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: Please note that there are opportunities and upcoming deadlines throughout the Key Update, including in the “…But Still Fresh!” Department!
NEWS
Could Depression Be Considered a "Helpful Warning Sign"? And a Manual Offers Other Strategies to Fight Prejudice and Discrimination
“A shift in perspective from seeing depression as a disease to recognizing it as a helpful warning sign can promote a healthier understanding and lessen self-stigma, researchers find,” according to Mad In America. For the article, click here. And prominent psychologists Eleanor Longden and John Read theorize that “framing individuals as ‘people with problems’ as opposed to ‘patients with illnesses’ is a more promising and robustly evidence-based strategy [than biomedical explanations] for reducing stigma and prejudice.” To read Tackling Mental Health Prejudice and Discrimination (2019), published by the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion, click here.
OPPORTUNITIES
PRJ Extends Deadline for Call for Papers on Psychiatric Drug Choices to September 15, 2023
“The Editors of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal (PRJ) are soliciting papers for a special issue—“Broadening understanding of individual choices about psychiatric medication use in psychiatric rehabilitation”—devoted to better understanding of how psychiatric rehabilitation values and practices can support people's choices regarding psychiatric medication, specifically antipsychotic medication.” “We are especially interested in the perspective of people with lived experience,” co-editor Helene Speyer wrote in an email, For details and to submit a paper, click here. (At this writing, the website still includes the original deadline of August 1 although it has been extended to September 15.)
WEBINARS AND OTHER EVENTS
“Employing Peer Workers: An Organization’s Perspective”
On August 29, 2 p.m.-3 p.m. ET, “panelists will answer questions about the challenges and opportunities organizations experience when establishing new peer roles. Leaders at organizations with established peer roles will talk about the process of onboarding peers, such as building organizational buy-in, addressing stigma in policies and in the workplace, and recruiting and employing peer workers in an equitable way.” For more information and to register, click here.
“SAMHSA's National Model Standards for Peer Support Certification”
On August 29, 2023, at 2 p.m. ET, Doors to Wellbeing will host a webinar on SAMHSA’s "National Model Standards for Peer Support Certification." The webinar will be presented by public health advisor David Awadalla, who works with SAMHSA’s Office of Prevention Innovation and Office of Recovery, and Paolo del Vecchio, director of SAMHSA’s Office of Recovery. To register, click here. For SAMHSA's "National Model Standards for Peer Support Certification," click here.
“Peer Support Series, Session 5: Connection Building & Next Steps”
On August 30, 2023, 1 p.m.-2:15 p.m. ET (10 a.m.-11:15 a.m. PT), Pacific Southwest MHTTC will present the fifth session in its Peer Support Series, “Connection Building & Next Steps.” For more information and to register, click here. (Registration deadline: August 29.)
“Peer-Operated Respites: Is It Time for National Standards?”
On August 30, 2023, at 3:00 p.m. ET, the Café TA Center will present “Peer-Operated Respites: Is It Time for National Standards?” “We will dispel myths, dig into controversial topics, answer some of the most frequently asked questions, and debate about defining peer respite and associated standards.” For details and to register, click here.
September 2023 Judi’s Room to Focus on “Care Courts”
Award-winning journalist and author Robert Whitaker will be among the panelists to discuss “Care Courts” during the next Judi’s Room, on September 6, 2023, at 6 p.m. ET (3 p.m. PT). Judi’s Room is presented by MindFreedom International and “I Love You, Lead On.” For more information and to register, click here. (If the registration link is not yet available, check back closer to September 6.)
PENTAC’s National Peer Entrepreneur Speaker Series Continues in September
On September 7, 2023, at 12 p.m. ET, the Peer Experience National Technical Assistance Center (PENTAC) will present an hour-long conversation with Mattie Velasco, co-founder of the Peer Network of Tampa Bay and client care manager at American Addiction Centers, River Oaks. To register, click here.
