The National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse is affiliated with the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion.
TO CONTACT: THE CLEARINGHOUSE: SELFHELPCLEARINGHOUSE@GMAIL.COM … SUSAN ROGERS: SUSAN.ROGERS.ADVOCACY@GMAIL.COM … JOSEPH ROGERS: JROGERS08034@GMAIL.COM
The Key Update is compiled, written, and edited by Susan Rogers, Director, National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse.
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NOTE: The "FROM PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF THE KEY UPDATE BUT STILL FRESH!" Department, which is directly below the monthly Criminal Justice Digest, includes items that had been posted "above the fold" in earlier editions but are still relevant. These include ongoing research studies that are still seeking participants, as well as upcoming webinars and conferences, and other items of continued interest. Don't miss it!
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Looking For an Effective Mental Health App? The NY Times Offers Guidance
There are thousands of mental health apps, “but not all of them are safe or effective,” The New York Times writes. They are not a substitute for therapy, “and especially not if you have impairing symptoms.” Also, “most mental wellness apps are not subject to government oversight. Thus, some apps make unsubstantiated marketing claims” and/or “offer inaccurate and potentially harmful information…In addition, there is no requirement that all wellness apps conform to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act” (HIPAA). In fact, one study “found 29 of the 36 top-ranked apps for depression and smoking cessation shared user data to Facebook or Google, but only 12 accurately disclosed this in their privacy policies.” Two websites that evaluate mental health apps are Mind Apps and One Mind PsyberGuide. For The New York Times article--which includes some recommendations of helpful apps, including those that are free--click here.
Free Webinar: “The Role of a Peer within a Clinical Team,” with Pat Deegan, PhD
On May 3, 2022, at 1 p.m. ET, peer movement activist Pat Deegan will present a 90-minute webinar on “The Role of a Peer within a Clinical Team.” “Peer specialists are not clinicians, yet work as members of clinical teams. What are the role responsibilities that colleagues can expect peer specialists to fulfill? What are signs of drift from the role of peer specialist and what does assimilation into clinical look like? Pat Deegan, PhD, will discuss the unique and unduplicated contribution of peer specialists working as members of clinical teams. This webinar[—sponsored by the SAMHSA-funded Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network—]will be relevant to not just peer specialists but to all members of the clinical team.” To register, click here.
MFI to Host Judi's Room on “Informed Consent: Forcing Doctors to Warn Their Patients About Psychiatric Drugs"
On May 4, 2022, at 6 p.m. ET, MindFreedom International (MFI) will host a two-hour Judi's Room discussion on “Informed Consent: Forcing Doctors to Warn Their Patients About Psychiatric Drugs." A featured presenter will be Roxanne Stewart-Johnson, who has launched "a campaign to introduce a bill into the Ontario House of Parliament mandating that all Canadian medical providers who prescribe ‘anti-psychotics’ fully inform their patients of the risks associated with those drugs in advance of treatment." Roxanne is "a mother of two who documented her dramatic flight from Jamaica to avoid forced psychiatric drugging, then documented the extraordinary legal battle she waged to win asylum and permanent residency in Canada." For more information and to register, click here.
CAFE TAC to Host Mental Health Cross-Disability Community of Practice on May 4, 2022
"The CAFÉ TA Center invites you to join a conversation that will explore the intersection of psychiatric disabilities and intellectual or developmental disabilities, including common experiences and priorities, and ways to develop a shared vision of person-centered systems of care. This conversation began with a webinar that was hosted on March 30. For the recording, click here. It continues in a Community of Practice that met on April 6th and April 20th, and will resume on Zoom at 2 p.m. ET on May 4, 2022. For more information and the Zoom link, click here.
Free Webinars: Disability Rights California to Present Two Peer-focused Webinars
On May 3, 2022, at 4 p.m. ET (1 p.m. PT), Disability Rights California (DRC) will present a free webinar on “Perspectives on Mental Health: A Peer Discussion”; and on May 10, 2022, at 2 p.m. ET (11 a.m. PT), DRC will present "Peer Self-Advocacy Program: Sharing Our Unique History." About the May 3rd webinar, DRC writes: "In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, we have invited a speaker to share [their] story of hope and affirm that having a mental illness is not a barrier to living a fulfilled life...This webinar is presented from a peer perspective (original emphasis)." And on May 10, DRC will present “Peer Self-Advocacy Program: Sharing Our Unique History.” DRC writes: "Join us as we share about the history, accomplishments and future goals of the Peer Self-Advocacy Program. In addition to our self-advocacy services, we will describe our work with the California Memorial Project (CMP) and our efforts to inform people about individuals with mental health and developmental disabilities who lived and died in state institutions..." For more information and to register for the May 3rd webinar, click here. For more information and to register for the May 10th webinar, click here.
Survey Seeks Respondents Who Have Taken Mental Health Courses Involving Their Own Diagnoses
Have you taken a mental health course that covers a diagnosis you have? If so, you are invited to participate in a brief, anonymous, online survey--designed by a University of Pittsburgh MSW student--about what it's like for students with lived experience to study their own diagnoses in a classroom. The survey covers students' experiences of studying such subjects as "abnormal psychology," "psychopathology," and diagnosis and assessment when their own diagnoses are covered. "The goal of the project is to better understand what it feels like to take courses in which someone’s diagnosis is being taught/defined/discussed. There is currently no literature or reporting on the experiences of students in the above circumstances, or the associated impact." Interested? Please click here. Questions? Please email the project lead, Charlie Clement, at cjc204@pitt.edu
Free Webinar: TU Collaborative’s Parenting Through Leisure Series Continues May 5
On May 5, 2022, at 1 p.m. ET, the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion will continue its Parenting Through Leisure webinar series with its second one-hour webinar, which will focus on planning family community participation. The TU Collaborative writes: “This webinar series features strategies parents who experience mental health issues can use to spend quality time with their children, and ways to use family leisure to improve connection and communications.” The second webinar will cover “how to identify family interests, strategies for overcoming barriers, and how to focus on and take advantage of facilitators.” For more information and to register, click here.
