zoom link for August 30, click here or enter this link in your browser: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83983111125. George also would welcome emails; write to georgeebert@yahoo.com. (At this writing, the Facebook heading indicates that the August 30 call will be at 11:30 p.m. The correct time of 6 p.m. is noted later in the item.)
Free Webinar: “National Practice Guidelines for Peer Specialists and Supervisors”
As part of its monthly webinar series, on August 25, 2020, at 2 p.m. ET, Doors to Wellbeing will present a webinar on “National Practice Guidelines for Peer Specialists and Supervisors.” “The purpose of the Guidelines for Supervisors is to educate supervisors about the core peer support values as applied in supervisory relationships. This webinar will describe the supervisor’s role and offer practical tips about how supervisors can help peer support specialists remain true to the values outlined in the National Practice Guidelines for Peer Supporters.” For information about the learning objectives and the presenters, and to register, click here.
New Publication Highlights Urgency of Decreasing Police Role in Lives of People with Mental Health Conditions; Other Cities, e.g., Dallas, Are Already on Board
The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law has released a new publication, "Defunding the Police" and People with Mental Illness, documenting the urgency of reducing the role of the police in the lives of people with mental health conditions. “In far too many communities,” the Bazelon Center writes, “police take the lead in responding to people with mental [health conditions] who are in crisis or in need, with tragic consequences, especially for Black people with mental [health conditions]…We must invest in public mental health systems, expanding their capacity to deliver community-based mental health services, housing assistance, substance use treatment, and income support. As we build capacity, we must heed the voices of people with mental [health conditions], including those who represent the racial, ethnic, gender, linguistic and other important types of diversity in our communities.” To download the free 13-page document, click here. For “As mobile mental health teams work to de-escalate crises, some warn their models still rely on police partnerships,” published in STAT, click here. For “For Mental Health 911 Calls, Dallas Found Success In Social Workers: Dallas had a disastrous history of police violence during emergency mental health calls. The RIGHT Care program shifted the power to clinicians and found success,” click here.
Free Webinar: “The Living Room: A Welcoming Space for Those in Crisis”; and Research Proves Peer Respite’s Benefits
As part of its Compassionate Approaches to Crisis webinar series, on August 27, 2020, at 2 p.m. ET, the National Empowerment Center will host a free 90-minute webinar on “The Living Room: A Welcoming Space for Those in Crisis.” The Living Room, in Framingham, Massachusetts, is a “welcoming space where people experiencing emotional distress can walk in and connect with a peer specialist on the spot,” the NEC writes. “[It] provides a 24-hour crisis response. No referral is necessary to visit this comfortable, home-like location, staffed entirely by trained, certified peer specialists. The Living Room creates an experience that is entirely voluntary and focused on respect, mutuality, and trust.” To register for the webinar, click here. For “Self-reliance and Belonging: Guest Experiences of a Peer Respite,” by Bevin Croft, Anne Weaver, and Laysha Ostrow, published in the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, click here. For more evidence confirming the benefits of peer-run crisis respites, click here.
Mark Your Calendars! An Online Global 14-Hour Festival: A Disorder 4 Everyone (AD4E)!
On September 18, 2020, from 4 a.m. ET to 6 p.m. ET, “AD4E is going online to bring you 14 continuous hours of inspiring content that challenges the culture of diagnosis and disorder! 14 hours of talks-poetry-interviews-presentations-videos-drama-panel-music, etc., all challenging the pathologizing of emotional distress. Dip in and out at your leisure. Some of it will be recorded (with the contributors’ permission) and added to the AD4E Youtube channel at a later date. Pay what you want: This is a fundraising event with a minimum fee of £1 to maximize accessibility. Please make a donation based on what you can afford.” For more information and/or to buy a ticket, click here. (Note: PayPal automatically changes the minimum payment in British pounds to the payment in U.S. dollars of $1.41.)
Researchers Seek to Learn How to Advance Service-User-involved Studies; Can You Help?