Community Reentry from Jail or Prison Is the Topic of a Webinar and Three Manuals
On September 7, 2023, at 2 p.m. ET, the MHTTC Network will present a one-hour webinar–“Best Practices for Successful Reentry From Criminal Justice Settings for People Living With Mental Health Conditions and/or Substance Use Disorders”–that “will highlight findings from SAMHSA’s guide of that title, due to be published before September 7. For details and to register, click here. For SAMHSA’s 32-page Guidelines for Successful Transition of People with Mental or Substance Use Disorders from Jail and Prison: Implementation Guide (2017), click here. And for Reentry and Renewal: A review of peer-run organizations that serve individuals with behavioral health conditions and criminal justice involvement, published by the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion, click here.
National Empowerment Center Newsletter Includes Interviews, Resources, and a Webinar
On September 7, 2023 (2 p.m.-3:15 p.m. ET), the National Empowerment Center will present “Creating Sustainable Community Partnerships.” For more information about the webinar, to view past webinars, and for other information, click here.
“Barriers for Individuals with Disabilities in the Scientific Workforce: Current Data and Recommendations for a More Inclusive Field”
On September 12, 2023, at 1 p.m. ET, the American Psychological Association will present a webinar on the underrepresentation of, and the barriers faced by, individuals with disabilities in the biomedical and behavioral research workforce, as well as recommendations for making the workforce more inclusive. For details and to register, click here. For “Ableism In Biomedical And Behavioral Research At NIH,” click here.
Café TA Center Launches “Supports for Families Workshop Series”
“This interactive workshop series has been designed to help family members and caregivers of people with serious mental health conditions support their family member by promoting recovery and taking a strengths-based approach to encouraging resiliency and self-direction…And stay tuned for details about an accompanying webinar on September 13, 2023.” For more information, click here.
VA to Hold a Virtual Listening Session Focused in Part on Peer Specialists
On September 21, 2023, (2 p.m.-4:30 p.m. ET), the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will hold the fifth in its series of five virtual listening sessions “for stakeholders to provide input on State variances for specific health care occupations. VA is hosting these listening sessions to support the development of VA national standards of practice, which are the standardized set of services that all VA health care professionals in a given occupation can perform if they have the education, training, and skill to perform the services.” For more information and to register, click here.
“Strategies for Enhancing the Success for Peer Support on College Campuses”
On September 26, 2023, at 2 p.m. ET, Doors to Wellbeing will host “Strategies for Enhancing the Success for Peer Support on College Campuses.” The presenters will be Kelly Davis and Mark Salzer. To register, click here.
“The Role of Peer Specialists in Promoting Health Equity”
The Peer Support Coalition of Florida will present a four-part training on “The Role of Peer Specialists in Promoting Health Equity.” Participants will gain “a deeper understanding of both the drivers and impact of health inequities on people of color.” The 90-minute sessions will meet on the following Thursdays: October 12, October 26, November 9, and November 16, 2023, at 1 p.m. ET. To register, click here. Questions? Sherry Warner, sherry@peersupportfl.org
CONFERENCES
N.A.P.S. Has Extended the Early Bird Registration Deadline for Its 2023 Conference
The new deadline for the 2023 conference of the National Association of Peer Supporters (N.A.P.S.) is August 31, 2023, at 11:59 p.m.! The rate for members is $275; for non-members, $335; for youth members, $240; and for groups of five or more, $250 per person! We look forward to seeing you in Norfolk, Virginia, at the Sheraton Norfolk Waterside Hotel on October 25-26! To register, click here! And for information about featured speakers, to book accommodations, become a sponsor/exhibitor, and/or to ask questions, click here!
