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.
NOTE: THE "FROM PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF THE KEY UPDATE BUT STILL FRESH!" DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS DIRECTLY BELOW THE MONTHLY CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM DIGEST, INCLUDES ITEMS THAT HAD BEEN POSTED "ABOVE THE FOLD" IN EARLIER EDITIONS BUT ARE STILL RELEVANT. THESE INCLUDE ONGOING RESEARCH STUDIES THAT ARE STILL SEEKING PARTICIPANTS, AS WELL AS UPCOMING WEBINARS AND CONFERENCES, AND OTHER ITEMS OF CONTINUED INTEREST. DON'T MISS IT!
DEADLINE ALERT: Under “CONFERENCES, TRAININGS, AND OTHER EVENTS” (following “NEWS”), AND ALSO UNDER “WEBINARS” (FOLLOWING “CONFERENCES…”), PLEASE TAKE NOTE OF THE DATES AND DEADLINES!
NEWS
Will There Be a Sea Change in the Status of Peer Specialists in the Behavioral Health Industry? The Tide May Be Turning.
“Years into a national behavioral health workforce shortage, many provider organizations are now seeking to leverage peer specialists.” So begins a Behavioral Health Business article entitled “Standardized Credentialing, Reimbursement Clarity Could Accelerate Use of Peers in Behavioral Health Care.” For the article, which cites the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s release of new national model standards for peer support certification, which the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services acknowledged “were created to accelerate universal adoption, recognition, and integration of the peer workforce across all elements of the healthcare system,” click here. For the HHS press release about the standards, click here.
Dozens of Suicide Hotline Websites Send Personal Data to Facebook; Meanwhile, 988 Faces Staffing Challenges
“Websites for mental health crisis resources across the country—which promise anonymity…—have been quietly sending sensitive visitor data to Facebook, The Markup has found. Dozens of websites tied to the national mental health crisis 988 hotline…transmit the data through a tool called the Meta Pixel, according to testing conducted by The Markup. That data often included signals to Facebook…” For the Markup article, click here. Meanwhile, according to a recent ABC News article, 988 is “struggling to keep up with volume” and “staffing challenges have led to thousands of missed calls.” For the ABC News article, click here.
CONFERENCES, TRAININGS, AND OTHER EVENTS
Equity-Grounded Leadership Fellow Program Extends Application Deadline
The College for Behavioral Health Leadership has extended the application deadline for its Equity-Grounded Leadership Fellow Program to June 26, 2023. NYAPRS writes: “It is an immersive experience of in-person and virtual sessions for up to 25 current or emerging leaders with learned and lived experience who have a deep desire to effect change in their organizations, communities, or regions.” The 2023-2024 Cohort will convene from September 14, 2023, to August 2, 2024. For more about the program and to apply, click here.
June 30 Is the Deadline for the NYAPRS 2023 Annual Conference Call for Presentations!
Act quickly to respond to the Call for Presentations for NYAPRS’s 2023 Annual Conference! The conference theme is "Promoting Rights Across the Nation and Recovery Across the Life Span"! The conference will be held at the Villa Roma Resort, Callicoon, New York, September 26-28, 2023. For details and to submit a proposal, click here.
N.A.P.S. Issues Call for Proposals for 2023 Annual Conference and Registration Is Open!
The National Association of Peer Supporters (N.A.P.S.) is seeking presentation proposals for its annual conference, to be held in Norfolk, Virginia, on October 25-26, 2023. The theme of the conference is “Pathways.” This theme celebrates the diverse journeys individuals take on their paths to recovery, resilience, and personal growth. Proposals are due by July 7, 2023. For details and to submit a proposal, click here. To register for the conference, and for information about booking a room at the Sheraton Norfolk Waterside Hotel in Norfolk, Virginia, click here! For information about sponsorship opportunities or for other questions, contact Len Statham (len@peersupportworks.org).
National Aspiring Entrepreneur Workshop Series for Peers
PENTAC’s (Peer Experience National Technical Assistance Center) free, grant-funded workshop series, from September 5, 2023, through October 24, 2023, “is designed to assist individuals living with mental health and substance use challenges in their consideration and pursuit of entrepreneurship as a route to occupational and financial wellness.” Hurry: There are only 15 open slots, all reserved for non-Floridians; the 15-person Florida cohort has already been filled. Questions? Sherry Warner (sherry@peersupportfl.org). To register, click here.
“Witness the Making of a Peer Specialist.”
“Our American Family is a radically honest portrait of five family members grappling with the legacy of generational substance use disorder as they fight to heal resentments and pull each other out of their deepest depths. Join us on June 27, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. ET.” The event includes a post-screening discussion with Our American Family mother Linda and daughter Nicole, who is a certified peer recovery specialist. To register, click here.
NARPA Announces Exciting Keynote Presentations at Its 2023 Annual Rights Conference!
The National Association for Rights Protection and Advocacy (NARPA) has announced its three distinguished keynote speakers—Ira Burnim JD, David Cohen PhD, and Robert Dinerstein JD—as well as exciting panel presentations on “Working For Racial Justice and Equity” and “Innovative Non-Police Responses in Crisis Situations,” to take place at its 2023 Annual Rights Conference, September 6-9 in New Orleans! There will also be a pre-conference institute for PAIMI Council members on September 6, 2 p.m.-5 p.m. ET. For details and to register, click here.
WEBINARS
“We Didn't Invent the Wheel: Peer Support as an Evolutionary Necessity”
On June 26, 2023, at 12 p.m. ET, Southeast MHTTC will present Part 2 of its four-part series on peer support. “In Part 2 of our series, presenters discuss how the peer support/respite model is not new but builds on models as recent as the early 20th century self-help groups. Different respite models and their unique benefits and challenges will be explored.” To register, click here.
