Key Update, April 2024, Volume 20, Number 10

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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, in the WEBINARS, TRAININGS, CONFERENCES, AND OTHER EVENTS category, there are nine events happening on March 26, 27, and 28, respectively! And there are opportunities and upcoming deadlines throughout the Key Update, including in “…But Still Fresh!” Check them out!

NEWS

Biden-Harris Administration Announces $36.9 Million in Behavioral Health Funding Opportunities

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), recently announced $36.9 million in grant programs supporting behavioral health services across the U.S. “SAMHSA grant programs like these help communities implement comprehensive, evidence-based strategies that prevent and address substance misuse and promote mental health across the country,” said SAMHSA leader Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon, PhD, HHS assistant secretary for mental health and substance use. For the press release, click here. (Courtesy of Jacek Haciak) (A notice of the Statewide Consumer Network Program grants was included in the March 2024 Key Update.) 

“Can Music Heal Trauma? Exploring the Therapeutic Powers of Sound”

“An increasing number of music therapists are now treating people touched by traumas both big and small, highlighting humanity’s deepest connections with music in the process,” according to a report on Pocket Worthy. For the article, click here. (Courtesy of Michael Skinner)

Judge David L. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law Receives $2 Million Gift from Yield Giving Open Call

On March 19, 2024, “MacKenzie Scott’s Yield Giving announced Judge David L. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law as one of the Yield Giving Open Call’s awardees working with people and in places experiencing the greatest need in the United States. The Bazelon Center received $2 million. This is the largest unrestricted single contribution in the organization’s history.” For the press release, click here.

Oxevision, a Controversial Inpatient Surveillance System, Won FDA Approval in 2021

Oxevision is “a patient monitoring system consisting of an infrared sensor and camera, which can be used to take vital signs and observe patients remotely. Currently, increasing numbers of psychiatric hospitals in England use Oxevision, in all patient bedrooms, thus enforcing blanket, 24-hour surveillance without ongoing informed consent and individualized risk assessments,”  the Stop Oxevision campaign writes. “The use of these devices is an excessive use of force and an unnecessary invasion of privacy.” Among the groups that have organized to stop the use of Oxevision in the UK is the National Survivor User Network. While there is a petition to “Stop the rollout of Oxevision and invasive video surveillance in psychiatric hospitals” in the UK (click here), there does not seem to be a similar effort in the U.S.–yet. 

OPPORTUNITIES

Does Your State Need Help to Comply with the HCBS Final Rule Requirements? NCAPPS Offers Support.

“NCAPPS is providing free short-term direct technical assistance to states who need support implementing person-centered planning in compliance with the HCBS Final Rule requirements…Preference will be given to states with strong leadership buy-in and established relationships with advocacy organizations.” For details, click here. Questions? ncapps@hsri.org 

Learn how to engage in more meaningful activities! Join the TU Collaborative’s Research Study.

The Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion writes: “We are looking for individuals who are willing to participate in a six-month intervention to get out of the house and engage in more meaningful activities; who are available to meet on the day the intervention takes place; who are experiencing significant mental health issues; who live in the U.S.; and who are at least 18 years old. If you are interested in participating, please contact switch@temple.edu. You may be eligible for compensation of up to $440 for your time and effort.”

Mental Health America Seeks Nominations for Its Annual Awards

“We are excited to announce that nominations are now open for seven Mental Health America awards that recognize peers, individuals, journalists, advocates, and MHA affiliates making a difference in mental health,” MHA writes. “These awards will be given out during formal ceremonies at the 2024 Mental Health America Conference, held September 17-21, 2024, in Washington, D.C.” For details and to submit a nomination by the May 10th deadline, click here.

The Latest Wildflower Alliance Newsletter Includes News, Trainings, Opportunities, and Resources!

The latest edition of the Wildflower Alliance newsletter includes legislative alerts on a peer respite bill and an involuntary outpatient commitment bill, and a training on legislative advocacy to support the peer respite bill (April 16, 1 p.m.-3 p.m. ET OR April 17, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. ET). It also includes an invitation to people who are willing to testify on video (with $100 in compensation). And that’s only a fraction of what the newsletter includes: There are more trainings and other opportunities too (some of which are described below)! For the newsletter, click here.

Have You Been Psychiatrically Hospitalized Within the Last Two Years in the U.S.? CAHPS Researchers Want to Hear From You

Researchers are recruiting for a project funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) “to develop questions about people’s inpatient mental health care experiences for a nationally distributed Consumer Assessment of Patient Healthcare Providers & Systems (CAHPS) survey. The individual interviews [in Spring 2024 via Zoom] will help us figure out what topics are important to ask about, and if the questions make sense to people who have had experiences in an inpatient mental health facility.” “Only the researchers will listen to the recordings, which will be destroyed within two months of the end of the study. Reports based on the interviews will not identify any of the participants.” To be eligible, participants must have been at least 18 years old when they were hospitalized. Respondents will receive $100. The principal investigators are from the Center for Survey Research at UMass Boston and Yale University School of Public Health. Questions? Carol.Cosenza@umb.edu. (Courtesy of Nev Jones)

RESOURCES

CAFÉ TAC Offers Consumer Pathways to Inclusion and Engagement Model (CPIEM)

“The Consumer Pathways to Inclusion and Engagement Model (CPIEM) is a [138-page] guidebook created by peers, for peers, to help them develop the skills they need to turn their lived mental health experience into meaningful change in the mental health system of care.” For more about the guidebook, including a link to download it (or you can click on the link attached to the title, above), click here. A webinar to introduce the guidebook was presented on March 14, 2024. For a recording of the webinar, click here. (Jeremy Countryman writes: “Recordings of all of our webinars are at https://cafetacenter.net/tac-trainings/. Just scroll down to “Recent Trainings and Webinars.”)

A Mental Health Recovery Workbook Has Garnered Many Endorsements from the Field

Your Mental Health Recovery Workbook: A Workbook to Share Hope, by Katherine Ponte, BA, JD, MBA, CPRP, has been highly praised by an array of individuals with lived experience, family members and other allies and advocates, and mental health professionals. Katherine, who has lived experience, is “a mental health advocate, author, non-profit founder, entrepreneur, coach, consultant, and lawyer. She is a faculty member of the School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry's Program for Recovery and Community Health at Yale University, Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner, and New York Certified Peer Specialist-Provisional.” For more about Katherine and the workbook, including the many testimonials and how to order it, click here. 

“Introducing Alternatives to Suicide: An Interview with Caroline Mazel-Carlton about a New Approach to Crisis”

In this interview, published in The Community Psychologist, Shira Collings (née Emily Cutler) asks Caroline Mazel-Carlton, director of learning opportunities at the Wildflower Alliance, about Alternatives to Suicide, which the Wildflower Alliance (formerly the Western Massachusetts Recovery Learning Community) developed. For the interview, click here. For more about Alternatives to Suicide, “a peer-to-peer support practice for voicing, sitting with, understanding, and moving through suicidal thoughts,” click here.

“Treatment Not Trauma: A Community Care Infrastructure for Crisis Response, Mental Health, and Shared Safety”

A recent STAT article—”Moving from crisis response to crisis prevention in U.S. mental health systems” (February 8, 2024)—describes “Treatment Not Trauma,” a plan that organizers in Chicago have devised, which “begins from the recognition that the most important part of addressing mental health crises is to prevent them from ever arising. It therefore calls for neither a psychiatric nor police model of mental health response—both of which are dominated by reaction rather than prevention—but instead for a public health model of community wellness.” For the 26-page white paper about this approach, published in July 2023, click here.

Ward 81: Voices Documents the Lives of Women in the Locked Ward at Oregon State Hospital

In 1976, photographer Mary Ellen Mark and writer Karen Folger Jacobs “set out to document the lives of the women in this locked ward at the Oregon State Hospital in Salem—the only one in the state…Ward 81: Voices, an expanded edition of the 1979 book, includes previously unpublished photographs, excerpts from interviews with patients and recorded conversations between Mark and Jacobs, as well as new essays examining the influence of their project. For an article about the book, click here. (Courtesy of Jacek Haciak) 

A Digital Booklet Explains the UN’s “Principles for the Protection of Persons with Mental Illness and the Improvement of Mental Health Care”

MindFreedom International writes: “Monirul, a MindFreedom member in Bangladesh, has launched a website called MindfulRights in order to promote human rights in various fields in Bangladesh, including mental health care, and to raise public awareness of related issues within the country. Although the site is still a work in progress, it already offers educational resources, such as a digital booklet that Monirul has composed to explain the United Nations' Principles for the Protection of Persons with Mental Illness and the Improvement of Mental Health Care in simple terms...To access these resources, click on the links above.

WEBINARS, TRAININGS, CONFERENCES, AND OTHER EVENTS

“The Black Immigrant & Disability Experience: Breaking Down Misconceptions and Bridging the Gap”

On March 26, 2024, 1:30 p.m.-3 p.m. ET (10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. PT), Disability Rights California “will discuss the experience of Black Immigrants with disabilities at the intersection of family, community, and culture and explore policies and programs that can help Black immigrants with disabilities overcome the barriers and challenges they face.” For details and to register, click here.

Doors to Wellbeing’s March Webinar is on the CPS Career Outcomes Study

On March 26, 2024, at 2 p.m. ET, “join Laysha Ostrow, PhD, as she discusses some of the results from the Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) Career Outcomes Study, a 3-year effort to document the career outcomes of CPS.” For details and to register, click here.

SAMHSA Will Hold a Meeting of ISMICC on March 27—and You Are Invited

On March 27, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET, SAMHSA will hold a meeting of ISMICC (Interdepartmental Serious Mental Illness Coordinating Committee) in person and virtually. To register for the virtual meeting, click here. For more information, click here. 

The March 2024 Northeast and Caribbean MHTTC Newsletter Includes Many Items of Interest. And the MHTTC Training and Events Calendar Includes Even More.   

The Northeast and Caribbean MHTTC (Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network) writes at the top of its newsletter: “Below you will find a list of featured events and products brought to you by our Center, the MHTTC Network, and beyond.” One such webinar is “Addressing Myths About Substance Use, Addiction, Treatment and Recovery,” on March 27, 2024 (11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. ET). For details and to register for this webinar, click here. For the newsletter, click here. For the MHTTC Training and Events Calendar, which includes numerous webinars from each of the MHTTC regions, click here.

NASMHPD to Host Two SAMHSA-sponsored Webinars Focused on Youth Mental Health

On March 27, 2024, at 11:30 a.m. ET, NASMHPD (National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors) will present “Building a framework for developing a comprehensive school-based mental health program,” which will “share a mental health framework for schools that has been proven to be effective and successful in helping students to manage their mental health challenges and achieve academic success.” For details and to register, click here. And on April 3, 2024, at 11:30 a.m. ET, NASMHPD will present “Youth in Crisis: Supporting Youth through School- and Clinic-based Mental Health Programs,” which “will offer helpful strategies for addressing trauma and grief, substance abuse, and other barriers that can negatively affect student learning, growth, and development through school- and clinic-based mental health programs.” For details and to register, click here. Questions? kelle.masten@nasmhpd.org or paige.thomas@nasmhpd.org.

CRDJ Presents a Panel on “The Politics of Psychiatric Reinstitutionalization”

On March 27, 2024, from 1 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. ET, the Center for Racial and Disability Justice (CRDJ) will host a free virtual panel on "The Politics of Psychiatric Reinstitutionalization." CRDJ writes: “This important and timely panel will discuss reinstitutionalization under the guise of recent policy efforts to force and coerce people with psychiatric disabilities and unhoused folks into ‘treatment’ and hospitalization. This panel will be moderated by CRDJ's executive director, Jordyn Jensen. Panelists include Luke Sikinyi (director of public policy, Alliance for Rights and Recovery), Andrea Wagner (managing member, LaVoy Wagner LLC), and Stefen Short (supervising attorney & director of the Prisoners' Rights Project, The Legal Aid Society). To register for this free panel, click here.

ISPS-US Presents “Diverse Psychotherapeutic Approaches for Voice Hearing”

“This series features…expert-led [three-hour] sessions, each delving into a distinct therapeutic modality, including Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) (March 27, 12 p.m. ET), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for psychosis (CBTp) (April 9, 2 p.m. ET), Psychodynamic Therapy (April 23, 2 p.m. ET), Creative Arts Therapy (May 14, 11 a.m. ET), [and] Internal Family Systems (IFS) (May 28, 5 p.m. ET).” ISPS-US writes: “These workshops are interactive learning experiences and, therefore, should be attended live. There are only 40 spaces available." Because the first session, on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), occurred on March 5, you must register for individual sessions rather than for the whole series. For details, including cost, and to register, click here.

CAFÉ TAC Invites You to Join a Rapid-Fire Recovery Q&A with Peer Leader Cherene Caraco!

On March 28, 2024, at 3 p.m. ET, Cherene Caraco–CEO of North Carolina’s Promise Resource Network and 2022 Bazelon Center Innovator of the Year–will facilitate a conversation “about innovative peer-centered, recovery-focused practices in mental health, touching on topics from warm lines and peer respites to human rights and systems-level change...Use this link to submit your question or comment, and we’ll bring it up during the webinar! We’ll also take additional questions and comments live! Register here!” 

Moblize Recovery Will Host Two Virtual Workshops Focused on the “Interconnected Recovery Community”

On March 28, 2024, at 7 p.m. ET, Mobilize Recovery will present “Spirituality in Recovery: A walk into the present moment”…This workshop explores wellness of the mind, body, and spirit for individuals and families looking to deepen their personal scope of Spirituality in recovery…” To register, click here. And on April 25, 2024, at 7 p.m. ET, Mobilize Recovery will present “Rethink Recovery: Creating inclusive communities with intention,” which “will challenge how we define and talk about recovery. Accepting that there are multiple pathways is not enough; we must believe that all pathways are equally valid.” To register, click here. (Courtesy of Kevin Fitts)

The Next Judi’s Room Will Feature Noted Journalist and Author Rob Wipond

On April 3, 2024, at 6 p.m. ET (3 p.m. PT), journalist Rob Wipond, author of Your Consent is Not Required: The Rise in Psychiatric Detentions, Forced Treatment and Abusive Guardianships, will host a conversation about involuntary commitment. To ask Rob questions about his research and request specific topics for him to discuss, you can fill out this brief questionnaire before April 1. Rob will use these responses to guide his presentation, which will be followed by a question-and-answer and discussion period. For the Zoom link, click here.

SHARE! Supervision of Peer Workforce Conference Extends the Deadline to Submit a Proposal

The new deadline is April 5, 2024, to submit a proposal for the third virtual SHARE! Supervision of Peer Workforce Conference, “Bridging Research and Practice.” The virtual conference will be held Wednesday, April 17, 2024, 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET (8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT). To submit a proposal & to register, click here.

Now I See a Person Institute to Present a Virtual Conference on “Normalizing Ourselves for the Clients”

On April 7, 2024, at 2 p.m. ET (11 a.m. PT), the Now I See a Person Institute will present a two-hour virtual conference on “Normalizing Ourselves for the Clients. Freeing Ourselves and Finding Freedom.” During the conference, a panel of clinicians will discuss “how therapeutic relationships and conversations foster a cure from mental illness narratives.” To register for the free conference–donations are gratefully accepted–please contact admin@nowiseeaperson.com. For more information, click here.

VA Presents National Mental Health Recovery and Wellness Webinar Series

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has posted a list of its upcoming one-hour webinars: “Treating the Whole Person: Special Considerations for Addressing Behavioral Health Comorbidities in Serious Mental Illness” (April 9), “Collaborative Decision-making for Veterans with SMI” (May 14), and “VISION Coalition (Veteran-Informed Safety Intervention & Outreach Network)” (June 11). All webinars begin at 1 p.m. ET. The list also includes archived webinars. For details, click here. (Courtesy of Michelle Colder Carras)

Wildflower Alliance Presents Alternatives to Suicide Group Facilitator (Online) Training

This six-session online training (April 10, 12, 17, 19, 24, and 26, 12 p.m. - 4 p.m. ET) is accepting applications on a rolling basis until the training is full. For details, including cost (although “no one will be turned away for lack of funds”) and a link to apply, click here. 

National Center for Victims of Crime Offers Grant Opportunity

On April 15, 2024, at 1 p.m. ET, the National Center for Victims of Crime will present a pre-application webinar for its Peer-to-Peer Program (P2P) grant opportunity, whose purpose “is to establish or enhance peer-to-peer support programs designed for victims and survivors of all crime types and underserved or marginalized communities who have experienced victimization. Through the P2P grant opportunity, the National Center for Victims of Crime will fund 10 subrecipients. To register for the webinar, click here. View the full request for proposals here. May 31 at 11:59 p.m. ET is the deadline to apply for funding here. Questions? Ask Program Manager Ashtyn Buechler (abuechler@victimsofcrime.org). (Courtesy of N.A.P.S. News Brief)

Copeland Center Hosts Interactive Six-Hour CE Course “for Peer Workers and Beyond”

On April 16 and April 18, 2024, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET on both days, the Copeland Center will present “Talking with Intention: Effective Communication and Purposeful Self-Disclosure.” The Copeland Center writes: “This online course is designed for peer specialists and peer workers to examine effective communication strategies.” For details, including cost, and to register, click here. (Courtesy of N.A.P.S. News Brief)

Wildflower Alliance Presents “Creating Family-Based Crisis Alternatives to Emergency Rooms and Psych Hospitals

On April 27, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET, “Join Cindy Hadge and Sera Davidow for this training on families learning to navigate crisis without ending up in Emergency Rooms, hospitals, and other invasive interventions that can too often be traumatic and lead to further breakdowns in trust and connection.” For details and to register, click here.

Copeland Center to Host Taking Action for Wellbeing Conference in Philadelphia

From August 11 to 13, 2024, at the Philadelphia Marriott Old City, the Copeland Center will host “Taking Action for Wellbeing,” a national conference. “Hear about the most cutting edge research from top researchers in the field, learn supervision, team building, and leadership skills, and connect with hundreds of people who are also taking action for their wellbeing in a supportive environment driven by our values and ethics,” the Copeland Center writes, adding that Call for Workshop proposals will follow. For details and to register, click here. 

ISEPP Issues Call for Proposals for Its 2024 Conference, to Be Held October 26-27

May 1, 2024, is the deadline to submit a proposal for the 26th annual conference of the International Society for Ethical Psychology & Psychiatry (ISEPP), to be held in Virginia Beach, Virginia, October 26-27. For questions, contact pepe.santana.phd@gmail.com

“Working with Hearing Voices and Unusual Beliefs”

The Wildflower Alliance writes: “Participants in this 6-session training 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.” The dates and times are July 17, 2024 (10 a.m.-2 p.m.), July 18 (10 a.m.-2 p.m.), July 19 (10 a.m.-11:30 a.m.), July 24 (9 a.m.-4 p.m.), July 25 (9 a.m.-4 p.m.), and July 26 (10 a.m.-2 p.m.). For details and to register and pay, click here.

Mad Camp Is Scheduled for July 18-22, 2024

“The second annual Mad Camp is scheduled for July 18-22 this year at Four Springs near Middletown, California. Applications are now being accepted, and some scholarships are available. Mad Camp is a week-long summer camp for mad people in the mountains: a place for singing, dancing, cavorting, telling stories, reading poetry, naps, meditation, community, hiking, playing games, yoga, swimming, art and craft creating, eating delicious food, making friends, listening to music, hanging out, open mic... and much more! The deadline to apply for tickets is April 8th. To learn more about Mad Camp, click on madcamp.net."

The April 2024 Digest of Articles Offering Healthy Lifestyle Advice

For “Health misinformation is rampant on social media – here’s what it does, why it spreads and what people can do about it,” click here. For “Study Puts a Cork in Belief That a Little Wine Helps the Heart: If you think a glass of wine in the evening is good for your heart, think again,” click here. For “Do You Still Need to Wash Pre-Washed Produce?” click here. For “The benefits of reading aloud,” click here. For “15 Fitness Fads That Do More Harm Than Good,” click here. For “Lying on the Floor Can Help You Feel More Grounded, According to Trauma Specialists—Here’s What Happened When I Tried It for a Week,” click here. For “You can fight existing signs of dementia with a healthy lifestyle, a new study suggests,” click here. For “How memory and thinking ability change with age,” click here. For “The Four Keys to Well-Being: Dr. Richard Davidson explains that well-being is a skill that can be practiced and strengthened,” click here. For “What are the health benefits of dark chocolate? Dark chocolate is rich in minerals, such as iron, magnesium, and zinc. it can have various health benefits, including reducing inflammation and decreasing the risk of heart disease,” click here. For “Presidential Physical Fitness Test: Can You Pass It Now?” click here. For “Antidepressants Could Trigger Some Cases of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome,” click here. For “Acting Out Dreams Predicts Parkinson’s and Other Brain Diseases: Enacted dreams could be an early sign of Parkinson’s disease,” click here. For “Hitting the activity mark: Guidelines recommend 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity physical activity, but how can you consistently reach this number?” click here. For “Exercise even better than anti-depressants at treating depression, study finds: Walking, jogging, yoga and strength training appeared to be the most effective types of exercise, according to a major new analysis,” click here. For “How to Heal from Trauma,” click here. (The previous two items were Courtesy of the Surviving Spirit Newsletter) For “How to stop living on auto-pilot: Are you going through the motions? Use these therapy techniques to set meaningful goals and build a ‘life worth living,’” click here. For “States have hodgepodge of cumbersome rules for enforcing sunshine laws,” click here.

