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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 is a webinar tomorrow (Jan. 24) at 3 p.m. ET! And there are opportunities and upcoming deadlines throughout the Key Update, including in the “…But Still Fresh!” Department!
ACTION ALERTS
“Mobilize to Increase the SSI Savings Limit”
On January 30, 2024, at 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT), the National Disability Leadership Alliance (NDLA) Disability Organizers Forum is hosting a 90-minute Zoom meeting to organize around passing the SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act. “Disabled people should be able to save for future expenses and have a safety net!” NDLA writes. “Find out how you can help get it passed. Brainstorm with other organizers.” To register, click here. For accommodations or questions, please contact Jessica Lehman at jlehman7@gmail.com. (Courtesy of Dan Fisher)
NEWS
New Study Finds That Many DSM-5-TR Panel Members Had Conflicts of Interest
In a study “[t]o assess the extent and types of financial ties to industry of panel and task force members of the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition, text revision (DSM-5-TR), published in 2022…168 individuals were identified who served as either panel or task force members of the DSM-5-TR. Ninety-two met the inclusion criteria of being a physician who was based in the U.S. and therefore could be included in Open Payments. Of these 92 individuals, 55 (60%) received payments from industry. Collectively, these panel members received a total of $14.2m...” For the BMJ article, “Undisclosed financial conflicts of interest in DSM-5-TR: cross sectional analysis,” click here. (Courtesy of Peggy Swarbrick via Jacek Haciak)
Study of BZRA (Sedative) Discontinuation Reports Barriers, Facilitators, and Regrets
The most commonly reported barriers to discontinuing the use of long-term benzodiazepine receptor agonists (BZRA)–often prescribed to treat anxiety and insomnia–were withdrawal symptoms and the possibility that the original symptoms would return, according to a recent study. In addition, “[s]everal respondents expressed regret over ever taking BZRAs and/or reported that, with the benefit of hindsight, they should never have taken BZRAs in the first instance…” For the study, click here.
“Caregiving Can Be Stressful, But It Could Also Lower Risk of Depression”
A new study by a University of Texas at Austin researcher is questioning the idea that family caregiving is also a risk factor for depression. "It's widely assumed…that caregiving is a chronic stressor and that it contributes to worse health and well-being,” said Sae Hwang Han, the author of the paper. “But the evidence doesn't always bear that out." Recent studies have found that caregivers live longer than non-caregivers and that many caregivers describe caregiving as a positive experience that gives them meaning and purpose, according to a Science Daily article. For the article, which includes a link to the study, published in the journal Advances in Life Course Research, click here. (For a WebMD article on “Why Caregiving Can Lead to Depression,” which includes tips on how to avoid depression, click here.)
CMS Announces the Innovation in Behavioral Health Model
On January 18, 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the Innovation in Behavioral Health (IBH) Model, “which will focus on improving the quality of care and the behavioral and physical health outcomes for Medicare and Medicaid populations with moderate to severe mental health conditions and/or substance use disorders.” For more information, click here.
OPPORTUNITIES
“National Study Asks People with Disabilities to Share Their Experiences”
“The National Survey on Health and Disability (NSHD) gives voice to the concerns of people with disabilities, including people with mental health challenges, and documents their experiences with a variety of issues. Those include access to health care, insurance coverage, housing, transportation, long COVID, employment, community participation and more. Be sure that the perspective of people with lived experience of mental health conditions are represented!” For details, click here. If you are interested in participating, click here.
“International [Anonymous] Survey of People Who Have Had Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT), and Their Family and Friends”
Researchers at the University of East London (UK) write, “The purpose is to understand the experience of Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT), in order to enhance the information given to people being offered ECT, and their families. This is your opportunity to share your experiences of this treatment, positive and negative. The survey is for people around the world who have received ECT at any time (except the past month). It is also for relatives or friends of people who have received ECT and are aware of how ECT affected that person.” For details and to complete the survey, click here.
UIC Researchers Are Recruiting for Two Studies, Both with Cash Incentives
Researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago are recruiting for two studies: “a program where you work with a personal virtual wellness coach to improve your wellbeing and quality of life,” and a “research study testing an online program called Enhancing Your Immune Health.” Participants in the wellbeing study “have a 50/50 chance of either receiving the new program or receiving an extra payment instead, but everyone will be paid $100 to complete two phone interviews.” Participants in the immune health study “have a 50/50 chance of either receiving the new program or receiving an extra payment instead, but everyone will be paid $135 for completing three phone interviews." To find out if you are eligible for the wellbeing study, email HealthyReStart2021@gmail.com or text/call 1-312-725-2966. To find out if you are eligible for the immune health study, email enhanceimmune@gmail.com or text/call: 1-312-725-2966. When texting or leaving a message, please let UIC know which study you're interested in, and provide your name, phone number, and email address. (Judith Cook, PhD, is the principal investigator of both studies; Jessica Jonikas, MA, is the co-investigator.)