NASMHPD Hosts Town Halls Aimed at Advancing Social Connection
“This Town Hall series—‘Cultivating a Culture of Connection through Community-Designed Initiatives’—will provide an opportunity for discussion and implementation of the six foundational pillars to advance social connection outlined by the U.S. Surgeon General.” To view the Surgeon General’s free 82-page report—“Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation, 2023”—click here. To register for the second 90-minute Town Hall: “Peer-Led Inclusive Approaches Designed to Support, Unify, and Prevent Isolation” (June 26 at 2 p.m. ET) and/or the third: “Combating Loneliness and Isolation in Diverse Communities” (July 10 at 2 p.m. ET)—the first was held on June 12—click here. And see *Some Resources Connected with the NASMHPD Town Halls under RESOURCES, below.
“Nearly Last, But Not Least: The State of Vermont's Path to Authentic Peer Support Certification”
On June 27, 2023, at 2 p.m. ET, Doors to Wellbeing will host Wilda White, executive director of Vermont Psychiatric Survivors, to discuss Vermont's path to peer support certification. For details and to register, click here.
“Mapping the Crisis System of Care: Alternatives to Emergency Departments”
On June 27, 2023, at 2:30 p.m. ET, the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, in partnership with University of Connecticut’s Innovations Institute, will present a 90-minute webinar titled “Mapping the Crisis System of Care: Alternatives to Emergency Departments.” For more information and to register, click here. This is the third in a four-part SAMHSA-sponsored series on Crisis Response Services. The fourth is tentatively scheduled for July 17, 2:30 p.m.-4 p.m. ET, on “988 Year One: Milestones and Next Steps.” Here are the recordings for Webinar #1 CCBHCs and Crisis Response Services for Children, Youth and Families and Webinar #2 – The Role of CCBHC’s in Strengthening Crisis Care.
“Career Paths for Peer Support Specialists”
On June 28, 2023, at 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT), the Pacific Southwest MHTTC will host Session 4 of 5 in the “Creating Safe Spaces for Peer Support Providers” series. The learning goals of the 90-minute webinar are to “create specific avenues for peers who identify as BIPOC, implement anti-racist strategies within peer support delivery, and identify career paths for peer specialists.” For details and to register, click here. (The registration deadline is June 27.)
“Learning from Each Other: Bringing Movement Elders and Young Leaders Together”
On June 28, 2023, at 2 p.m. ET, the Peer Recovery Center of Excellence will host a two-hour Community Dialogue featuring “a roundtable of movement leaders who have played historic roles in the peer movement alongside those who are currently making their mark.” The movement elders are National Association of Peer Supporters (N.A.P.S.) board member Keris Myrick, Dr. Chyrell Bellamy, and Jonathan Edwards. The young leaders are N.A.P.S. board president Jessi Davis, N.A.P.S. board vice president Tim Saubers, and Colin Cash. The moderator is Nze Okoronta. To register, click here.
Recovery Cafés: Creating Communities of Healing
On June 28, 2023, at 3 p.m. ET, the Cafe TA Center will present a free webinar on how Recovery Cafés can support recovery, build community, and counter isolation. “There are currently 57 Recovery Cafés that demonstrate the transformative power of community, connection and healing in environments that nurture love, accountability, stewardship, and equity.” For more information and to register, click here.
“Introducing Emotional CPR: Responding to People in Emotional Crisis with Connection and Empowerment”
On June 29, 2023, at 2 p.m. ET, A Disorder 4 Everyone! will present “Introducing Emotional CPR.” The organizers write: “This [90-minute] workshop offers a wonderful opportunity to learn from a key developer of Emotional CPR, Dr. Daniel Fisher, and will be invaluable for anyone who offers emotional support to people, including counselors, psychotherapists, and those supporting people outside of a professional role.” For more information and to purchase a ticket, click here.
“Start Here: What To Know If You Want To Work”
On June 29, 2023, at 2 p.m. ET (11 a.m. PT), Disability Rights California will present a webinar on “the fundamental tools you need to start applying for jobs. Join us as we discuss how to start a resume from scratch, what to look for when selecting references, how to format a cover letter, and more.” For more information and to register, click here.
Free Webinar to “Support Young Adults to Set and Achieve Their Summer Goals”
The Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion writes: “Calling all young folx! How are your summer plans coming along? Need help checking things off your summer bucket list? On June 29, 2023, at 2 p.m. ET, join our webinar ‘Don’t Let Summer Slip Away’ for tips and tricks on making the most of your summer.” To register, click here. Questions? connectionsrx@temple.edu
NAADAC Continues Free “Peer Recovery Support” Webinar Series
The National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC)—now known as the Association for Addiction Professionals—will continue its free, 10-part “Peer Recovery Support” webinar series on June 29, 2023, from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. ET, with Part 5: “Peer Support via Telehealth Platforms.” To register, click here. And on July 27, 3 p.m.-4:30 p.m. ET, NAADAC will present Part 6: “Professional Development for Peers: Progress, Not Peerfection.” For details, click here. (Courtesy of Jessi Davis)
Judi’s Room in July Will Feature a Discussion of the Olmstead Decision
On July 5, 2023, at 6 p.m. ET (3 p.m. PT), I Love You, Lead On and MindFreedom International will present a Judi’s Room discussion of the 1999 Olmstead decision, a landmark ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court. The presenter will be Vesper Moore. To register for the free presentation, click here and then click on the red "Reserve a Spot" button.
PENTAC’s National Peer Entrepreneur Speaker Series Continues on July 6
On July 6, 2023, at 12 p.m. ET, PENTAC will present Shira Collings, M.S., an eating disorder therapist and the National Empowerment Center’s youth coordinator. To register, click here.