University of South Florida (USF) researchers, with funding from PCORI, are conducting in-depth phone interviews with individuals from multiple stakeholder groups; the interviews will focus on participants’ experiences with, and perspectives on, participatory behavioral health services research. Eligible participants must have had some involvement in a “participatory—involving stakeholders not as subjects but as collaborators, partners, or advisors—or user-led research project,” the researchers write. “The interviewer will ask you a series of open-ended questions about your experiences with participatory research and perspective on barriers, facilitators, and priorities for improvement and expansion.” After their interview, participants will be emailed a $50 gift card. For more information, visit https://www.pathedcollab.org/; IRB protocol number 001380. Questions? Ask Principal Investigator Dr. Nev Jones (genevra@usf.edu) or co-lead Dr. Linda Callejas (callejas@usf.edu).
Norwegian Study Provides First-Person Perspectives on Medication-Free Mental Health Treatment
“In 2016, the Western Norway Regional Health Authority started to integrate more evidence-based psychosocial interventions into the existing mental health care, emphasizing the right for persons with psychosis to choose medication-free treatment,” according to an open-access study published by BMC Psychiatry. “This change emerged from the debate on the effectiveness and adverse effects of the use of antipsychotic medication.” The researchers interviewed 10 individuals diagnosed with psychosis who were eligible for medication-free services. They found that “[i]ntegrating more evidence-based psychosocial interventions into existing mental health services facilitated learning experiences regarding the choice of treatment, particularly the discontinuation of medication, and appeared to support participants’ increased self-agency and motivation in their personal recovery processes.” For the study, click here. (Courtesy of Elizabeth Stone) For a Mad in America article about medication-free psychiatric treatment in Norway, published in the March 2017 edition of the Key Update, click here.
“Disability Advocacy, Once an Afterthought in Presidential Races, Gains New Traction”
“Advocates gained new traction during the campaign, pushing the full slate of Democratic candidates to discuss and define their stances on disability policies like never before,” STAT reported on August 14, 2020. “Amid social media pressure from activists, former Vice President Joe Biden, now the presumptive Democratic nominee, put out a full disability platform in May. Advocates say the platform—while not as comprehensive as they had hoped—marks a moment of significant progress after years of disability policy being treated as a political afterthought.” For the article, click here. (Courtesy of Kevin Fitts) (Note: For a project initiated by Illinois-based mental health advocate AJ French in 2016, which was reported in the January 2016 edition of the Key Update, click here.)
Save the Dates! NYAPRS to Host Virtual Conference in September!
NYAPRS writes: “Our program is entitled ‘Rise Up! Community, Connection, Culture,’ in recognition of the isolating consequences of social distancing and quarantine required by COVID-19 as well as our long overdue need to confront the pervasive impact of racism in ourselves, our systems and our society. At the same time, this year’s NYAPRS Conference will offer a special time to reflect and connect and to restore and replenish our spirits…You can also count on us to feature that unique spirit of celebration and lineup of very special events and speakers that is our trademark.” The conference will be held via Zoom on September 22 (day), September 24 (day and evening), September 29 (day and evening), and October 1 (day). More information will be posted on the www.nyaprs.org website as it becomes available.
Do You Need a Stress-Reliever in These Difficult Times? Here Are Some Great Ideas!
During these uncertain times, it may help to have some ways to relieve stress and boost self-confidence! So here are some suggestions! For “Can Going Green Improve Your Mental Health?” click here. (Courtesy of Marie Desrosiers) For “One Pandemic Stress Reducer You Should Put to Use: This self-help measure impacts anxiety, mood, and sex drive,” click here. For “A Yale Study Found that Breathing Techniques Can Improve College Students’ Mental Health,” click here. For “Five-Minute Coronavirus Stress Resets: How to get unstuck from your anxiety,” click here. For “Blue spaces: Why time spent near water is the secret of happiness” click here. For “Spending More Time On Your Hobbies Can Boost Confidence At Work—If They Are Sufficiently Different From Your Job,” click here. For “The Therapeutic Power of Gardening: Can anxious minds find solace working with plants? A therapist and her husband, a garden designer, say yes,” click here. (For more ideas about how to cope with pandemic-related stress, see the From “Previous Editions of the Key Update but Still Fresh” department, below the monthly Criminal Justice Reform Digest!)