PENTAC Is Seeking Speakers on Leadership and Professional Development for Peers
“We’re looking for engaging speakers in the Northeast, Southwest, West, and/or Midwest regions,” PENTAC (Peer Experience National TA Center) writes. Topics include “Mapping out a personal career advancement plan,” “Gain and enhance your presentation skills,” “What employers want: resume and interviewing skills,” and “What funders want: how to pitch your ideas.” For more information, email Sherry Warner at sherry@peersupportfl.org
WEBINARS, CONFERENCES, TRAININGS, AND OTHER EVENTS
“Strengthening Families in Times of Perceived Crisis”
On January 24, 2024, at 3 p.m. ET, the Cafe TA Center will host a free webinar on “Strengthening Families in Times of Perceived Crisis.” “Are you a family member or caregiver supporting a loved one dealing with mental health challenges and/or addiction?...Join us for a live Zoom event that could be a turning point for your family’s well-being! Together, we’ll delve into resilience and discover actionable strategies to navigate the complexities of supporting someone you care about.” For more information and to register, click here.
“Ethical Tensions and Harms in Peer Research and Engagement”
On January 25, 2024, at 12 p.m. ET, the Empowerment Council of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, in Toronto, will present a 90-minute webinar on “Ethical Tensions and Harms in Peer Research and Engagement.” The organizers write, “In this webinar, you will hear insights from a participatory, qualitative research project concentrating on four intersecting communities often engaged in peer research: mental health service user communities, communities of people who use drugs, trans and non-binary communities, and racialized communities.” For more information and to register, click here. (Courtesy of Konstantina Poursanidou)
Doors to Wellbeing Continues Its Monthly Webinar Series
On January 30, 2024, at 2 p.m. ET, Doors to Wellbeing will present “Navigating Authentic Advocacy: Uplifting Black and Queer Communities.” For details and to register, click here. (The January webinar was included in the December 2023 Key Update.) And on February 27, Doors to Wellbeing will likely continue its monthly webinar series. To check for details as they are posted, click here.
SHARE! Self Help Peer Workforce Conference to Take Place January 31
SHARE! Self Help, based in Los Angeles, will hold its virtual Peer Workforce Conference on January 31, 2024. “Bridging Research and Practice brings together researchers and peer workers to share best practices in peer services.” For more information and to register, click here.
“Making Sense of Employment Research”
On January 31, 2024, at 12 p.m. ET, Boston University’s Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation will present a webinar on the “Benefits and Challenges of Employment for Individuals Diagnosed with Mental Illness: Qualitative Findings and Ongoing Research,” a paper published by Community Health Journal, co-authored by the presenter, Marta Elliott, PhD. For more information and to register, click here. (Note: This presentation may be controversial, based on a review of the paper it is based on. For the abstract, click here.)
“Mad Studies Genealogy and Praxis: A Conversation with Lori Ross and Lucy Costa”
On February 1, 2024, at 8:30 a.m. ET, International Mad Studies Journal will host a free one-hour conversation with the authors of “ ‘Mad Studies Genealogy and Praxis,’ which appeared in the first issue of the International Mad Studies Journal. You can access a copy of their paper here. (Prior reading recommended but not essential.)” For more information and to register, click here. (Courtesy of Konstantina Poursanidou)
Wildflower Alliance to Present “Working with Hearing Voices & Unusual Beliefs”
From February 5 through February 14, the Wildflower Alliance will present a six-session training, during which participants “will learn how to better understand and support people to make meaning of their experiences with voice hearing and/or unusual beliefs or what gets called ‘paranoia.’ Attendance at all sessions is required to fully complete the training. All sessions will be held online, and all times listed are in Eastern USA time. Registration is required. Space is limited.” For more information, including the dates and times of each session, click here. (Courtesy of N.A.P.S. News Brief)
The Next Judi’s Room Will Highlight Peer-run Crisis Respites
On February 7, 2024, at 6 p.m. ET (3 p.m. PT), MindFreedom International and I Love You, Lead On will present a Judi’s Room featuring presenters Lance Hicks and Amanda Hill of Detroit Peer Respite, which is described on its website as “a 100% consensual, 100% voluntary, 100% non-clinical alternative place to stay during a mental health and/or substance-related (non-medical) crisis.” (Presenters from other peer respites may also be included.) (To register, click here.)
Two-Part Webinar on “Advancing the Science on Peer Support and Suicide Prevention”
On February 8 (11:00 a.m.-3:45 p.m. ET) and February 12, 2024 (11:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m. ET), the National Institute of Mental Health will present a two-day virtual workshop during which it will convene “experts in peer-support suicide prevention to discuss relevant conceptual frameworks, recent advances in understanding what works and for whom, service settings, and service-user characteristics that inform intervention strategies…” For the agenda, click here. For more information and to register, click here. (Courtesy of Jacek Haciak)
Mental Health America Issues Call for Proposals for Its 2024 Conference
February 12, 2024, is the deadline to apply to present a workshop at Mental Health America’s annual conference, to be held September 17-21 in Washington, DC, and online. The conference theme is “Disrupt. Reform. Transform.” For more about the conference, click here. To apply to speak, click here. (Presenters must attend the conference in person.)