“The Three Legs of the Stool: A Framework for Person-Centered Community Mental Health Services That Do No Harm”
On July 6, 2023, at 3 p.m. ET, NCAPPS (the National Center on Advancing Person-Centered Practices and Systems) will present a webinar that “will showcase a framework for community mental health services developed by the Ashland County, Ohio, Mental Health and Recovery Board…The three legs, or sets of values, are: 1) Recovery and Resiliency, 2) Trauma-Informed Care, and 3) Medication Optimization. For details and to register, click here.
“Everything You Need To Know About Estate Planning, But Are Afraid to Ask”
On July 25, 2023, at 2 p.m. ET, Doors to Wellbeing will present a webinar that “will emphasize the importance of planning for the distribution of your personal assets upon your death and the strategies and tools that can be used to ensure that your ‘final wishes’ are followed.” The presenter will be LaVerne Miller. For details and to register, click here.
NARPA Announces Exciting Keynote Presentations at Its 2023 Annual Rights Conference!
The National Association for Rights Protection and Advocacy (NARPA) has announced its three distinguished keynote speakers—Ira Burnim JD, David Cohen PhD, and Robert Dinerstein JD—as well as exciting panel presentations on “Working For Racial Justice and Equity” and “Innovative Non-Police Responses in Crisis Situations,” to take place at its 2023 Annual Rights Conference, September 6-9 in New Orleans! There will also be a pre-conference institute for PAIMI Council members on September 6, 2 p.m.-5 p.m. ET. For details and to register, click here.
RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES
TU Collaborative Seeks Youth with Serious Mental Health Conditions to Share Their Perceptions About Participating in Research
If you’re 18 to 30 years old, have been diagnosed with a serious mental health condition, and are willing to complete a one-time interview of 30 to 60 minutes via phone or Zoom on your feelings about participating in research, the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion hopes to hear from you. Participants will receive a $20 e-gift card. Interested? Email elizabeth.thomas@temple.edu, text "INTERESTED" to (267) 845-5165, or call (215) 204-1699.
RESOURCES
“You Matter: Stories From People with Lived Experience.”
The Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion writes: “In this documentation project, we interviewed individuals with [serious mental health conditions] to hear their stories of times they felt like they did or did not matter and learn about what mattering means to them.” For the free 15-page document, click here.
*Some Resources Connected with the NASMHPD Town Halls
The National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors in partnership with Harper Hill Global offers “Triumph over Trauma,” which includes a resources package, online groups, and online facilitator training (click here). For “Friendship Bench,” click here. For “ ‘Making Relatives’: A Guide for Healing the Soul Wound,” click here.
Asylum Magazine Publishes Summer 2023 Edition
“Asylum magazine is a forum for free debate, open to anyone with an interest in psychiatry or mental health. We especially welcome contributions from service users or ex-users (or survivors), carers, and frontline psychiatric or mental health workers (anonymously, if you wish).” For details and to read Asylum, click here.
“What’s Happening with Women’s Mental Health”?
The Cafe TA Center writes: “…adolescent girls and young women stand to benefit from the trauma-informed, recovery-oriented values of the mental health recovery movement. The question is what can be done to bring those values to a new generation that very much needs them, and how they can help young women address their wellness before their feelings develop into more serious long-term mental health conditions.” For the Cafe TA Center newsletter, click here.
MHTTC Shares Resources from Its “RACE for Mental Health”
The MHTTC (Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network) is sharing the learning materials from its RACE for Mental Health. “The resources highlighted during this event promote mental health awareness and literacy and can be accessed on our website 24/7,” MHTTC writes. For more information and to access the resources, click here.
Addressing Burnout in the Behavioral Health Workforce through Organizational Strategies
SAMHSA writes: “Burnout is a complex issue resulting from chronic workplace stress that encompasses exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment. This guide will highlight organization-level interventions to prevent and reduce burnout among behavioral health workers.” For the 63-page document, click here.
“Podcast: The Rise in Forced Treatment and Abusive Guardianships”
“[M]illions of Americans are subjected to psychiatric detention or forced treatment every year. Often well meaning family members are trying to ‘help,’ but end up traumatizing and permanently damaging their loved ones. Join us as investigative journalist Rob Wipond explains how most states have broadened their criteria for psychiatrically detaining someone far beyond ‘imminent harm’ and that as a practical matter, this could happen to almost anyone.” For the podcast, click here.
The July 2023 Digest of Articles Offering Healthy Lifestyle Advice
For “Peace of Mind: How understanding trauma and the evolution of the brain can help us manage the mind’s misfires,” click here. For “Who Says a Walk Can’t Be a Workout?” click here. For “How the Arts Can Benefit Your Mental Health (No Talent Required),” click here. For “The Beauty of a ‘Walk and Talk,’” click here. For “Tai Chi Is a Workout for the Brain and Body,” click here. For "Birdsongs alleviate anxiety and paranoia in healthy participants," click here.