“If Not Now, When? COVID-19, Lived Experience, and a Moment for Real Change”
In a call to action published in The Lancet on August 18, 2020, researchers with lived experience on three continents—Nev Jones, Louise Byrne, and Sarah Carr—have denounced “the gap between rhetoric and reality” in support for service-user involvement in mental health research: “Involvement efforts are too often accompanied by empty promises, insufficient funding or commitment, and superficial gestures (e.g., membership on advisory boards), with no real power to set agendas, influence decision making, or bring about structural change.” They suggest a number of remedies, and conclude: “Rather than bold language, we call for bold action.” For the article, click here.
If You Were Prescribed Suboxone, You May Be Eligible for a Payment, FTC Says
“The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sued the makers of Suboxone®, a prescription drug to treat opioid addiction, alleging they were preventing patients from choosing lower-priced generic versions of the drug. The companies agreed to pay $60 million to consumers to settle the FTC charges. That means if you got a prescription for Suboxone® film in the U.S. between March 1, 2013, and February 28, 2019, you may be eligible for a payment. Learn more and apply for a payment at ftc.gov/suboxone. The application deadline is December 1, 2020.” (Courtesy of Elizabeth Stone)
Mental Health Advocates Mourn Pioneering Mental Health Professional Bill Anthony
Bill Anthony, who died on July 15, 2020, was the founder of Boston University’s Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, and received a Distinguished Service Award in 1992 from the U.S. president for his efforts “in promoting the dignity, equality, independence, and employment of people with disabilities.” “Mental Health Advocates Laud Contributions of MH Pioneer,” published in the July 27th edition of Mental Health Weekly, included remembrances from NYAPRS executive director Harvey Rosenthal and National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse founder and executive director Joseph Rogers. Rosenthal called Anthony “an essential transformative force” in the field; and Rogers recognized Anthony’s early support of the self-help, mutual support, and advocacy movement. For the Mental Health Weekly (MHW) article, click here. For more information about MHW and other Wiley publications, click on this link: https://www.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/ For the Reading Post obituary, click here.
Tabou Magazine Invites Articles Written by Students with Disabilities
Tabou, whose stated aim “is to increase the access and inclusion of disabled students in higher education through our narrative-changing magazine, campaigns and mentoring,” is accepting submissions from disabled students. [Note: Tabou uses IFL (Identity-First Language) rather than PFL (People-First Language).] “Here at TABOU we are always looking for new submissions relating to disability and student life. If you have a specific article or idea you want to put forward, for either the magazine or our online content, then email us at taboudisabilitymag@gmail.com with the heading PITCH.” For details, click here.
“New 3-Digit Suicide Prevention Hotline Coming Following Unanimous Support By FCC”
“The FCC [has] voted unanimously to officially designate 988 as the nation’s newest three-digit telephone number, designed as a direct access line for suicide prevention and mental health crisis counselors,” Forbes reports. “[N]ew rules will be enacted requiring every telecommunications carrier and voice over Internet protocol (VOIP) service provider to send calls made to 988 directly to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline…However, the carriers and service providers have until July 16, 2022, to make the transition.” For the article, click here.
“Welcome to the Covid-19 Mental Health Struggle,” by Artist Teresa Watson
Teresa Watson, an artist with a self-disclosed mental health condition, “shares her strategy for self-care” in a series of tongue-in-cheek drawings, which begins: “I’m schizoaffective and stuck at home with my cat.” Next, a cat, who appears to be seriously pissed off, says, “What the hell is going on?” To read more, click here.