Registration for NYAPRS’s 41st Annual Conference Is Open! Scholarship Deadline: September 1
NYAPRS’s 2023 annual conference, “Promoting Rights Across the Nation, Recovery Across the Lifespan,” will be held September 26-28 at the Villa Roma Hotel in Callicoon, New York! For information about the exciting keynote presentations and longtime favorite events and to register, click here. To book hotel accommodations, click here. The deadline to apply for the limited number of scholarships is September 1 at “close of business.” For the scholarship application, click here.
“Connecting at the Intersection of Faith, Community, and Mental Health: The Urgency of Now”
On September 7, 2023, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. ET, the Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will host a day-long conference “focused on strengthening the response of faith and community leaders to those experiencing a mental health crisis in their communities. It will include additional sessions on clergy burnout, best models and practices led by the faith community, youth mental health and suicide prevention and more. We will also host a philanthropic roundtable and capacity building session for faith and community leaders related to public funding.” This event will take place at the HHS, 200 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. To register, click here. (Space is limited.)
NARMH 50th Annual Conference to Be Held September 19-21
The National Association for Rural Mental Health (NARMH) will hold its annual conference September 19-21, 2023, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. For details and to register, click here.
AD4E Festival Challenges the Culture of Psychiatric Diagnosis
The 2023 “A Disorder for Everyone!” (AD4E) Festival will be held on September 22, 2023 (9 a.m.-8 p.m. GMT). For more information and to register, click here. For a time zone converter, click here.
NIMH to Host Global Mental Health Conference: “Research Without Borders”
From October 30 to November 1, 2023, the National Institute of Mental Health and partners will present the 12th Global Mental Health Research Without Borders Conference. The first of the six listed objectives of the conference is to provide a “space for researchers, practitioners, policymakers, funders, and those with lived experience to meet and share innovative developments in the field of global mental health.” The conference will be held at the Natcher Conference Center at the NIH Main Campus, 45 Center Drive, Building 45, Bethesda, Maryland. For more information and to register (for free), click here. Questions? GMHConference@bizzellus.com
The September 2023 Digest of Articles Offering Healthy Lifestyle Advice
For “How to Meditate if You Can’t Sit Still,” click here. For “Adding just a few minutes of wall-sits to your workout routine can lower your blood pressure, new research shows,” click here. For “How to Stop Overthinking at Night: 7 Ways to Quell Nighttime Mental Chatter,” click here. For “9 Shortcuts To Fake A Clean House,” click here. For “For a Better Workout, Think Like a Kid,” click here. For “How to measure happiness: hedonia vs. eudaimonia. A lot of research assumes happiness is measured by comfort and material conditions. For Aristotle, it is about being the best we can be,” click here.
The September 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 “Their Families Said They Needed Treatment. Mississippi Officials Threw Them in Jail Without Charges. In Mississippi, serious mental illness or substance abuse can land you in jail, even if you aren’t charged with a crime. The state is a stark outlier in jailing so many people for so long, but many officials say they don’t have another option,” click here. For “A jail grows in Brooklyn, but at the expense of people with mental illness,” click here. For “Exclusive: DOJ report recommends ways to improve detainee access to lawyers in prisons. The review led by the Bureau of Prisons and the Office for Access to Justice coincided with the 60th anniversary of a Supreme Court decision that guaranteed a right to counsel for criminal defendants,” click here. For “San Antonio community wonders if the death of Melissa Perez at the hands of SAPD will be a ‘wake up call’: Critics ask why resources for the mentally ill meant to help her were not used — and she was instead killed,” click here. For “Family of man killed by Modesto police says it will ‘keep happening’ without accountability,” click here. For “New Book Edited by Incarcerated Writers Explores Oppression Beyond Prison Walls: American Precariat explores the ways in which people have been pushed to the edge by myriad social ills,” click here. For “New York police officer indicted after allegedly using stun gun 7 times on handcuffed man. Sgt. Mario Stewart, a commander on the force in Mount Vernon, fired his Taser at the man seven times in two minutes in the March 2019 incident, according to the indictment. He is charged with violating the person’s