Two Upcoming Webinars and Much More in the January Edition of an MHTTC Newsletter
On February 21, 2024, at 2 p.m. ET, The Northeast and Caribbean MHTTC (Mental Health Technology Transfer Center) will present a 90-minute webinar on “Job Development: Building Skills to Connect with the Business Community.” On February 29 at 9:30 a.m. ET, it will present a one-hour webinar on “Post-Pandemic Impacts on School-Age Youth Mental Health.” And there is much more than that in the January edition of the newsletter. For more information and to register for either or both of the webinars, and for the rest of the newsletter’s offerings, click here.
National Peer Supervision Series Offered Virtually in March
In this three-part series, on March 7, 21, and 28 (1 p.m.-2:30 p.m. ET), sponsored by PENTAC (Peer Experience National TA Center), “peer supervisors will be able to learn all the ins and outs of their role as supervisor, learn effective supervision techniques, and practice new skills.” For more information and to register, click here.
NARPA (National Association for Rights Protection and Advocacy) Issues Request for Proposals for Its 2024 Conference!
The deadline is April 1, 2024, to submit a workshop proposal for NARPA’s 2024 conference, to be held in Portland, Oregon, September 4-7. For details and to apply, click here. For details of the presentations at last year’s conference, as well as other information, click here.
National Children’s Mental Health Acceptance Week Will Be May 5-11, 2024
National Children’s Mental Health Acceptance Week, sponsored by the National Federation of Families, will be held May 5-11, 2024. Previously called National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week, it was established in 1992 and updated in 2022 from Awareness to Acceptance. For more information, click here.
Are You a Peer Who Is Interested in Entrepreneurship? Attend This National Workshop Series in June and July!
On six consecutive Tuesdays from June 4 through July 9 (12 p.m.-2 p.m. ET), PENTAC (Peer Experience National TA Center) will host a free live, virtual workshop series that is “designed to assist individuals in the United States living with mental health and substance use issues in their consideration and pursuit of entrepreneurship as a route to occupational and financial wellness.” Participants must be able to commit to full attendance for all six sessions, with cameras on. For details and to register, click here.
IDHA Presents a “Transformative Mental Health Core Curriculum”
The Institute for the Development of Human Arts (IDHA) offers a self-paced, virtual mental health curriculum containing more than 20 hours of original video content. Its eight modules include “how racism, ableism, and other forms of oppression intersect with mental health; diverse narratives of lived experience and the powerful impact of grassroots movements, past and present; a variety of community-based and peer-led practices that support healing; and a transformative mental health lens and how to apply it to your life and work.” For more information and to register, click here. (Courtesy of N.A.P.S. News Brief)
PENTAC Offers Comprehensive Learning Programs For Recovery Professionals
“Become lifelong learners with courses designed to engage, educate, build skills, define and develop leadership capacity, and provide continuing education credits for certification,” PENTAC writes. For details, click here.
RESOURCES
“When There’s a Crisis, Call a Peer”
The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law has published a 94-page manual entitled “When There’s a Crisis, Call a Peer: How People with Lived Experience Make Mental Health Crisis Services More Effective.” “When peers support those in crisis, individuals who need help are less likely to be admitted to emergency rooms and hospitals to receive inpatient care. They are more likely to participate in community-based services—which can help them avoid future crises and resulting institutionalization or incarceration—and be more engaged in the services they receive. They experience less self-stigma and more self-empowerment and hope. They are less likely to need crisis services in the future.” For the manual, click here. (Courtesy of Jacek Haciak)
“New Federal Guidance for Alternatives to Police for People with Behavioral Health or Other Disabilities”
The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law and the Vera Institute have published a seven-page report entitled “New Federal Guidance for Alternatives to Police for People with Behavioral Health or Other Disabilities.” “Vera and the Bazelon Center agree with the new guidance, from the U.S. Departments of Justice (DOJ) and Health and Human Services (HHS), that ‘jurisdictions should not assume that the proper response to a crisis is always to send law enforcement.’” Boiling down the guidance, they write, “sending police in response to a mental health crisis where there is no immediate safety risk to the public is discriminatory and violates civil rights laws.” For the seven-page document, click here. (Courtesy of Jacek Haciak)
SAMHSA Publishes Results from the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH)
“This infographic accompanies the more comprehensive NSDUH annual national report. Together, they provide researchers, clinicians, policymakers, and the public with data that can be used to better understand and improve the nation’s behavioral health,” SAMHSA writes. For the 21-page infographic, click here. For the 162-page “Key Substance Use and Mental Health Indicators in the United States: Results from the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health,” click here.