The August 2020 Digest of Articles about the Criminal Justice System, in Which Many Individuals with Mental Health Conditions Are Incarcerated (and the Key Update continues after this Digest)
For “Psychiatrist: America’s ‘Extremely Punitive’ Prisons Make Mental Illness Worse,” click here. For “Inmates witnessed a suicide attempt. They received coloring pages instead of counseling,” click here. For “Man remains stuck in a forensic mental health system some say is biased against Black people: Spent 2 years in hospital after psychotic episode led to his 1st criminal charges,” click here. For “Ambitious Mental Health Training for Cops: Basic mental health first aid training is de rigueur in many police forces. Tucson, Arizona, takes its approach further,” click here. For “COVID, cash bail and ‘drive-by therapy’: a deadly combination,” click here. For “Why It’s Not So Simple to Arrest the Cops Who Shot Breonna Taylor,” click here. For “Everything You Know About Mass Incarceration Is Wrong,” click here. For “Police Should Not Respond to People in Emotional Distress/Crisis: The Urgent Need for Non-Coercive Supports and Services,” click here. For “Inside San Quentin prison, you sit and wait until covid-19 comes for you,” click here. For “Where the Sick Get Sicker and the Sane Are Driven Mad: Behind Bars,” click here. For “Criminal record will no longer bar people outright from seeking occupational licenses in R.I.,” click here. For “Support For Defunding The Police Department Is Growing. Here’s Why It’s Not A Silver Bullet. Past budget cuts have had unintended consequences. Now, proponents say it’s time to fundamentally reimagine the role of the police,” click here. For “Mayor London Breed Announces Roadmap for New Police Reforms. Additional reforms will focus on eliminating the need for police to be first responders for non-criminal situations and changing hiring, promotional, training, and disciplinary systems,” click here. For “They’ve been granted parole. So why can it take years for them to get out of prison? The Department of Corrections sometimes doesn’t release prisoners until long after they’re approved for parole. Many then are sent back for minor missteps,” click here. For “There’s already an alternative to calling the police: A 31-year-old program in Eugene, Oregon, is a model in de-escalating situations that could end with law enforcement violence,” click here. (Note: The July 2020 edition of the Key Update included a story about this program: “‘CAHOOTS': How Social Workers And Police Share Responsibilities In Eugene, Oregon.” For that story, click here.) For “Unarmed specialists, not LAPD, would handle mental health, substance abuse calls under proposal,” click here. For “ ‘It Was An Execution’: Nicolas Chavez Was On His Knees When Police Killed Him. His Father Wants Answers. The Houston shooting has sparked more questions about use of force and what many experts call the failed promise of police body cameras,” click here. For “Federal judge tosses excessive force suit against five Dallas officers in Tony Timpa case: Timpa's family alleges that the officers, four of whom remain on the force, killed him in 2016 by using an improper prone restraint. But the judge says the five are protected by the ‘qualified immunity’ doctrine,” click here. For “Alabama’s 13 state prisons are grotesque chambers of horror,” click here. For “Can Jurors Save the Justice System,” click here. For “The War on Drugs and Mass Incarceration,” click here. For “Your Local Jail May Be a House of Horrors,” click here. For “The Junk Science Cops Use to Decide You’re Lying: Leaked documents detail law enforcement trainings in lie detection techniques that have been discredited by scientists,” click here. For “We Should Still Defund the Police: Cuts to public services that might mitigate poverty and promote social mobility have become a perpetual excuse for more policing,” click here. For “In Prison, Learning Magic by Mail: A deck of cards cut from milk cartons. A wand made with medical tape. How a group of inmates learned ‘the magic of magic,’” click here. For “Feds demand sweeping change at Hampton Roads Regional Jail in rare court action,” click here. For “When the Disenfranchised Use Counter-Narratives for Justice: Allissa Richardson, a pioneer in mobile journalism, discusses the emergence of smartphones and social media as tools to fight back against the mistreatment of marginalized citizens by law enforcement,” click here.
FROM PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF THE KEY UPDATE BUT STILL FRESH!