The July 2023 Digest of Articles about the Criminal Legal System, in Which Many Individuals with Mental Health Conditions Are Incarcerated (and the Key Update continues after this Digest)
For “The Books Banned in Your State’s Prisons,” click here. For “Internal NYPD documents reveal officer training on involuntary hospitalizations: It is the first public look at how officers are being trained to implement Mayor Adams’ mental health directive,” click here. For “When Criminal Justice Systems Have to Deal with Mental Illness,” click here. For “How Police Violence Weighs on Black Americans,” click here. For “New report reveals over 122K are held in solitary confinement in U.S. prisons and jails: The data highlights the widespread practice of isolating inmates as the federal government and some cities and states reconsider how to limit its use,” click here. For “New Fact Sheet Explores the Effects of Solitary Confinement on the Human Brain,” click here. For “How a ‘Blue Wall’ Inside New York State Prisons Protects Abusive Guards: Records and interviews reveal a culture of cover-ups among corrections officers who falsify reports and send beating victims to solitary confinement,” click here. For “In 2022, Exonerations Hit a Record High in the U.S.: Globally, potential innocence has long outweighed potential guilt. That philosophy of justice may not be one that the majority of Americans endorse, “ click here. For “Mayor Adams cuts classes and re-entry services at Rikers to save $17 million in NYC budget,” click here. For “School librarians face a new penalty in the banned-book wars: Prison: Several states have passed laws that could sentence people for years if they provide ‘obscene’ books to minors,” click here. For “Her Son Said Her Ex Sexually Abused Him. Then She Lost Custody. How the 'junk science' of parental alienation infiltrated American family courts and allowed accused child abusers to win custody of their kids,” click here. For “Body Cameras Can Be a Powerful Tool. But Not All Police Forces Wear Them,: click here. For “Family of Colorado man killed by police during mental health crisis gets $19 million settlement,” click here. For “Colette Peters’ Challenge: Change The Culture Of The Bureau Of Prisons,” click here. For “In New York Prisons, Guards Who Brutalize Prisoners Rarely Get Fired. Records obtained by The Marshall Project reveal a state discipline system that fails to hold many guards accountable,” click here. For “ ‘Worse than what we thought’: New data reveals deeper problems with the Bureau of Prisons’ Covid response,” click here. For “A History of Incarceration by Women Who Have Lived Through It: The members of the Indiana Women’s Prison History Project are able to scrutinize official records not only for what they reveal but also for what they omit,” click here. For “Life Inside, Animated: An animated series featuring the stories of those whose lives have intersected with the criminal justice system,” click here. For “DOJ expands anti-profiling rules to cover thousands more who work in justice system,” click here. For “What If the CDC Could Track Gun Violence Like a Virus? The first edition of The Trajectory, our latest newsletter, explores a new effort to improve data on nonfatal shootings,” click here. For “American Guns, American Deaths: What photographs of the sites of mass shootings show—and what they omit,” click here. For “How doctors buy their way out of trouble: Medical practitioners and providers paid $26.8 billion over the past decade to settle federal allegations including fraud, bribery and patient harm, a Reuters investigation found. Paying up means staying in business and, for some, avoiding prison. U.S. prosecutors helped them do it,” click here. For “‘It’s Not Moral’: A Wave Of Criminal Justice Reforms Is Leaving Out Those Already Convicted: Across the country, lawmakers are beginning to correct “tough on crime” policies. But many of these reforms explicitly exclude people who are already in prison,” click here. For “Devil in the grooves: The case against forensic firearms analysis: A landmark Chicago court ruling threatens a century of expert ballistics testimony,” click here. For “City Jails No Longer Announcing Deaths Behind Bars, Angering Watchdogs: The Department of Correction says that the de Blasio-era practice of notifying the press when someone dies in a detention facility is over. Advocacy groups and a federal monitor say it’s part of a broader effort to hide wrongdoing,” click here. For “Victims of Violent Crime Drive Legislative Change to State Programs, Pushing Against Barriers to Aid,” click here. For “Doctors call for changes to laws that criminalize drug use during pregnancy: Overdoses are a leading cause of preventable death among pregnant and postpartum women, yet fears of child abuse laws stop them from seeking help,” click here. For “Justice Department Finds Civil Rights Violations by the Minneapolis Police Department and the City of Minneapolis: Specifically, the Justice Department finds that the MPD…[a]long with the city, discriminates against people with behavioral health disabilities when responding to calls for assistance,” click here. For “Don’t ‘Punish Them More.’ Effort Grows to Ease Job Barriers After Prison Release: Nearly 2,000 formerly incarcerated people return to Cleveland each year with few job prospects. Some lawmakers want to change that,” click here. For “When a Conviction Is Challenged, What Do We Owe the Victim’s Family? In the final episode of “Just Say You’re Sorry,” we consider what cases like Larry Driskill’s mean for families like Bobbie Sue Hill’s,” click here. For “Three Years After George Floyd’s Murder, Police Reforms Are Slow-Paced: There have been mostly modest changes following protests that galvanized the country in 2020,” click here. For “Former Gun Company Executive Explains Roots of America’s Gun Violence Epidemic,” click here. For “My Friend Jordan Neely Was Homeless and in Mental Distress. But He Was Not Expendable. Jordan Neely was choked to death on a New York City subway car. Mentor and fellow Michael Jackson enthusiast Moses Harper recalls who he was in life,” click here. For "New laws make changes at the intersection of criminal justice and health care," click here. For “Georgia gun shop owner shutters store after mass shootings targeting children: ‘I’m not against the Second Amendment, but just with my conscience, I can’t sell it because, I don’t know who it’s going to affect and hurt,’ ” click here.
FROM PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF THE KEY UPDATE BUT STILL FRESH!
CONFERENCES, WEBINARS, AND TRAININGS
APS Learning Community Hosts a Weekly Networking Meeting. Check Out Its Website for Upcoming Events.
The Academy of Peer Services (APS) Virtual Learning Community Networking Meeting for Peer Specialists is every Tuesday from 5:15 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. ET. Its purpose is to share ideas, experiences, and opportunities with others in the field of peer support, as well as to give and receive support to each other. To register, click here. For the Virtual Learning Community website, which includes a calendar of upcoming events, resources, and more, click here.
Active Minds Mental Health Conference July 7-8, 2023, in Washington, D.C.
Calling its conference “the nation’s leading mental health conference for young adults,” Active Minds will host its 2023 conference in Washington, D.C., July 7-8. For more information and to register, click here.