The April 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 “The ‘Bad Guys’: Police academies socialize officers into an ‘us-versus-them’ mentality–particularly when it comes to activists–and harden them to any attempts at reform. They are taught that activists will purposely target police with lies, belligerence, and baiting. Thus police are primed to treat activists with distrust and disdain before they’ve even spent a single day on the job,” click here. For “When Police Encounters With Autistic People Turn Fatal: The death of a 15-year-old is once again raising questions about training on neurodivergent and mental health diagnoses among law enforcement agencies,” click here. For “Bedbugs, Rats and No Heat: How One Woman Endured a Decade of Neglect in New York’s Guardianship System: Judith Zbiegniewicz lived in squalor, yet every month, her legally appointed guardian was paid $450 from her bank account. She is one of the thousands of vulnerable New Yorkers left stranded by a system meant to protect them,” click here. For “Lawmakers Ignored Warnings About New York’s Broken Guardianship System for Decades. Here’s How They Can Fix It,” click here. For “Her Story: Issue 16 highlights women’s experiences in the U.S. criminal justice system,” click here. For “The effects of cash bail on crime and court appearances: Research suggests that curtailing the use of monetary release conditions among low-risk defendants would not result in dramatic drops in court attendance or increased risk of reoffending,” click here. For “Forty-six States Paid for Violent, Racist Police Training. We should ban pretextual stops instead: A recent report by the New Jersey Comptroller’s office found that a company called Street Cop trained police to shoot indiscriminately at people, medically experiment on the injured, and treat virtually anyone who isn’t a white, straight, cisgender male with open disdain. More training like this won’t make America safer,” click here. For “The National Registry of Exonerations says 153 innocent people were freed last year. A new report credits an increase on innocence organizations and conviction integrity units working on cases,” click here. For “Harassment and violence have become routine at Tewksbury’s overburdened psych hospital, workers say,” click here. For “Federal prison employees falsified logs in case where inmate committed suicide, IG says: The Justice Department inspector general last week urged the Bureau of Prisons to adopt stricter rules governing special housing unit rounds logs after lax policies potentially impaired the ability to prosecute the employees,” click here. For “Supreme Court says Georgia can’t retry mentally ill man who killed his mother: The high court said that despite an unusual split verdict, Georgia could not bring another trial against Damian McElrath because doing so would violate the double jeopardy clause,” click here. For “Supreme Court Blocks Retrial of Georgia Man Accused of Murder,” click here. For “Read the Ruling [in the above-noted case],” click here. For “Turns Out It’s Really Useful to Have a Former Public Defender on the Supreme Court,” click here.  For “U.S. Police Dogs Originated from Slavery–and Must Be Abolished: The Thirteenth Amendment bans all ‘badges and incidents’ of slavery. But the use of police dogs enacts cruelty on both people of color and the dogs themselves. To fully rid society of slavery, the dogs must be retired,” click here. For “Unmaking Prison Walls: Reacquainting ourselves with practices that made prisons more permeable can be a step toward ending mass incarceration,” click here. For “Rat fur, arsenic and copper: the dangerous ingredients lacing US prison water,” click here. For “Prison deaths report finds widespread missteps, failures in latest sign of crisis in federal prisons,” click here. For “The State of Prison Reform: A Conversation with Nazgol Ghandnoosh,” click here. For “This Mississippi Court Appoints Lawyers for Just 1 in 5 Defendants Before Indictment: Mississippi is known as one of the worst states for public defense. In one lower court, most defendants went without any lawyer before indictment,” click here. For “This court program helps at-risk youth with autism avoid juvenile detention,” click here. For “Advancing Transgender Justice: Illuminating Trans Lives Behind and Beyond Bars,” click here. For “Travis County to launch $23 million project to keep mentally ill from jail: Next month, mentally ill individuals accused of committing minor crimes will be “diverted” to a new 25-bed facility instead of jail cells in Travis County,” click here. For “Gaskin: The prison system needs a theory of change: ‘How can we effectively and justly improve recidivism rates to warrant the financial investment and ensure returning citizens flourish and contribute?’” click here. For “Revealed: at least 22 Californians have died while being held face down by police since 2016,” click here. For “‘He Died Like an Animal’: Some Police Departments Hogtie People Despite Knowing The Risks: The U.S. Department of Justice in 1995 warned that people may die when police tie handcuffed wrists to bound ankles,” click here. For “Cheap Jail and Prison Food Is Making People Sick. It Doesn’t Have To. Penny-pinching on food services fleeces incarcerated people and their families and has adverse health impacts, all while lining the pockets of corporations. Better ways exist,” click here. For “How Federal Prisons Are Getting Worse: Government watchdog agencies found hundreds of preventable deaths and excessive use of solitary confinement,” click here. For “Editorial: New lawsuit points to obvious truth: Solitary confinement is cruel and must end,” click here. For “ICE's wanton use of solitary confinement defies even its own standards: ‘We cannot sit idly by and allow tens of thousands more to suffer and develop debilitating mental and physical conditions as a result of this inhuman practice,’” click here. For “American Psychological Association Resolution Calls for Ban on Youth Solitary…and Other News on Solitary Confinement,” click here. For “‘Is a Life in Solitary “Cruel and Unusual?’ In Pennsylvania, the heart of solitary confinement reform, an intellectually disabled inmate says he’s been held in wretched isolation for 36 years (2016),” click here. For “Understanding the Trajectories of Women who use Violence Through an Intersectional Feminist Analysis,” click here. For “The FBI Catches Suspects by Utilizing Phone 'Push Alerts': The investigative technique has raised alarms from privacy advocates, who worry the data could be used to surveil Americans at a time when police and prosecutors have used cellphone data to investigate women for potentially violating state abortion bans,” click here. For “Graying in Prison: There's no aging with dignity for people serving extreme sentences. Freeing them is only a start to a deeper paradigm shift,” click here. For “Prisoners with developmental disabilities face unique challenges. One facility is offering solutions,” click here. For “Dozens of Minnesotans have been killed in high speed police chases since 2017,” click here. For “Motor vehicle crash deaths related to police pursuits in the United States,” click here. For “Department of Corrections: The Thirteenth Amendment says, ‘Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for a crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted (emphasis added), shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.’...Until this ‘Exception Clause’ is removed from the Constitution and it reads, ‘Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction,’ then call us what we are. Call us slaves,” click here. For “Women in Recovery, Oklahoma: “This profile discusses  Women in Recovery’s approach to integrating employment services into its treatment and recovery programs,” click here. For “‘This is torture': State of health care in U.S. prisons leads to brutal inmate deaths,” click here. For “Federal courts move against ‘judge-shopping’: The new policy is aimed at combating litigants’ attempts to direct their cases to specific judges,” click here. For “A Welcome Judicial Reform: Towards Random Case Assignment,” click here.

FROM PREVIOUS ISSUES OF THE KEY UPDATE BUT STILL FRESH!

WEBINARS, CONFERENCES, AND OTHER TRAININGS

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.

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 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)

National Federation of Families Conference Seeks Workshop Proposals

The National Federation of Families is looking for “60-minute proposals and a very limited number of 3-hour intensive workshop proposals” for its 35th annual conference, to be held November 7-9, 2024, at the Hyatt Regency in Orlando, Florida. “The National Federation welcomes proposals from professionals, family members, and youth who support the well-being of our children—of all ages—and promote family voice.” For details and to submit a proposal—deadline: May 1—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.

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! 

Academy of Peer Services Offers “Honest, Open Proud”

The Academy of Peer Services has opened enrollment for its new, self-paced, five-part Continuing Education Series, “Honest, Open Proud (HOP).” “HOP was developed by Dr. Patrick Corrigan, director of the National Consortium of Stigma and Empowerment (NCSE), through extensive community-based participatory research led by people with lived experience.” For the announcement, which includes a link to the flyer and to directions for registering, click here.

“Is Psychiatry Working?” The BBC Offers a Series of Eight Episodes Organized Under This Topic

Besides “Is Psychiatric Working?” the topics covered on these half-hour podcasts are, broadly stated, Anxiety, Healing and Recovery, Therapy, Medication, Diagnosis, Detention, and Crisis. To listen to the free podcasts, click here. (Courtesy of Philip Benjamin)

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)

Crestwood’s Recovery Resilience Solutions Offers “Welcome to Recovery Practices”

The latest podcast by Recovery Resilience Solutions is about “the power of a recovery-based welcoming practice.” Dr. Lori Ashcraft writes: “In this podcast on welcoming, I give you lots of ideas about how to welcome (not intake) people into your programs. It is so important to get this right because it’s the first and lasting impression the person has of both us and our program. We can set the stage for a solid working relationship, or for a struggle as you try to connect later on.” For a link to the podcast and more information about “Viva La Evolution,” click here.

OPPORTUNITIES

“Submit Future Research Topics by March 30 to Effective Health Care Program”

“Nominations for new research topics for Effective Health Care (EHC) Program evidence reviews are due March 30, 2024. AHRQ [Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality] encourages the public to participate in the agency’s EHC Program, which conducts evidence reviews to inform healthcare decision-making on drugs, devices, surgeries, and approaches to healthcare delivery.” For information about how to submit a research topic, click here. Questions? epc@ahrq.hhs.gov. (Courtesy of Elizabeth R. Stone)

ISEPP Seeks Contributions for an Upcoming Volume of Its Series on Critical Psychology and Critical Psychiatry, and Has Published Two More Volumes in the Series

ISEPP (International Society for Ethical Psychology & Psychiatry) seeks “authors to contribute to an upcoming volume of the Ethics International Press Critical Psychology and Critical Psychiatry Series. Don't miss the opportunity to speak your mind.” Contact any of these editors with your ideas for a chapter: Eric Maisel, PhD, ericmaisel@hotmail.com; Arnold Cantu, MSW, Arnold.Cantu@colostate.edu; Chuck Ruby, PhD, docruby@me.com. ISEPP has also released two more volumes in the series: Theoretical Alternatives to the Psychiatric Model of Mental Disorder Labeling: Contemporary Frameworks, Taxonomies, and Models and Practical Alternatives to the Psychiatric Model of Mental Illness: Beyond DSM and ICD Diagnosing.

“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.)

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. 

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. 

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

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 

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.

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.

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.

RESOURCES

“The Ethics of Survivor Research: Guidelines for the Ethical Conduct of Research Carried Out by Mental Health Service Users and Survivors”

“Drawing on the experience of survivors and service users, [this accessible manual] considers key issues such as informed consent and confidentiality with particular reference to mental health settings.” For more information and to download the free, 56-page manual, click here. (Courtesy of Konstantina Poursanidou)

WHO Publishes Operational Framework for Monitoring Social Determinants of Health Equity

The World Health Organization writes: “This Operational Framework for Monitoring Social Determinants of Health Equity provides countries with critical guidance on monitoring the social determinants of health–broadly defined as the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age, and people’s access to power, money and resources–and actions addressing them, and using data for policy action across sectors to improve health equity. The publication is meant as a resource for national governments and their partners.” For more information and to download the free 140-page manual, click here.

IAAPA Proposes a Pathway to End Coercive Psychiatry

Following up on the landmark report on “Mental Health, Human Rights and Legislation” --launched on October 9, 2023, by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations’ Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights–the International Association Against Psychiatric Assault (IAAPA) has issued a proposal to end coercive psychiatry. For details, click here. (Courtesy of Dan Fisher) To download the 208-page “Mental Health, Human Rights and Legislation: Guidance and Practice”—originally reported in the September 23 edition of the Key Update—click here. 

SAMHSA’s Overdose Prevention and Response Toolkit

“SAMHSA’s updated Overdose Prevention and Response Toolkit provides guidance to a wide range of individuals on preventing and responding to an overdose. The toolkit also emphasizes that harm reduction and access to treatment are essential aspects of overdose prevention.” For more information and to download the free toolkit, click here. 

“Embracing Authenticity: A Guide to Authenticity and Cultural Awareness at Work”

“This comprehensive guide is designed to support BIPOC employees, allies, and leadership in fostering a more inclusive and supportive workplace environment,” the New England MHTTC writes. “By recognizing and addressing the unique challenges faced by People of Color, promoting allyship, and empowering leadership, we can create a workplace where everyone feels valued, supported, and able to thrive. This guide provides practical strategies, exercises, and resources to enhance well-being and promote equity within your organization.” To download the free 65-page guide and to view a series of webinars for guidance and support for the use and implementation of the guide, click here.

“Study: To Reduce Jail Populations, Increase Mental Health Services in Communities”

A new study by researchers at George Mason University “concludes that U.S. jails are de facto mental health institutions, with nearly 10 times as many individuals with serious mental health conditions in prisons and jails than in state psychiatric hospitals. The study also found that access to affordable healthcare services and behavioral health treatment in the community changes how the jail is used and reduces the size of the jail population.” For more information and a link to the study, click here.”

“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.

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.

“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.

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.

“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)

“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)

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. 10, April 2024. For content, reproduction or publication information, please contact Susan Rogers at selfhelpclearinghouse@gmail.com. Follow Susan on Twitter at @SusanRogersMH

Key Update, March 2024, Volume 20, Number 9

To subscribe to the monthly Key Update, send an email to selfhelpclearinghouse@gmail.com with Subscribe in the subject line.

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 trainings and webinars that begin (in the case of trainings) or occur tomorrow (Feb. 21) and the following day (Feb. 22)! And there is another webinar tomorrow (Feb. 21) in the “...But Still Fresh!” Department! And there are opportunities and upcoming deadlines throughout the Key Update, including in “…But Still Fresh!” Check them out!

NEWS

SAMHSA Announces Funding Opportunities for Statewide Consumer Networks

April 8, 2024, is the due date for applications for SAMHSA’s Statewide Consumer Network Program. SAMHSA writes: “The purpose of this program is to strengthen the capacity of statewide mental health peer-led organizations to partner with state efforts to improve mental health support systems and related services for individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) or serious emotional disturbance (SED) as agents of transformation.” For more information, including eligibility requirements and application materials and resources, click here. (Courtesy of Jeremy Countryman)

“Watchful Waiting” Is the Best Course of Action for Non-Suicidal Depression

Reported in the April 2024 edition of the Journal of Affective Disorders Reports, Serbian researchers found that “watchful waiting, when coupled with psychosocial advice, depathologization and shared decision making, was effective in 64.5% of patients who ended up with no pharmaco- or psychotherapy after the three-month follow-up period. Severity of depression did not correlate with the efficacy of watchful waiting. Expectations from pharmacotherapy were the dominant factor influencing whether a patient will enter or finish the study without pharmacotherapy.” For the study, click here. And for “Psychotherapy Without Antidepressants Shows Best Results for Depression,” in Mad In America, click here.

Research on “Trauma-focused Therapy in Early Psychosis” Found “Promising Signals of Efficacy” 

A recent study, published in Psychological Medicine, describes British researchers’ attempts to “determine the feasibility of a large-scale randomized controlled trial (RCT) of an Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing for psychosis (EMDRp) intervention for early psychosis service users.” They concluded that “...EMDRp was associated with promising signals of efficacy on a range of valuable clinical outcomes. A larger-scale, multi-center trial of EMDRp is feasible and warranted.” For the study, click here.

OPPORTUNITIES

SAMHSA Will Hold a Meeting of ISMICC on March 27—and You Are Invited

On March 27, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET, SAMHSA will hold a meeting of ISMICC (Interdepartmental Serious Mental Illness Coordinating Committee) in person and virtually. To give a three-minute testimony, you must register for the virtual meeting (click here). “Individuals interested in submitting a comment must notify Pamela Foote on or before March 18, 2024, via email to: Pamela.Foote@samhsa.hhs.gov.” For more information, click here. 

“Submit Future Research Topics by March 30 to Effective Health Care Program”

“Nominations for new research topics for Effective Health Care (EHC) Program evidence reviews are due March 30, 2024. AHRQ [Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality] encourages the public to participate in the agency’s EHC Program, which conducts evidence reviews to inform healthcare decision-making on drugs, devices, surgeries, and approaches to healthcare delivery.” For information about how to submit a research topic, click here. Questions? epc@ahrq.hhs.gov. (Courtesy of Elizabeth R. Stone)

ISEPP Seeks Contributions for an Upcoming Volume of Its Series on Critical Psychology and Critical Psychiatry, and Has Published Two More Volumes in the Series

ISEPP (International Society for Ethical Psychology & Psychiatry) seeks “authors to contribute to an upcoming volume of the Ethics International Press Critical Psychology and Critical Psychiatry Series. Don't miss the opportunity to speak your mind.” Contact any of these editors with your ideas for a chapter: Eric Maisel, PhD, ericmaisel@hotmail.com; Arnold Cantu, MSW, Arnold.Cantu@colostate.edu; Chuck Ruby, PhD, docruby@me.com. ISEPP has also released two more volumes in the series: Theoretical Alternatives to the Psychiatric Model of Mental Disorder Labeling: Contemporary Frameworks, Taxonomies, and Models and Practical Alternatives to the Psychiatric Model of Mental Illness: Beyond DSM and ICD Diagnosing.

WEBINARS, TRAININGS, AND PODCASTS

NEC’s Quarterly Newsletter Includes Trainings, Webinars, and a Survey 

On February 21 and 22, 2024 (9 a.m. - 4 p.m. ET), the National Empowerment Center will present Virtual Emotional CPR (eCPR) for Adults (limited to 14 participants). Fee: $250. And on March 18, 19, 20, 21, and 22 (5 p.m. - 7 p.m. ET), NEC will present Virtual Youth eCPR (aged 16-25) for free (donations optional). Also, on February 21 at 2 p.m. ET, NEC will present a free, 90-minute webinar on “Reaching Success and Connection: Peer Support Integration in the Workplace,” and will present the same webinar in Spanish on March 4 at 1 p.m. NEC is also seeking educators and parents/guardians to respond to its survey on the needs of children aged 5 through 11 concerning learning and mental health. For details and to register for the trainings and webinars and/or to participate in the survey, click here.

“Addressing Spirituality in the Clinic & Community: Strategies for Expanding a Continuum of Mental Health Care and Sustained Recovery” Is One of Many Upcoming Webinars Listed in the MHTTC Calendar

On February 21, 2024, at 12 p.m. ET, the Southeast MHTTC (Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network) will present a one-hour webinar during which “[p]resenters will share ways that spirituality/religion (S/R) can promote strengths and struggles in the context of mental health challenges as well as discuss the process for offering spiritually competent care within mental health service organizations. Attendees will discover ways to collaborate with faith-based organizations in order to provide more holistic and long-term care as well as assess one's own clinical competence at attending to a client's spirituality/religion.” For details and to register, click here. Please note: The Training and Events Calendar of the Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network includes many webinars that you may find of interest. To review the calendar, click here. 

“Wisdom from the Streets: Unhoused, Criminalized, and Hospitalized”

On February 22, 2024, at 3 p.m. ET, the Cafe TA Center will host “a conversation about the lived experience of being unhoused in America while experiencing mental health and substance use challenges, what helps and harms, and alternative solutions to hospitals and jails.” For details and to register, click here. 

“The Perfect and the Good: Engaging People in Harm Reduction”

On February 22, 2024, at 6 p.m. ET, Pacific Southwest ROTA-R will present Part 2 of a two-part webinar on “Engaging People around Harm Reduction in the New Drug Landscape.” “Part 2 will review the current literature on harm reduction, discuss factors that affect the suitability and effectiveness of different strategies, and show how to use motivational interviewing and the ‘START’ acronym to help clients choose strategies to minimize potential risks.” To register, click here. (Courtesy of Sandy Goodwick)

Doors to Wellbeing to Present Webinars in February and March

On February 27, 2024, at 2 p.m. ET, Doors to Wellbeing will present a webinar about the Copeland Center’s “Taking Action for Whole Health & Wellbeing” course, “a co-facilitated group process that supports individuals in creating a personalized system for recovering, sustaining, and/or improving their whole health outcomes and enhancing their lifestyle.” And on March 26, 2024, at 2 p.m. ET, “join Laysha Ostrow, PhD, as she discusses some of the results from the Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) Career Outcomes Study, a 3-year effort to document the career outcomes of CPS.” For details and to register for either or both webinars, click here.

Mental Health Empowerment Project to Present Free Advocacy Trainings

From March 4 through March 8, 2024, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET, the Mental Health Empowerment Project (MHEP, 204 Second Street, Albany, NY) will present free individual advocacy training, virtually and in person (lunch provided). Topics will include negotiation skills, human rights, assertiveness, and more! Contact Jen Hastings to register (by February 28, if possible) or for questions: jhastings@mhepinc.org or 518.434.1393. In addition, MHEP will present free systems advocacy training (virtually and in person) from March 12 through March 14, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. ET. For more information, including a detailed agenda, and to register, click here.  

“An Introduction to Centers for Independent Living”

On March 5, 2024, at 2 p.m. ET, the Temple University Collaborative on Community Integration will host a free webinar on “Fostering Collaborations Between Mental Health Advocates and Centers for Independent Living [CILs].” “We will explore the history of CILs, tracing their evolution and impact, along with the core services offered by CILs. We will also discuss how mental health agencies can identify CILs in their area and build collaborations.” For details and to register, click here.