constitutional rights by using excessive force,” click here. For “Officials see promise in a South Carolina prison unit where ‘restorative justice’ has boosted safety,” click here. For “Video shows 5 officers tackling mentally ill man. Experts question why. The Arlington police officers took down Delgardo Franklin II after he refused to surrender. It defied their training, a Post investigation found,” click here. For “Miami’s Model for Defendants With Severe Mental Illness,” click here. For “Kids Are Being Kept in Solitary Confinement, Former Death Row Unit With No AC: ‘The state’s treatment of kids in Angola has been a series of broken promises,’ said one civil rights lawyer,” click here. For “Guest column: The devastation from locking up kids at Angola will last for decades to come. Louisiana spent over half a million dollars on renovations to keep youth under Angola's roof. The State of Louisiana used this funding on ineffective, punitive practices rather than evidence-based care to address behavioral, mental health and substance use disorders to minimize incarceration and recidivism risks of children and youth…The vast majority of youth in the Louisiana youth incarceration system are Black teens, including many who have behavioral and mental health issues and have experienced trauma. Black youth are six times more likely than White youth to face incarceration,” click here. For “I’ve Reported on Dementia for Years, and One Image of a Prisoner Keeps Haunting Me,” click here. For “They Know What They Did. They’d Like You to Know Who They’ve Become,” click here. For “Connecticut Has Done Something Remarkable With Crime. The state cut incarceration in half, while crime plummeted,” click here. For “The Unceasing Noise of Solitary Confinement: In solitary, you’re bombarded by the sounds of humans forced into a grinding monotony of hunger, uncertainty, and madness,” click here. For “Youth placed in adult prison have their lives cut shorter, study says,” click here. For “Purgatory behind bars: He’s spent 11 years in jail — and no one knows if he’s guilty,” click here. For “The alarming Americanisation of British prisons,” click here.
FROM PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF THE KEY UPDATE BUT STILL FRESH!
CONFERENCES
An Infinite Mind Hybrid Conference Is February 16-18
An Infinite Mind will host its annual hybrid conference in Orlando, Florida–”or live in your own living room!”–February 16-18, 2024. The organizers write: “Healing Together is our one-of-a-kind annual conference for people living with dissociation and DID, their loved ones, and mental health professionals.” For information about the conference, click here.
Peerpocalypse Issues Call for Proposals and Seeks Volunteers for Advisory Committee
Peerpocalypse (May 6-9, 2024) is seeking workshop proposals for its annual (hybrid) conference, to be held in person at the Seaside Convention Center in Seaside, Oregon, and virtually via Whova. The conference theme is Justice, Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion. For more information and to submit a proposal (deadline: September 6, 2023), click here. For more information and/or to volunteer for the Peerpocalypse Advisory Committee, click here.
NARPA 2023 Annual Rights Conference Will Host an Exceptional Array of Presentations!
The National Association for Rights Protection and Advocacy (NARPA) has announced the complete schedule for its 2023 Annual Rights Conference, September 6-9 in New Orleans! It includes 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,” along with many inspiring workshops! There will also be a pre-conference institute for PAIMI Council members on September 6, 2 p.m.-5 p.m. ET. For the complete schedule, click here. For more information and to register, click here.
ISEPP Announces Its 25th Annual Conference and a Call for Award Nominations
August 31, 2023, is the deadline for submitting nominations to the International Society for Ethical Psychology and Psychiatry for its Lifetime Achievement Award (for a lifetime pursuing the goals and principles espoused by ISEPP and who has made a significant contribution toward that end), Special Achievement Award (for a particular accomplishment in support of ISEPP goals and principles), and Mary Karon Memorial Award for Humanitarian Concerns (awarded to someone who is not a mental health professional who has made significant contributions to ISEPP goals and principles). The awards will be presented at its annual conference, in Marina del Rey, California. ISEPP writes: “Please email docruby@me.com with the nominees' name(s), position(s), and a narrative explaining their accomplishments and why they are deserving of the particular award.” For the 2022 recipients, respectively, click here and here and here. ISEPP’s 25th annual (hybrid) conference will be held in Marina del Rey, California, October 27-29, 2023 (click here). (Please note that the conference dates have been changed from the original dates of October 20-22.)