“New Year’s Resolutions: Building Good Mental Health Habits”
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration recently published some suggestions about building good mental health habits. SAMHSA writes: “Setting New Year’s resolutions can be a positive way to focus on self-improvement, but it's important to approach them in a manner that promotes good mental health and well-being and maximizes our chances of sticking with them.” For SAMHSA’s guidance, click here. And for “Top 8 New Year's Resolutions to Make if You Have Anxiety: Making unrealistic New Year's resolutions can be damaging to your mental health. Here's how to do it right,” click here. And for “9 Mental-Health Resolutions for 2024, According to Therapists,” click here.
“Mental Health in the Criminal Justice System: What to Expect When You or a Family Member Is Arrested or Incarcerated”
The American Psychiatric Association, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) offer an 11-page guide on “Mental Health in the Criminal Justice System: What to Expect When You or a Family Member is Arrested or Incarcerated.” The guide includes “Helpful tips for individuals and family members,” “What happens if an individual is found guilty,” “What happens after release from incarceration,” and more. For the guide, click here.
Two Mental Health Toolkits Can Help Develop, Maintain, and Expand Rural Mental Health Services
The Rural Health Information Hub offers the “Mental Health in Rural Communities Toolkit,” which “features evidence-based models, resources, and program examples for the successful development and implementation of mental health programs to serve rural communities,” and the “Rural Suicide Prevention Toolkit,” which “highlights innovative, evidence-based models and resources to develop and implement successful suicide prevention programs in rural communities.” For more about rural mental health, click here. (Courtesy of Amy Smith)
Latest Cafe TA Center Newsletter Focuses on Social Determinants and Mental Health
The Cafe TA Center writes: “This time we take a look at the growing mental health crisis, the role of social determinants in it, and how the peer support and recovery community can bring a new and necessary perspective to addressing its root causes. We also share some new employment resources, details of an exciting job opportunity, and an update on our ‘Advancing Recovery in Your Community’ webinar series. You’ll also find the latest edition in our ‘Capacity Corner’ column, which provides tips on collaborating with partner organizations,” For the Focus 2.0 newsletter, click here.
The February 2024 Digest of Articles Offering Healthy Lifestyle Advice
For “Family History of Alcoholism: Are You at Risk?” click here. For “Neanderthal DNA may explain why some of us are morning people: Scientists find genes inherited from our prehistoric cousins increase tendency to rise early – useful in regions with short winter days,” click here. For “The Only Question You Should Ask Your Partner When They Need Support,” click here. For “10 Nutrition Tips for a Healthy New Year,” click here. For “Longevity Decoded: the Seven Keys to Healthy Aging,” click here. For “Your brain needs rest. Here are five ways to get some,” click here. For “Wearing hearing aids could reduce your risk of dying earlier: For people with hearing loss, regular use of hearing aids could reduce the risk of dying earlier by 24 percent vs. not wearing them at all,” click here. For “How To Get Back Into Working Out (No Matter How Long It’s Been) Because it's never too late!” click here. For “5 Health Lessons We Learned in 2023,” click here. For Better Report, which offers tips in a variety of areas relating to health, click here. For “How to Get Fit Without Going Broke,” click here. For “How to Tackle Chores When You’re Feeling Super Overwhelmed and Unmotivated: Tried-and-true tips from a therapist who’s been there,” click here. For “A Pilates Routine You Can Do Anywhere in Under 10 Minutes: Studies suggest the workout method can improve strength and posture, but it’s not cheap to join a studio. Here’s how to test the waters at home,” click here. For “Quick-start guide to nuts and seeds,” click here. For “For More Plant-Based Protein in Your Diet, Try These Legumes,” click here.