The Next Judi’s Room Will Feature SAFE (Survivors and Families Empowered)

On March 6, 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 Kristina Kapp, Ron Bassman, and Peter Stastny, discussing SAFE (Survivors and Families Empowered). For more information and the required registration link, click here. The Zoom link is https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82375518189

PENTAC to Present National Peer Supervision Series

On March 7, 21, and 28 (1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. ET), PENTAC (Peer Experience National Technical Assistance Center) will present a three-part supervision training. “Facilitated by Achara Consulting, 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 in these workshops.” To register, click here.

“Mastering the Mundane”: A Free Webinar Sponsored by PENTAC

On March 14, 2024, at 11 a.m. ET, PENTAC will present a free, one-hour webinar on “Mastering the Mundane,” featuring guest presenter Michael Jones, founder of Northern Star Peer Network. PENTAC writes, “Learn how to master the mundane–a vital skill that will propel you toward a successful path as a leader. Because, let's face it, long-term wins are all about consistently showing up and executing with the same level of urgency and attention to detail every single day...even when you're not feeling it. Trust us, this webinar will change the game for you.” To register, click here.

Meaningful Minds United presents HOPE (Healthy Outcomes for Positive Experiences) 

On March 14, 2024, at 7 p.m. ET (6 p.m. CT), Meaningful Minds United Inc., the statewide peer-run network in Louisiana, invites you to participate in “this educational program that supports optimal development in the face of adversity…This exciting presentation, from Tufts, will help to change your perspective on how we feel about our experiences as children. [It’s a] program that does take into account adverse childhood experiences but allows you to think about what is strong and not wrong!” To join the meeting, click on the Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84937107470. Meeting ID: 849 3710 7470 (Courtesy of Jacek Haciak)

“What It Takes: Supervising Peer Support Specialists/Advocates”

On March 15 and March 22, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET, the Peer Support Services Technical Assistance Center (PeerTAC) will present “a free Virtual 2-Day Summit for Supervisors of Peer Support Services. Join us to learn more about approaches, tools, and strategies that can increase the effectiveness of your supervision of Peer Support Specialists/Advocates across the lifespan.” For more information and to register, click here.

Six-Part Aspiring Entrepreneurs Workshop Series for Peers in June-July

Every Tuesday (12 p.m. - 2 p.m. ET) from June 4, 2024, through July 9, 2024 , PENTAC will present a free national Aspiring Entrepreneurs Workshop Series for peers. The six modules will cover Self-Awareness, Wellness Planning, Interpersonal Skills, Entrepreneurial Mindset, Getting Your Business Started, and Planning for Personal and Professional Success. The workshops will include “a supported hand-off to business mentors with free ongoing support.” To register, click here. 

Academy of Peer Services Offers “Honest, Open Proud”

The Academy of Peer Services has opened enrollment for its new, self-paced, five-part Continuing Education Series, “Honest, Open Proud (HOP).” “HOP was developed by Dr. Patrick Corrigan, director of the National Consortium of Stigma and Empowerment (NCSE), through extensive community-based participatory research led by people with lived experience.” For the announcement, which includes a link to the flyer and to directions for registering, click here.

“Is Psychiatry Working?” The BBC Offers a Series of Eight Episodes Organized Under This Topic

Besides “Is Psychiatric Working?” the topics covered on these half-hour podcasts are, broadly stated, Anxiety, Healing and Recovery, Therapy, Medication, Diagnosis, Detention, and Crisis. To listen to the free podcasts, click here. (Courtesy of Philip Benjamin)

Crestwood’s Recovery Resilience Solutions Offers “Welcome to Recovery Practices”

The latest podcast by Recovery Resilience Solutions is about “the power of a recovery-based welcoming practice.” Dr. Lori Ashcraft writes: “In this podcast on welcoming, I give you lots of ideas about how to welcome (not intake) people into your programs. It is so important to get this right because it’s the first and lasting impression the person has of both us and our program. We can set the stage for a solid working relationship, or for a struggle as you try to connect later on.” For a link to the podcast and more information about “Viva La Evolution,” click here.

CONFERENCES

SHARE! Supervision of Peer Workforce Conference Announces Call for Proposals 

The deadline is March 29, 2024, to submit a proposal for the third virtual SHARE! Supervision of Peer Workforce Conference, “Bridging Research and Practice.” The virtual conference will be held Wednesday, April 17, 2024, 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET (8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT). To submit a proposal & 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 Federation of Families Conference Seeks Workshop Proposals

The National Federation of Families is looking for “60-minute proposals and a very limited number of 3-hour intensive workshop proposals” for its 35th annual conference, to be held November 7-9, 2024, at the Hyatt Regency in Orlando, Florida. “The National Federation welcomes proposals from professionals, family members, and youth who support the well-being of our children—of all ages—and promote family voice.” For details and to submit a proposal—deadline: May 1—click here.

RESOURCES

“The Ethics of Survivor Research: Guidelines for the Ethical Conduct of Research Carried Out by Mental Health Service Users and Survivors”

“Drawing on the experience of survivors and service users, [this accessible manual] considers key issues such as informed consent and confidentiality with particular reference to mental health settings.” For more information and to download the free, 56-page manual, click here. (Courtesy of Konstantina Poursanidou)

WHO Publishes Operational Framework for Monitoring Social Determinants of Health Equity

The World Health Organization writes: “This Operational Framework for Monitoring Social Determinants of Health Equity provides countries with critical guidance on monitoring the social determinants of health–broadly defined as the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age, and people’s access to power, money and resources–and actions addressing them, and using data for policy action across sectors to improve health equity. The publication is meant as a resource for national governments and their partners.” For more information and to download the free 140-page manual, click here.

IAAPA Proposes a Pathway to End Coercive Psychiatry

Following up on the landmark report on “Mental Health, Human Rights and Legislation”--launched on October 9, 2023, by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations’ Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights–the International Association Against Psychiatric Assault (IAAPA) has issued a proposal to end coercive psychiatry. For details, click here. (Courtesy of Dan Fisher) To download the 208-page “Mental Health, Human Rights and Legislation: Guidance and Practice”—originally reported in the September 23 edition of the Key Update—click here. 

SAMHSA’s Overdose Prevention and Response Toolkit

“SAMHSA’s updated Overdose Prevention and Response Toolkit provides guidance to a wide range of individuals on preventing and responding to an overdose. The toolkit also emphasizes that harm reduction and access to treatment are essential aspects of overdose prevention.” For more information and to download the free toolkit, click here. 

“Embracing Authenticity: A Guide to Authenticity and Cultural Awareness at Work”

“This comprehensive guide is designed to support BIPOC employees, allies, and leadership in fostering a more inclusive and supportive workplace environment,” the New England MHTTC writes. “By recognizing and addressing the unique challenges faced by People of Color, promoting allyship, and empowering leadership, we can create a workplace where everyone feels valued, supported, and able to thrive. This guide provides practical strategies, exercises, and resources to enhance well-being and promote equity within your organization.” To download the free 65-page guide and to view a series of webinars for guidance and support for the use and implementation of the guide, click here.

“Study: To Reduce Jail Populations, Increase Mental Health Services in Communities”

A new study by researchers at George Mason University “concludes that U.S. jails are de facto mental health institutions, with nearly 10 times as many individuals with serious mental health conditions in prisons and jails than in state psychiatric hospitals. The study also found that access to affordable healthcare services and behavioral health treatment in the community changes how the jail is used and reduces the size of the jail population.” For more information and a link to the study, click here.”

LAST WORDS

RIP Ginger Phillips, a Passionate Mental Health Advocate and Dancer, and “a Fun and Loving Person Every Day of Her Life”

On January 26, 2024, Ginger Phillips, “an incredible advocate for mental health recovery,” died of lung cancer. “The world is a better place for her having been part of it,” wrote Judene Shelley of the National Empowerment Center. (The subject line also quotes Judene.) For Ginger’s obituary, click here. For a five-minute excerpt from a 65-minute interview that Judene recorded with Ginger in October 2023, click here. For the 65-minute interview, click here.

The March 2024 Digest of Articles Offering Healthy Lifestyle Advice

For “How to Savor Life,” click here. For “How to Start Exercising and Stick to It: Making exercise an enjoyable part of your everyday life may be easier than you think. These tips can show you how,” click here. For “Feeling Stuck? Here Are 5 Ways to Overcome It,” click here. For “5-minute breathing exercises can improve your mood and reduce anxiety: Cyclic sighing appears to be particularly effective among different breathing exercises and better than mindfulness meditation, a study says,” click here. For “Recognise the point of giving advice and you can do it better,” click here. For “February is best for resolutions, click here. For “Exercise Can Modify Fat Tissue in Ways That Improve Health–Even Without Weight Loss,” click here. For “Finding it tough to motivate yourself? These strategies can help. These science-based strategies can turn your good intentions into enduring habits,” click here. For “Sleep Deprivation and Memory Loss,” click here. For “How to Apologize Like You Mean It,” click here. For “‘Into the Wild’: A meta-synthesis of talking therapy in natural outdoor spaces: “Psychologists, counselors, and psychotherapists are increasingly using talking therapy outdoors,” click here. For “3 ways to measure how fit you are, without focusing on weight,” click here.

The March 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 “Reimagining Paths to Healing & Justice: Perspectives on Community Diversion” (a 56-page report by the Urban Justice Center Mental Health Project), click here. For “Called a 'model for success,' advocates seek to bring Durham's HEART program to Raleigh,” click here. For “Racial Bias in Arrests for Mental Health Symptoms: Black Americans with mental health symptoms are more likely to face arrest than White Americans, suggesting systemic racism in criminal justice responses,” click here. For “An ‘Execute-Them-At-Any-Cost Mentality’: The Supreme Court’s New, Bloodthirsty Era: The death penalty survived decades of decline. Now it’s back, thanks to capital punishment-prone prosecutors and a compliant Supreme Court,” click here. For “The Food on Your Table, Brought to You By Prison Labor: Incarcerated workers help produce some of America’s most popular food brands, but get few of the benefits and protections afforded to others,” click here. For “Prisoners in the US are part of a hidden workforce linked to hundreds of popular food brands,” click here. For “Asymmetrical Partners: Activism must involve incarcerated people–but few outside advocates truly understand the dangers and limitations imprisoned organizers face,” click here. For “Spit Hoods Can Be Deadly. Police Keep Using Them Anyway: Police cite studies saying the mesh bags are safe. But experts say the studies are flawed — and deaths in custody raise troubling questions,” click here. For “How training in the trades is helping women succeed after prison,” click here. For “One in Five: How Mass Incarceration Deepens Inequality and Harms Public Safety,” a 20-page report by The Sentencing Project, click here. For “Doctors question use of ‘excited delirium’ to explain deaths of suspects in police custody,” click here. For “The problem with criminal records: Discrepancies between state reports and private-sector background checks,” click here. For “Wall Street’s New Prison Scam: As states crack down on prison-phone price gouging and resulting government kickbacks, telecom companies and their private equity backers have new ways to game the system,” click here. For “Proposed Biden junk fees rule provides lots of transparency but little protection for incarcerated people: We called on the Federal Trade Commission to strengthen its proposed rule to explicitly prohibit some of the most abusive junk fees,” click here. For “ ‘It’s Known as “Death by Incarceration.’ These People Want to End It. More people are serving life sentences without parole in Pennsylvania than almost anywhere else in America. An increasingly vocal movement is trying to change that,” click here. For “The impact of large language models on police report writing and beyond. Exploring the transformative role of ChatGPT in policing — from streamlining report writing to enhancing operational effectiveness,” click here. For “Somebody’s Child: Amid the Lingering Trauma of Trump’s Executions, a New Project Brings Families to Federal Death Row,” click here. For “Redemptive Theater Project at FPC Duluth: Acting course demonstrates FBOP's vision,” click here. For “If You Can’t Afford an Attorney, One Will Be Appointed. And You May Get a Huge Bill: In Iowa, people too poor to pay for a lawyer are on the hook for big fees they can’t afford,” click here. For “The AI Lawyer is Here: How Artificial Intelligence is making its way into the legal system,” click here. For “Active shooter training: State-specific requirements for schools and law enforcement: No states mandate annual active shooter training for police officers, according to an analysis by The Texas Tribune, ProPublica and FRONTLINE. In comparison, at least 37 states require such training in schools, typically on a yearly basis,” click here. For “Bureau of Prisons failed to prevent nearly 200 deaths by suicide, DOJ watchdog finds: The Justice Department's inspector general said ‘numerous operational and managerial deficiencies’ contributed to many of the deaths it reviewed, over half of which were suicides,” click here. For “Evaluation of Issues Surrounding Inmate Deaths in Federal Bureau of Prisons Institutions” (111-page report),” click here. For “Qualified Immunity Is Not Limited to Police Brutality. It Protects a Wide Variety of Abusive Officials. An analysis of appeals involving the doctrine finds that less than a quarter ‘fit the popular conception of police accused of excessive force,’" click here. For “Gun Violence Affects Suicide Risk Among Black People, Study Finds: In the United States, people of color are the most vulnerable to gun violence, and they’re also the least likely to receive mental health care. The New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center has explored the connections,” click here. For “New SPLC report highlights disparities in Alabama’s juvenile justice system: Black students suspended more than white students and incarcerated more, according to the report,” click here. For “New York Spends Millions on Mental Health Street Teams. Do They Work? The city has poured funding into a program to aid severely mentally ill people while doing little to ensure it was getting results, an audit shows,” click here. For “The New York Slave Conspiracy Trials: A Deadly Hoax,” click here. For “Family of Black girls handcuffed by Colorado police, held at gunpoint reach $1.9 million settlement,” click here. For “How we’re failing to cover the cops: “A healthy relationship between the police and the press requires both regular contact and close scrutiny. That’s why we need beat reporters. Their decline, ultimately, is bad for accountability, and bad for our democracy,’” click here. For “First Amendment Disequilibrium: Can Modernizing Outdated First Amendment Doctrines Enhance Democracy? New legal protections are needed to empower the media to play its vital role in informing citizens about their government,” click here. For “Bureau of Prisons: Additional Actions Needed to Improve Restrictive Housing Practices–‘The Bureau of Prisons has not fully implemented 54 of the 87 recommendations from two prior studies on improving restrictive housing practices,’” click here. For “The effect of police violence on Black Americans’ health is documented in 2 new studies: Two studies published on Monday found racial disparities in sleep habits in the months following a police killing and in injuries caused by police using tasers,” click here. For “Police Departments Are Turning to AI to Sift Through Millions of Hours of Unreviewed Body-Cam Footage,” click here. For “Hair Sample That Put a Man in Prison Turned Out to Be Dog Hair: From bite marks to shaken babies, the Center for Integrity in Forensic Sciences is debunking bad science,” click here. For “How many are jailed awaiting mental health treatment in Mississippi? We still don’t know,” click here. For “Responding to Crimes of a Sexual Nature: What We Really Want Is No More Victims,” a 14-page report by the Sentencing Project, click here. For, “Is There Hope for the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women? A hashtag and a political campaign have brought attention to the epidemic of violence, but a New Mexico woman is fighting case by case,” click here. For “Why Mandatory Reporting Doesn’t Keep Children Safe,” click here. For “When the Misdiagnosis is Child Abuse: The power of child-abuse pediatric specialists and parents' unequal journey toward justice,” click here. For “‘Independent’ Investigations Into Sexual Abuse Are Big Business. Can Survivors Really Trust Them? When an aid organization hired agents to investigate her father’s violence, the resulting probe became her new nightmare,” click here.

"FROM PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF THE KEY UPDATE BUT STILL FRESH!"

CONFERENCES AND EVENTS

“2024 Disability Freedom & Justice Caravan” Kicks Off on March 5

From March 5 to September 30, 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 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)

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.

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! 

WEBINARS AND TRAININGS

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.

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)

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.)

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. 

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

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 

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.

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.

“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.

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)

“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)

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. 9, March 2024. For content, reproduction or publication information, please contact Susan Rogers at selfhelpclearinghouse@gmail.com. Follow Susan on Twitter at @SusanRogersMH

Key Update, February 2024, Volume 20, Number 8

To subscribe to the monthly Key Update, send an email to selfhelpclearinghouse@gmail.com with Subscribe in the subject line.

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

Key Update, January 2024, Volume 20, Number 7

To subscribe to the monthly Key Update, send an email to selfhelpclearinghouse@gmail.com with Subscribe in the subject line.

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 (Dec. 20)! And there are opportunities and upcoming deadlines throughout the Key Update, including in the “…But Still Fresh!” Department!

NEWS

“Traumatic Memories Are Represented Differently Than Regular Sad Memories in the Brains of People With PTSD, New Research Shows”

Brain scans of 28 people diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) found that their brains processed “sad” memories, such as the death of a loved one, differently from traumatic memories, such as sexual assaults or terrorist attacks, according to a new study by researchers at Yale and Mt. Sinai. “We observed that brain regions known to be involved in memory are not activated when recalling a traumatic experience,” said a co-author of the study. “This finding…focuses the goals of returning traumatic memories into a brain state akin to regular memory processing.” For a press release about the study, click here.

“Idaho Keeps Some Psychiatric Patients in Prison, Ignoring Decades of Warnings About the Practice”

“A temporary program for ‘dangerously mentally ill’ patients has continued for five decades, despite calls from critics to provide better care. Soon, Idaho will be the only state still using prisons to house patients who face no criminal charges,” according to a recent article by ProPublica. For the article, click here.

“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)

“Psychiatrists Call for Transition to Social Rather Than Biological Treatments”

“Leading scholars write that psychiatric disturbances are social in nature and that current treatments often cause more harm than good; [they] highlight alternative social approaches to mental health,” according to a recent article in Mad In America. For the article, click here.

WEBINARS, TRAININGS, AND PODCASTS

“Alternatives to Suicide: A Harm Reduction Approach”

On December 20, 2023, at 3 p.m. ET, the Cafe TA Center will present “a conversation about alternative approaches to suicide driven by genuine openness, recovery values, and authentic peer connection,” For more information and to register, click here.

“The Psychological Origins of Stigma & Bias”

On January 3, 2024, at 1 p.m. ET, Mindspring Mental Health Alliance will present a free, one-hour webinar on “The Psychological Origins of Stigma & Bias.” Mindspring writes: “How does cultural bias impact treatment, prevention & recovery? Discuss the origins of understanding mental illness, how misinformation is spread, and how stigma impacts individuals and communities…” For more information and to register, click here. For additional free Mindspring webinars, click here.

NCAPPS Newsletter Promotes Two Upcoming Webinars and a Podcast

The National Center on Advancing Person-Centered Practices and Systems (NCAPPS) has announced two webinars and a podcast: On January 9, 2024, at 3 p.m. ET, NCAPPS team members and the Disability Employment Technical Assistance Center will present a one-hour webinar on “The Role of Person-Centered Planning for Employment Support.” On January 10, at 2 p.m. ET, CMS will present a 90-minute webinar on “Person-Centered Service Planning in HCBS (Home and Community-Based Services): Requirements and Best Practices.” The podcast, by the Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities, available now, is on “moving toward an authentically person-centered system of supports and services for people with disabilities.” For details and to register for the two webinars and to listen to the podcast, click here.

C4 Innovations Presents “Changing the Conversation Webinar Series”

“ ‘Changing the Conversation’ is the official C4 Innovations podcast, where hosts and guests discuss critical and timely topics focused on equity, substance use, mental health, homelessness, and trauma. Day One: January 17, 2024, 1:00-2:00 p.m. ET. Register for day one here. Day Two: January 24, 2024, 1:00-2:00 p.m. ET. Register for day two here.

Recovery Resilience Solutions Hosts “Viva La Evolution” Podcast

“Viva la Evolution,” featuring Lori Ashcraft, includes podcasts and interviews, including interviews with Dr. Mark Ragins (“Learning and teaching about the possibility of recovery”), Dr. George Woods (“The healing power of relationship”), and Gloriana (“How recovery happens”), among others. To listen to the podcasts, and to learn more about other resources offered by Recovery Resilience Solutions, click here.

PENTAC Presents a “Transformational Peer Support Series”

On January 25, February 8, and February 15, 2024, from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. ET, PENTAC will host a three-part training, created by Achara Consulting, during which “peer support workers will be challenged and equipped to provide higher level, transformative peer support services.” To register, click here. Questions? sherry@peersupportfl.org

“Navigating Authentic Advocacy: Uplifting Black and Queer Communities”

On January 30, 2024, at 2 p.m. ET, Doors to Wellbeing will present a one-hour webinar on “Navigating Authentic Advocacy: Uplifting Black and Queer Communities.” Doors to Wellbeing writes: “Black and Queer individuals experience unique challenges and systemic barriers that have significant impact on their mental health, well-being, access and quality of behavioral health care received, and more…Explore tangible strategies for how to engage in authentic advocacy that promotes equity, inclusion, justice, and diversity and the pivotal role of peer support…” For more information and to register, click here. 

“Mental Health Recovery: Does Setting Goals Help?”

On January 31, 2024, at 9 a.m. ET, Mid West ARIES (Advancing Recovery in Ireland Education Service), in partnership with Mental Health Ireland, will present a free, one-hour webinar on “Mental Health Recovery: Does Setting Goals Help?” For more information and to register, click here. For information about additional free Mid West ARIES webinars, click here.

CONFERENCES

International Online Conference on Stress, Anxiety and Depression (SAD 2024)

The theme of the International Live, Virtual Conference on Stress, Anxiety, and Depression (SAD 2024), starting January 19, 2024, is Frontiers in Research on Stress, Depression & Anxiety Management. “The speakers’ contributions include all types of original, published or unpublished, experimental, constructive or theoretical work/findings in the field of SAD Occurrence & Management.” For more information and to register, click here.