Free Webinar: "Working Through Psychosis and Extreme States: An Alternative to Suppression"
On May 11, 2022, at 12 p.m. ET, ISPS-US (International Society for Psychological and Social Approaches to Psychosis-US Chapter) will present a 90-minute webinar on "Working Through Psychosis and Extreme States: An Alternative to Suppression." ISPS-US writes: "Mainstream mental health treatment for 'psychosis' in the U.S. focuses on the suppression of non-ordinary experiences, which are framed as symptoms of illness. But is this the most helpful approach?...In this webinar, Gogo Ekhaya Esima and Emma Goude will discuss the very different possibility of 'working through.' Instead of suppressing them, Gogo and Emma have found ways to engage with their extreme experiences, to find constructive meaning in them, and then to rebuild their lives in ways that are enriched by all that they have gone through." For more information and to register, click here. (Courtesy of Kevin Fitts)
Free Conference: First Annual (Virtual) African American Behavioral Health Conference to Be Held May 18, 2022
The theme of the first annual (virtual) African American Behavioral Health Conference is Rise Above: Resilience and Recovery. The conference, based in Portland, Oregon, will be held via Zoom on May 18, 2022, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET (8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT). The topics covered include “Racism as a Public Health Crisis,” “My Story and How I Am Using My Position to RISE ABOVE Barriers to recovery,” “SUD and Domestic Violence Within the African American Community,” and “DCJ Through the Lens of the African American Program,” followed by an African-American panel discussion. The MC will be Larry Turner, president of Fresh Out Community-based Reentry Program. Questions about the conference? Contact Larry Turner at lasa1230na@gmail.com. To register, click here. (Courtesy of Jacek Haciak)
Online Symposium Asks, "How Can We Imagine the Future of Psychedelic Therapies?"
From May 23 through May 26, 2022, the Ethnopharmacologic Search for Psychoactive Drugs (ESPD) will present a four-day livestream symposium. ESPD writes: "How can we imagine the future of psychedelic therapies? How can ancestral knowledge bring depth to scientific research? What does sustainability look like for plant medicines through the indigenous perspective?" For the program, click here. (The times are in GMT+1.) For the fee schedule, click here. (Minimum contribution: $10; contributions over $250 are tax-deductible. A limited number of scholarships are available; to request a scholarship, email espd@mckenna.academy.) (Courtesy of Kevin Fitts)
Free Webinar: "If You Think Work Is Bad for People with Mental Illness, What About Poverty, Unemployment, and Social Isolation?"
On May 24, 2022, at 12 p.m. ET, NYAPRS will host a webinar presented by Joe Marrone, who, NYAPRS writes, over 20 years ago “emerged as a leading proponent for employment for people with psychiatric disabilities with these famous words: ‘If You Think Work Is Bad for People with Mental Illness, What About Poverty, Unemployment, and Social Isolation?’…NYAPRS is very pleased to host Joe in a new webinar by the same name in which he'll advance strategies on how to avoid long-term unemployment and to promote employment as a key component of recovery within systems of care. This webinar is for everyone, including people looking for employment, direct care providers and administrators.” To register, click here.
Free Webinar: "Ethics in Peer Support," to Be Sponsored by Doors to Wellbeing
On May 31, 2022, at 2 p.m. ET, Doors to Wellbeing will present a free, one-hour webinar on "Ethics in Peer Support." Doors to Wellbeing writes: "This webinar is designed as an overview, from a national level, of ethics as they pertain to peer specialists around the country. Some state specifics will be discussed as information is available. It will cover how to draw on our ethical knowledge to navigate common difficult situations facing peer specialists." The presenter will be Crystal Gery-Agee, a recovery specialist with the Northwest Florida Health Network. For more information and to register, click here.
2022 N.A.P.S. Conference, 10/19-21, Issues Its Call for Proposals!
The 2022 conference of the National Association of Peer Supporters will be held October 19-21, 2022, at the Sheraton DFW (at the Dallas/Ft. Worth International Airport). The conference theme is The Value and Values of Peer Support. "The 2022 N.A.P.S. conference will be the first time we gather in person since 2019. I can't wait to see you there! Join us for networking, education, and celebration of each other," said Jessi Davis, N.A.P.S. board president. For the Call for Proposals, click here.
South Southwest MHTTC First Episode Psychosis (FEP) Conference on June 1-3, 2022
"We invite those with a commitment to transforming FEP care, including those with lived experience, family members, providers, and researchers, to join us for the South Southwest MHTTC First Episode Psychosis Conference 2022 to celebrate successes and imagine a future of continued growth and accountability on June 1-3, 2022, either in person in Austin, TX ($75) or virtually (free). This event[—whose theme is Re-envisioning FEP Services with Youth and Young Adults—]will include keynotes, panels, informal networking, and collaborative dialogue groups. We place particular emphasis on developments related to diversity of perspective, including incorporating lived experiences, marginalized or minoritized groups, and other positionalities (culture, class, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, childhood lived experiences, contexts, worldview, perspectives, etc.). We hope to see you there!" For registration and more information, click here.
"Announcing the Publication of the First Issue of Including Disability, one of the Ontario Tech Open Access Journals following the 2021 Disability Summit"
"This free, open-access journal (click here) is devoted to facilitating dialogue across disabilities, disciplines, professions, identities, and boundaries. It welcomes scholarly research, personal reflections, historical essays, policy analysis, artistic creations, educational innovations, professional best practices, and any other expressions that articulate, illuminate, and improve understandings of disability and the experiences of disabled people. Including Disability brings the ethos of the Disability Summit into a convenient electronic journal, which will serve as a platform for ongoing interaction and cross-pollination for research, analysis, invention, and expression about disability. This inaugural issue of Including Disability features expanded versions of the keynote talks by Dr. Ashley Shew and Dr. Angel Love Miles from the 2021 Disability Summit among its contents. If you have suggestions, questions or want to help, the editors of Including Disability can be reached at includingdisabilityjournal@gmail.com. Feel free to tag us in any of your twitter posts at @UMDDisabilityS1."