For Your Safety in the COVID-19 Era, Register to Vote by Mail!
In these uncertain times, with predictions of a “second wave” of COVID-19 this fall, it makes sense to vote by mail! You still have time to register before the presidential election, on November 3! For a Brennan Center for Justice article about the importance of voting by mail, click here. For the U.S. government website providing voter registration deadlines in every state and territory, click here. Have you registered yet?
“How to Stay Mentally Healthy During the Coronavirus Pandemic”
“There’s a lot of advice being offered right now about how to keep yourself physically healthy during the coronavirus pandemic, such as washing your hands and practicing social distancing. But managing mental health during this time is just as vital to your overall well-being…Fortunately, there are steps you can take to improve your mental health right now even if you’re social distancing,” writes VeryWellMind.com. “Despite [the] ongoing uncertainty of the situation, take small steps every day to address your emotional needs.” For the article, which includes many links to additional information, click here. And for a related article, “10 Ways to Ease Your Coronavirus Anxiety,” click here.
CDC and BBC Offer Advice on Stress and Coping During the Coronavirus Pandemic
“Coronavirus has plunged the world into uncertainty and the constant news about the pandemic can feel relentless,” the BBC writes. “All of this is taking its toll on people's mental health, particularly those already living with conditions like anxiety and OCD. So how can we protect our mental health?” To read more, click here. The CDC writes: “The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be stressful for people. Fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children. Coping with stress will make you, the people you care about, and your community stronger.” For the CDC advice on managing stress and anxiety during this difficult time, click here.
A Service-User-Led Survey of “Experiences of the Intersections of Psychosis, Difficult Events, and Trauma” Seeks Participants with Firsthand Experience
A study developed by researchers at the University of South Florida “aims to better understand the relationships between prior experiences of trauma or adversity and experiences such as hearing voices, unusual beliefs and paranoia, as well as the ways in which these experiences themselves can contribute to trauma or distress.” The researchers, who themselves have lived experience, are seeking respondents “who self-identify as having current or prior experiences that would conventionally be labeled psychosis.” The anonymous survey takes approximately 15 minutes to complete; every 10th respondent will be compensated with a $50 gift card, up to five gift cards. Questions? Contact Dr. Nev Jones at genevra@usf.edu. For more information and/or to participate, click here.
“Mapping the Disability Experience: Share Your Stories”
“We invite you to draw a map of your neighborhood or environment to capture how the coronavirus pandemic has impacted (or not) your use and understanding of space,” researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago write. “This can include drawings/images of your home, your neighborhood, your city or beyond. Maps can come in many forms, styles, perspectives, and mediums. We are interested in collecting these maps to capture and better understand the experiences of disability and the environment during the coronavirus pandemic.” Submissions will be accepted through June 30, 2020. For more information or to participate, click here. Questions? Contact Yochai Eisenberg, PhD, yeisen2@uic.edu (Courtesy of Elizabeth Stone)
Hearing Voices Network Is Now Hosting Online Groups
“There are now ONLINE opportunities to connect, share experiences, and find mutual support,” the Hearing Voices Network (HVN) writes. “These groups are accessible via web-based platforms and by phone…Online groups are specifically for those with personal lived experience with hearing voices, seeing visions, and/or negotiating alternative realities. They are voice-hearer facilitated. With further questions and for details on how to access the group[s], please email info@hearingvoicesusa.org.” To read this announcement online and for more information, click here. For the HVN’s recorded discussion on how to bring groups online, click here. (Courtesy of Jacek Haciak)
Have You Ever Smoked, Drunk, Vaped, or Used Other Drugs? Or Do You Now? New Zealand COVID-19 Study Is Now Open to US Residents
“We want to find out how people are coping [during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown],” writes the New Zealand-based Centre of Research Excellence: Indigenous Sovereignty & Smoking. “We are especially interested in adults aged 18 and over who, before lockdown, regularly drank alcohol, smoked or used other tobacco products, or other drugs. We also want to hear from people who have taken up smoking or drinking or other drugs during this frightening time.” The study has been approved by the US-based independent review board SolutionsIRB and is now open to US residents. “The study website includes helpful Coping in Lockdown tips, tips on Dealing with Cravings, and information on alternatives to smoking tobacco.” To participate or for more information, click here.