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.

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.

Save the Date! NARPA Announces Its 2024 Annual Rights Conference, September 4-7!

The National Association for Rights Protection and Advocacy (NARPA) has announced that its 2024 conference will be held September 4-7 in downtown Portland, Oregon, at the Embassy Suites by Hilton! Check NARPA’s website for the upcoming Request for Proposals, and for information to make early reservations. For more information, contact narpa4rights@gmail.com

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.

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.

The January 2024 Digest of Articles Offering Healthy Lifestyle Advice

For “4 Tips for Booze-Free Holiday Fun,” click here. For “How to put your envy to good use: Envious feelings can eat you up, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Here’s how to transform envy into a guide and motivator,” click here. For “36 foods that may help lower your cancer risk: Looking for a list of cancer-fighting foods to add to your grocery list? Our expert says you can reduce – but not eliminate – your cancer risk by focusing on plants and making healthy food choices,” click here. For “Protein and Older Adults,” click here. For “Napping: Benefits and Tips,” click here. “Memory loss: 7 tips to improve your memory,” click here. For “It’s Not Too Late to Get in Better Shape,” click here. For “Is Sparkling Water Bad for Your Teeth,” click here. For “U.S. Rate of Suicide by Firearm Reaches Record Level,” click here. For “Why short-term memory falters and how to improve yours: There are simple tricks — and some pretty complicated ones, as well — to hang onto that thought,” click here. For “Things You Should Never Say To Your Partner,” click here. For “How to Exercise With Your Kids (Work out as a Family!),” click here. For “How to Protect Your Brain Health During Menopause: A leading expert explains how declining hormones at menopause impact the brain, and what you can do to improve your brain health and lower the risk for Alzheimer’s disease,” click here. For “Are you a chronic people-pleaser? Here's how to be kinder to yourself,” click here. For “How a bench and a team of grandmothers can tackle depression,” click here. (For another story about Friendship Benches, from the July 2023 Key Update, click here.) For “Amid a mental health crisis, toy industry takes on a new role: building resilience,” click here. For “The Top 9 Health Benefits of Flaxseed: One serving of flaxseed provides a good amount of protein, fiber, and omega 3 fatty acids. It may help lower the risk of some cancers, help maintain a health weight, and reduce cholesterol and blood pressure,” click here. For “Our 7 Best Tips to Build an Exercise Habit,” click here. 

The January 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 “Jailed for Their Own Safety, 14 Mississippians Died Awaiting Mental Health Treatment: Local officials often say they have no choice but to jail people awaiting treatment for mental illness and substance abuse — even if they’re not charged with a crime. But some people have died in the system that's supposed to protect them,” click here. For “My Family Saw a Police Car Hit a Kid on Halloween. Then I Learned How NYPD Impunity Works. ProPublica Deputy Managing Editor Eric Umansky’s family saw an unmarked NYPD cruiser hit a Black teenager. He tried to find out how it happened, and instead found all of the ways the NYPD is shielded from accountability,” click here. For “How Police Have Undermined the Promise of Body Cameras,” click here. For “Winnable criminal justice reforms in 2024: We list some high-impact policy ideas for state legislators and advocates who are looking to reform their criminal justice system without making it bigger, [including] "Fund and implement alternative response systems for calls involving people who have disabilities or who are experiencing mental health crises,” click here. “Gideon at 60: Summarizing A Snapshot of State Public Defense Systems and Paths to System Reform,” click here. For the 87-page “Gideon at 60,” click here. For “Sentenced to Life for an Accident Miles Away: A draconian legal doctrine called felony murder has put thousands of Americans—disproportionately young and Black—in prison,” click here. For “The Felony Murder Reporting Project,” click here. For “Four Suicides in L.A. and the Mental Health Problem in Law Enforcement: Four suspected suicides in the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department highlight a problem affecting agencies across the country,” click here. For “For Years, Prison Life Was Isolated From Tech. Now Tech Is Beginning to Define It. Introducing Time, Online, a new Future Tense package that explores how technology is changing prison as we know it,” click here. For “High-profile attacks on Derek Chauvin and Larry Nassar put spotlight on violence in federal prisons,” click here. For “Report: Bureau Of Prisons Not Getting Value From Accreditation Agency,” click here. For “Audit of the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Contract Awarded to the American Correctional Association,” click here. For “Police Misconduct Costs Cities Millions Every Year. But That’s Where The Accountability Ends. If not for inconsistent and shoddy record-keeping, we might know if settlements make a difference in police misconduct” (2021), click here. For “DA charges six officers on scene of Christian Glass’ shooting death: Six officers were charged with failure to intervene as a former deputy shot and killed the 22-year-old inside his car in Silver Plume in June 2022,” click here. For “Massachusetts becomes fifth state in nation to make prison calls free,” click here. For “‘Prison Within a Prison’: New Mandate Offers Lifeline for Deaf People in Custody: The new rule, which goes in effect in January 2024, applies to phone companies serving prisons, jails and detention facilities nationwide,” click here. For “No, Criminal Justice Reform Isn’t Driving Rising Crime: States around the country are enacting common-sense, bipartisan reforms that will help break the cycle of poverty, crime and incarceration, making our system fairer and our communities safer,” click here. For “Police Commission rules LAPD shooting of mentally ill man was not justified,” click here. For “These Missouri inmates run their own corner of the prison. The warden is OK with that,” click here. For “I Did It Norway: Some American prisons are singing a European tune” (2017), click here. For “Secretive White House Surveillance Program Gives Cops Access to Trillions of US Phone Records: A WIRED analysis of leaked police documents verifies that a secretive government program is allowing federal, state, and local law enforcement to access phone records of Americans who are not suspected of a crime,” click here. For “I Spent 3 Years in Solitary Confinement. Why Isn’t Philanthropy Doing More to End this Torture? A movement to end solitary confinement is gaining momentum, but criminal justice donors feel their money is better spent elsewhere. That’s a mistake,” click here. For “Minnesota lawmakers changed felony murder laws, which could mean the release of prisoners: One-third of prisoners in for murder were imprisoned under the felony murder doctrine,” click here. For “Can It Be Murder If You Didn’t Kill Anyone? A distinctly American legal doctrine holds getaway drivers and lookouts as responsible for a death as the actual killer. California is having second thoughts (2018),” click here. For “‘We need more high-impact learning practices in prison,’” click here. For “How Medical Examiners Shield Violent Cops From Scrutiny: They wield the important power of determining a victim’s manner of death—but they’re susceptible to both political pressure and racial bias,” click here. For “High fees, long waits cast shadow over new criminal expungement laws: A clear record helps people seeking employment, housing and education,” click here. For “How Criminal Records Hold Back Millions of People: More than 70 million Americans with arrest records face barriers to find work or a decent place to live,” click here. For “Building a Better Beat: A New Approach to Public Safety Reporting,” click here. For “NYU Policing Project aims to change Minneapolis public safety and policing: A new contract with the NYU Policing Project could see a shift away from MPD and toward community-based groups for public safety,” click here. For “US prison deaths soared in 2020, new study finds: While the total deaths in U.S. prisons jumped 77% in 2020, not all death increases are directly attributed to the Covid-19 pandemic,” click here. For “Women coming home from prison get little help rebuilding,” click here. For “Why Black Women With Incarcerated Loved Ones Face Loneliness: Nearly 1 in 2 Black women have a loved one who is incarcerated. From the initial arrest to sentencing to release, navigating the changes can be isolating,” click here. For “Michigan Enacts Laws to Reform Its Juvenile Justice System: In the aftermath of revelations from ProPublica, a government task force pushed for changes. New laws aim to keep low-level offenses out of court, provide more resources to young offenders and eliminate fines,” click here.

FROM PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF THE KEY UPDATE BUT STILL FRESH!

CONFERENCES

SHARE! Peer Workforce Conference Issues Call for Proposals

The Fourth Annual SHARE! Peer Workforce (online) Conference, on January 31, 2024 (12 p.m.-8:30 p.m. ET), has issued a call for proposals (deadline: January 5, 2024). “Bridging Research and Practice, a virtual Peer Workforce conference, brings together researchers and peer workers to share best practices in peer services…Registration is $50 with scholarships available.” For more information, to submit a proposal and/or to register, click here. (Courtesy of Beckie Child)

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.

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)

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

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.

RESOURCES

“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.

OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN RESEARCH

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

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. 7, January 2024. For content, reproduction or publication information, please contact Susan Rogers at selfhelpclearinghouse@gmail.com. Follow Susan on Twitter at @SusanRogersMH

Key Update, December 2023, Volume 20, Number 6

To subscribe to the monthly Key Update, send an email to selfhelpclearinghouse@gmail.com with Subscribe in the subject line.

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

“...Pharma Dominates/Biases Clinical Trials Across All Medicine”

In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), Allen Frances, MD, citing a study posted on November 14, 2023, on JAMA Network Open, wrote: “Shocks even me how much Pharma dominates/biases clinical trials across all medicine. Research literature/FDA approvals driven by commercial interest–not search for real efficacy/safety. Crazy to allow Pharma foxes [to] guard [the] henhouse of public well being.” According to JAMA, “This cross-sectional study illustrates how industry involvement in the most influential clinical trials was prominent not only for funding, but also authorship and provision of analysts and was associated with conclusions favoring the sponsor.” For the study–“Industry Involvement and Transparency in the Most Cited Clinical Trials, 2019-2022”–click here.

Medicare to Be Expanded to Support Mental Health

“Beginning in January 2024, Medicare will allow…licensed mental health professionals to join its pool of approved providers. The change will open access to another 400,000 professionals, or 40 percent of the current mental health workforce. In addition, Medicare will allow a maximum of 19 hours per week of intensive outpatient mental health care, increasing peer support for people with severe mental illness and making mobile crisis services more available to people in their homes or on the streets, if they’re unhoused…(click here)...But, now that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have finalized updates to their physician fee schedule for 2024, providers are vexed by cuts in payment rates the agency is offering, they told MedCity News.”

“Suppressing Negative Thoughts May Improve Mental Health, Contrary to Popular Belief, Study Finds”

“New research suggests that blocking out fearful thoughts could reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder,” according to a study recently published in Science Advances, as NBC News recently reported. “One hundred and twenty adults from 16 countries underwent 3 days of online training to suppress either fearful or neutral thoughts. No paradoxical increases in fears occurred. Instead, suppression reduced memory for suppressed fears and rendered them less vivid and anxiety provoking.” For the NBC News article, click here. For the study in Science Advances, click here.  

“Depression Not So ‘Treatment-Resistant’ After Psychodynamic Psychotherapy”

“A recent study published in Psychotherapy suggests that Intensive Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP) is an effective treatment for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). The study found that ISTDP had positive results, especially for patients who did not experience relief from depressive symptoms while taking antidepressants,” Mad In America writes. For the article, click here. For more about ISTDP, click here.

“Adding Antipsychotics Worsens Outcomes in Psychotic Depression”

According to a November 20, 2023, article in Mad In America, “outcomes were worse for all, with young people on combination therapy twice as likely to experience rehospitalization or death by suicide than those on antidepressants alone.” The researchers, in Sweden, found that, “after two years, 42.3% of those in the combination group were either readmitted or died by suicide, while slightly fewer (36.6%) in the antidepressants-alone group met this outcome. That is, adding antipsychotics didn’t help prevent this outcome, it increased the risk.” For the article, click here.

SAMHSA Launches SPARK (SAMHSA Program to Advance Recovery Knowledge)

SAMHSA has announced the creation of “a new national technical assistance center to support transformational, recovery-oriented change for every state, tribal, and territorial behavioral health system in the U.S.” SAMHSA writes: “Our charge is to embed recovery-oriented approaches in behavioral health systems and address systemic inequities that disproportionately impact access to recovery supports and services for under-served and under-resourced populations and communities.” The SAMHSA initiative, supported by SAMHSA’s Office of Recovery, will be led by C4 Innovations with Faces & Voices of Recovery, Alliance for Rights and Recovery (formerly NYAPRS), National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors, and additional partners. For more information, contact SAMHSA’s Office of Recovery (click here).

“Biden-Harris Administration Announces $74.4 Million in Funding Opportunities to Improve Behavioral Health”

On November 16, 2023, “the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), announced notices of funding opportunities for grant programs that address behavioral health challenges in local communities by preventing substance use initiation, reducing the progression of substance use, and addressing other related concerns,” including “the mental health crisis.” For the press release, click here. (Courtesy of Alliance Enews)

WEBINARS

“Striving and Thriving Among Certified Peer Specialists”

On November 27, 2023, at 1 p.m. ET, “SAMHSA’s Office of Recovery invites you to join Laysha Ostrow, PhD, as she discusses some of the results from the [three-year] Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) Career Outcomes Study...Dr. Ostrow will present some of the findings around wages and financial wellbeing, workplace burnout, and CPS in rural areas. The presentation will conclude with lessons learned and suggestions for future research and policy changes to support the peer workforce.” For the latest findings in a variety of areas, click here. To register for the webinar, click here.

“The Role of Peer Support as an Indigenous Practice”

On November 28, 2023, at 2 p.m. ET, Doors to Wellbeing will “explore the critical role of peer support, relationships, and genuine human connection in re-indigenizing and decolonizing society.” This free, one-hour webinar will be presented by Vesper Moore. For more information and to register, click here.

iSPS to Host a Webinar on Storytelling and an Eight-Week Storytelling Training

On December 6, 2023, at 4 p.m. ET, iSPS-US will host a 90-minute webinar on “Rewriting the Narrative: Healing and Advocacy Through Storytelling.” Tickets range from $0 to $40. And on December 20, 2023, iSPS-US will launch “‘Life Writing with ISPS-US,’ an eight-week course aimed at individuals interested in crafting personal narratives centered around experiences of altered states or what some may call ‘psychosis.’ We welcome both experiencers and family members.” Each of the biweekly, two-hour sessions, on Wednesdays, will begin at 4 p.m. ET. The sliding scale ranges from $50 to $200. For details and to register for the December 6th webinar, click here. For details and to register for the eight-week training, click here.

“Challenging the Broken Guardianship System” Is the Topic of the Next Judi’s Room

On December 6, 2023, at 6 p.m. ET (3 p.m. PT), MindFreedom International and I Love You, Lead On will present a Judi’s Room panel on “Challenging the Broken Guardianship System.” Misty Dion, Katrina Kapp, and Tom Olin—for more about the presenters, click here and scroll down—will talk about “advocating for individuals with disabilities, and how this work placed them on a path to challenge outdated and unjust guardianship laws and policies, ultimately leading them to build a new coalition, Liberators for Justice.” For more information and to register, click here.

“Best Practices to Engaging Consumers in Mental Health Care”

On December 14, 2023, at 12 pm. ET, Southeast MHTTC will host a free, 90-minute webinar on “engaging consumers with mental health and/or substance use disorders to be active participants in their care…This interactive seminar will cover engagement both within the context of evidence-based practices focused on outreach and general skills and engagement strategies outside of those unique programs…We will reserve some time for small groups to identify engagement strategies that have been or might be helpful in their treatment setting.” For more information and to register, click here.

“Promoting Equity through Police-Mental Health Collaborations (PMHCs): A Community Workshop”

On December 14, 2023, at 1:30 p.m. ET, the Council of State Governments Justice Center and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs’ Bureau of Justice Assistance will host a free, 90-minute webinar that “will provide guidance in three key areas: Key factors contributing to persistent racial and social inequities in law enforcement and behavioral health (LE-BH) service delivery, including the underlying determinants of structural and systemic racism found across justice and health systems; integration of data analysis to inform and evaluate diversity, equity, and inclusion challenges impacting LE-BH policies, practices, and outcomes; and emerging and evidence-based best practices from across the country.” For more information and to register, click here.

CONFERENCES

31st Forensic Rights and Treatment Conference to Be Held December 6-7, 2023

The Drexel University Division of Behavioral Healthcare Education is hosting the 2023 Virtual Forensic Rights and Treatment Conference on December 6-7, 2023. The organizers write: “We have a dynamic educational event that addresses topics such as human trafficking, moral distress in human services, grief and resilience experienced by individuals and their families and working with juveniles. Additionally, we will feature an application of crisis intervention teams (CIT) used by police when working with persons with serious mental illness.” For details, including a link to the conference brochure, which includes the complete detailed schedule and a link to register, click here. (Note: Although the conference organizers welcome a national audience, some of the CEs are Pennsylvania-based, and attendees from other states and DC will need to ask their accrediting entities for reciprocity. (Courtesy of Fran Hazam)

SHARE! Peer Workforce Conference Issues Call for Proposals

The Fourth Annual SHARE! Peer Workforce (online) Conference, on January 31, 2024 (12 p.m.-8:30 p.m. ET), has issued a call for proposals (deadline: January 5, 2024). “Bridging Research and Practice, a virtual Peer Workforce conference, brings together researchers and peer workers to share best practices in peer services…Registration is $50 with scholarships available.” For more information, to submit a proposal and/or to register, click here. (Courtesy of Beckie Child)

OPPORTUNITIES

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.

The November 2023 Newsletter of the Northeast and Caribbean MHTTC

The November edition of the Northeast and Caribbean MHTTC newsletter includes articles about the benefits of gratitude, a request for responses to a study on “Assessing Experiences, Knowledge, Attitudes, and Needs of Mental Health Providers in Delivering Services and Supports to Individuals who are Blind or Visually Impaired,” a podcast, a number of self-paced online courses, and MHTTC’s “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Reference Guide.” For the newsletter, click here.

RESOURCES 

“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. 

“Introducing Alternatives to Suicide: An Interview with Caroline Mazel-Carlton about a New Approach to Crisis”

“Alternatives to Suicide (Alt2Su) describes an approach to suicide that focuses on connection and relationship-building among those who are struggling. This approach was informed by ‘Alternatives to Suicide’ peer support groups where people can share openly and authentically about their suicidal thoughts and feelings.” To read the interview, 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)

“Supporting Employees with Mental Health Conditions: A Short Case Scenario on Facilitating Peer Connection”

The Café TA Center writes: “How can managers that know their team members would benefit from connecting with each other and sharing experiences bring people together while respecting boundaries? This new case scenario explores the possibilities and offers some guidance on how employers can create a space for connection and mutual support while still respecting privacy and best practices around disclosure.” For the article, click here.

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.

“The Happiest Man in the World” and Phenomenological Psychopathology

“Harry’s psychotic delusions bring him cheer. His psychiatrist embraces them,” according to a recent article in Nautilus. "[M]any clinicians are now embracing methods that empower patients to live with their voices and visions if they so choose, including a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy in which patients learn to cope with hallucinations. In one recent paper, for instance, researchers pointed out that clinical guidelines from countries around the world suggest that people with psychosis should have a say in their own therapy—even if that involves refusing to take medications." For the article, click here. For “New Perspectives in Phenomenological Psychopathology: Its Use in Psychiatric Treatment,” click here.

LAST WORDS

Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, a Tireless Mental Health Advocate, Dies

On November 19, 2023, Rosalynn Carter, who worked relentlessly to improve the lives of individuals with mental health conditions, died at the age of 96. Her many accomplishments include initiating the Rosalynn Carter Symposium on Mental Health Policy in 1985–held annually at the Carter Center, which she co-founded with President Carter–and creating the Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism in 1996 to combat the prejudice and discrimination associated with mental health conditions. She was instrumental in the successful fight to pass legislation requiring insurance companies to cover behavioral health conditions on a par with physical health conditions; and she also had an indelible impact on Georgia’s mental health system. Mrs. Carter wrote or co-authored several books, including Helping Someone with Mental Illness: A Compassionate Guide for Family, Friends, and Caregivers, and Within Our Reach: Ending the Mental Health Crisis. “I was lucky enough to meet Mrs. Carter several times over the years,” said Joseph Rogers, Clearinghouse founder and executive director. “She was always gracious and very generous, and cared deeply about people with mental health challenges.” For more about her life and accomplishments, click here.

The December 2023 Digest of Articles Offering Healthy Lifestyle Advice

For “FDA warns consumers not to purchase or use certain eye drops from several major brands due to risk of eye infection,” click here. For “A diet rich in beans, nuts, and whole grains could add 10 years to your life, according to a new modeling study,” click here. For “What to Know About Seasonal Depression,” click here. For “Do you need a daily supplement? Most older adults take some kind of over-the-counter dietary supplement. But are these products right for everyone?” click here. For “Should I Be Taking Supplements? There are thousands on the market, but relatively few situations where they’re proven to be beneficial,” click here. For “Why Your Grip Strength Matters, and How to Improve It,” click here. For “How Music Can Be Mental Health Care: In music therapy, clients play and listen to music as treatment for stress, depression and anxiety. Here’s how it works,” click here. For “Don’t Underestimate the Power of a Compliment,” click here. For “DASH Eating Plan: DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) is a flexible and balanced eating plan that helps create a heart-healthy eating style for life,” click here.For “How to thrive amid ‘imposter syndrome’: Worries that you’re incompetent and undeserving could be holding you back. Try these steps to move toward the life you want,” click here. For “Walking vs Running: Which Form of Cardio Has Better Health Benefits? Both of these activities have incredible (and similar) physical and mental health benefits when they’re included in your regular fitness routine,” click here. For “Muscle Soreness After a Workout: Can It Be Prevented?” click here. For “Understanding the Psychology of Interrupting: How to Deal With Chronic Interrupters,” click here. For “Sexual side effects of SSRIs: Why it happens and what to do: Coping with this common side effect from antidepressants,” click here.