The February 2024 Digest of Articles about the Criminal Legal System, in which Many Individuals with Mental Health Conditions Are Incarcerated (and the Key Update continues after this Digest)
For “Adults With Mental Illness Are Overrepresented in Probation Population. But many probation agencies lack specialized training or tools to supervise them effectively,” click here. For “How Rikers Island Became New York’s Largest Mental Institution: A seemingly endless rotation between state forensic hospitals and city jails has meant that some mentally ill detainees stay in the system for years without ever standing trial,” click here. For 5 Takeaways From Our Investigation Into How Mississippi Counties Jail People for Mental Illness: We’ve been reporting on the state’s civil commitment process in partnership with Mississippi Today. These are the most important findings,” click here. For “How Phase III came to be: Though they once applauded the jail’s ambitious, federally overseen reforms, community groups and political leaders in New Orleans united in opposition to a key mandate stemming from those efforts: the construction of a $109 million mental health jail,” click here. For “DOJ issues new guide for specialized police units in the wake of Tyre Nichols' death,” click here. For “Former Death Row Prisoner Craigen Armstrong Pioneers ‘Vital’ Mental Illness Treatment Program in L.A. Jail,” click here. For “The Mercy Workers: For three decades, a little-known group of ‘mitigation specialists’ has helped save death-penalty defendants by documenting their childhood traumas. A rare look inside one case,” click here. For “The Mercy Workers, Illustrated: Her mission was to save him from death row–by telling the story of his life,” click here. For “Fatal LAPD shooting of mentally ill man who threw objects at vehicles was justified, commission rules,” click here. For “What Bodycams Tell Us About the Challenges of Policing the Police: The cameras and other police accountability steps are popular with the public — but not always particularly effective,” click here. For “NYPD Will Stop Withholding Body-Camera Footage of Police Shootings From Civilian Investigators: After questions from ProPublica and The New York Times Magazine, the New York Police Department pledged to end its practice of not sharing videos in ongoing investigations with the Civilian Complaint Review Board,” click here. For “Recovery Court: ‘All Rise!’ Judges Join Drug Defendants in Court-Sponsored Fitness Program: Two judges in rural Southwest Virginia are integrating fitness training into an incarceration diversion program. Instead of heading to jail, some people who are facing charges related to substance abuse disorder can participate in a structured fitness program. The preliminary results are promising, say the judges,” click here. For “New Chicago police contract includes protections for cops accused of misconduct, large raises: A Reader analysis shows the agreement places new time limits on disciplinary investigations, restricts body camera use, and raises officer salaries across the board,” click here. For “Jail populations are bouncing back to near pre-pandemic levels,” click here. For “Justice Dept. launches database to track misconduct by federal officers,” click here. For “U.S. Marshals Act Like Local Police with More Violence and Less Accountability: The federal agency’s teams have killed an average of 22 suspects and bystanders a year,” click here. For “Old-School Hair Analysis Is Junk Science. But It Still Keeps People Behind Bars: The technique, developed before DNA testing, can’t definitively tie suspects to crime scenes. Try explaining that to juries — or some judges,” click here. For “‘I get to tell my story’: incarcerated journalists are making podcasts, going viral and winning awards,” click here. “Some of Our Best Work of 2023: In podcasts, broadcasts and narrative stories, we examined prison conditions, prosecutions of pregnant women, Dungeons & Dragons on death row, and more,” by The Marshall Project, click here. For “These Oklahomans Needed Mental Health Care. Instead, They Died in Jail,” click here. For “Pennsylvania is off the ‘no state funding’ list. Is South Dakota next? Pleading the Sixth: At the start of 2023, Pennsylvania and South Dakota were the last two states remaining to contribute no funding to indigent defense. This morning, Pennsylvania is no longer on that list. And just last week, the South Dakota Governor publicly supported increasing the state’s role in indigent defense in response to a state supreme court task force. This means that America may finally be able to do away with its ‘no state funding’ list in 2024,” click here. For “Boom, bang! Tales from a cell below the ‘crazy unit’ of a US prison,” click here. For “The Most Memorable Gun Violence Journalism of 2023: These are the stories from across the media landscape that stuck with us,” click here. For “4 Reasons We Should Worry About Missing Crime Data: The FBI’s crime data is still incomplete — and politicians are taking advantage,” click here. For “New York Closed Psych Beds for Youth in Crisis. Now, Foster Care Programs and Host Towns Are Being Pushed to the Limit. Bucolic Pleasantville, N.Y., is seeing a showdown between leaders of a century-old children’s residence unequipped to treat acute mental health challenges and locals tired of troubled young people disturbing the peace. What happens to the kids?” click here. For “Finding Jordan Neely: He had places he belonged and people looking out for him. How did he end up dying, alone, at the hands of a stranger?” click here. For “Do Studies Show 'Lasting Benefit' Of Anticrime Programs?” click here. For “[New York] City Council votes to ban solitary confinement in city jails,” click here. For “In Spite of Prison: How does a former gang-banging, gun-toting Latino serving a thirty-year prison sentence, the product of an elderly uneducated immigrant father and a drug-addicted mother, go from a prison cell to law school? It was not because of prison, but in spite of it,” click here. For “Staff Warned About the Lack of Psychiatric Care at a VA Clinic. They Couldn’t Prevent Tragedy,” click here. For “Trauma, severe stress in childhood linked to criminal legal involvement in next generation: Study is the first to show an intergenerational relationship between parental ACE exposure and a young person’s involvement in the criminal legal system,” click here. For “The Marshall Project: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, 2023,” click here. For “Six U.S. Execution Methods and the Disastrous Quest for Humaneness: This chapter concludes that every execution state's desire to ensure the death penalty's survival at any cost propels each execution method's celebrated introduction and disastrous perpetuation,” click here. “2023 saw record killings by US police. Who is most affected? Officers killed at least 1,232 people last year – the deadliest year for homicides by law enforcement in over a decade, data shows,” click here. For “Exonerated, graduated, and ready for law school: James Soto was released from prison in December after a 42-year fight to prove his innocence,” click here. For “A Death Row Lawyer Blunders. Must His Client Pay the Price? The Supreme Court will consider whether to hear an appeal from an inmate who says his lawyer filed shoddy papers, including a brief saying the inmate must lose,” click here.
"FROM PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF THE KEY UPDATE BUT STILL FRESH!"