NAMI to Host a Virtual Conference June 14-16, 2022
The theme of virtual “NAMIcon,” June 14-16, 2022, is “Together for Mental Health.” NAMI writes: “NAMICon will offer “Robust programming with 30+ workshops built around five tracks focused on mental health research and treatment; youth and young adults; transforming crisis response; promoting equitable mental and emotional support for underserved communities; and best practices for NAMI State Organizations and NAMI Affiliates.” The cost is “only $10 for students and peers, $15 for NAMI members and $25 for non-members.” For the full schedule and to register, click here.
Three Articles Focus on the Importance of Service Users in Mental Health Research; a Fourth Article Welcomes a New "Lived Experience" Feature in Psychiatric Services
Three articles, published over the last 12 years, highlight the value of service users in mental health research. In "Mental Health Service User Leadership in Research," the authors write: "Research by service users has produced new knowledge and contributed to the development of innovative methods of improving the lives and advancing the human rights of people with mental health problems. Service user research has also contributed to changing how mental ill health is conceptualized: it has challenged a model of mental illness as simply deficit and pathology..." The other articles support and supplement this position. For "Mental Health Service User Leadership in Research," by Felicity Callard and Diana Rose, click here. For "Service user leadership in priority setting: an end in itself as well as a means to an end," by Dr. Nev Jones, click here. And for "Patient and public involvement in health research: Ethical imperative and/or radical challenge?" by Diana Rose, click here. In addition, in "Lived Experience Leadership in Peer Support Research as the New Normal," Dr. Jones welcomes Psychiatric Services’ new "Lived Experience Inclusion and Leadership" column. "To the best of my knowledge," she writes, "[this] column is also the first peer-reviewed publication on peer support in the journal, led and coauthored in its entirety by lived experience leaders within the peer support movement, most of whom have also worked as peer specialists." For the article, click here.
Free Webinar: “Recognizing the Inner Voice: Breaking the LGBTQIA+ Conversation Barrier”
On June 1, 2022, at 12 p.m. ET, NephU and PsychU will host a free webinar entitled “Recognizing the Inner Voice: Breaking the LGBTQIA+ Conversation Barrier.” They write: “The month of June is Pride Month, and throughout the world the LGBTQIA+ communities come together to celebrate sexual and gender diversity, and to raise awareness of the ongoing pursuit for equality. NephU and PsychU will be joining the community awareness efforts. During this webinar, our speakers begin by sharing perspectives of coming out, identifying fears of self-disclosure, and using affirmative language to improve personal and professional interactions with LGBTQIA+ individuals.” For more information and to register, click here.
“Peer Worker-supported Transition from Hospital to Home—Outcomes for Service Users”
To study how peer support workers might help individuals in their transition from psychiatric hospitalization back to the community, researchers in New South Wales, Australia, established a statewide Peer Supported Transfer of Care (Peer-STOC) program “to enhance recovery-focused supports available during this transition period.” Analyzing the results of data from 82 questionnaires and 58 individual in-depth interviews, the researchers concluded that the Peer-STOC program “enhanced people’s experience in hospital, eased their transition from hospital and assisted with people recovering community-based relationships, activities, and routines.” They added that "[t]hese findings...evidence that other workers within the mental health system recognize the positive impact that this peer-delivered program has had on the recovery outcomes of service-users.” For the abstract of the article, published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, cclick here. (Courtesy of Karen Machin via Jacek Haciak)
Free Book: Reimagining Crisis Support: Matrix, Roadmap and Policy
Reimagining Crisis Support: Matrix, Roadmap and Policy, available for free download, “aims to shift the conversation about personal crisis from one based in mental health discourse to one based in a social model of disability and human rights. The book's primary thesis is that crisis support can be reimagined as support for decision-making and maintaining an independent life in the community—as provided for under Articles 12 and 19 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.” The author, Tina Minkowitz, “is a theorist and practitioner of international human rights law from a survivor-of-psychiatry perspective. She contributed significantly to the drafting of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and to its subsequent [and ongoing] interpretation and application. From 2002-2015, she represented the World Network of Users and Survivors of Psychiatry in various capacities. She is President of the Center for the Human Rights of Users and Survivors of Psychiatry, which she founded in 2009.” For more about the book, read “Ending Coercive ‘Help’: A Review of ‘Reimagining Crisis Support,” by Mad In America (click here). To download a free copy, click here. (Courtesy of Kevin Fitts)
ISPS-US Issues Call for Proposals for its (Hybrid) 2022 Conference, to Be Held November 4-6
May 30 is the deadline to submit a workshop proposal for the 2022 ISPS-US (International Society for Psychological and Social Approaches to Psychosis—U.S. Chapter) conference, to be held November 4-6 in Sacramento, California, as well as online. The conference theme is Opportunity Through Experience: Psychosis, Extreme States, and Possibilities for Transformation. ISPS-US writes: “People with lived experience, family members, clinicians, and researchers are all invited to propose presentations that promote mutual collaboration and respect, and can allow us to offer each other both greater understanding and more light. We especially welcome proposals from members of marginalized groups whose experiences have included systemic as well as relational traumas and challenges. Proposals are due by May 30.” For more information and to submit a proposal, click here. (Courtesy of Jacek Haciak)
ISEPP Invites Mental Health Practitioners and Academicians to Sign Its Open Letter to the Major U.S. Mental Health Professional Organizations
The Coalition Against Medicalized Psychology & Psychiatry (CAMPP)—the action committee of the International Society for Ethical Psychology & Psychiatry (ISEPP)—asks mental health practitioners and academicians worldwide “to join us in signing an open letter to the American Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association, American Counseling Association, National Association of Social Workers, and American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy to provide evidence for framing emotional distress and troublesome behaviors as illnesses or defects in a person’s biology—and, if they can't, to publicly reject the medical model of mental disorder. With this we hope to raise awareness of the harmful effects of that model. Send me your name, credentials, profession, position, city, state, and country to be appended to the letter. Pass this email on to others in your network and ask them to sign too. Our plan is to share the above organizations' responses (or lack of responses) with The Washington Post and The New York Times science and/or health editors.” For the letter, click here. (Courtesy of Elizabeth R. Stone) (Note: For another ISEPP petition, see the “…But Still Fresh” Department, below the Criminal Justice Digest.)