MHTTC Publishes Calendar of Events from Now Until September 19, 2023
The Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network (MHTTC) has published a calendar of its events from now through September 19. The calendar covers the 10 U.S.-based regional MHTTCs as well as the two national MHTTCs. The MHTTC is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. For the calendar, click here. (Courtesy of NYAPRS E-News)
NARMH Will Hold Its 2023 Annual Conference in Pittsburgh September 19-21
The theme of the National Association for Rural Mental Health conference is “Building Your Bridge: Linking Voices to Promote Rural Mental Health.” The conference will be held in person at the Sheraton Pittsburgh Hotel at Station Square. The deadline to submit a workshop proposal is August 1 or until the agenda is filled. For more information, click here.
25th Annual ISEPP Conference to Be Held October 20-22, 2023
The 2023 conference of the International Society for Ethical Psychology & Psychiatry will be held in the Los Angeles area from October 20 to October 22. There will also be a virtual component, via Zoom. For an approximate schedule, click here.
ABCT 2023 Conference Is November 16-19 in Seattle
The Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT) 2023 conference will be held November 16-19 in Seattle. Its theme is “Cultivating Joy with CBT [Cognitive Behavioral Therapy].” For more information about the conference, click here. (Courtesy of Yulia Mikhailova)
MHTTC Offers Free Online Behavioral Health Courses
The Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network (MHTTC) “currently offers 20 online courses available through Healtheknowledge.org. HealtheKnowledge.org offers high-quality, on-demand, and instructor-led courses that are open to the public. Courses are free for a certificate of completion, and yearly membership options are available for purchase to gain access to other HealtheKnowledge resources and earn unlimited CE credits. View our course listings here. View our how-to guide to set up your HealtheKnowledge account.” MHTTC is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN RESEARCH
“Do You Want to Learn How the Immune System Works and What You Can Do to Improve Your Immune Health?”
Collaborative Support Programs of New Jersey (CSPNJ) and the University of Illinois Chicago are testing a new program that helps people learn about improving their immunity. You must be 18 years or older; speak English; have access to a Zoom-compatible computer, smartphone, or tablet; be willing to complete five sessions and three check-in calls on Zoom over a six-month period; and have a diagnosed mental health condition. Study participants have a 50/50 chance of getting the new program, but everyone gets paid $135 for completing three study interviews. Contact UIC researcher Jessica Jonikas at enhanceimmune@gmail.com or 312.725.2966 to set up a meeting to see if you’re eligible. (Courtesy of Peggy Swarbrick via Jacek Haciak)
UCSF Study Seeks BIPOC and/or LGBTQ Participants for Small Study
For a two-part study whose goal is “to understand the experiences of people who identify as minorities in recovery from psychosis,” a University of California San Francisco researcher is seeking “15 adults aged 18-35 who are from communities of color or are LGBTQ to share their lived experiences in video recordings that can be used to help reduce fear and shame associated with psychosis and encourage cultural sensitivity from providers.” Participants in Part 1 will be anonymous; in Part 2 they can give limited permission about where their videos are shared. Participants will be paid $100-$200. For details, including the time commitment, click here. If you qualify and are interested, please contact Stephanie.Ekey@ucsf.edu.
Research Opportunity for Young Adult Peer Supporters
The Mental Health Services Research Lab of the Temple University College of Public Health invites youth peer support workers ages 18-30 who are currently working full-time or part-time in a peer support role to participate in a survey that aims to gather information about their workplace experiences. Questions? Contact Elizabeth Thomas at 215.204.1699 or elizabeth.thomas@temple.edu, or Haley Payne at haleypayne097@gmail.com. Those who complete the survey may be entered into a raffle to win cash prizes! For the Informed Consent Form and the survey, click here.
EPICC Works to Help Parents with Mental Health Conditions Connect with Their Kids
Engaging Parents and Increasing Connections with Children (EPICC) is a 10-week program created by the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion that is focused on helping parents with serious mental health conditions connect with their children through meaningful activities. For details and to apply, click here.
Young Adults with Psychiatric Diagnoses Are Sought for Study on Community Participation
The Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion is recruiting young adults (ages 18-30) with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression to take part in ConnectionsRx, designed to support engagement in meaningful community activities. Participants will be enrolled in the peer-led study for six months, and receive support to help meet community participation goals. Interviews (approximately 60 minutes each) will take place on Zoom. Participants will receive a $15 Amazon gift card (to a maximum of $45) for each survey completed. For the website, click here. Questions? Write to ConnectionsRx@temple.edu.
South Southwest MHTTC Launches Youth and Young Adult Peer Supporters Survey
“Are you a peer specialist who provides peer support to other people under the age of 30? We want to hear from you! Please fill out the survey to assist the South Southwest Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (South Southwest MHTTC) in learning more about youth peer support across the country! The intent is to be able to include these peer supporters in research, training, and technical assistance activities surrounding youth peer support. The form should take 5-10 minutes to fill out, and can be done from a phone or a computer browser. To take the survey, click here.” Questions? Write to southsouthwest@mhttcnetwork.org.
Are You Interested in Pursuing Graduate School and/or a Research Career? Read Below.
Stephania Hayes (UC Davis), Shannon Pagdon (Columbia/NYS Psychiatric Institute/University of Pittsburgh), and Nev Jones (University of Pittsburgh) write: “We are gathering information from people with lived experience in the Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) or early psychosis space (including peer specialists, current/former CSC participants, and CSC youth coordinators) who are potentially interested in pursuing graduate school and/or a research career. All of us identify as having lived experience, work in CSC, and are invested in supporting the next generation of scholars who also have lived experience. We would like to create a discussion group and/or other supports for people interested in this career path. The link below leads to a very brief survey that will help us understand the level of interest in such supports, as well as areas of career interest. (Please note that this is not a research study.)” To participate in the anonymous survey, click here.