CONFERENCES AND EVENTS
“2024 Disability Freedom & Justice Caravan” Kicks Off on April 5
From April 5 to September 29, 2024, “we the people with disabilities, and our allies, will cross America visiting cities, honoring people and places significant to us, and take action to bring justice to our people,” according to an announcement by I Love You, Lead On, founded in memory of Justin Dart, who is considered the “father” of the Americans with Disabilities Act. A goal is “voter education, engagement, and registration to educate our community and the public on issues important to us—and where elected officials stand on these issues—leading up to critical elections in November 2024.” For more information, click here. (Courtesy of Braunwynn Franklin)
Sixth (Online) World Mental Health Congress to Be Held April 15-16, 2024
“Breaking Barriers, Building Resilience: Nurturing Mental Health in a Changing World” is the theme of the Sixth World Mental Health Congress, a virtual event to be held April 15-16, 2024. For more information and to register, click here.
Suicide Research Symposium Announces to Be Held April 17-19, 2024
The third annual free, virtual Suicide Research Symposium, cohosted with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, will be held April 17-19, 2024. For more information, click here. (Courtesy of Beckie Child)
Psychosis Is the Topic for the 2024 Online Law & Mental Health Conference
The 2024 online Law & Mental Health Conference on psychosis will be June 10, 11, and 12, 2024. Topics will include: “What is psychosis exactly – from a medical or clinical perspective, from a legal or criminal perspective, and from the perspective of those who have experienced psychosis? What are our best practices with psychosis for treatment, for housing, for families and friends, for courts, jails, and hospitals? How can those who have psychosis practice self-care and find mutual aid?” Among the speakers will be investigative journalist Rob Wipond, author of Your Consent Is Not Required: The Rise in Psychiatric Detentions, Forced Treatment, and Abusive Guardianships. For more information and to register, click here.
Trauma Summit 2024 to be held in Belfast and Virtually!
On June 17-18, 2024, the Action Trauma Network–a not-for-profit organization that promotes awareness of psychological trauma and trauma recovery throughout the world–will present its Trauma Summit 2024, in Belfast and online! For more information and to register, click here!
OPPORTUNITIES
2023 National Survey on Health and Disability Seeks Participants
The University of Kansas Institute for Health and Disability Policy Studies — funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) of the Administration for Community Living — is seeking adults with disabilities to complete the 2023 National Survey on Health and Disability (NSHD). “The NSHD gives voice to the concerns of people with disabilities and documents their experiences with a variety of issues, including access to health care, insurance coverage, housing, transportation, Long COVID, employment, education, and more. The survey is open to U.S. adults 18 and older with any disability and/or health condition. Participants may complete the survey by phone. For more information, please call 855-556-6328 (Voice/TTY) or email healthsurvey@ku.edu.” To access the survey, click here.
SAMHSA Is Recruiting Peer Grant Reviewers. Do You Qualify?
“SAMHSA's three Centers are always looking for qualified grant peer reviewers who can evaluate applications for discretionary grants,” SAMHSA writes. “SAMHSA peer reviewers must have related program experience and education.” (SAMHSA's Office of Recovery has confirmed that peer reviewers do not need a graduate degree.) One incentive to apply is that “[r]eviewers will receive $140 per application reviewed and returned to SAMHSA in the timeline specified for each program.” For details about qualifications for peer reviewers and how to apply, click here.
TU Collaborative Seeks Input on Its Community Integration Calendars
The Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion writes: “Each year, we release a calendar resource designed to help individuals engage more in the community!” The TU Collaborative is considering adding a guided component and would like your input on how to structure it. For more information and to participate in an anonymous survey, click here.
“Are You a Leader with a CMHC? Partner with the Temple University Collaborative!”
“The Clinical Treatment Act is a new law to encourage participation of low-income and minoritized healthcare recipients in research as a matter of equity. The Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion seeks to partner with community mental health centers (CMHCs) across the U.S. to help get information about current and future research studies to service recipients in various programs. In return we are also available to support your organization with free trainings and other supports. Please contact Professor Bryan McCormick (bryan.mccormick@temple.edu) about this important partnership opportunity.” To read this announcement online, click here.
Researchers Seek to Better Understand the Day-to-Day Social Experiences of People Diagnosed with Serious Mental Health Conditions
The Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion seeks participants diagnosed with serious mental health conditions to participate in a paid research study of their “day-to-day experiences of social isolation and loneliness…so that we can develop better interventions for people in the future.” Eligible participants will complete an intake interview (for a $20 gift card) and an exit interview (for a $30 gift card). Four one-minute surveys will be sent via smart phone in the 14 days between interviews. Questions? Contact drrp@temple.edu or (215) 204-3230.
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.