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. For more information, 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)
OPPORTUNITIES
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.
ISEPP Invites Contributions to an Upcoming Volume in Its Critical Psychology and Critical Psychiatry Series
The International Society for Ethical Psychology and Psychiatry (ISEPP) is inviting potential contributors to submit chapters for inclusion in the fourth volume–Practical Alternatives to the Psychiatric Model of Mental Illness: Beyond DSM and ICD Diagnosing–in its Critical Psychology and Critical Psychiatry Series. (To view the first three volumes, click here.) The preferred length–although shorter or longer chapters would be considered–is 4,000-5,000 words, including a paragraph abstract, references, and a mini-bio. Lead editor Arnoldo Cantú, LCSW, writes that an already-published article or book chapter would be considered as well. Finished contributions are due by October 1, 2023. If you’re interested and/or have questions, contact Arnold.Cantu@colostate.edu.
“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.
OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN RESEARCH
“Research Study for People with Lived Experience of Suicidality”
Researchers at Illinois Tech in Chicago are seeking adults with lived experience of suicidal thoughts or a suicide attempt to take a 20-minute survey about suicide disclosure (i.e., communication about your suicidal thoughts or behaviors). To see if you qualify and to learn more about the study, click here.
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.
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 $30 Amazon or Visa gift card (to a maximum of $90) 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
Lived Experience Leadership Offers Numerous Research Studies Focused on Peer Supporters
Lived Experience Leadership features the findings of 12 years of research studies focused on [the peer support] workforce in a range of settings, to foster a better understanding of and respect for Lived Experience as a distinct discipline and build clarity on what makes this work unique and valuable. Importantly, this body of research was led by Lived Experience researchers.” For the website, click here.
International Peer Respite/Soteria Summit Offers Abundant Related Resources
For numerous resources about peer respites, Soteria, and related movements, click here.
“SAMHSA TIP 64: “Incorporating Peer Support into Substance Use Disorder Treatment Services”
“This TIP [Treatment Improvement Protocol’ supports learning about the key aspects, functions, and uses of Peer Support Services (PSS) in recovery from problematic substance use, which will help providers, supervisors, and administrators in SUD treatmen tprograms getter understand and respond to these changes.” To download the free, 301-page document, click here. For 39 additional manuals, click here.
Resources for Supervisors of Peer Workers Offered by BRSS TACS and Pat Deegan
BRSS TACS writes: “This group of resources helps supervisors understand how to supervise peer workers in behavioral health services.” For details, click here. And the Northwest MHTTC offers a recorded webinar on ”How supervision can help peer specialists remain peer when working on clinical teams,” presented by Pat Deegan. For details, click here.
“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.
“Podcast: The Rise in Forced Treatment and Abusive Guardianships”
“[M]illions of Americans are subjected to psychiatric detention or forced treatment every year. Often well meaning family members are trying to ‘help,’ but end up traumatizing and permanently damaging their loved ones. Join us as investigative journalist Rob Wipond explains how most states have broadened their criteria for psychiatrically detaining someone far beyond ‘imminent harm’ and that as a practical matter, this could happen to almost anyone.” For the podcast, click here.
“Alternatives to Coercion in Mental Health Settings: A Literature Review”
This 214-page report was commissioned by the United Nations Office at Geneva to inform the report of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It was published in 2018 by the Melbourne Social Equity Institute. To download the free report, click here.
“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.
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.
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.
“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. 3, September 2023. For content, reproduction or publication information, please contact Susan Rogers at selfhelpclearinghouse@gmail.com. Follow Susan on Twitter at @SusanRogersMH