Survey Seeks Respondents Who Are in Administrative/Leadership Positions in the Mental Health Field
If you are in an administrative/leadership position in the mental health arena, “the Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry (GAP) Committee on Psychiatric Administration and Leadership invites you to participate in the International Survey on Administrative Psychiatry. The survey has two purposes: 1. To identify the concerns and needs of mental health professionals/psychiatrists in administrative and leadership positions. 2. To determine training needs in administrative psychiatry. We ask you to complete this brief, [15- to 20-minute] questionnaire to help us in developing recommendations for action. We also want to let you know that, if you fill out this questionnaire, you permit the committee to use your anonymous data for scientific work.” Peer providers are included. For the survey, click here.
Courtesy of Oryx Cohen
TU Collaborative Hosts Free Storytelling Workshops
The Temple University (TU) Collaborative on Community Inclusion is hosting free storytelling workshops every Tuesday (2 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET) and Thursday (2 p.m. to 4 p.m. ET). For workshop information, email Kyra at kyra.baker@temple.edu. In a related initiative, the TU Collaborative wants to hear your story! For the link, click here.
Free Resources for Peer Worker Supervisors Are Posted on the iNAPS Website
The International Association of Peer Supporters (iNAPS) has posted an array of resources for supervisors of peer support staff. The sources of the 18 disparate resources include the Transformation Center, the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD), the Café TA Center, the Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services (DBHIDS), the Carter Center, the Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network, SAMHSA-HRSA and the Center for Integrated Health Solutions, and other organizations and individual experts. For the peer support supervision resources, click here.
If You Have Experienced Psychosis, “Psychosis Beyond the Box” Wants to Hear From You.
“Psychosis Beyond the Box” seeks to gather anonymous descriptions of “aspects of psychosis that are often neglected, such as felt presences, visual or quasi-visual experiences, and alterations of space, time or distance,” as well as strategies to help with any distressing or challenging aspects of the experiences. The narratives will be compiled and shared in early psychosis programs and other service settings across the U.S. A major aim of the project—which is not a research project—is “to validate the diverse range of things people with psychosis experience, and help people, especially young adults experiencing psychosis for the first time, feel less alone and isolated (in these experiences).” For more information about the project, based at the University of South Florida, or to share your story, click here. Questions? Write to Nev Jones (genevra@usf.edu) or ShannonPagdon@gmail.com.
“Experiences with Hospitalization” Survey Seeks Participants
“The purpose of this survey is to help us understand people's lived experience with voluntary and involuntary treatment because of suicidal thoughts. It was created by people with lived experience…We are planning to use this information to facilitate discussions with suicidologists and the suicide prevention community about the impact of the use of these interventions, particularly within marginalized populations. We feel the voice of people with lived experience with these interventions has not had adequate opportunity to be heard, and hope that by completing this survey anonymously, people who have been most impacted can find a safe way to share their experiences. Please note that this is not a research project.” For more information and/or to participate, click here. (Courtesy of Leah Harris)
International Survey on Antipsychotic Medication Withdrawal Seeks Respondents
“Have you taken antipsychotic medication (such as Zyprexa, Seroquel, Abilify, Risperdal, Haldol, Geodon, Stelazine, and others), for any condition or diagnosis, with or without other medications? And did you ever stop taking antipsychotics, or try to stop taking them? Are you 18 years or older? If yes, you can take this survey about antipsychotic withdrawal and attempts to withdraw, including if you stopped taking them completely or if you tried to come off and still take them. The survey aims to improve mental health services by better understanding medication withdrawal. Lead researcher is Will Hall, a therapist and Ph.D. student who has himself taken antipsychotics. Service users/survivors/consumers from around the world also gave input. The study is sponsored by Maastricht University in the Netherlands; co-sponsors include the International Institute for Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal. Questions? Please contact will.hall@maastrichtuniversity.nl.” For more information or to take the survey, click on www.antipsychoticwithdrawalsurvey.com