“Help Us Map the Landscape of Lived Experience and Family Involvement in 988 Policy and Related Crisis Response System Planning!”
“As 988 implementation rolls out alongside additional efforts to strengthen crisis response systems throughout the U.S., it's important to gauge the extent to which direct stakeholders (i.e., individuals who use or have used mental health crisis services and their families) have been involved in related policy, implementation and evaluation at the local, regional, state or federal levels. To map out involvement nationally, Mental Health America (lead: Kelly Davis), Nev Jones (University of Pittsburgh) and Keris Myrick (National Association of Peer Supporters) have developed a survey aimed at documenting the extent of stakeholder involvement, the forms this involvement has taken, and, where available, what concerns stakeholders have raised. Any individual with knowledge of lived experience and family involvement is eligible to participate; individuals completing the survey do not have to have lived experience themselves.” For more information and to access the survey, click here.
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
Peer Support in Higher Education Survey Seeks Respondents
“Peer support programs are growing on college campuses across the U.S. Mental Health America, Doors to Wellbeing, and the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion want to better understand the availability of peer support in higher education as well as the experiences and needs of students accessing peer support programs…We hope to use this research to support the expansion of peer support in higher education, including developing a national database of peer support programs in higher education and documenting pressing issues in campus programs…You may also indicate if you are interested in having your school’s peer support program listed in a national database of peer support programs in higher education.” For more information and to complete the survey, click here.
Supported Education Survey Needs Your Help
Do you operate a program that provides dedicated supported education services for individuals with psychiatric disabilities/mental health conditions? If so, you are invited to complete the survey at the link below. The primary goal of the survey is to help create a National Supported Education Database (NSEdD) that will be "a searchable listing of diverse supported education programs and services for individuals experiencing psychiatric disabilities and/or mental health challenges...across the US and its territories." The NSEdD project is sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and co-administered by the five SAMHSA-funded national consumer and consumer-supporter technical assistance centers, in collaboration with research partners Drs. Nev Jones (University of Pittsburgh) and Mark Salzer (Temple University). For a link to the survey, which includes a definition of supported education, click here. For a flyer with information about the survey, click here.
National Survey on Student Rights, Discrimination, and Accommodations in Higher Education Seeks Respondents
"Have you experienced psychiatric disability-based discrimination or the denial of an accommodation in a postsecondary institution in the United States? Interested in informing national advocacy focus on psych disability rights in higher ed? Mental Health America (lead: Kelly Davis) and collaborators Dr. Nev Jones (University of Pittsburgh), Stefanie Kaufman-Mthimkhulu (Project LETS) and Brit Vanneman Esq. (Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law) have developed "a survey aimed at providing a more comprehensive understanding of student experiences of campus-based discrimination, mandated leaves of absence, and/or denial of academic, administrative and/or student-work accommodations in the U.S. Data will be used to inform national advocacy efforts and future projects, and in reports, presentations and publications." For eligibility and to access the survey, click here.
If You've Had, or Been Labeled with, "Negative Symptoms" in the Context of Psychosis...
"If you have experienced or been labeled with 'negative symptoms' in the context of psychosis, please consider contributing an anonymous account of your views and experiences," Dr. Nev Jones writes. "Currently, there is nowhere one can go to find lived experience perspectives/accounts on this topic—even though 'negative symptoms' regularly feature in research and clinical trials. Help us change this!" This survey is a companion to Psychosis Outside the Box; for that survey, click here. For more information and/or to share your story about "negative symptoms," click here.
“Are You Between the Ages of 21 and 60 and Drink Alcohol?”
"Researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are seeking adults--[both smokers and non-smokers]--to study whether a gene and smoking may affect drinking alcohol. Volunteers should be healthy and drug-free, and not seeking treatment for alcohol-related problems. Research participation includes three outpatient visits at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, MD; alcohol consumption; brain scans (MRI), blood draws, and filling out questionnaires. There is no cost to participate and compensation may be provided." For more information, click here. (Courtesy of Fran Hazam)
TU Collaborative Seeks Participants for Its Parenting Through Leisure Project; See Also the TU Collaborative's Parenting Resources, Including Information on Custody Issues
The Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion is seeking parents with lived experience of a mental health condition to participate in a paid research study. The TU Collaborative writes: "Our program, Parenting Through Leisure, focuses on helping parents with a serious mental illness participate in leisure activities with their child. We are looking for individuals who are 18 and older; are an adult parent with a diagnosis of schizophrenia-spectrum disorder, bipolar disorder, or depression; have a child who is 7 to 15 years old and is interested in participating in family leisure with you; have legal visitation rights, joint custody or full custody of the child, with at least weekly contact; and have a desire to engage in more leisure activities with their child." For details about the study and the remuneration as well as other benefits to eligible participants, and a link to sign up, click here. Questions? Please contact TUCollab@temple.edu. And for the TU Collaborative's Parenting web page--which includes links to many resources for parents with lived experience, including information about custody laws and a model family reunification statute--click here.
Survey Seeks Respondents Who Are in Administrative/ Leadership Positions in the Mental Health Field
If you are in an administrative/leadership position in the mental health arena, “the Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry (GAP) Committee on Psychiatric Administration and Leadership invites you to participate in the International Survey on Administrative Psychiatry. The survey has two purposes: 1. To identify the concerns and needs of mental health professionals/psychiatrists in administrative and leadership positions. 2. To determine training needs in administrative psychiatry. We ask you to complete this brief, [15- to 20-minute] questionnaire to help us in developing recommendations for action. We also want to let you know that, if you fill out this questionnaire, you permit the committee to use your anonymous data for scientific work.” Peer providers are included. For the survey, click here. (Courtesy of Oryx Cohen)
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
RESOURCES
“Alternatives to Coercion in Mental Health Settings: A Literature Review”
This 214-page report was commissioned by the United Nations Office at Geneva to inform the report of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It was published in 2018 by the Melbourne Social Equity Institute. To download the free report, click here.