16 Documentaries and 12 Podcasts Explore Mental Health Issues
If you have some time to spare, check out "16 of the Most Eye-Opening Documentaries About Mental Health" and "12 Mental Health Podcasts to Listen To Between Therapy Sessions" on PureWow.com. Two of the documentaries are available for free on YouTube: "Nadiya Hussain: Anxiety and Me" (2021), about the former Bake Off winner's struggle with panic attacks; and "Demi Lovato: Simply Complicated" (2017). The other films are on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, HBO Max or Hulu. For the 16 documentaries, click here. The podcasts "cover everything from depression and anxiety to grief and addiction." For the 12 podcasts, click here. (Courtesy of Surviving Spirit Newsletter and Mike Skinner)
Early Movement Leader Su Budd Has Died at Age 79
Su Budd, a lifelong mental health activist, died on April 2, 2022. A brief obituary notes that she “helped launch many support networks throughout the years, dedicating her time to help others in need. Her caring nature truly made a difference in other people’s lives.” Su was a co-author, with Howie the Harp and Sally Zinman, of Reaching Across: Mental Health Clients Helping Each Other, published in 1987 by the California Network of Mental Health Clients. She is survived by her husband, Dennis Budd—also a movement activist—whom she married in 1969. A native of Connecticut, Su moved to Kansas City, Kansas, with her husband in 1971. Her obituary (click here) includes a photograph of her with her calico cat. In a related story, to honor some of the movement leaders who had recently died, the National Coalition for Mental Health Recovery (NCMHR) created short video tributes, available on the NCMHR Youtube Channel, RecoveryandHope. If you would like to contribute a short video in memory of Su Budd or others who have died since these videos were recorded, please contact Judene Shelley at jshelley@gmail.com.
The May 2022 Digest of Articles Offering Healthy Lifestyle Advice
For “The Pandemic’s Gardening Boom Shows How Gardens Can Cultivate Public Health,” click here. (Courtesy of Jacek Haciak) For "How to reduce loneliness: Meaningful activities can improve health, well-being: A new study demonstrated that engaging in meaningful, challenging activities during free time can reduce people's loneliness and increase their positive feelings," click here. For "Meditations for Uncertain Times," click here.
The May 2022 Digest of Articles about the Criminal Justice System, in Which Many Individuals with Mental Health Conditions Are Incarcerated (and the Key Update continues after this Digest)
For “Georgetown degree program launches for Maryland prisons,” click here. For “Pilot program will train women offenders nearing release for customer experience careers,” click here. For “How a Missouri prison became a training ground for the next wave of computer coders,” click here. For “Settlement reached in suit over ‘repulsive’ Fulton jail conditions: A federal judge has approved a settlement that ends litigation that showed mentally ill women were being detained in squalid conditions at the South Fulton Jail,” click here. For “Cops Could Use First Aid to Save Lives. Many Never Try. Most officers get training to respond to injuries, but are often not required to use it,” click here. For “Out of Prison, TikTok Influencers Are Reshaping How We Think About Life Behind Bars. But a dearth of content creators of color raises questions about the app’s algorithm,” click here. For “Beyond the Era of Punitive Excess: Reckoning with our overreliance on excessive punishment requires a commitment to truth-telling,” click here. For “What the Survey of Prison Inmates tells us about trans people in state prison. We look at the experiences of 29 incarcerated transgender people before and during their incarceration,” click here. For “For a Child Who Killed Their Child, Parents Chose Restorative Justice,” click here. For “Tulsa police respond after video shows arrest of woman in mental health crisis,” click here. For “Broken ‘compassionate release’ rules strand Pa.’s sickest prisoners as costs to taxpayers soar: There is bipartisan agreement that it’s too hard for people serving life in prison to get out when they are aging and ailing. But two proposals to change that face an uncertain future,” click here. For “Judge Awards $1.375M in an Inmate Suicide at Halawa Correctional Facility: The state admitted liability in the case of a 28-year-old prisoner who was on ‘observation status’ in the medical unit, but hung himself anyway,” click here. For “Opinion: In prison, having your period can put your life in danger,” click here.
FROM PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF THE KEY UPDATE BUT STILL FRESH!
(Virtual) International Conference on Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal Scheduled for May 6-7, 2022
The first conference of the International Institute for Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal is scheduled for May 6-7, 2022 and will be held online due to the Covid pandemic. (It was originally planned to be held in Reykjavik, Iceland.). “The three themes underpinning the conference are safe withdrawal from psychiatric medication, alternatives to psychiatric medication, and the need to question the dominance of medication in mental health care.” Confirmed speakers include Robert Whitaker (journalist and founder of Mad in America), Professor Joanna Moncrieff (psychiatrist and researcher), Laura Delano (co-founder of the Inner Compass Initiative and a person with lived experience), Dr. Carina Håkansson (founder of Family Care Foundation and The Extended Therapy Room Foundation), and Dr. Magnus Hald (Psychiatrist at the Drug-Free Treatment Unit, Norway). For more information, click here.