NIMH Launches Study of How COVID-19 Stressors Affect Mental Health Over Time
“Researchers at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) are conducting an online research study to learn about how stressors related to the COVID-19 virus affect mental health over time,” NIMH writes. “We hope to better understand the experiences of participants during this difficult time. Participation involves completing online questionnaires every two weeks, for six months. The questionnaires take about 20 minutes to complete. You must be at least 18 years old to participate. Participation is voluntary, and you may withdraw at any time. Compensation is not provided.” Questions? Call 240.665.0697 or email NIMHResearchVolunteer@nihg.gov. For more information and/or to begin participating, click here. (Courtesy of Jacek Haciak)
Virtual Group Is Launched to Advance Peer Research Capacity, Leadership, and Involvement
Nev Jones, Ph.D., and Emily Cutler, a doctoral candidate, have launched a listserv dedicated to building research capacity, leadership, and involvement among peers, survivors, and service users. Dr. Jones, assistant professor, Department of Mental Health Law & Policy, University of South Florida, was part of the team that developed “User/Survivor Leadership & Capacity Building in Research: White Paper on Promoting Engagement Practices in Peer Evaluation/Research (PEPPER),” published by the Lived Experience Research Network. For the white paper, click here. Anyone interested in joining the virtual group can email Nev at nev.inbox@gmail.com.
Do You Supervise Peer Support Workers? Then Researchers Have Some Questions for You
Researchers in the University of South Florida’s Department of Psychiatry and at Magellan Health are investigating the backgrounds, training, and experiences of individuals who currently supervise at least one peer support worker in a behavioral health setting or agency. “To the best of our knowledge, this will be the first comprehensive research study of the landscape of peer support supervision practices in the United States,” writes Dr. Nev Jones, the primary investigator of the study (Protocol Number 00040223). Participants must be at least 18 years old and work in the United States or U.S. territories. An online survey lasting approximately 10 minutes will ask about respondents’ backgrounds, training and preparation for supervision, perspectives and practices, and views on barriers and facilitators to high-quality supervision. There is no monetary compensation. Questions? Contact Dr. Nev Jones (genevra@health.usf.edu) or the co-primary investigator, Dana Foglesong (dfoglesong@magellanhealth.com). To access the survey, click here.
Mad In America Invites You to Submit Your Personal Story (Within Certain Guidelines)
Mad In America writes: “A ‘personal story’ is defined as your story of being in relationship to psychiatry and/or the mental health system, whatever that means to you. It might involve your opinions and analysis of what happened to you, as well. It can be about a specific event, or about your overall journey, provided it fits the length requirements (1,500 to 3,000 words) and has a narrative arc. The piece should be about your personal experiences, not psychiatry or the mental health system in general. Submissions should fall under the theme of rethinking psychiatry and the mental health system, and should be original works not previously published elsewhere. For examples of the types of stories we publish, view our personal stories archive here.” For more information and/or to submit a personal story, click here.
Doors to Wellbeing Offers “State Selfies: A Picture of Peer Services Reported by Peers”
Doors to Wellbeing’s “Peer Album” is a directory of nearly 600 peer-run organizations throughout the U.S. They invite updates and offer instructions for providing them and add, “If your entry has not made this first draft, we encourage you to re-submit.” For the 158-page directory, click here.
Disclaimer: The Clearinghouse does not necessarily endorse the opinions and opportunities included in the Key Update.
About The Key Update
The National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse is now affiliated with the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion!
The Key Update is the free monthly e-newsletter of the National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse. Volume 17, No. 2, August 2020. For content, reproduction or publication information, please contact Susan Rogers at selfhelpclearinghouse@gmail.com. Follow Susan on Twitter at @SusanRogersMH