“Open Dialogue Around the World—Implementation, Outcomes, Experiences, and Perspectives”
Frontiers in Psychology offers 16 articles about Open Dialogue. These include “Introducing Peer-supported Open Dialogue in Changing Mental Health Care,” “Using Open Dialogue-inspired Dialogism in Non-Psychiatric Medical Practice: A 10-Year Experience,” “Development of the Peer-supported Open Dialogue Attitude and Competence Inventory for Practitioners: A Delphi Study,” and 13 more. For links to all 16 articles, click here.
"Training of Lived Experience Workforces: A Rapid Review of Content and Outcomes"
“Recently, the lived and living experience (LLE) workforce in mental health and alcohol and other drugs (AOD) sectors has expanded,” researchers at La Trobe University and the Self Help Addiction Resource Center in Australia write. “Despite widespread benefit of this inclusion, some LLE practitioners have encountered personal and professional challenges in their workforce roles…[W]e present recommendations for improving training processes for this workforce.” For the article, published in Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services (Springer), click here.
Mental Health Activists Publish “White Paper on Improving Patient Outcomes”
Jim Gottstein, founder of the Law Project for Psychiatric Rights and author of The Zyprexa Papers, writes: “Faith Myers, Susan Musante, Peter Gøtzsche, David Healy, David Cohen, the International Society for Ethical Psychology & Psychiatry (ISEPP)—through its executive director, Chuck Ruby—and I have just published a ‘White Paper’ on improving psychiatric patient outcomes. While it was written for a specific situation in Alaska, most of it is generally applicable; and…it presents compelling evidence for abolishing unwanted psychiatric interventions in favor of non-coercive approaches, such as Soteria houses, peer respites, Open Dialogue, warm lines, the Hearing Voices Network, emotional CPR (eCPR), [and other such approaches].” To download the free, 68-page “White Paper on Improving Patient Outcomes, Addressing Treatment-Caused Trauma & Injuries, Enhancing Patient Rights, and Grievance Procedures…,” click here.
“WHO’s New Series to Enhance the Meaningful Engagement of People with Lived Experience”
The World Health Organization’s “new ‘Intention to Action’ series is tackling both an evidence gap and a lack of standardized approaches on how to include people with lived experience into decision- and policy-making…The first publication—‘People power: Perspectives from individuals with lived experience of non-communicable diseases, mental health conditions and neurological conditions’—includes six detailed case studies from 12 individuals with lived experience of diverse health conditions.” For more information and a link to download the 80-page publication, click here. (Courtesy of Matthew Jackman)
“What Is Mental Illness?”
“This conversation between Justin Garson (philosopher), Nev Jones (community mental health researcher), and Marco Ramos (psychiatrist/historian)”--sponsored by The Philosopher–“will aim to offer a sense of the scope of what is at stake in our understanding of mental illness, considering the place of biology, society, histories of oppression, evolution, and lived experience in such an understanding.” For the video, click here. (Courtesy of Kevin Fitts)
“Optimizing Recovery Funding, Volumes 1 & 2”
“In 2021, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) provided the Peer Recovery Center of Excellence (PR CoE) with supplemental funding for a special project to identify and recommend best practices and strategies to optimize funding for high-quality and effective recovery support services. The result was 'Volume 1: Barriers to Acquiring Funding for Organizations in the Ecosystem of Recovery Volume' and 'Volume 2: Strategies for State Funding of Recovery Support Services.'” To download the full, 130-page report, click here. For more information about the reports, including a brief video, click here.
“Are You a Leader with a CMHC? Partner with the Temple University Collaborative!”
“The Clinical Treatment Act is a new law to encourage participation of low-income and minoritized healthcare recipients in research as a matter of equity. The Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion seeks to partner with community mental health centers (CMHCs) across the U.S. to help get information about current and future research studies to service recipients in various programs. In return we are also available to support your organization with free trainings and other supports. Please contact Professor Bryan McCormick (bryan.mccormick@temple.edu) about this important partnership opportunity.” To read this announcement online, click here.
TU Collaborative Wants to Hear Your Story!
“We are working on a project to better understand social connections among adults with significant mental health challenges,” the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion writes. “We are seeking your stories on your social connections generally” and “what those connections mean to you.” The TU Collaborative will compile these stories based on a series of brief surveys. For details and to share your story, click here.
Call for Papers: “Recovery at 30: Emancipation, cooptation, or the end of an era?”
“The year 2023 marks exactly three decades since the publication of Bill Anthony’s seminal “Recovery from mental illness: the guiding vision of the mental health service system in the 1990s" (click here)...”In this special issue of Community Mental Health Journal,” the editors write, “we are soliciting both concept pieces (commentaries, critical reviews) and empirical work (qualitative, quantitative, ethnographic or mixed methods) that explore the question of whether recovery policy remains relevant and emancipatory today or whether the psy-fields are instead in need of fresh thinking and new, more diverse values-based frameworks.” The submission deadline is September 1, 2023. For more information, click here.
Common Threads: Stories of Survival & Recovery from Mental Illness
Common Threads: Stories of Survival & Recovery from Mental Illness, a 108-page compendium, includes “tales of survival and recovery” by a number of Floridians. To quote from the Introduction, “Many of the people in these stories have lived significant portions of their lives in psychiatric institutions, and only through their strengths have they found their way back to the community…In these tales, we hear about the importance of education and peer support…” To download the free document, click here.