Peer Advocates Over 50 Years Old Are Invited to a Weekly Empowering Support Group
"People over 50 who are mental health lived-experience advocates, change makers, visionaries, and current status quo challengers" are invited to join "a weekly, open, upbeat, peer-support empowering environment for seasoned peers with lived experience who are active, and were active, as advocates for positive change," the WiseCrackers write. The goal of the recently launched group is "to support mental health advocates over 50 years of age with pure peer support practices based on natural curiosity, acceptance, humor, and positive networking." The free, 90-minute Zoom meetings are held on Mondays at 7 p.m. ET, 6 p.m. CT, 5 p.m. MT, and 4 p.m. PT. The meetings are currently co-facilitated by "East and West Coast Peers" and sponsored by the Community for Positive Aging. To register and to review the WiseCracker Principles of support, click here. Questions? Contact info@choiceheals.com or 503.208.0065.
BU Seeks Peer Support Specialists for a Research Study
The Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation at Boston University is developing and testing the effectiveness of a coaching service called Coaching and Advancement for Peer Providers (CAPP) “to increase organizational commitment and job satisfaction and decrease turnover among mental health peer providers.” BU CPR writes: “We need Peer Support Specialists (PSS) to participate in our study. Who can participate? People who are in a paid job as a Peer Support Specialist providing support to other people with mental health challenges, who are employed at least 10 hours per week, who have worked for the past six months in a mental health program, and who are experiencing stress because of challenges in the workplace. The study involves 16 one-hour sessions of coaching over a four-month period designed to help you with your job, meeting online (through Zoom, for example) with your coach, and filling out surveys one time before coaching starts and three additional times. You will have a 50/50 chance of getting a coach or having a one-time meeting to give you information about challenges at work. Benefits? You may learn strategies to help make work less stressful.” For more information, click here. For questions, contact Principal Investigator E. Sally Rogers, Sc.D., at erogers@bu.edu or 617-353-3549.
MHA Offers "May Is Mental Health Month" Toolkit and Additional Resources
"This year, the theme of MHA’s 2022 Mental Health Month Toolkit is 'Back to Basics,'" Mental Health America writes. "Our goal is to provide foundational knowledge about mental health & mental health conditions and information about what people can do if their mental health is a cause for concern. Our toolkit includes sample materials for communications and social media as well as printable handouts on the following topics: Starting to Think About Mental Health, What Plays a Role in Developing Mental Health Conditions, Maintaining Good Mental Health, Recognizing When You Need Help with Your Mental Health, and What To Do When You Need Help. The toolkit will be available in Spanish in April." For more information and for a link to download the free, 34-page toolkit along with other resources, including toolkits of past years and "Tools 2 Thrive," click here.
NARPA to Host Its 2022 Conference October 26-29
The National Association for Rights Protection and Advocacy (NARPA) 2022 Annual Rights Conference will be held October 26-29 at the Doubletree Newark Airport in Newark, New Jersey. The conference will address "strategies, ideas, programs, and emerging practices," in connection with the NARPA mission--"to support people with psychiatric diagnoses to exercise their legal and human rights, with the goals of abolishing forced treatment and ensuring autonomy, dignity and choice." For more information, 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)
2022 Virtual PEER-A-PALOOZA Peer Summit to Be Held May 7
Helping to Unite by Generating Mental Empowerment (HUG ME) Ink will host PEER-A-PALOOZA on Saturday, May 7, 2022, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. CST via Zoom. "Our 2022 theme is: Creating a Zest for Life Through Growth, Resilience, Recovery and Community," the organizers write. "We believe that unifying talented peers of diverse backgrounds provides a unique opportunity to interact and propose stronger solutions together." Registration is $25; it's free for peer specialists. Workshop topics include How to Address Isolation, Autism Spectrum and Alternative Treatments, Personal Experiences, and a Writing Workshop. To register, click here.
These Three National Mental Health Conferences (Among Others) Are Coming Up in 2022
The annual meetings of the American Psychiatric Association, Mental Health America, and the International Conference on Trauma and Mental Health will take place in 2022. The American Psychiatric Association 2002 annual meeting, to be held both in-person in New Orleans May 21-25 and online June 7-10, will focus on the theme of "Social Determinants of Mental Health." For more information, click here. The theme of Mental Health America's 2022 annual conference, to be held June 9-11 at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill and live-streamed, is "Forward Together: Recovery, Healing, Hope." For more information, click here. The International Conference on Trauma and Mental Health will take place November 3-4, 2022, in San Francisco. For more information, click here.
Supported Education Survey Needs Your Help
Do you operate a program that provides dedicated supported education services for individuals with psychiatric disabilities/mental health conditions? If so, you are invited to complete the survey at the link below. The primary goal of the survey is to help create a National Supported Education Database (NSEdD) that will be "a searchable listing of diverse supported education programs and services for individuals experiencing psychiatric disabilities and/or mental health challenges...across the US and its territories." The NSEdD project is sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and co-administered by the five SAMHSA-funded national consumer and consumer-supporter technical assistance centers, in collaboration with research partners Drs. Nev Jones (University of Pittsburgh) and Mark Salzer (Temple University). For a link to the survey, which includes a definition of supported education, click here. For a flyer with information about the survey, click here.
National Survey on Student Rights, Discrimination, and Accommodations in Higher Education Seeks Respondents
"Have you experienced psychiatric disability-based discrimination or the denial of an accommodation in a postsecondary institution in the United States? Interested in informing national advocacy focus on psych disability rights in higher ed? Mental Health America (lead: Kelly Davis) and collaborators Dr. Nev Jones (University of Pittsburgh), Stefanie Kaufman-Mthimkhulu (Project LETS) and Brit Vanneman Esq. (Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law) have developed "a survey aimed at providing a more comprehensive understanding of student experiences of campus-based discrimination, mandated leaves of absence, and/or denial of academic, administrative and/or student-work accommodations in the U.S. Data will be used to inform national advocacy efforts and future projects, and in reports, presentations and publications." For eligibility and to access the survey, click here.