The December 2023 Digest of Articles about the Criminal Legal System, in which Many Individuals with Mental Health Conditions Are Incarcerated (and the Key Update continues after this Digest)

For the 26-page report by The Sentencing Project–“One in Five: Disparities in Crime and Policing. The wide net that police cast across people of color is at odds with advancing safety because excessive police contact often fails to intercept serious criminal activity and diminishes the perceived legitimacy of law enforcement”--click here. For “Mississippi Jailed More Than 800 People Awaiting Psychiatric Treatment in a Year. Just One Jail Meets State Standards. Counties are allowed to hold people awaiting court-ordered psychiatric treatment in jails only if the facilities meet safety and health standards, but there’s no funding to help them comply and no penalties if they don’t,” click here. For “Book Review — Mass Supervision: Probation, Parole, and the Illusion of Safety and Freedom: A former New York City probation commissioner highlights how well-intentioned community supervision has gone awry and makes a compelling case for systemic change,” click here. For “Books as Decarceral: By helping non-incarcerated people to experience a human connection with people inside, volunteering can open a curtain in the mind,” click here. For “Children in Mental-Health Crisis Surge Into Hospital E.R.s,” click here. For “The Scandal That Never Happened: Years ago, the all-white judges of a Louisiana appellate court decided, in secret, to systematically ignore petitions filed by prisoners, most of them Black, who claimed they had been unjustly convicted. This is the story of a horrendous injustice and the three people who tried to expose it. It begins with a suicide note,” click here. For “New 47% Low Say Death Penalty Is Fairly Applied in U.S.,” click here. For “Here’s How I Use My Story to Teach Incarcerated Kids That Writing Matters: At 18, Bobby Bostic was sentenced to 241 years in prison. Now out on parole, he’s sharing the healing power of writing in juvenile detention centers,” click here. For “6 Stories About All the Ways You Can Die in Prison: More than 6,000 people passed away in U.S. prisons in 2020, a 46% increase from the previous year,” click here. For “Expanding the Vote: State Felony Disenfranchisement Reform, 1997-2023,” click here. For “Liberal justices object as Supreme Court rejects prisoner's exercise claim. The case concerns Michael Johnson, a prisoner with mental health issues, who was denied almost all opportunities to exercise for three years while in solitary confinement,” click here. For “Elderly and Imprisoned: ‘I Don’t Count It as Living, Only Existing,’” click here. For “P2P and Partners Awarded Multi-Million Dollar, Multi-Year Funding to Support Community-led Project to Advance Digital and Educational Equity for Currently and Formerly Incarcerated People,” click here. For “Your Arrest Was Dismissed. But It’s Still In A Police Database. In New York City, officers are illegally using information from arrests that have been sealed, according to a lawsuit. The practice is legal in more than two dozen states,” click here. For “This Youth Detention Center Superintendent Illegally Locks Kids Alone in Cells. No One Has Forced Him to Stop. The Richard L. Bean Juvenile Service Center has been punishing kids with seclusion more than any other facility in Tennessee. And as the laws and rules on how to treat kids changed, the facility failed to keep up,” click here. For “Young Black men in areas of Chicago, Philly more likely to die from guns than troops in battle: A young man living in an area around Garfield Park is 3.23 times more likely to die from a bullet than U.S. service members deployed to Afghanistan, a Boston College criminologist writes about a recent study,” click here. For “We studied jail conditions and jail deaths − here’s what we found: Relatively high turnover rates, we found, were associated with higher death rates overall, as well as due to suicide, drugs and alcohol, and homicide,” click here. For “Inside The Nation’s Overdose Crisis in Prisons and Jails: Behind bars, drug use is rampant and uniquely deadly, new data shows,” click here. For “A Warden Tried to Fix an Abusive Prison. He Faced Death Threats. He was tasked with ending abuse at a federal penitentiary, but he says his own officers and the Bureau of Prisons stood in the way,” click here. For “Incarcerated students earn degrees in groundbreaking US university program. Participants in Northwestern University prison education program will graduate despite having to work through Covid-19 pandemic,” click here. For “Prison Labor, Low Wages and the Side Hustle: Incarcerated workers turn to side hustles to survive. On the outside, comedian Luenell reflects on her time behind bars — and in show business,” click here. For “Cash bail policies are under fresh scrutiny. Some places have done away with the system, while others are considering stricter guidelines,” click here. For “Incarcerated Journalist Juan Moreno Haines Named Editor-in-Chief of Solitary Watch. The Award-Winning Reporter and Editor Will Work from Behind Bars at San Quentin,” click here. For “A ‘Constitution of Empire’ has failed Native Americans for generations. ‘Rather than engage with questions born of American colonialism, we have instead declared these puzzles as beyond our constitutional theory and left them to the “plenary power” of the political branches to solve,’” click here. For “Yearning to Go Home: Life-without-parole sentences hit families especially hard. Yet they fight on, committed to their loved ones’ freedom,” click here. For “Stripped: Unveiling the unseen trauma of strip searching juveniles in the Allegheny County Jail,” click here. For “Supreme Court Takes on Gun Cases as State Laws Shift: The court is considering the safety of victims of domestic violence, bump stocks and more,” click here. For “Deaths in Pa. jails are undercounted. Our investigation found dozens of hidden cases,” click here. For “Hundreds of Women File Rape Lawsuits Against City Jails: The suits filed as part of the state’s extension of the statute of limitations under the Adult Victims Act allege a culture of abuse and cover-up at the Department of Correction,” click here. For “Inside Illinois’ Youth Lockups, Children Go Without Basic Services and Face ‘Excessive’ Punishments: State audits point to troubling conditions in juvenile detention centers, but no agency has strong enough oversight to bring about change,” click here. For “Nearly one in five state prisoners go directly from maximum security to the street,” click here. For “From Solitary to the Street: What happens when prisoners go from complete isolation to complete freedom in a day?,” click here. For Prison Telecom Giant Deletes Months of Incarcerated Writers’ Work: Securus Technologies says a ‘technical glitch’ last week caused the deletion of Washington prisoners’ writings. They offered compensation of two e-stamps—a value of less than $1,” click here. For “ ‘Correction: Parole, Prison, and the Possibility of Change’: A cleareyed, compassionate, urgent appeal for prison reform,” click here. For “It’s time to rethink parole in the age of mass incarceration: Ben Austen’s ‘Correction’ focuses on the stories of two men to show how we might change the process of giving people second chances,” click here. For “Your Local Jail May Be a House of Horrors. But you probably wouldn’t know it, because sheriffs rule them with little accountability. After one man's death in a notorious lockup, residents of a Missouri town fought back,” click here. For “Redemption Songs: The Forgotten History of American Prison Music. From blues to gospel, country to rap, people have been making music behind bars for decades. Here’s why we should all tune in,” click here. For “New Data Shows Violent Crime Is Up… And Also Down. Property crime and violence against young people are both up, recent federal data shows, but other crime trends are murkier,” click here. For “The history of racism in Tennessee executions is why capital punishment is unjust: Executing the innocent, cost and competence should make all look at alternatives,” click here. For “The Era of Progress on Gun Mortality: State Gun Regulations and Gun Deaths from 1991 to 2016,” click here. For “People with dementia are being assaulted, improperly housed in Baltimore jail, report finds,” 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.

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)

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! 

WEBINARS

The MHTTC Calendar of Events Offers Many Webinars in Late September, October, and Beyond

To consult the MHTTC Calendar of Events for upcoming webinars (which are too numerous to include here), click here.

OPPORTUNITIES

CMHJ Extends Call for Papers Deadline to December 1

The Community Mental Health Journal (CMHJ) has extended its call for papers for a special issue on “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)...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 now December 1, 2023. For more information, click here.

International Mad Studies Journal Invites Submissions

For a special issue of the International Mad Studies Journal, the deadline for abstract submissions is December 15, 2023, via email to mkrazins@syr.edu. For details, 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.

OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN RESEARCH

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

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)

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. 6, December 2023. For content, reproduction or publication information, please contact Susan Rogers at selfhelpclearinghouse@gmail.com. Follow Susan on Twitter at @SusanRogersMH

Key Update, November 2023, Volume 20, Number 5

To subscribe to the monthly Key Update, send an email to selfhelpclearinghouse@gmail.com with Subscribe in the subject line.

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!

ACTION ALERT!

Help End Health Care Discrimination! Submit Comments by November 13 on Proposed Updates to Disability Rights Legislation!

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has invited comments on proposed updates to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act; the deadline is November 13, 2024. The proposed rule, Discrimination on the Basis of Disability in Health and Human Service Programs or Activities, updates and improves regulations for this landmark national law that protects qualified individuals in federally funded programs from discrimination based on their disability. Disability Rights Oregon (DRO) has provided helpful information for individuals nationally to show support for the new rule and offer suggestions “to make it even stronger.” For more information, click here. For suggested language proposed by DRO and a link to submit comments, click here. (Courtesy of Jacek Haciak)

NEWS

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.)

“NIH Designates People with Disabilities as a Population with Health Disparities”

“Access to quality health care is a basic human right. It is unacceptable that in 2023, every person in the United States of America does not have that access,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “Research to understand the barriers and unmet needs faced by people with disabilities, and to develop effective interventions to address them, is needed. This designation will help to improve access to healthcare and health outcomes for all people.” However, individuals with mental health conditions do not appear to be specified as part of the designated population. For the NIH press release, click here. 

“Brain Changes from ECT Linked to Worse Outcomes”

“New research questions the assumption that brain changes after ECT are beneficial to service users,” Mad In America reports. “To the contrary, this study found that a post-ECT rise in grey matter volume corresponded with worsening depressive symptoms in the short run. This initial increase in grey matter volume was then succeeded by significant decreases over the subsequent two years. These reductions were correlated with deteriorating long-term outcomes.” For the article, click here.

OPPORTUNITIES

Certified Peer Specialists Are Sought for a Survey to Assess the Changes in, and Growth of, the Peer Specialist Position

Doors to Wellbeing is working with the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion to produce a document that captures the current voices of peer supporters working in various roles and settings as peer specialists. The goal is to update the results of a 2009 survey by the TU Collaborative, available at this link. “Our hope is that these documents, when referenced together, can be used to recognize how peer specialists’ jobs, tasks and duties have changed throughout the years,” Doors to Wellbeing writes. The 15-minute survey will remain open until November 1, 2023, at 5 p.m. ET. For the survey, click here.

“Trinity Study Aims to Develop Research Questions about Reducing and Stopping Psychiatric Drugs”
Researchers at Trinity College Dublin are seeking people to take part in two anonymous online surveys as part of the Priorities for Future Research on Reducing and Stopping Psychiatric Medicines (PROTECT) study “to help shape the research agenda about reducing and stopping psychiatric medicines.” For the Mad In Ireland article about the study, click here. For more information and a link to the survey, 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. 

CONFERENCES

Suicide Research Symposium Announces Call for Proposals. Deadline: November 3

The third annual free, virtual Suicide Research Symposium, cohosted with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, will be held April 17-19, 2024. The deadline to submit a proposal is November 3, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. PT (November 4, 2023, at 2:59 a.m. ET). For more information, click here. (Courtesy of Beckie Child)

Youth Peer Support Action Summit on November 10-11

On November 10-11, 2023, Doors to Wellbeing and Mental Health America will present a national, free, virtual, “youth-led summit to unite and inspire youth and young adult leaders in peer support, including peer specialists, program leaders, and advocates.” 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! 

WEBINARS

“Power Threat Meaning Framework (PTMF): An Approach to Understanding Mental Distress”

On October 25, 2023, 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. ET, the New England MHTTC will host a webinar about PTMF, “an alternative, non-diagnostic conceptualization of distress created by providers and service users, published by the British Psychological Society and attracting international attention.” For more information and to register, click here.

“Your Community, Your Vote! A Case Example of Promoting Voting from the Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute”

On October 25, 2023, at 1 p.m. ET, the Temple University Collaborative for Community Inclusion is hosting a one-hour webinar focused on promoting voting, a vital area of community participation! The TU Collaborative writes: “During this webinar, we will discuss reasons why folks who experience mental health challenges are less likely to vote, why voting is important,” and how to promote voting in both inpatient and outpatient settings. For more information and to register, click here.

“Fighting for Recovery”

On October 31, 2023, at 2 p.m. ET, Doors to Wellbeing will present “Fighting for Recovery,” a one-hour webinar. “Author Phyllis Vine will discuss the sweeping history of activist movements in grossly underserved and misunderstood mental health communities. Hear stories of former psychiatric patients, families, and courageous activists within government and psychiatry who rebelled against inhumane and outdated treatments and policies and created the path that we are on today.” For more information and to register, click here.

“Human Rights Approaches to Mental Health”

On November 1, 2023, at 3 p.m. ET, ​​the CAFÉ TA Center invites you to attend “Human Rights Approaches to Mental Health,” a conversation about what it means to take a human rights approach to mental health advocacy, and how looking at support, recovery, treatment, and policy through a human rights lens can shift perspectives for peers and the public alike. Register here!

November Judi’s Room Will Feature Dr. William Bronston, Who Helped Close Willowbrook State School 

On November 1, 2023, at 6 p.m. ET (3 p.m. PT), MindFreedom International and I Love You, Lead On will host Dr. William Bronston, author of Public Hostage Public Ransom: Ending Institutional America, about the infamous Willowbrook State School. Back by popular demand after his initial appearance on Judi’s Room, Dr. Bronston–who was the catalyst for a federal class action lawsuit to close Willowbrook–will also speak about “Tower of Youth”--21st Century Digital Media, Arts & Technology: Engaging, Educating & Empowering the Next Generation!--of which he is the president and founder. To register, click here. 

“Ethical Psychedelic Therapy And Process Work: Challenges and Dilemmas”

On November 3, 2023, 2 p.m.-4 p.m. ET (11:00 a.m.-1 p.m. PT), Will Hall, MA, DiplPW, assisted by Michal Lasocik of the Polish Psychedelic Society, will present on “Ethical Psychedelic Therapy and Process Work: Challenges and Dilemmas.” There is a $45 fee; scholarships are available. Will Hall writes: “If you are thinking about training in using psychedelics, or already use them yourself or with your clients, this is a class you won't want to miss!” For more information and/or to register, click here.

“Holding on for Others: Caregiving, Chronic Illness, and Self-care”

On November 9, 2023, at 2 p.m. ET, Mental Health America will host a one-hour panel discussion of “the mental health impacts of chronic health conditions on individuals and their caregivers, the unique challenges caregivers face that strain their mental health, and ways that caregivers can prioritize their mental health.” For more information and to register, click here.

“Embracing Authenticity: A Guide to Authenticity and Cultural Awareness at Work”

From 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET on November 15, November 29, and December 6, 2023, the New England MHTTC will host the “Embracing Authenticity: A Guide to Authenticity and Cultural Awareness as Work” webinar series, which “will provide guidance and support for the use and implementation of the accompanying workbook, which is intended to be used as a guide for deeper levels of processing and to support healthier conversations in the workplace around identity and wellness.” For more information and to register, click here. A link to the workbook will be available soon; for more information, write to newengland@mhttcnetwork.org.  

RESOURCES

“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)

“The Little Known Threat of Extreme Heat”

“In this issue, CAFE TAC discussed the unique threat that extreme heat poses to people with serious mental health conditions due to a number of factors, including the effects of psychiatric medications. We also share updates on supported education research and federal action on mental health parity, and ask for your input on the direction of our ongoing innovative recovery practices webinar series.” For more information and a link to the newsletter, click here.

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)

LAST WORDS

Two Extraordinary Movement Leaders Are Mourned

The c/s/x movement for social justice mourns Linda Andre, author of Doctors of Deception, What They Don’t Want You To Know About Shock Treatment, and director of the Committee for Truth in Psychiatry, who devoted decades of her life to fighting for truly informed consent on ECT; and Yvette Sangster, an award-winning advocate, founder of Advocacy Unlimited in Connecticut and its executive director until 2002, and later Georgia’s PAIMI (Protection & Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness) program director. For “Remembrances of Linda Andre, Leader in the Fight Against ECT,” click here. For Yvette Sangster’s obituary, click here.

The October 2023 Digest of Articles Offering Healthy Lifestyle Advice

For “Here’s Exactly How to Break Up with Your Therapist,” click here. For “This Full-Body Workout Fits in a Backpack,” click here. For “What Is Paxlovid Rebound? 9 Things to Know,” click here. For “Am I Still Contagious? Here’s how to navigate eight of the most insidious and infectious illnesses,” click here. For “What Does It Really Mean to Dissociate?” click here. For “Healthy lifestyle can help prevent depression -- and new research may explain why,” click here. For “Don’t Let Rain Cancel Your Workout,” click here. For “Peace Corps lawsuit says some offers rescinded over mental health,” click here. For “Want to Believe in Yourself? ‘Mattering’ Is Key,” click here.

The October 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 “US prisons rife with human rights abuses, especially against Black people, UN says,” click here. For “A Chaotic Moment For The Death Penalty: Political and legal opinions are shifting on mental illness and capital punishment, but those on death row may be left behind,” click here. For “Many Prisons Restrict Books to Stop Drug Smuggling. Critics Say It Doesn’t Work. Battling an overdose crisis, more prisons are blocking books based on the sender or packaging. Free speech advocates call it a de facto book ban,” click here. For “The Books Banned in Your State’s Prisons,” click here. For “Probation and parole do not make us safer. It’s time to rethink them,” click here. For “Reform in Action: Findings and Recommendations from a 3-Year Process Evaluation of New York's 2020 Criminal Legal Reforms,” click here. For “One in Five: Ending Racial Inequity in Incarceration. The number of Black people imprisoned in the U.S. has decreased 39% since its peak two decades ago, according to a new report by The Sentencing Project…but there are still significant racial and gender disparities in sentencing and incarceration rates across the U.S.,” click here. For “Will the Supreme Court Make Life Worse for America’s Homeless? What few constitutional rights the homeless enjoy may soon be on the line at the high court,” click here. For “California Bans Controversial ‘Excited Delirium’ Diagnosis,” click here. For “Federal Prison Censors Reason Issue About How Federal Prison Employed Serial Rapists: The issue was rejected because it ‘jeopardizes the good order and security of the institution,’" click here. For “New California law aims to force people with mental illness or addiction to get help,” click here. For “Prisoners Say New Jersey’s Alternative To Solitary Confinement Is Pretty Much The Same: Progressives celebrated a 2019 law meant to reform solitary confinement. But the state’s Department of Corrections doesn’t seem to be following it,” click here. For “Police Diversion Programs Work. Here’s Why: Officers offer drug treatment programs instead of arresting some suspects they believe are abusing drugs,” click here. For “The ‘Miserable Spectacle’ of Executing People With Serious Mental Illness: André Thomas gouged out both his eyes. Can he still be given the death penalty?” click here. For “He Pocketed His Victims’ Organs. Was His Death Penalty Trial Fair? As Andre Thomas faces execution for three gory murders, a court questions jury bias and his competency,” click here. For “The Gun Industry’s Trade Group Is Using Flimsy Data in Big Court Cases: The National Shooting Sports Foundation’s unsupported evidence about the number of high-capacity magazines in the U.S. has been introduced in cases that could have major implications for gun restrictions nationwide,” click here. For “How a former prison cook became one of the country’s top pizza chefs: ‘The kitchen was always the place where I could survive in,’ said Mike Carter, executive chef at Down North Pizza in Philadelphia,” click here. For “How a New Approach to Public Defense Is Overcoming Mass Incarceration: Public defenders represent eighty per cent of all people charged with a crime in this country, and they typically work in offices that are underfunded and understaffed,” click here. For “The Musical Legacy of a Mississippi Prison Farm: The new album ‘Some Mississippi Sunday Morning’ collects gospel songs recorded inside a notorious penitentiary,” click here. For “Redemption Songs: The Forgotten History of American Prison Music. From blues to gospel, country to rap, people have been making music behind bars for decades. Here’s why we should all tune in,” click here. For “‘Hysterical’ Women Out for Revenge: Family Court’s Misogynistic Tropes Traumatize Women and Children,” click here. For “The Case for Child Welfare Abolition,” click here. For “A Death Row Opera Goes to Sing Sing, With Inmates Onstage: Metropolitan Opera stars joined prisoners for a one-night-only performance of ‘Dead Man Walking,’” click here. For “Reform plan still has Paterson police responding to mental health crises: Some changes made, but not yet addressed is what many see as main problem — armed officers intervening instead of mental health experts,” click here. For “Pennsylvania Solitary Unit Pushes People to Suicide, Lawsuit Alleges,” click here. For “Prison Money Diaries: What People Really Make (and Spend) Behind Bars: We asked people in prison to track their earning and spending — and bartering and side hustles — for 30 days. Their accounts reveal a thriving underground economy behind bars,” click here. For “Montana inmates with mental illnesses languish in jail awaiting treatment before trial,” click here. For “Predictive Policing Software Terrible At Predicting Crimes: A software company sold a New Jersey police department an algorithm that was right less than 1% of the time,” click here. For “The Prisoner and the Pen: Writing from a cell at Sullivan Correctional Facility, I’m part of a renaissance of prison journalism. If prison authorities had their way, no one would be writing from the inside at all,” click here. For “Should Money Decide Who is Kept in Jail? More Locations Are Saying No. Los Angeles and Illinois are the latest jurisdictions to change their cash bail system,” click here. For “D.C. settles suit over failure to provide special ed to jailed students: The plaintiffs claimed the city ‘effectively abandoned efforts to teach’ them during the pandemic,” click here. For “Washington State Prison System Sued for Using Unreliable Drug Tests To Put Inmates in Solitary: Reason reported in 2021 how prisons use cheap field kits to test mail for contraband—and use the faulty, unconfirmed results to severely punish inmates,” click here. “Study Points to Gentrification as Trigger for Gun Violence: Disruption and displacement may fuel increased firearm injuries in neighborhoods experiencing gentrification, according to a new analysis,” click here. For “NC’s move toward alternate crisis response will allow police to focus on crime,” click here. For “You’re Sexually Assaulted. You Report. And Police Make You the Suspect. Police unleash a slew of interrogation techniques meant for criminal suspects on vulnerable people,” click here. For “Georgia Prisoners Can Be Denied Vital Halfway House Placement Due to Medical Conditions,” click here. For “Exceptional Punishments: No one should be made to give up their rights in exchange for being spared from prison,” click here. “For Incarcerated Women and Their Families, Equal Access to Education Transforms Lives: How providers and corrections departments are working to address the unique challenges system-impacted women face to get an education,” click here.