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
“Solving Homelessness Through Better Information”
At the link below are six reports about how to address homelessness in the Portland, Oregon, region. Although the reports, by Homeless Strategic Initiatives of Portland, are geared specifically for the Portland area, many of their lessons are broadly applicable. For the reports, click here. (Courtesy of Jacek Haciak)
Testimony on ECT by Acclaimed Author Linda Andre Is Available on YouTube
The 2000 presentation on ECT by shock survivor Linda Andre to a legislatively mandated committee chaired by the Vermont Department of Mental Health is now available on YouTube. Linda Andre wrote the acclaimed and authoritative book Doctors of Deception: What They Don't Want You to Know About Shock Treatment (2009), called “brilliant analysis” and “a masterpiece of scientific writing” by the International Journal of Risk and Safety in Medicine. For the 33-minute video, click here. (Courtesy of Laura Ziegler and Jim Gottstein)
SAMHSA TIP 59: “Improving Cultural Competence”
“The primary objective of this TIP [Treatment Improvement Protocol] is to assist readers in understanding the role of culture in the delivery of behavioral health services (both generally and with reference to specific cultural groups).” For the free, 341-page manual, click here.
“The State of Mental Health in America”
“Millions of adults in the U.S. experience serious thoughts of suicide, with the highest rate among multiracial individuals,” according to Mental Health America’s report on “The State of Mental Health in America.” Among other “2023 Key Findings” is that “[o]ver half (54.7%) of adults with a mental illness do not receive treatment, totaling over 28 million individuals,” and “[o]ver 1 in 10 youth in the U.S. are experiencing depression that is severely impairing their ability to function at school or work, at home, with family, or in their social life.” In addition, “59.8% of youth with major depression do not receive any mental health treatment.” To download a free copy of the report, click here.
World Mental Health Report: Transforming Mental Health for All
“The World Mental Health Report: Transforming Mental Health for All is designed to inspire and inform better mental health for everyone everywhere. Drawing on the latest evidence available, showcasing examples of good practice from around the world, and voicing people’s lived experience, it highlights why and where change is most needed and how it can best be achieved. It calls on all stakeholders to work together to deepen the value and commitment given to mental health, reshape the environments that influence mental health, and strengthen the systems that care for mental health.” For the free, 296-page report by the World Health Organization (WHO), click here.
“Mental Health Crisis Services: Promoting Person-Centred (sic) and Rights-based Approaches”
The World Health Organization (WHO), which published this 80-page “Technical Package” in 2021, writes: “By showcasing good practice mental health services from around the world this guidance supports countries to develop and reform community-based services and responses from a human rights perspective, promoting key rights such as equality, non-discrimination, legal capacity, informed consent and community inclusion. It offers a roadmap towards ending institutionalization and involuntary hospitalization and treatment and provides specific action steps for building mental health services that respect every person’s inherent dignity.” For the manual, click here.
Frontiers in Psychology Adds to Its Archive of Articles About Open Dialogue
The latest addition to Frontiers in Psychology’s trove of articles about Open Dialogue is “Open Dialogue services around the world: a scoping survey exploring organizational characteristics in the implementation of the Open Dialogue approach in mental health services.” For the article, published online on November 10, 2023, click here. For all 21 articles, click here. (Courtesy of Ann Kasper)
Prison Activist Resource Center (PARC) Directory Offers Helpful Resources
“PARC mails a free national directory of resources to prisoners, their friends and family members. This year, we have expanded the content and the directory is now 28 pages listing nearly 300 organizations serving folks on the inside!! Thank you to all of our community partners for supporting the mailing of this directory.” For the PARC website, which includes a link to the Directory, click here.
WHO and UN Publish Landmark Report on “Mental Health, Human Rights and Legislation”
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations’ Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) have jointly issued an important report on “Mental Health, Human Rights and Legislation: Guidance and Practice.” To view a video about the launch, click here. To download the 208-page publication, click here. ACTION ALERT: Share it with elected officials and mental health policymakers! (Courtesy of Janet Paleo) (The October 9, 2023, launch of the joint publication was announced in the September 2023 edition of the Key Update.)
“The Lived Experience of Depression: a Bottom-up Review Co-written by Experts by Experience and Academics”
"This journey in the lived experience of depression can also help us to understand the nature of our own emotions and feelings, what is to believe in something, what is to hope, and what is to be a living human being." For the article, click here. (Courtesy of Ann Kasper)
Movement History of the Consumer/ Client/ Survivor/ Expatient/ Ex-Inmate/ User Community
This 647-page comprehensive history and timeline, mostly compiled by award-winning mental health advocate Pat Risser (b. 1952, d. 2016), begins: “The history of the Consumer/ Client/ Survivor/ Ex-patient/ Ex-Inmate/ User Community is deeply enmeshed in and with other civil and human rights movements. To understand the depth of this intertwining, it is necessary to cover the history of slavery, women, children, people with disabilities, education, labor and other factors that play a role in creating who we are today.” To download the document, click here. (Courtesy of Judene Shelley)
“Report on Improving Mental Health Outcomes” Is Published
The Report’s Executive Summary begins: “The mental health system’s standard treatments are colossally counterproductive and harmful, often forced on unwilling patients. The overreliance on psychiatric drugs is reducing the recovery rate of people diagnosed with serious mental illness from a possible 80% to 5% and reducing their life spans by 20 years or so…” To download the free, 55-page report—by James B. (Jim) Gottstein, Esq.; Peter C. Gøtzsche, MD; David Cohen, PhD; Chuck Ruby, PhD; and Faith Myers—click here. (Note: The Report is intended to be used by advocates and is a modification of an earlier "White Paper," without the Alaska-specific information that it included. The "White Paper" was first included in the Key Update in April 2023, and in every subsequent edition in the “…But Still Fresh!” Department.)