If You've Had, or Been Labeled with, "Negative Symptoms" in the Context of Psychosis...
"If you have experienced or been labeled with 'negative symptoms' in the context of psychosis, please consider contributing an anonymous account of your views and experiences," Dr. Nev Jones writes. "Currently, there is nowhere one can go to find lived experience perspectives/accounts on this topic—even though 'negative symptoms' regularly feature in research and clinical trials. Help us change this!" This survey is a companion to Psychosis Outside the Box; for that survey, click here. For more information and/or to share your story about "negative symptoms," click here.
Poetry Coalition to Launch "Poetry & Disability Justice" Initiative
"This year, the 25+ organizations nationwide that comprise the Poetry Coalition will launch 'The future lives in our bodies: Poetry & Disability Justice,' the coalition’s sixth annual programming initiative...Poetry Coalition members aim to demonstrate how poetry can inspire questions in their communities about disability justice and spark increased engagement with this important theme. Member organizations are committed to offering programming that is accessible and that includes disabled, neurodivergent, and d/Deaf poets and those of diverse racial, ethnic, and gender identities, backgrounds, and communities. All organizations and others interested are invited to create programs on this theme in 2022 and share their efforts using the hashtags #DisabilityJustice and #PoetryCoalition. For some additional resources to assist with programming, particularly in creating accessible programming, click here.
"Are You Between the Ages of 21 and 60 and Drink Alcohol?"
"Researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are seeking adults--[both smokers and non-smokers]--to study whether a gene and smoking may affect drinking alcohol. Volunteers should be healthy and drug-free, and not seeking treatment for alcohol-related problems. Research participation includes three outpatient visits at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, MD; alcohol consumption; brain scans (MRI), blood draws, and filling out questionnaires. There is no cost to participate and compensation may be provided." For more information, click here. (Courtesy of Fran Hazam)
U.S. Surgeon General Creates Community Toolkit for Addressing Health Misinformation
"The U.S. Surgeon General’s Community Toolkit for Addressing Health Misinformation, developed in collaboration with the HHS Office of Evaluation Sciences (OES), provides specific guidance and resources for health care providers, educators, librarians, faith leaders, and trusted community members to understand, identify, and stop the spread of health misinformation in their communities." For information about the toolkit (a 22-page overview of health misinformation, and resources to stop it), and links to a “Talk to Your Community About Health Misinformation” Infographic, a “Health Misinformation Checklist” Infographic, and the Surgeon General's press release, click here.
Please Sign a Petition to Help Save a Public Mental Health Model in Italy
"Trieste is recognized by the World Health Organization as the model of global best practice in mental health care," according to a change.org petition highlighted in a recent NPR article. "It has inspired dozens of programs throughout the world to create an integrated network of community services focused upon the whole-person needs of its users; maintaining their dignity as citizens; and minimizing the coercive practices of old fashioned institutional settings...Trieste has shown us how community inclusion improves people’s lives. But this great achievement is now threatened by a new right-wing regional government that, on poorly informed and ideological grounds, is fast and impulsively dismantling Trieste's wonderful system of community care...As a Friend of Trieste and all that it stands for, please sign this petition and distribute it widely. For updates on this situation, please consult www.accoglienza.us." For the NPR article, "A public mental health model in Italy earns global praise. Now it faces its demise," click here. For the petition, click here. (Courtesy of Laura Van Tosh)
TU Collaborative Seeks Participants for Its Parenting Through Leisure Project; See Also the TU Collaborative's Parenting Resources, Including Information on Custody Issues
The Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion is seeking parents with lived experience of a mental health condition to participate in a paid research study. The TU Collaborative writes: "Our program, Parenting Through Leisure, focuses on helping parents with a serious mental illness participate in leisure activities with their child. We are looking for individuals who are 18 and older; are an adult parent with a diagnosis of schizophrenia-spectrum disorder, bipolar disorder, or depression; have a child who is 7 to 15 years old and is interested in participating in family leisure with you; have legal visitation rights, joint custody or full custody of the child, with at least weekly contact; and have a desire to engage in more leisure activities with their child." For details about the study and the remuneration as well as other benefits to eligible participants, and a link to sign up, click here. Questions? Please contact TUCollab@temple.edu. And for the TU Collaborative's Parenting web page--which includes links to many resources for parents with lived experience, including information about custody laws and a model family reunification statute--click here.
Lancet Offers Stakeholders New Opportunities Re: Psychosis & Participatory Research
Check out these opportunities for stakeholder involvement! (1) The Lancet Psychiatry Commission's "Lived Experience Hub" invites stakeholders to contribute blogposts to convey criticisms, concerns and/or ideas relevant to the work of the Commission. For details, click here. To submit a blog, email lancetcommissionpsychosis@gmail.com. (2) The Lancet Psychiatry Commission's "lived experience research group" is a new listserv focused on lived experience advocacy and activism on participatory psychosis research and related policy and practice. In part, this will serve as a sounding board for Lancet Commission work and a place to engage in dialogue about what needs to change. To join, email lancetcommissionpsychosis@gmail.com. (Courtesy of Dr. Nev Jones)
“Mental Health System: Open Letter to the Media” Seeks Signatures
“Everyone who believes that the problematic aspects of the mental health system are not adequately represented in the media is invited to sign this letter,” writes Yulia Mikhailova, who launched this initiative to educate the media. The letter begins: “We, a group of people with first-hand experience of the mental health system, write to express our concern about what we see as one-sided coverage of this system in the media and to draw the attention of civil rights organizations to the systemic discrimination that we witnessed and experienced. We, our loved ones, or inmates in the facilities where we worked, were exploited for monetary gain and victimized in various other ways. We saw how abuse, corruption, and exploitation were covered up, while victims and critics of the system were silenced and marginalized.” For a short version of the letter, which includes a link to a longer version, click here. Questions? Contact Yulia Mikhailova at yuliamikh@gmail.com.