FROM PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF THE KEY UPDATE BUT STILL FRESH!

CONFERENCES

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 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

ISEPP’s 25th Annual Conference Will Be Held October 28-29

ISEPP’s 25th annual conference will be virtual (click here). (Please note that the conference dates have been changed from the original dates of October 20-22.)

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)

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.

WEBINARS

The MHTTC Calendar of Events Offers Many Webinars in Late September, October, and Beyond

To consult the MHTTC Calendar of Events for upcoming webinars (which are too numerous to include here), click here.

OPPORTUNITIES

CMHJ Extends Call for Papers Deadline to December 1

The Community Mental Health Journal (CMHJ) has extended its call for papers for a special issue on “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)...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 now December 1, 2023. For more information, click here.

International Mad Studies Journal Invites Submissions

For a special issue of the International Mad Studies Journal, the deadline for abstract submissions is December 15, 2023, via email to mkrazins@syr.edu. For details, 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.

OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN RESEARCH

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

“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.

“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.

“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. 5, November 2023. For content, reproduction or publication information, please contact Susan Rogers at selfhelpclearinghouse@gmail.com. Follow Susan on Twitter at @SusanRogersMH

ReplyForward

Key Update, October 2023, Volume 20, Number 4

To subscribe to the monthly Key Update, send an email to selfhelpclearinghouse@gmail.com with Subscribe in the subject line.

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 AND ACTION ALERTS

Please Share Your Memories of Linda Andre and Yvette Sangster

NYAPRS–partnering with NCMHR–has generously offered to create memorial web pages for two extraordinary leaders of our movement for social justice whom we’ve lost: Linda Andre (September 2023) and Yvette Sangster (April 2023).  Both were tireless in their efforts to improve the lives of individuals with mental health conditions. Please share your memories of Linda or Yvette or both in emails with the subject line of either Linda, Yvette, or Linda and Yvette, and send them to susan.rogers.advocacy@gmail.com for their respective memorial pages.

September 29 Is the Public Comment Deadline for the Upcoming ISMICC Meeting 

The next Interdepartmental Serious Mental Illness Coordinating Committee (ISMICC) Virtual Meeting, open to the public, is scheduled for October 18, 2023 (10 a.m. - 4 p.m. ET). “The ISMICC coordinates federal and non-federal members to make specific recommendations for actions that agencies can take to better coordinate the administration of mental health services.” Information about the meeting is in the Federal Register Notice. Or register by clicking on this link and email your comment to Pamela Foote, ISMICC Designated Federal Officer, SAMHSA, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857; telephone: 240–276–1279; email: pamela.foote@samhsa.hhs.gov by September 29, 2023.

“National Association of Peer Supporters Endorses the PEER Support Act”

“The Providing Empathetic and Effective Recovery (PEER) Support Act, cosponsored by Senator Tim Kaine and Senator Mike Braun…aims to address barriers faced by peer support specialists, ensuring the provision of quality care to individuals facing mental health and substance use challenges.” For the N.A.P.S. press release, click here. For additional information from Sen. Kaine, including a list of supporting organizations, click here. ACTION ALERT: Urge your U.S. Senators to sign on as co-sponsors.

Biden-Harris Administration Awards Nearly $130 Million to Expand CCBHCs Across U.S.

On September 21, 2023, the Federal Government announced that it has awarded $127.7 million to expand Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) across the country. The awards will work with provisions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) to expand access to the CCBHC model across the United States. Under BSCA, HHS will enable up to 10 additional states to create state CCBHC programs under Medicaid every two years starting in 2024, providing sustainable funding for CCBHC services to Medicaid beneficiaries. For details, click here. (Courtesy of Jacek Haciak)

Award-winning Writer Reports on Housing First in New York City

In “A Journey from Homelessness to a Room of One’s Own,” where, “[a]t a supportive-housing facility, chronically unhoused New Yorkers get a new lease on life, with a gym, a computer room—and on-site mental-health and medical services,” award-winning novelist Jennifer Egan reports on a Housing First program in New York City. For the article, click here.

WEBINARS, CONFERENCES, AND OTHER EVENTS

“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 a webinar that “aims to share tools and strategies for peer supporters and peer programs to partner with college administrators to build robust and successful peer support programs within campuses and universities.” For details and to register, click here.

NYAPRS Has Released Its Full Conference Schedule, and Announces Rebranding

“NYAPRS is very pleased and proud to provide details of the full program schedule for our upcoming Annual Conference, to be held September 26-28, 2023, at the Villa Roma Resort in Callicoon, New York.” For the schedule and other details, click here. In addition, effective October 9, 2023, NYAPRS will change its name. Executive Director Harvey Rosenthal writes: “As the Alliance for Rights and Recovery, our broadened national focus and profile will make our support and impact on behalf of our New York and national grassroots recovery and peer support communities that much stronger and successful.”

“The Importance of Dual Recovery”

On September 26, 2023 (10:30 a.m. ET, 9:30 a.m. CT), Great Lakes MHTTC will present a 90-minute “informational celebration of dual recovery.” They write: “Substance use disorders and mental illness overlap at the rate of 50%–70%. Despite this significant overlap, there is often not enough attention paid to co-occurring mental health concerns or dual recovery within SUD treatment.” For details and to register, click here.

“Peer Support for Dual Recovery in Treatment Settings”

On September 26, 2023, at 12 p.m. ET, Southeast MHTTC will present “Peer Support for Dual Recovery in Treatment Settings.” They write: “Two-track programs focusing their energy on either substance use or other mental health challenges have continued to be the norm in many treatment settings despite the evidence showing improved outcomes for people who are dually diagnosed that receive specialized treatment. In this webinar we will explore why we should work to change this standard, and how peer support can be deployed to better support people in dual recovery. For details and to register, click here. (Note: Please see the item directly below.)

The MHTTC Calendar of Events Offers Many Webinars in Late September, October, and Beyond

To consult the MHTTC Calendar of Events for upcoming webinars (which are too numerous to include here), click here.

TU Collaborative to Present “Fall into Leisure” Webinar for Young Adults

On September 27, 2023, at 1 p.m. ET, the Temple University Collaborative on Community inclusion will present “an action-oriented webinar to support young adults with mental health challenges to set and achieve their leisure goals this fall.” To register, click here. Questions? Contact connectionsrx@temple.edu

“Broadening the Reach: Ensuring Equitable Access to Early Psychosis Care for All”

On September 28 and 29, 2023—from 12 p.m. ET to 3 p.m. ET (9 a.m. PT to 12 p.m. PT) on both days—this free, live, online mini-conference, presented by the Stanford Center for Continuing Medical Education, “will focus on the themes of inclusion and diversity within both clinical high-risk and early psychosis care. This conference will bring together experts in the field to highlight the importance of ensuring inclusive and accessible early psychosis services, including adolescents who are at clinical high risk for psychosis.” For details and to register, click here. (Courtesy of Yulia Mikhailova)

MHA to Host Webinars in late September, October, and Early November

Mental Health America will present “Regional Policy Council Webinar: Getting And Funding Mental Health Services In Schools” (September 27 at 2 p.m. ET); “Yo Pertenezco Aqui (I Belong Here): Supporting Latinx Professionals And Building Inclusive Teams” (September 28 at 1 p.m. ET); “Beyond the Stereotypes: Understanding OCD” (October 5 at 1 p.m.ET); “Living Authentically Me: Coming Out LGBTQ+” (October 11, at 1 p.m. ET), and Holding On For Others: Caregiving, Chronic Illness, And Self-Care (November 9, at 2 p.m. ET). For details and to register, click on the links above.

“Ask Us About Money: Building Financial Wellness to Enhance Recovery”

On September 28, 2023, at 4 p.m. ET, NAMI will present a webinar about “Building Financial Wellness, a peer developed program that empowers people to increase their sense of control over their personal finances, develop the knowledge they need to better manage the financial resources they have, and use tools to improve their overall financial situation.” For details and to register, click here. (Courtesy of Peggy Swarbrick via Jacek Haciak)

October Judi’s Room Will Focus on Reinventing the Mental Health System…to Give People Hope

On October 4, 2023, at 6 p.m. ET (3 p.m. PT), Jim Gottstein—founder of the Law Project for Psychiatric Rights and author of The Zyprexa Papers—will speak about a recently published report he co-authored, entitled “Report on Improving Mental Health Outcomes.” Judi’s Room is presented by MindFreedom International and “I Love You, Lead On.” For more information and to register, click here. Note: For more about the Report, see the first item under RESOURCES, below. The Report is available for free download (click here).

PENTAC’s National Peer Entrepreneur Speaker Series Continues on October 5

On October 5, 2023, at 12 p.m. ET, PENTAC (Peer Experience National Technical Assistance Center) will present Laysha Ostrow, founder and CEO of Live & Learn, Inc.! For more information and to register for this free, one-hour event, click here.

“Abnormal No More: A DARN Conference on Incorporating Disability into the Teaching of Psychology”

On October 6, 2023 (12 p.m.-4 p.m. ET) and October 7, 2023 (12 p.m.-5 p.m. ET), the Disability and Advocacy Research Network (DARN)—“a community for disabled psychology scholars and allies”—will present a free, virtual conference “for psychology educators to learn about cutting edge research, theory, and pedagogy related to teaching about disability.” However, all are welcome. Please contact darndisability@gmail.com with questions or accommodation requests. All sessions will be recorded and available on DARN's website after the event. For more information and to register, click here. (Courtesy of Sandy Goodwick)

WHO and OHCHR to Launch Joint Publication with Interactive Dialogue on October 9

On October 9, 2023, (12:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m. CEST), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) will launch ”Mental Health, Human Rights and Legislation: Guidance and Practice.” “An interactive dialogue among persons with lived experience as well as UN officials and high-level government and civil society representatives will underscore why urgent action is needed and how the new WHO/OHCHR guidance has the potential to support person-centered, recovery-oriented, rights-based” mental health law reform internationally. To register, click here. For a time zone converter, click here. (Courtesy of Philip Benjamin)

Peerpocalypse Has Extended Its Workshop Proposal Deadline to October 15!

The theme of Peerpocalypse (May 6-9, 2024) is Justice, Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion. Peerpocalypse will be held in person at the Seaside Convention Center in Seaside, Oregon, and virtually via Whova. To submit a proposal (deadline: October 15, 2023), click here. For more information about the conference, click here.

“Rewriting the Sentence II Summit” to Be Held October 16-17

On October 16-17 (9 a.m.-6 p.m. ET), the Center for Justice and Human Dignity will present the Rewriting the Sentence II Summit on Alternatives to Incarceration at George Washington University Law School in Washington, DC. The Summit will be hosted by GW Law and the Aleph Institute. For more information, the fee schedule, and to register, click here.

IIPDW to Host “Withdrawal from Psychiatric Drugs 3”

On October 20 and 21, 2023, the International Institute for Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal will present the third in its conference series, “sharing the latest research, practice, and lived experience from around the world.” For times, fees, and other details, click here. For the “Harm Reduction Guide to Coming Off Psychiatric Drugs,” Second Edition, Revised and Expanded, by Will Hall, published by the Icarus Project and the Freedom Center, click here. For “The experiences of 585 people when they tried to withdraw from antipsychotic drugs,” by John Read, click here.

RESEARCH AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES

Request for Information: Potential Changes to SAMHSA’s Evidence-Based Practices Resource Center

October 13, 2023, is the deadline to provide input on potential changes to SAMHSA’s Evidence-Based Practices Resource Center (EBPRC), “specifically regarding the possible introduction of three new domains for the EBPRC website. In addition to addressing four general questions about the EBPRC overall, SAMHSA encourages members of the public to comment on several questions pertaining to each of the domains described.” For details, including how to submit comments, click here. (Courtesy of Yulia Mikhailova)

CMHJ Extends Call for Papers Deadline to December 1

The Community Mental Health Journal (CMHJ) has extended its call for papers for a special issue on “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)...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 now December 1, 2023. For more information, click here.

International Mad Studies Journal Invites Submissions

For a special issue of the International Mad Studies Journal, the deadline for abstract submissions is December 15, 2023, via email to mkrazins@syr.edu. For details, click here.

TU Collaborative Seeks Participants for REACH Intervention

The Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion seeks individuals with “significant mental health concerns” for a “study to increase engagement in meaningful activity.” You must be 18-65; available on Mondays and willing to participate in a 12-session, online, peer-delivered intervention by the Copeland Center to explore meaningful activities. You may be eligible for compensation of up to $100 in gift cards. Interested? Contact TUCollab@temple.edu.

Researcher Seeks LGBTQ+ People of Color Who Have Experienced Psychiatric Hospitalization for “Suicidality”

A PhD candidate at the University of Maryland is recruiting LGBTQ+ People of Color for her dissertation study of those who have experienced psychiatric hospitalization for “suicidality.” To be screened for eligibility, click here. The study is currently scheduled for completion in March 2024. For questions, contact selimaj1@umbc.edu. (Courtesy of Ben Cooley Hall)

RESOURCES

“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.

The October 2023 Digest of Articles Offering Healthy Lifestyle Advice

For “Why Do We Play? Rats Can Teach Us How It Improves Mental Health,” click here. For “Music can serve as therapy. Here’s how it can help reduce anxiety. Start with music that matches your frame of mind and slowly shift to more soothing themes. A suggested playlist can serve as a guide,” click here. For “The Best Relationship Advice We’ve Gotten So Far This Year,” click here. For “Can’t Sleep? Try This Proven Alternative to Medication,” click here. For “The Art of Being a Morning Person (Even if You’re Actually Not One),” click here. For “Does the MIND Diet Prevent Dementia?” click here. For “How to Change Your Mind-Set About Aging,” click here.

The October 2023 Digest of Articles about the Criminal Legal System, in which Many Individuals with Mental Health Conditions Are Incarcerated (and the Key Update continues after this Digest)

For “The Footprint: Tracking the Size of America's Criminal Justice System,” click here. For “In Much of the Country, Cities Can’t Enact Their Own Gun Laws: Here’s what you need to know about NRA-backed preemption laws, which limit local regulation of firearms,” click here. For “Justice Department proposes clarity on background checks for gun purchases: The regulation would close potential loopholes for online and gun show sales,” click here. For “More (early) results from the First Step Act [published August 2023]. The Bureau of Prisons has created or defended obstacles to the early release of federal prisoners. But there are clear signs the Trump-era law is succeeding in some areas,” click here. For “Sentencing Commission Backs Retroactive Cuts For 1st Timers,” click here. For “Man struggling with mental health issues shot, killed by Jersey City police, family says,” click here. For “Dying and disabled Illinois prisoners kept behind bars, despite new medical release law: The Joe Coleman Medical Release Act was expected to have freed hundreds of terminally ill and medically incapacitated prisoners in Illinois by now. But only a few dozen have been released, an investigation from Injustice Watch and WBEZ reveals,” 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 “Bureau Of Prisons Warns Of Scams: Fraudsters are reportedly calling family members of prisoners, identifying themselves as Bureau of Prison employees, and illegally seeking money for a transfer to pre-release custody,” click here. For “Is This the End of Prison Phone Fees? How a group of activists took on the telecom industry—and won,” click here. For “How Social Justice Activists Lost the Plot: The leftist writer Fredrik DeBoer’s new book is an entreaty to white, college-educated progressives: Stop obsessing over identity and language and start fighting for working people. Defunding the police was purely an elite fixation that ignored the desires of Black community members, most of whom ardently wished for more policing in their neighborhoods, not less. The ‘defund’ movement was destined to fail, and, in doing so, to foreclose other, more promising alternatives,” click here. For “It’s Long Past Time to Ban Pretextual Stops–Take It from a Public Defender,” click here. For “Ending the Golden State Era of Solitary Confinement: California could reshape the practice as other states limit isolation. Meanwhile, prisons aren’t keeping pace,” click here. For “Why Aren’t Cops Held to Account? Decades of Supreme Court decisions have converted qualified immunity from a commonsense rule into a powerful doctrine that deprives people injured by police misconduct of recourse,” click here. For “How Norway is helping to restore humanity inside US prisons,” click here. For “I Did It Norway: Some American prisons are singing a European tune (from 2017),” click here. For “Correction: Parole, Prison, and the Possibility of Change,” click here. For “State tells Baltimore jail monitor to stop talking to doctors, ratchets up legal defense: What does Maryland have in common with Alabama? A new strategy to defend against correctional healthcare lawsuits,” click here. For “What Federal Judges’ Rulings Reveal About the Memphis Police Tactics: Five judges in recent years have found that officers violated residents’ constitutional rights during traffic and pedestrian stops,” click here. For “Do You Know Their Names? When slain by police, Black women and girls rarely garner the same communal outcry or political response as their fallen Black brothers,” click here. For “Chained by Debt: Erasing court costs and fines is a relatively small change that would have an outsize impact on those harmed by mass incarceration,” click here. For “National Public Defense Workload Study: ‘Existing national public defense workload standards are outdated, not empirically based and inadequate,’ concludes a new study designed to help ensure that defendants are given adequate representation,” click here. For “California lawmakers approve key changes to landmark mental health law,” click here. For “The U.S. Sentencing Commission Quarterly Data Report”: “Immigration and drug cases again dominated all others in the first quarter of 2023, federal officials announced this week,” click here. For “Family of man who died while being admitted to psychiatric hospital agrees to $8.5M settlement,” click here. For “Juvenile Life Without Parole Sentences Are a Failed Policy That Needs to End: This op-ed calls for the end of juvenile life without parole,” click here. For “Sheriff says 9 deputies charged in death of man beaten in Memphis jail: ​​Nine jail deputies in Memphis have been indicted for their role in the death of a 33-year-old Black man who was allegedly beaten while he was suffering from a psychotic episode,” click here.

FROM PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF THE KEY UPDATE BUT STILL FRESH!

CONFERENCES

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 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

The 2023 N.A.P.S. Conference Is Coming Up on October 25-26!

N.A.P.S. looks 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!

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.

ISEPP’s 25th Annual Conference Will Be Held October 28-29

ISEPP’s 25th annual conference will be virtual (click here). (Please note that the conference dates have been changed from the original dates of October 20-22.)

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

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. 

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.

“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. 4, October 2023. For content, reproduction or publication information, please contact Susan Rogers at selfhelpclearinghouse@gmail.com. Follow Susan on Twitter at @SusanRogersMH

Key Update, September 2023, Volume 20, Number 3

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

Key Update, August 2023, Volume 20, Number 2

The National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse is affiliated with the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion.

TO CONTACT: THE CLEARINGHOUSE: SELFHELPCLEARINGHOUSE@GMAIL.COM  … SUSAN ROGERS: SUSAN.ROGERS.ADVOCACY@GMAIL.COM … JOSEPH ROGERS: JROGERS08034@GMAIL.COM 

THE KEY UPDATE IS COMPILED, WRITTEN, AND EDITED BY SUSAN ROGERS, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH CONSUMERS’ SELF-HELP CLEARINGHOUSE.

NOTE: THE "FROM PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF THE KEY UPDATE BUT STILL FRESH!" DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS DIRECTLY BELOW THE MONTHLY CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM DIGEST, INCLUDES ITEMS THAT HAD BEEN POSTED "ABOVE THE FOLD" IN EARLIER EDITIONS BUT ARE STILL RELEVANT. THESE INCLUDE ONGOING RESEARCH STUDIES THAT ARE STILL SEEKING PARTICIPANTS, AS WELL AS UPCOMING WEBINARS AND CONFERENCES, AND OTHER ITEMS OF CONTINUED INTEREST. DON'T MISS IT!

DEADLINE ALERT: Under CONFERENCES, please note that the Equally Well Symposium in Australia, which has a free virtual option, begins tomorrow (July 25) in Sydney, whose time zone (AEST) is 14 hours ahead of Eastern Time! Under WEBINARS, please note that there are two webinars tomorrow (July 25) and three on July 26! 

NEWS

“EmPATH Units Are Advancing a Radically New Approach to Psychiatric Emergencies. It Seems to Be Working.”