MHA Offers "Evidence for Peer Support"
For Mental Health America's nine-page fact sheet offering evidence of the benefits of peer support, click here.
Wellness Activity Manual Helps People Learn Healthy New Behaviors & Habits
The free, 64-page Wellness Activity Manual: A Guide for Group Leaders “focuses on helping people with mental health conditions learn new behaviors and habits to improve their personal wellness. Each lesson has been constructed as a group activity that maximizes learning through building positive interpersonal relationships and actively involving participants. The Wellness Group meets weekly for one hour. The manual contains nine lessons focused on physical, emotional, and intellectual wellness. Each lesson can be used as a stand-alone group or combined into a multi-session series.” For more information and to download the free manual, click here.
“A Manual for Coping with Extraordinary and Remarkable Experiences”
“Extraordinary and remarkable experiences should not interfere with your mood and daily functioning. This manual will help you to keep your extraordinary experiences manageable in daily life, although your extraordinary experiences may be annoying and intruding at times. You can work through this manual with your therapist…Solutions will be sought for your problems. The described method consists of a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy and an educational course.” For the free, 34-page manual, copyrighted in 2013 by Mark van der Gaag, Dorien Nieman, and David van den Berg, click here. (Courtesy of Yulia Mikhailova) Note: This manual has not been reviewed, so no judgment about its value should be inferred from its inclusion in this e-newsletter.
Lived Experience Leadership Offers Numerous Research Studies Focused on Peer Supporters
Lived Experience Leadership features the findings of 12 years of research studies focused on [the peer support] workforce in a range of settings, to foster a better understanding of and respect for Lived Experience as a distinct discipline and build clarity on what makes this work unique and valuable. Importantly, this body of research was led by Lived Experience researchers.” For the website, click here.
International Peer Respite/Soteria Summit Offers Abundant Related Resources
For numerous resources about peer respites, Soteria, and related movements, click here.
“SAMHSA TIP 64: “Incorporating Peer Support into Substance Use Disorder Treatment Services”
“This TIP [Treatment Improvement Protocol’ supports learning about the key aspects, functions, and uses of Peer Support Services (PSS) in recovery from problematic substance use, which will help providers, supervisors, and administrators in SUD treatmen tprograms getter understand and respond to these changes.” To download the free, 301-page document, click here. 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.
“Training of Lived Experience Workforces: A Rapid Review of Content and Outcomes”
“Recently, the lived and living experience (LLE) workforce in mental health and alcohol and other drugs (AOD) sectors has expanded,” researchers at La Trobe University and the Self Help Addiction Resource Center in Australia write. “Despite widespread benefit of this inclusion, some LLE practitioners have encountered personal and professional challenges in their workforce roles…[W]e present recommendations for improving training processes for this workforce.” For the article, published in Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services (Springer), click here.
“WHO’s New Series to Enhance the Meaningful Engagement of People with Lived Experience”
The World Health Organization’s “new ‘Intention to Action’ series is tackling both an evidence gap and a lack of standardized approaches on how to include people with lived experience into decision- and policy-making…The first publication—‘People power: Perspectives from individuals with lived experience of non-communicable diseases, mental health conditions and neurological conditions’—includes six detailed case studies from 12 individuals with lived experience of diverse health conditions.” For more information and a link to download the 80-page publication, click here. (Courtesy of Matthew Jackman)
“What Is Mental Illness?”
“This conversation between Justin Garson (philosopher), Nev Jones (community mental health researcher), and Marco Ramos (psychiatrist/historian)”--sponsored by The Philosopher–“will aim to offer a sense of the scope of what is at stake in our understanding of mental illness, considering the place of biology, society, histories of oppression, evolution, and lived experience in such an understanding.” For the video, click here. (Courtesy of Kevin Fitts)
“Optimizing Recovery Funding, Volumes 1 & 2”
“In 2021, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) provided the Peer Recovery Center of Excellence (PR CoE) with supplemental funding for a special project to identify and recommend best practices and strategies to optimize funding for high-quality and effective recovery support services. The result was 'Volume 1: Barriers to Acquiring Funding for Organizations in the Ecosystem of Recovery Volume' and 'Volume 2: Strategies for State Funding of Recovery Support Services.'” To download the full, 130-page report, click here. 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)
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. 8, February 2024. For content, reproduction or publication information, please contact Susan Rogers at selfhelpclearinghouse@gmail.com. Follow Susan on Twitter at @SusanRogersMH