“Crisis Now” Offers a “Roadmap to Safe, Effective Crisis Care”
The goal of Crisis Now: Transforming Crisis Services—led by the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) and developed with the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, and RI International—is “to provide all communities a roadmap to safe, effective crisis care that diverts people in distress from the emergency department and jail by developing a continuum of crisis care services that match people’s clinical needs.” Among the resources offered on the website are SAMHSA’s 80-page “National Guidelines for Behavioral Health Crisis Care Best Practice Toolkit” (2020), an “Overview of Crisis Funding Sources Available to States and Localities” (last updated March 2, 2022), and assessment tools, such as “How Does Your Crisis System Rate?” The Crisis Now partners write: “Are you interested in adding your organization to the list supporting Crisis Now, or do you have questions? Reach out to us at info@crisisnow.com. For the website, click here.
“What Is the Meaning of Life?” This Free Online Collection Offers Answers
Excellence Reporter offers more than “1,200 articles-interviews on ‘What Is the Meaning of Life?’ written by renowned spiritual leaders, mindfulness experts, great thinkers and authors, elders, artists, musicians, CEOs, etc.” The contributors include such renowned figures as Bertrand Russell; Carl Jung; the Dalai Lama; Eleanor Roosevelt; Epicurus; Erich Fromm; Kahlil Gibran; Buckminster Fuller; Robert Louis Stevenson; and Ron Bassman, executive director of MindFreedom International. To browse the free compendium, click here.
The UIC Center’s Solutions Suite for Health & Recovery Offers Free Tools
"The UIC Center offers tools, curricula, and implementation manuals for free use in community-based programs, peer-run programs, or one's own life. You can introduce the entire complement of products to foster improved health, wellness, and mental health recovery. Or, you can choose the ones that will work best for your program or your life. The Suite was developed in collaboration with Collaborative Support Programs of New Jersey. The UIC Center is funded by NIDILRR (National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research). For the UIC Solutions Suite for Health & Recovery, click here. (Courtesy of Peggy Swarbrick via Jacek Haciak)
U.S. Surgeon General Creates Community Toolkit for Addressing Health Misinformation
"The U.S. Surgeon General’s Community Toolkit for Addressing Health Misinformation, developed in collaboration with the HHS Office of Evaluation Sciences (OES), provides specific guidance and resources for health care providers, educators, librarians, faith leaders, and trusted community members to understand, identify, and stop the spread of health misinformation in their communities." For information about the toolkit (a 22-page overview of health misinformation, and resources to stop it), and links to a “Talk to Your Community About Health Misinformation” Infographic, a “Health Misinformation Checklist” Infographic, and the Surgeon General's press release, click here.
“Psychiatrist with Philosophical Interests” leads “Conversations in Critical Psychiatry,” a Psychiatric Times Series
Awais Aftab, who describes himself as a "psychiatrist with philosophical interests" in his Twitter bio, leads "Conversations in Critical Psychiatry," which, he says, "explores critical and philosophical perspectives in psychiatry and engages with prominent commentators within and outside the profession who have made meaningful criticisms of the status quo." Among those interviewed are Jim Gottstein, author of The Zyprexa Papers, on “The Fight for Pharma Accountability and Psychiatric Rights”; Allen Frances, M.D., author of Saving Normal; Sandra Steingard, M.D., and G. Scott Waterman, M.D., on "Integrating Academic Inquiry and Reformist Activism in Psychiatry"; Susannah Cahalan, author of Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness, on "50 Shades of Misdiagnosis"; Kathy Flaherty, J.D., executive director of the Connecticut Legal Rights Project, Inc., on "Reconsidering Care and Coercion in Psychiatry"; Nev Jones, Ph.D., on "Phenomenology, Power, Polarization, and the Discourse on Psychosis"; Dainius Puras, M.D., on "Global Psychiatry's Crisis of Values"; and many others. For the archived interviews, click here.
U.S. DOL Releases Guidance on FMLA Leave and Mental Health
The U.S. Department of Labor’s newly issued Fact Sheet #280 about the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) explains when eligible employees may take FMLA leave to address mental health conditions, and new Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) offers additional information. (Although the FMLA covers public and private employers nationwide, only those private employers who have 50 or more employees for at least 20 workweeks in a year are required to provide their eligible employees with FMLA leave.) For details, click here.
Hearing Voices Network Is Now Hosting Online Groups
“There are now ONLINE opportunities to connect, share experiences, and find mutual support,” the Hearing Voices Network (HVN) writes. “These groups are accessible via web-based platforms and by phone…Online groups are specifically for those with personal lived experience with hearing voices, seeing visions, and/or negotiating alternative realities. They are voice-hearer facilitated. With further questions and for details on how to access the group[s], please email info@hearingvoicesusa.org.” To read this announcement online and for more information, click here.
Virtual Group Works to Advance Peer Research Capacity, Leadership, and Involvement
Nev Jones, PhD—a strong advocate for building research capacity, leadership, and involvement among peers, survivors, and service users—leads a virtual group dedicated to this effort. Dr. Jones—assistant professor, School of Social Work, University of Pittsburgh—was part of the team that developed “User/Survivor Leadership & Capacity Building in Research: White Paper on Promoting Engagement Practices in Peer Evaluation/Research (PEPPER),” published by the Lived Experience Research Network. For the white paper, click here. Anyone interested in joining the virtual group can email Nev at nev.inbox@gmail.com.
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.
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)
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 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 20, No. 1, July 2023. For content, reproduction or publication information, please contact Susan Rogers at selfhelpclearinghouse@gmail.com. Follow Susan on Twitter at @SusanRogersMH