The headline above is the subhead of a recent New Yorker article—”Reinventing the E.R. for America’s Mental Health Crisis”—about an innovative mental health program that has racked up some statistics that are “attention-grabbing,” according to BWBR, which describes itself as “transforming lives through exceptional environments.” BWBR writes: “For institutions that have implemented EmPATH (Emergency Psychiatric Assessment, Treatment, and Healing) models for psychiatric emergency care, hospitalizations for patients with acute psychiatric needs have dropped 70-80 percent; boarding for this patient population in the emergency department has dropped by 90 percent; and average length of stay for patients with acute psychiatric needs has dropped to 16 hours.” For the BWBR article, click here. For the New Yorker article, click here.

CONFERENCES AND OTHER EVENTS

Equally Well Australia’s Free 2023 Symposium Will Include a Virtual Option

The 2023 Equally Well Symposium (July 25-27)—free for all attendees—will be held in a Sydney suburb; attendees can also participate through a virtual hub. “The organizers write: “The Equally Well Symposium brings together a broad array of people from across the mental health sector to share innovative projects and research from Australia and overseas: people with lived experience, academics, health leaders, clinicians, policy officers and advocates.” For more information and to register, click here. For a link to the Virtual Hub, click here. The conference is taking place in Sydney, whose time zone is AEST, 14 hours ahead of Eastern Time in the U.S. For a time zone converter, click here.

“Policy of Inclusion: The Next Phase of Peer Involvement”

On August 3, 2023, at 2 p.m. ET, you are invited to a free Mental Health Policy Roundtable on the topic of “Policy of Inclusion: The Next Phase of Peer Involvement.” Among the questions to be covered are “What does the full spectrum of peer involvement look like?” and “the opportunities for meaningful peer involvement in programmatic and policy work, and what needs to be done to encourage movement towards these opportunities.” The guest speakers are Paolo del Vecchio, director of SAMHSA’s Office of Recovery; Alison Mohr Boleware, director of policy, Hogg Foundation for Mental Health; Susie Reece, director of lived experience initiatives for the Suicide Prevention Resource Center; and Charlene Sunkel of the South African Federation for Mental Health. To register, click here. 

An Infinite Mind Conference Announces Call for Proposals

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.” Proposals are due by August 15. For information about the conference and a link to the call for proposals, click here. “Even though HT 2024 will be hybrid, all presenters are required to present in person.”

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.

N.A.P.S. Conference to Be Held in Norfolk, Virginia, October 25-26

The 2023 annual conference of the National Association of Peer Supporters (N.A.P.S.) will be held in Norfolk, Virginia, at the Sheraton Norfolk Waterside Hotel October 25-26. For information about featured speakers and to register before the Early Bird rate expires on July 31, to book accommodations, become a sponsor exhibitor, and/or to ask questions, 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.)

WEBINARS

“Developing Strong Staff”

On July 25, 2023, 10:45 a.m.-1:00 p.m. ET (9:45 a.m.-12:00 p.m. CT), Great Lakes MHTTC will present a webinar to “help supervisors create and capitalize on opportunities for staff development through training, delegating, and empowering staff to drive their own growth and development.” For details and to register, click here.

“Everything You Need To Know About Estate Planning, But Are Afraid to Ask”

On July 25, 2023, at 2 p.m. ET, Doors to Wellbeing will present a webinar that “will emphasize the importance of planning for the distribution of your personal assets upon your death and the strategies and tools that can be used to ensure that your ‘final wishes’ are followed.” The presenter will be LaVerne Miller. For details and to register, click here.

MHEP Presents: “Crucial Conversations in Peer Support”

On July 26, 2023, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. ET, the Mental Health Empowerment Project (MHEP) will present “Crucial Conversations in Peer Support.” MHEP writes: “This interactive workshop teaches strategies to maintain mutuality in understanding and connectedness through vital conversations in mutual support even when challenges get hard. Participants develop tools, skills, and an enhanced capacity to create synergy that transforms people and relationships through constructive conversations. These powerful resources can benefit team-building, performance management, conflict resolution, and problem solving.” To register, click here.

“The Soteria Experience: Home, Not Hospital”

On July 26, 2023, at 3 p.m. ET, the CAFÉ TA Center invites you to attend a free webinar on how Soteria Houses offer an alternative recovery path for people with serious mental health conditions. For more information and to register, click here.

“Utilizing Vocational Work Enclaves to Support People in Reentry”

On July 26, 2023, at 3:30 p.m. ET, SAMHSA’s GAINS Center will present a webinar introducing “the Vocational Work Enclave model and how it can improve and support successful long-term employment for people with criminal justice involvement.” For details and to register, click here. 

“Competencies for Peer Workers on Crisis Triage Teams”

On July 31, 2023 (1 p.m.-4 p.m. ET), New England MHTTC will host a webinar that “will deep dive into the core competencies previously drafted and shared during the Competencies for Peer Support Workers in Crisis Services webinar hosted in March 2023.” For details and to register, click here.

“Trauma-Informed Supervision”

On July 31, 2023 (2:15 p.m.-4:30 p.m. ET, 1:15 p.m.-3:30 p.m. CT), Great Lakes MHTTC will host a training on “Trauma-Informed Supervision.” Great Lakes MHTTC writes: “Helpers are exposed to the traumatic lived experiences of the people they are working with, putting these workers at high risk for secondary traumatic stress. In addition, the workplace can sometimes reenact traumatic encounters for workers with primary trauma, increasing their risk for re-traumatization and reducing their effectiveness at work. Accumulation of these different work stresses affect staff performance, so supervisors need to incorporate knowledge and awareness about traumatic stress into their leadership role and supervision practices. This class aims to help supervisors proactively manage a team through trauma exposure.” For more information and to register, click here.

“MADPRIDE Revolution in Mental Health: Bridging Age & Other Marginalizations”
The next Judi’s Room, on August 2, 2023, at 6 p.m. ET, 3 p.m. PT, will feature MindFreedom International co-founder David Oaks, who will reflect on his 47 years of involvement in the "Mad Movement," the heroes of the disability rights movement, cross-disability alliances, and how to keep the revolution going forward by bridging age and other marginalizations. All this and more in Judi’s Room, a collaboration between MindFreedom International and I Love You, Lead On. To register, click here.

PENTAC’s National Peer Entrepreneur Speaker Series Continues on August 3

On August 3, 2023, at 12 p.m. ET, PENTAC will present the latest episode in its monthly National Peer Entrepreneur Speaker Series. It will feature  Gregorio "Craig" Lewis, the owner of Sanity is a Full-Time Job/Better Days Recovery. He has authored many workbooks on recovery. “Join us to hear Craig's story and gain inspiration to make advances in your own career or entrepreneur journey!” Questions? sherry@peersupportfl.org. To register, click here.

“Supporting Neurodivergent Students in Higher Ed & Challenging Discrimination: Human Rights & Social Justice”

On August 8, 2023, at 2 p.m. ET, the National Empowerment Center will host a 90-minute webinar “on current barriers to inclusion and integration in higher education, including threat assessment and response protocols that in many cases target neurodivergent students; campus-initiated involuntary commitment; and involuntary/mandated leaves of absence.” For more information and to register, click here.

“Enriching the Vocational Workforce by Involving Peers in the Delivery of IPS-Supported Employment”

On August 8, 2023, at 2 p.m. ET, Mental Health America will present a workshop on “the benefits of integrating peer support specialists into delivering evidence-based supported employment services to people recovering their mental wellness.” For details and to register for this free one-hour workshop, click here.

“Person-Centered Supervision”

On August 15, 2023 (10:45 a.m.-1:00 p.m. ET 9:45 a.m.-12 p.m. CT), Great Lakes MHTTC will present “Person-Centered Supervision.” “This class explores how being person-centered might show up in supervision as well as the benefits and strategies for collaborating with supervisees to increase performance and job satisfaction.” For more information and to register, click here.

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES

“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. 

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.

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 of 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.

Cafe TA Center Covers SAMHSA’s New National Model for Peer Support Certification

The latest edition of the Focus 2.0 newsletter is here! “This time, we take a look at the new “National Model Standards for Peer Support Certification” and discuss what they might mean for the growth of peer support. There’s also an article on how peer-run services can help cities and states deal with the ongoing mental health crisis, and info about newly-introduced mental health legislation. You’ll also find our regular “Capacity Corner” column on organizational challenges, which addresses managing challenging employees this time. For the newsletter, click here.

COMIC RELIEF

“Cartoons About Therapy from the Past Century (Well, Almost)”

The New Yorker presents “Selections from the magazine’s deep archive of drawn neuroses.” For the cartoons, click here.

The August 2023 Digest of Articles Offering Healthy Lifestyle Advice

For “This Kind of Walk Is Much More Than a Workout,” click here. For “Hiking Has All the Benefits of Walking and More. Here’s How to Get Started,” click here. For “How to make a Staycation Feel Like an Actual Break,” click here. For “Record a Win Every Day — and Other Ways to Practice Gratitude,” click here.

The August 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 “Stop Executing the Mentally Ill: William Morva's case shows why America shouldn't use the death penalty against those who suffer from mental illness,” click here. For “NYSBA Recommends Reducing Reliance on Prisons and Courts as the Primary Treatment for People With Mental Illness,” click here. For “Judge holds Washington state in contempt for not providing services to mentally ill people in jails,” click here. For “Students Behind Bars Regain Access to College Financial Aid: Restored Pell Grant eligibility means about 760,000 people in prisons could eventually afford higher education,” click here. For “Justice Department Reports Reflect Shift in Thinking About Police Reform,” click here. For “Supreme Court decision limits how prisoners can challenge their convictions,” click here. For “A play written and performed by men in prison hopes to change state’s parole laws: Theatre Y worked with 12 men at Stateville Correctional Center to create the play,” click here. For “Why Dayton Quit ShotSpotter, a Surveillance Tool Many Cities Still Embrace: Police across the country face increased pressure to drop the controversial technology as researchers and activists question its effectiveness,” click here. For “Laura Araujo’s parents on forgiving her killer and the complexity of restorative justice: EXCLUSIVE: Seven years after their daughter was murdered, Anania and Dr. Lorenzo Araujo, Sr. explain why they would've preferred rehabilitation rather than retribution for the man who murdered her,” click here. For “Clear Creek County sheriff announces retirement with “mixed emotions” after controversy  in Christian Glass’ death: Sheriff Rick Albers and his office received national scrutiny after a Clear Creek deputy shot and killed Christian Glass as he experienced a mental health crisis inside his car last year in Silver Plume,” click here. (For “22-year-old killed by Colorado deputy acted in self-defense, committed no crime, grand jury finds: Indictment detailing allegations against Deputy Andrew Buen and Sgt. Kyle Gould unsealed Monday,” click here.) For “For Many, a Lawyer Is a Luxury Out of Reach: Sixty years after a landmark Supreme Court ruling, the promise of legal representation for everyone is largely unrealized,” click here. For “Hundreds languish in jails as Colorado’s state-run mental health hospitals can’t find enough nurses: The state is offering $14,000 signing bonuses and $5,000 retention bonuses in its quest to hire 260 nurses in Pueblo and Fort Logan,” click here. For “This rare, underfunded program is a crucial lifeline for incarcerated moms and their kids,” click here. For “Ex-Prisoners Face Headwinds as Job Seekers, Even as Openings Abound,” click here. For “The Supreme Court’s latest opinion means innocent people must remain in prison. Clarence Thomas’s majority opinion ensures that innocent people will spend years behind bars,” click here. For “People in Jail and Prison in 2022,” click here. For "Our Prison Is Used to Mental Illness. Taking Care of Our Own Was New," click here. For "As Police Arrest More Seniors, Those with Dementia Face Deadly Consequences. Many cities are changing how they respond to mental health calls, but less attention has been paid to the unique risks for people with Alzheimer's and other brain diseases," click here.

FROM PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF THE KEY UPDATE BUT STILL FRESH!

CONFERENCES

NARMH Will Hold Its 2023 Annual Conference in Pittsburgh September 19-21

The theme of the National Association for Rural Mental Health conference is “Building Your Bridge: Linking Voices to Promote Rural Mental Health.” The conference will be held in person at the Sheraton Pittsburgh Hotel at Station Square. The deadline to submit a workshop proposal is August 1 or until the agenda is filled. For more information, click here.

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 TO PARTICIPATE IN RESEARCH

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. 

“Do You Want to Learn How the Immune System Works and What You Can Do to Improve Your Immune Health?”

Collaborative Support Programs of New Jersey (CSPNJ) and the University of Illinois Chicago are testing a new program that helps people learn about improving their immunity. You must be 18 years or older; speak English; have access to a Zoom-compatible computer, smartphone, or tablet; be willing to complete five sessions and three check-in calls on Zoom over a six-month period; and have a diagnosed mental health condition. Study participants have a 50/50 chance of getting the new program, but everyone gets paid $135 for completing three study interviews. Contact UIC researcher Jessica Jonikas at enhanceimmune@gmail.com or 312.725.2966 to set up a meeting to see if you’re eligible. (Courtesy of Peggy Swarbrick via Jacek Haciak)

UCSF Study Seeks BIPOC and/or LGBTQ Participants for Small Study

For a two-part study whose goal is “to understand the experiences of people who identify as minorities in recovery from psychosis,” a University of California San Francisco researcher is seeking “15 adults aged 18-35 who are from communities of color or are LGBTQ to share their lived experiences in video recordings that can be used to help reduce fear and shame associated with psychosis and encourage cultural sensitivity from providers.” Participants in Part 1 will be anonymous; in Part 2 they can give limited permission about where their videos are shared. Participants will be paid $100-$200. For details, including the time commitment, click here. If you qualify and are interested, please contact Stephanie.Ekey@ucsf.edu. 

Research Opportunity for Young Adult Peer Supporters

The Mental Health Services Research Lab of the Temple University College of Public Health invites youth peer support workers ages 18-30 who are currently working full-time or part-time in a peer support role to participate in a survey that aims to gather information about their workplace experiences. Questions? Contact Elizabeth Thomas at 215.204.1699 or elizabeth.thomas@temple.edu, or Haley Payne at haleypayne097@gmail.com. Those who complete the survey may be entered into a raffle to win cash prizes! For the Informed Consent Form and the survey, click here.

EPICC Works to Help Parents with Mental Health Conditions Connect with Their Kids

Engaging Parents and Increasing Connections with Children (EPICC) is a 10-week program created by the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion that is focused on helping parents with serious mental health conditions connect with their children through meaningful activities. For details and to apply, click here.

Young Adults with Psychiatric Diagnoses Are Sought for Study on Community Participation

The Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion is recruiting young adults (ages 18-30) with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression to take part in ConnectionsRx, designed to support engagement in meaningful community activities. Participants will be enrolled in the peer-led study for six months, and receive support to help meet community participation goals. Interviews (approximately 60 minutes each) will take place on Zoom. Participants will receive a $15 Amazon gift card (to a maximum of $45) for each survey completed. For the website, click here. Questions? Write to ConnectionsRx@temple.edu. 

South Southwest MHTTC Launches Youth and Young Adult Peer Supporters Survey

“Are you a peer specialist who provides peer support to other people under the age of 30? We want to hear from you! Please fill out the survey to assist the South Southwest Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (South Southwest MHTTC) in learning more about youth peer support across the country! The intent is to be able to include these peer supporters in research, training, and technical assistance activities surrounding youth peer support. The form should take 5-10 minutes to fill out, and can be done from a phone or a computer browser. To take the survey, click here.” Questions? Write to southsouthwest@mhttcnetwork.org.

Are You Interested in Pursuing Graduate School and/or a Research Career? Read Below.

Stephania Hayes (UC Davis), Shannon Pagdon (Columbia/NYS Psychiatric Institute/University of Pittsburgh), and Nev Jones (University of Pittsburgh) write: “We are gathering information from people with lived experience in the Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) or early psychosis space (including peer specialists, current/former CSC participants, and CSC youth coordinators) who are potentially interested in pursuing graduate school and/or a research career. All of us identify as having lived experience, work in CSC, and are invested in supporting the next generation of scholars who also have lived experience. We would like to create a discussion group and/or other supports for people interested in this career path. The link below leads to a very brief survey that will help us understand the level of interest in such supports, as well as areas of career interest. (Please note that this is not a research study.)” To participate in the anonymous survey, click here.

“Help Us Map the Landscape of Lived Experience and Family Involvement in 988 Policy and Related Crisis Response System Planning!”

“As 988 implementation rolls out alongside additional efforts to strengthen crisis response systems throughout the U.S., it's important to gauge the extent to which direct stakeholders (i.e., individuals who use or have used mental health crisis services and their families) have been involved in related policy, implementation and evaluation at the local, regional, state or federal levels. To map out involvement nationally, Mental Health America (lead: Kelly Davis), Nev Jones (University of Pittsburgh) and Keris Myrick (National Association of Peer Supporters) have developed a survey aimed at documenting the extent of stakeholder involvement, the forms this involvement has taken, and, where available, what concerns stakeholders have raised. Any individual with knowledge of lived experience and family involvement is eligible to participate; individuals completing the survey do not have to have lived experience themselves.” For more information and to access the survey, click here.

Survey Seeks Respondents Who Have Taken Mental Health Courses Involving Their Own Diagnoses

Have you taken a mental health course that covers a diagnosis you have? If so, you are invited to participate in a brief, anonymous, online survey--designed by a University of Pittsburgh MSW student--about what it's like for students with lived experience to study their own diagnoses in a classroom. The survey covers students' experiences of studying such subjects as "abnormal psychology," "psychopathology," and diagnosis and assessment when their own diagnoses are covered. "The goal of the project is to better understand what it feels like to take courses in which someone’s diagnosis is being taught/defined/discussed. There is currently no literature or reporting on the experiences of students in the above circumstances, or the associated impact." Interested? Please click here. Questions? Please email the project lead, Charlie Clement, at cjc204@pitt.edu

Peer Support in Higher Education Survey Seeks Respondents

“Peer support programs are growing on college campuses across the U.S. Mental Health America, Doors to Wellbeing, and the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion want to better understand the availability of peer support in higher education as well as the experiences and needs of students accessing peer support programs…We hope to use this research to support the expansion of peer support in higher education, including developing a national database of peer support programs in higher education and documenting pressing issues in campus programs…You may also indicate if you are interested in having your school’s peer support program listed in a national database of peer support programs in higher education.” For more information and to complete the survey, click here. 

Supported Education Survey Needs Your Help

Do you operate a program that provides dedicated supported education services for individuals with psychiatric disabilities/mental health conditions? If so, you are invited to complete the survey at the link below. The primary goal of the survey is to help create a National Supported Education Database (NSEdD) that will be "a searchable listing of diverse supported education programs and services for individuals experiencing psychiatric disabilities and/or mental health challenges...across the US and its territories." The NSEdD project is sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and co-administered by the five SAMHSA-funded national consumer and consumer-supporter technical assistance centers, in collaboration with research partners Drs. Nev Jones (University of Pittsburgh) and Mark Salzer (Temple University). For a link to the survey, which includes a definition of supported education, click here. For a flyer with information about the survey, click here.  

National Survey on Student Rights, Discrimination, and Accommodations in Higher Education Seeks Respondents  

"Have you experienced psychiatric disability-based discrimination or the denial of an accommodation in a postsecondary institution in the United States? Interested in informing national advocacy focus on psych disability rights in higher ed? Mental Health America (lead: Kelly Davis) and collaborators Dr. Nev Jones (University of Pittsburgh), Stefanie Kaufman-Mthimkhulu (Project LETS) and Brit Vanneman Esq. (Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law) have developed "a survey aimed at providing a more comprehensive understanding of student experiences of campus-based discrimination, mandated leaves of absence, and/or denial of academic, administrative and/or student-work accommodations in the U.S. Data will be used to inform national advocacy efforts and future projects, and in reports, presentations and publications." For eligibility and to access the survey, click here.

If You've Had, or Been Labeled with, "Negative Symptoms" in the Context of Psychosis...

"If you have experienced or been labeled with 'negative symptoms' in the context of psychosis, please consider contributing an anonymous account of your views and experiences," Dr. Nev Jones writes. "Currently, there is nowhere one can go to find lived experience perspectives/accounts on this topic—even though 'negative symptoms' regularly feature in research and clinical trials. Help us change this!" This survey is a companion to Psychosis Outside the Box; for that survey, click here. For more information and/or to share your story about "negative symptoms," click here.

“Are You Between the Ages of 21 and 60 and Drink Alcohol?”

"Researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are seeking adults--[both smokers and non-smokers]--to study whether a gene and smoking may affect drinking alcohol. Volunteers should be healthy and drug-free, and not seeking treatment for alcohol-related problems. Research participation includes three outpatient visits at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, MD; alcohol consumption; brain scans (MRI), blood draws, and filling out questionnaires. There is no cost to participate and compensation may be provided." For more information, click here. (Courtesy of Fran Hazam)

TU Collaborative Seeks Participants for Its Parenting Through Leisure Project; See Also the TU Collaborative's Parenting Resources, Including Information on Custody Issues

The Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion is seeking parents with lived experience of a mental health condition to participate in a paid research study. The TU Collaborative writes: "Our program, Parenting Through Leisure, focuses on helping parents with a serious mental illness participate in leisure activities with their child. We are looking for individuals who are 18 and older; are an adult parent with a diagnosis of schizophrenia-spectrum disorder, bipolar disorder, or depression; have a child who is 7 to 15 years old and is interested in participating in family leisure with you; have legal visitation rights, joint custody or full custody of the child, with at least weekly contact; and have a desire to engage in more leisure activities with their child." For details about the study and the remuneration as well as other benefits to eligible participants, and a link to sign up, click here. Questions? Please contact TUCollab@temple.edu. And for the TU Collaborative's Parenting web page--which includes links to many resources for parents with lived experience, including information about custody laws and a model family reunification statute--click here.