Alternatives 2021 Is Over, but You Can View Many of the Presentations—and the Work Continues!
If you missed Alternatives 2021—the oldest national conference organized by and for individuals with lived experience of a mental health condition—you can see many of the presentations on the Alternatives conference website! The conference—whose theme was “Connecting, Organizing, Activating!”—was held July 8, 10, 15, and 17, and was organized by the National Coalition for Mental Health Recovery. This year the conference was virtual—and free! One highlight was the three Action Groups—on Promoting Racial and Social Justice, National and Statewide Advocacy, and Crisis Prevention and Alternatives to Institutionalization—which met on all four days. Reports from each of the groups are posted on the Alternatives conference website, and it is hoped that people will continue to work together to make progress on the goals that were determined by participants during the conference. For information about the Action Groups, click here. Recordings of many of the workshops, keynotes, and special activities are available on the Alternatives conference website (click here).
"Psychiatrist with Philosophical Interests" leads "Conversations in Critical Psychiatry," a Psychiatric Times Series
Awais Aftab, who describes himself as a "psychiatrist with philosophical interests" in his Twitter bio, leads "Conversations in Critical Psychiatry," which, he says, "explores critical and philosophical perspectives in psychiatry and engages with prominent commentators within and outside the profession who have made meaningful criticisms of the status quo." Among those interviewed are Allen Frances, M.D., author of Saving Normal; Sandra Steingard, M.D., and G. Scott Waterman, M.D., on "Integrating Academic Inquiry and Reformist Activism in Psychiatry"; Susannah Cahalan, author of Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness, on "50 Shades of Misdiagnosis"; Kathy Flaherty, J.D., executive director of the Connecticut Legal Rights Project, Inc., on "Reconsidering Care and Coercion in Psychiatry"; Nev Jones, Ph.D., on "Phenomenology, Power, Polarization, and the Discourse on Psychosis"; Dainius Puras, M.D., on "Global Psychiatry's Crisis of Values"; and many others. For the archived interviews, click here.
CNN Offers “A Guide to Helping and Getting Help During the Coronavirus Crisis”
CNN writes: “The coronavirus pandemic is overwhelming, and one of the most excruciating parts for many people is the feeling of utter helplessness in the face of widespread suffering and hardship. CNN’s Impact Your World has compiled a list of donation opportunities and tips to help those affected by the crisis. Click on a category or scroll down to browse a list of organizations, resources and ideas. Need help? Most categories also include resources for financial, emotional or social support.” For the free guide, click here.
Hearing Voices Network Is Now Hosting Online Groups
“There are now ONLINE opportunities to connect, share experiences, and find mutual support,” the Hearing Voices Network (HVN) writes. “These groups are accessible via web-based platforms and by phone…Online groups are specifically for those with personal lived experience with hearing voices, seeing visions, and/or negotiating alternative realities. They are voice-hearer facilitated. With further questions and for details on how to access the group[s], please email info@hearingvoicesusa.org.” To read this announcement online and for more information, click here.
Survey Seeks Respondents Who Are in Administrative/Leadership Positions in the Mental Health Field
If you are in an administrative/leadership position in the mental health arena, “the Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry (GAP) Committee on Psychiatric Administration and Leadership invites you to participate in the International Survey on Administrative Psychiatry. The survey has two purposes: 1. To identify the concerns and needs of mental health professionals/psychiatrists in administrative and leadership positions. 2. To determine training needs in administrative psychiatry. We ask you to complete this brief, [15- to 20-minute] questionnaire to help us in developing recommendations for action. We also want to let you know that, if you fill out this questionnaire, you permit the committee to use your anonymous data for scientific work.” Peer providers are included. For the survey, click here. (Courtesy of Oryx Cohen)
“Experiences with Hospitalization” Survey Seeks Participants
“The purpose of this survey is to help us understand people's lived experience with voluntary and involuntary treatment because of suicidal thoughts. It was created by people with lived experience…We are planning to use this information to facilitate discussions with suicidologists and the suicide prevention community about the impact of the use of these interventions, particularly within marginalized populations. We feel the voice of people with lived experience with these interventions has not had adequate opportunity to be heard, and hope that by completing this survey anonymously, people who have been most impacted can find a safe way to share their experiences. Please note that this is not a research project.” For more information and/or to participate, click here. (Courtesy of Leah Harris)
International Survey on Antipsychotic Medication Withdrawal Seeks Respondents
“Have you taken antipsychotic medication (such as Zyprexa, Seroquel, Abilify, Risperdal, Haldol, Geodon, Stelazine, and others), for any condition or diagnosis, with or without other medications? And did you ever stop taking antipsychotics, or try to stop taking them? Are you 18 years or older? If yes, you can take this survey about antipsychotic withdrawal and attempts to withdraw, including if you stopped taking them completely or if you tried to come off and still take them. The survey aims to improve mental health services by better understanding medication withdrawal. Lead researcher is Will Hall, a therapist and Ph.D. student who has himself taken antipsychotics. Service users/survivors/consumers from around the world also gave input. The study is sponsored by Maastricht University in the Netherlands; co-sponsors include the International Institute for Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal. Questions? Please contact will.hall@maastrichtuniversity.nl.” For more information or to take the survey, click on www.antipsychoticwithdrawalsurvey.com
Virtual Group Works to Advance Peer Research Capacity, Leadership, and Involvement
Nev Jones, PhD—a strong advocate for building research capacity, leadership, and involvement among peers, survivors, and service users—leads a virtual group dedicated to this effort. Dr. Jones—assistant professor, School of Social Work, University of Pittsburgh—was part of the team that developed “User/Survivor Leadership & Capacity Building in Research: White Paper on Promoting Engagement Practices in Peer Evaluation/Research (PEPPER),” published by the Lived Experience Research Network. For the white paper, click here. Anyone interested in joining the virtual group can email Nev at nev.inbox@gmail.com.
Peer Support in Higher Education Survey Seeks Respondents
“Peer support programs are growing on college campuses across the U.S. Mental Health America, Doors to Wellbeing, and the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion want to better understand the availability of peer support in higher education as well as the experiences and needs of students accessing peer support programs…We hope to use this research to support the expansion of peer support in higher education, including developing a national database of peer support programs in higher education and documenting pressing issues in campus programs…You may also indicate if you are interested in having your school’s peer support program listed in a national database of peer support programs in higher education.” For more information and to complete the survey, click here.
Mad In America Invites You to Submit Your Personal Story (Within Certain Guidelines)
Mad In America writes: “A ‘personal story’ is defined as your story of being in relationship to psychiatry and/or the mental health system, whatever that means to you. It might involve your opinions and analysis of what happened to you, as well. It can be about a specific event, or about your overall journey, provided it fits the length requirements (1,500 to 3,000 words) and has a narrative arc. The piece should be about your personal experiences, not psychiatry or the mental health system in general. Submissions should fall under the theme of rethinking psychiatry and the mental health system, and should be original works not previously published elsewhere. For examples of the types of stories we publish, view our personal stories archive here.” For more information and/or to submit a personal story, click here.
PsychAlive Offers a Variety of Webinars on Mental Health Topics, Many Free, Others $15
PsychAlive is a free, nonprofit resource created by the Glendon Association, whose mission is “to save lives and enhance mental health by addressing the social problems of suicide, violence, child abuse and troubled interpersonal relationships.” Psychalive.org offers a variety of upcoming and archived webinars, many of which are free, while others are available for $15. Among the myriad topics are “From Anxiety to Action: How to Stay Sane While Fighting Climate Change,” “How to Overcome Insecurity,” “Powerful Tools to Fight Depression,” and “Understanding and Overcoming Adverse Childhood Experiences.” To check out the webinars, click here.
Seven Ways to Keep a Digital Copy of Your Vaccination Card on Your Smartphone
“You'll need proof of vaccination to go back to work or enter many restaurants, gyms and event venues, so keep your COVID-19 card handy.” This is the advice of CNET.com, a tech support website. Besides the obvious—taking a photo of the card to store on your phone—there are six other suggestions. For details, click here. (Courtesy of Yvonne Smith)
ISEPP Circulates Petition to Support Human Rights in Psychiatric Treatment
ISEPP seeks signatures on a petition to "[m]ake a strong statement that any psychiatric or psychotherapeutic interventions without full and honest informed consent are unethical and inhumane." For the petition, click here. (Courtesy of Amy Smith)
ISPS-US Offers an Array of Archived Webinars--Free but Donations Are Welcomed
The ISPS-US (The International Society for Psychological and Social Approaches to Psychosis-US Chapter) is offering a whole raft of archived webinars, which are free (although donations are welcomed). Among the webinars are "Cognitive Behavioral & Related Therapies for Psychosis: Diverse Approaches to Supporting Recovery," "How Can the Uncontainable Be Contained? Paradoxes of Madness & Philosophy," "Robert Whitaker: The Rising Non-Pharmaceutical Paradigm for 'Psychosis,'" "Life with Voices: A Guide for Harmony," "COPE Project: Non-Pharmaceutical Research on Influencing Voices and Visions," "What Hurts and What Helps In Treatment For 'Psychosis': Insider Perspectives," and many others. For more information and to access the webinars, click here.
“Where DNA and Medications Meet”
Not all drugs are effective for all people; therapeutic response rates for many drugs are only 50%-75%. “OneOme, co-founded by [the] Mayo Clinic, provides evidence-based pharmacogenomic solutions that help improve patient outcomes and reduce costs through more personalized medication decisions.” OneOme’s RightMed Test is “a doctor-ordered pharmacogenomic (PGx) test that analyzes your DNA and provides your doctors with genetic information to help them determine how you may respond to certain medications. The results may help your doctors reduce medication trial and error, minimize risk of side effects, save you time and money, and make more informed prescribing decisions. Because your DNA doesn’t change over time, your doctors can use your test results to make more personalized medication decisions for you over the course of your lifetime.” For more information, click here. (Courtesy of Robin Osborne)
Lived Experience Leadership Features 12 Years of Research Studies...
"Lived Experience Leadership features 12 years of research studies focused on this workforce in a range of settings, to foster a better of understanding and respect for Lived Experience as a distinct discipline and build clarity on what makes this work unique and valuable. Importantly, this body of research was led by Lived Experience researchers. Lived Experience Leadership provides clear and simple to read research summaries to allow community members and people employed within various industries the opportunity to easily understand and apply strategies within their own workplace. This website also includes easy to download definitions, audio/visual resources, and key work by other Australian and International sources. The website will continue to grow to include larger collections of our research as well as other key work. For the Lived Experience Leadership website, click here. (Courtesy of Jacek Haciak)
Doors to Wellbeing Offers “State Selfies: A Picture of Peer Services Reported by Peers”
Doors to Wellbeing’s “Peer Album” is a directory of nearly 600 peer-run organizations throughout the U.S. They invite updates and offer instructions for providing them and add, “If your entry has not made this first draft, we encourage you to re-submit.” For the 158-page directory, click here.
Disclaimer: The Clearinghouse does not necessarily endorse the opinions and opportunities included in the Key Update.
About The Key Update
The National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse is now affiliated with the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion.
The Key Update is the free monthly e-newsletter of the National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse. Volume 18, No. 11, May 2022. For content, reproduction or publication information, please contact Susan Rogers at selfhelpclearinghouse@gmail.com. Follow Susan on Twitter at @SusanRogersMH