Survey Seeks Respondents Who Are in Administrative/ Leadership Positions in the Mental Health Field

If you are in an administrative/leadership position in the mental health arena, “the Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry (GAP) Committee on Psychiatric Administration and Leadership invites you to participate in the International Survey on Administrative Psychiatry. The survey has two purposes: 1. To identify the concerns and needs of mental health professionals/psychiatrists in administrative and leadership positions. 2. To determine training needs in administrative psychiatry. We ask you to complete this brief, [15- to 20-minute] questionnaire to help us in developing recommendations for action. We also want to let you know that, if you fill out this questionnaire, you permit the committee to use your anonymous data for scientific work.” Peer providers are included. For the survey, click here. (Courtesy of Oryx Cohen)

International Survey on Antipsychotic Medication Withdrawal Seeks Respondents

“Have you taken antipsychotic medication (such as Zyprexa, Seroquel, Abilify, Risperdal, Haldol, Geodon, Stelazine, and others), for any condition or diagnosis, with or without other medications? And did you ever stop taking antipsychotics, or try to stop taking them? Are you 18 years or older? If yes, you can take this survey about antipsychotic withdrawal and attempts to withdraw, including if you stopped taking them completely or if you tried to come off and still take them. The survey aims to improve mental health services by better understanding medication withdrawal. Lead researcher is Will Hall, a therapist and Ph.D. student who has himself taken antipsychotics. Service users/survivors/consumers from around the world also gave input. The study is sponsored by Maastricht University in the Netherlands; co-sponsors include the International Institute for Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal. Questions? Please contact will.hall@maastrichtuniversity.nl.”  For more information or to take the survey, click on www.antipsychoticwithdrawalsurvey.com

OTHER 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.

“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.

RESOURCES

“You Matter: Stories from People with Lived Experience.” 

The Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion writes: “In this documentation project, we interviewed individuals with [serious mental health conditions] to hear their stories of times they felt like they did or did not matter and learn about what mattering means to them.” For the free 15-page document, click here.

“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. 2, August 2023. For content, reproduction or publication information, please contact Susan Rogers at selfhelpclearinghouse@gmail.com. Follow Susan on Twitter at @SusanRogersMH

Key Update, July 2023, Volume 20, Number 1

The National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse is affiliated with the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion.

TO CONTACT: THE CLEARINGHOUSE: SELFHELPCLEARINGHOUSE@GMAIL.COM  … SUSAN ROGERS: SUSAN.ROGERS.ADVOCACY@GMAIL.COM … JOSEPH ROGERS: JROGERS08034@GMAIL.COM 

THE KEY UPDATE IS COMPILED, WRITTEN, AND EDITED BY SUSAN ROGERS, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH CONSUMERS’ SELF-HELP CLEARINGHOUSE.

NOTE: THE "FROM PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF THE KEY UPDATE BUT STILL FRESH!" DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS DIRECTLY BELOW THE MONTHLY CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM DIGEST, INCLUDES ITEMS THAT HAD BEEN POSTED "ABOVE THE FOLD" IN EARLIER EDITIONS BUT ARE STILL RELEVANT. THESE INCLUDE ONGOING RESEARCH STUDIES THAT ARE STILL SEEKING PARTICIPANTS, AS WELL AS UPCOMING WEBINARS AND CONFERENCES, AND OTHER ITEMS OF CONTINUED INTEREST. DON'T MISS IT!

DEADLINE ALERT: Under “CONFERENCES, TRAININGS, AND OTHER EVENTS” (following “NEWS”), AND ALSO UNDER “WEBINARS” (FOLLOWING “CONFERENCES…”), PLEASE TAKE NOTE OF THE DATES AND DEADLINES!  

NEWS

Will There Be a Sea Change in the Status of Peer Specialists in the Behavioral Health Industry? The Tide May Be Turning.

“Years into a national behavioral health workforce shortage, many provider organizations are now seeking to leverage peer specialists.” So begins a Behavioral Health Business article entitled “Standardized Credentialing, Reimbursement Clarity Could Accelerate Use of Peers in Behavioral Health Care.” For the article, which cites the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s release of new national model standards for peer support certification, which the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services acknowledged “were created to accelerate universal adoption, recognition, and integration of the peer workforce across all elements of the healthcare system,” click here. For the HHS press release about the standards, click here.

Dozens of Suicide Hotline Websites Send Personal Data to Facebook; Meanwhile, 988 Faces Staffing Challenges

“Websites for mental health crisis resources across the country—which promise anonymity…—have been quietly sending sensitive visitor data to Facebook, The Markup has found. Dozens of websites tied to the national mental health crisis 988 hotline…transmit the data through a tool called the Meta Pixel, according to testing conducted by The Markup. That data often included signals to Facebook…” For the Markup article, click here. Meanwhile, according to a recent ABC News article, 988 is “struggling to keep up with volume” and “staffing challenges have led to thousands of missed calls.” For the ABC News article, click here.

CONFERENCES, TRAININGS, AND OTHER EVENTS

Equity-Grounded Leadership Fellow Program Extends Application Deadline
The College for Behavioral Health Leadership has extended the application deadline for its Equity-Grounded Leadership Fellow Program to June 26, 2023. NYAPRS writes: “It is an immersive experience of in-person and virtual sessions for up to 25 current or emerging leaders with learned and lived experience who have a deep desire to effect change in their organizations, communities, or regions.” The 2023-2024 Cohort will convene from September 14, 2023, to August 2, 2024. For more about the program and to apply, click here.

June 30 Is the Deadline for the NYAPRS 2023 Annual Conference Call for Presentations!

Act quickly to respond to the Call for Presentations for NYAPRS’s 2023 Annual Conference! The conference theme is "Promoting Rights Across the Nation and Recovery Across the Life Span"! The conference will be held at the Villa Roma Resort, Callicoon, New York, September 26-28, 2023. For details and to submit a proposal, click here.

N.A.P.S. Issues Call for Proposals for 2023 Annual Conference and Registration Is Open!
The National Association of Peer Supporters (N.A.P.S.) is seeking presentation proposals for its annual conference, to be held in Norfolk, Virginia, on October 25-26, 2023. The theme of the conference is “Pathways.” This theme celebrates the diverse journeys individuals take on their paths to recovery, resilience, and personal growth. Proposals are due by July 7, 2023. For details and to submit a proposal, click here. To register for the conference, and for information about booking a room at the Sheraton Norfolk Waterside Hotel in Norfolk, Virginia, click here! For information about sponsorship opportunities or for other questions, contact Len Statham (len@peersupportworks.org).

National Aspiring Entrepreneur Workshop Series for Peers

PENTAC’s (Peer Experience National Technical Assistance Center) free, grant-funded workshop series, from September 5, 2023, through October 24, 2023, “is designed to assist individuals living with mental health and substance use challenges in their consideration and pursuit of entrepreneurship as a route to occupational and financial wellness.” Hurry: There are only 15 open slots, all reserved for non-Floridians; the 15-person Florida cohort has already been filled. Questions? Sherry Warner (sherry@peersupportfl.org). To register, click here. 

“Witness the Making of a Peer Specialist.”
“Our American Family is a radically honest portrait of five family members grappling with the legacy of generational substance use disorder as they fight to heal resentments and pull each other out of their deepest depths. Join us on June 27, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. ET.” The event includes a post-screening discussion with Our American Family mother Linda and daughter Nicole, who is a certified peer recovery specialist. To register, click here.

NARPA Announces Exciting Keynote Presentations at Its 2023 Annual Rights Conference!
The National Association for Rights Protection and Advocacy (NARPA) has announced its three distinguished keynote speakers—Ira Burnim JD, David Cohen PhD, and Robert Dinerstein JD—as well as exciting panel presentations on “Working For Racial Justice and Equity” and “Innovative Non-Police Responses in Crisis Situations,” to take place at its 2023 Annual Rights Conference, September 6-9 in New Orleans! There will also be a pre-conference institute for PAIMI Council members on September 6, 2 p.m.-5 p.m. ET. For details and to register, click here.

WEBINARS

“We Didn't Invent the Wheel: Peer Support as an Evolutionary Necessity”
On June 26, 2023, at 12 p.m. ET, Southeast MHTTC will present Part 2 of its four-part series on peer support. “In Part 2 of our series, presenters discuss how the peer support/respite model is not new but builds on models as recent as the early 20th century self-help groups. Different respite models and their unique benefits and challenges will be explored.” To register, click here.

NASMHPD Hosts Town Halls Aimed at Advancing Social Connection
“This Town Hall series—‘Cultivating a Culture of Connection through Community-Designed Initiatives’—will provide an opportunity for discussion and implementation of the six foundational pillars to advance social connection outlined by the U.S. Surgeon General.” To view the Surgeon General’s free 82-page report—“Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation, 2023”—click here. To register for the second 90-minute Town Hall: “Peer-Led Inclusive Approaches Designed to Support, Unify, and Prevent Isolation” (June 26 at 2 p.m. ET) and/or the third: “Combating Loneliness and Isolation in Diverse Communities” (July 10 at 2 p.m. ET)—the first was held on June 12—click here. And see *Some Resources Connected with the NASMHPD Town Halls under RESOURCES, below. 

“Nearly Last, But Not Least: The State of Vermont's Path to Authentic Peer Support Certification”
On June 27, 2023, at 2 p.m. ET, Doors to Wellbeing will host Wilda White, executive director of Vermont Psychiatric Survivors, to discuss Vermont's path to peer support certification. For details and to register, click here.

“Mapping the Crisis System of Care: Alternatives to Emergency Departments”
On June 27, 2023, at 2:30 p.m. ET, the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, in partnership with University of Connecticut’s Innovations Institute, will present a 90-minute webinar titled “Mapping the Crisis System of Care: Alternatives to Emergency Departments.” For more information and to register, click here. This is the third in a four-part SAMHSA-sponsored series on Crisis Response Services. The fourth is tentatively scheduled for July 17, 2:30 p.m.-4 p.m. ET, on “988 Year One: Milestones and Next Steps.” Here are the recordings for Webinar #1 CCBHCs and Crisis Response Services for Children, Youth and Families and Webinar #2 – The Role of CCBHC’s in Strengthening Crisis Care.

“Career Paths for Peer Support Specialists”
On June 28, 2023, at 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT), the Pacific Southwest MHTTC will host Session 4 of 5 in the “Creating Safe Spaces for Peer Support Providers” series. The learning goals of the 90-minute webinar are to “create specific avenues for peers who identify as BIPOC, implement anti-racist strategies within peer support delivery, and identify career paths for peer specialists.” For details and to register, click here. (The registration deadline is June 27.)

“Learning from Each Other: Bringing Movement Elders and Young Leaders Together”

On June 28, 2023, at 2 p.m. ET, the Peer Recovery Center of Excellence will host a two-hour Community Dialogue featuring “a roundtable of movement leaders who have played historic roles in the peer movement alongside those who are currently making their mark.” The movement elders are National Association of Peer Supporters (N.A.P.S.) board member Keris Myrick, Dr. Chyrell Bellamy, and Jonathan Edwards. The young leaders are N.A.P.S. board president Jessi Davis, N.A.P.S. board vice president Tim Saubers, and Colin Cash. The moderator is Nze Okoronta. To register, click here. 

Recovery Cafés: Creating Communities of Healing

On June 28, 2023, at 3 p.m. ET, the Cafe TA Center will present a free webinar on how Recovery Cafés can support recovery, build community, and counter isolation. “There are currently 57 Recovery Cafés that demonstrate the transformative power of community, connection and healing in environments that nurture love, accountability, stewardship, and equity.” For more information and to register, click here.  

“Introducing Emotional CPR: Responding to People in Emotional Crisis with Connection and Empowerment”

On June 29, 2023, at 2 p.m. ET, A Disorder 4 Everyone! will present “Introducing Emotional CPR.” The organizers write: “This [90-minute] workshop offers a wonderful opportunity to learn from a key developer of Emotional CPR, Dr. Daniel Fisher, and will be invaluable for anyone who offers emotional support to people, including counselors, psychotherapists, and those supporting people outside of a professional role.” For more information and to purchase a ticket, click here.

“Start Here: What To Know If You Want To Work”
On June 29, 2023, at 2 p.m. ET (11 a.m. PT), Disability Rights California will present a webinar on “the fundamental tools you need to start applying for jobs. Join us as we discuss how to start a resume from scratch, what to look for when selecting references, how to format a cover letter, and more.” For more information and to register, click here.

Free Webinar to “Support Young Adults to Set and Achieve Their Summer Goals”

The Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion writes: “Calling all young folx! How are your summer plans coming along? Need help checking things off your summer bucket list? On June 29, 2023, at 2 p.m. ET, join our webinar ‘Don’t Let Summer Slip Away’ for tips and tricks on making the most of your summer.” To register, click here. Questions? connectionsrx@temple.edu 

NAADAC Continues Free “Peer Recovery Support” Webinar Series

The National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC)—now known as the Association for Addiction Professionals—will continue its free, 10-part “Peer Recovery Support” webinar series on June 29, 2023, from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. ET, with Part 5: “Peer Support via Telehealth Platforms.” To register, click here. And on July 27, 3 p.m.-4:30 p.m. ET, NAADAC will present Part 6: “Professional Development for Peers: Progress, Not Peerfection.” For details, click here. (Courtesy of Jessi Davis)

Judi’s Room in July Will Feature a Discussion of the Olmstead Decision
On July 5, 2023, at 6 p.m. ET (3 p.m. PT), I Love You, Lead On and MindFreedom International will present a Judi’s Room discussion of the 1999 Olmstead decision, a landmark ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court. The presenter will be Vesper Moore. To register for the free presentation, click here and then click on the red "Reserve a Spot" button. 

PENTAC’s National Peer Entrepreneur Speaker Series Continues on July 6 

On July 6, 2023, at 12 p.m. ET, PENTAC will present Shira Collings, M.S., an eating disorder therapist and the National Empowerment Center’s youth coordinator. To register, click here. 

“The Three Legs of the Stool: A Framework for Person-Centered Community Mental Health Services That Do No Harm”

On July 6, 2023, at 3 p.m. ET, NCAPPS (the National Center on Advancing Person-Centered Practices and Systems) will present a webinar that “will showcase a framework for community mental health services developed by the Ashland County, Ohio, Mental Health and Recovery Board…The three legs, or sets of values, are: 1) Recovery and Resiliency, 2) Trauma-Informed Care, and 3) Medication Optimization. For details and to register, click here.

“Everything You Need To Know About Estate Planning, But Are Afraid to Ask”
On July 25, 2023, at 2 p.m. ET, Doors to Wellbeing will present a webinar that “will emphasize the importance of planning for the distribution of your personal assets upon your death and the strategies and tools that can be used to ensure that your ‘final wishes’ are followed.” The presenter will be LaVerne Miller. For details and to register, click here.

NARPA Announces Exciting Keynote Presentations at Its 2023 Annual Rights Conference!

The National Association for Rights Protection and Advocacy (NARPA) has announced its three distinguished keynote speakers—Ira Burnim JD, David Cohen PhD, and Robert Dinerstein JD—as well as exciting panel presentations on “Working For Racial Justice and Equity” and “Innovative Non-Police Responses in Crisis Situations,” to take place at its 2023 Annual Rights Conference, September 6-9 in New Orleans! There will also be a pre-conference institute for PAIMI Council members on September 6, 2 p.m.-5 p.m. ET. For details and to register, click here.

RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES

TU Collaborative Seeks Youth with Serious Mental Health Conditions to Share Their Perceptions About Participating in Research

If you’re 18 to 30 years old, have been diagnosed with a serious mental health condition, and are willing to complete a one-time interview of 30 to 60 minutes via phone or Zoom on your feelings about participating in research, the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion hopes to hear from you. Participants will receive a $20 e-gift card. Interested? Email elizabeth.thomas@temple.edu, text "INTERESTED" to (267) 845-5165, or call (215) 204-1699. 

RESOURCES

“You Matter: Stories From People with Lived Experience.” 

The Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion writes: “In this documentation project, we interviewed individuals with [serious mental health conditions] to hear their stories of times they felt like they did or did not matter and learn about what mattering means to them.” For the free 15-page document, click here.

*Some Resources Connected with the NASMHPD Town Halls
The National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors in partnership with Harper Hill Global offers “Triumph over Trauma,” which includes a resources package, online groups, and online facilitator training (click here). For “Friendship Bench,” click here. For “ ‘Making Relatives’: A Guide for Healing the Soul Wound,” click here.

Asylum Magazine Publishes Summer 2023 Edition
“Asylum magazine is a forum for free debate, open to anyone with an interest in psychiatry or mental health. We especially welcome contributions from service users or ex-users (or survivors), carers, and frontline psychiatric or mental health workers (anonymously, if you wish).” For details and to read Asylum, click here.

“What’s Happening with Women’s Mental Health”?
The Cafe TA Center writes: “…adolescent girls and young women stand to benefit from the trauma-informed, recovery-oriented values of the mental health recovery movement. The question is what can be done to bring those values to a new generation that very much needs them, and how they can help young women address their wellness before their feelings develop into more serious long-term mental health conditions.” For the Cafe TA Center newsletter, click here. 

MHTTC Shares Resources from Its “RACE for Mental Health”
The MHTTC (Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network) is sharing the learning materials from its RACE for Mental Health. “The resources highlighted during this event promote mental health awareness and literacy and can be accessed on our website 24/7,” MHTTC writes. For more information and to access the resources, click here.

Addressing Burnout in the Behavioral Health Workforce through Organizational Strategies

SAMHSA writes: “Burnout is a complex issue resulting from chronic workplace stress that encompasses exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment. This guide will highlight organization-level interventions to prevent and reduce burnout among behavioral health workers.” For the 63-page document, click here.

“Podcast: The Rise in Forced Treatment and Abusive Guardianships”

“[M]illions of Americans are subjected to psychiatric detention or forced treatment every year. Often well meaning family members are trying to ‘help,’ but end up traumatizing and permanently damaging their loved ones. Join us as investigative journalist Rob Wipond explains how most states have broadened their criteria for psychiatrically detaining someone far beyond ‘imminent harm’ and that as a practical matter, this could happen to almost anyone.” For the podcast, click here.

The July 2023 Digest of Articles Offering Healthy Lifestyle Advice

For “Peace of Mind: How understanding trauma and the evolution of the brain can help us manage the mind’s misfires,” click here. For “Who Says a Walk Can’t Be a Workout?” click here. For “How the Arts Can Benefit Your Mental Health (No Talent Required),” click here. For “The Beauty of a ‘Walk and Talk,’” click here. For “Tai Chi Is a Workout for the Brain and Body,” click here. For "Birdsongs alleviate anxiety and paranoia in healthy participants," click here. 

The July 2023 Digest of Articles about the Criminal Legal System, in Which Many Individuals with Mental Health Conditions Are Incarcerated (and the Key Update continues after this Digest)

For “The Books Banned in Your State’s Prisons,” click here. For “Internal NYPD documents reveal officer training on involuntary hospitalizations: It is the first public look at how officers are being trained to implement Mayor Adams’ mental health directive,” click here. For “When Criminal Justice Systems Have to Deal with Mental Illness,” click here. For “How Police Violence Weighs on Black Americans,” click here. For “New report reveals over 122K are held in solitary confinement in U.S. prisons and jails: The data highlights the widespread practice of isolating inmates as the federal government and some cities and states reconsider how to limit its use,” click here. For “New Fact Sheet Explores the Effects of Solitary Confinement on the Human Brain,” click here. For “How a ‘Blue Wall’ Inside New York State Prisons Protects Abusive Guards: Records and interviews reveal a culture of cover-ups among corrections officers who falsify reports and send beating victims to solitary confinement,” click here. For “In 2022, Exonerations Hit a Record High in the U.S.: Globally, potential innocence has long outweighed potential guilt. That philosophy of justice may not be one that the majority of Americans endorse, “ click here. For “Mayor Adams cuts classes and re-entry services at Rikers to save $17 million in NYC budget,” click here. For “School librarians face a new penalty in the banned-book wars: Prison: Several states have passed laws that could sentence people for years if they provide ‘obscene’ books to minors,” click here. For “Her Son Said Her Ex Sexually Abused Him. Then She Lost Custody. How the 'junk science' of parental alienation infiltrated American family courts and allowed accused child abusers to win custody of their kids,” click here. For “Body Cameras Can Be a Powerful Tool. But Not All Police Forces Wear Them,: click here. For “Family of Colorado man killed by police during mental health crisis gets $19 million settlement,” click here. For “Colette Peters’ Challenge: Change The Culture Of The Bureau Of Prisons,” click here. For “In New York Prisons, Guards Who Brutalize Prisoners Rarely Get Fired. Records obtained by The Marshall Project reveal a state discipline system that fails to hold many guards accountable,” click here. For “ ‘Worse than what we thought’: New data reveals deeper problems with the Bureau of Prisons’ Covid response,” click here. For “A History of Incarceration by Women Who Have Lived Through It: The members of the Indiana Women’s Prison History Project are able to scrutinize official records not only for what they reveal but also for what they omit,” click here. For “Life Inside, Animated: An animated series featuring the stories of those whose lives have intersected with the criminal justice system,” click here. For “DOJ expands anti-profiling rules to cover thousands more who work in justice system,” click here. For “What If the CDC Could Track Gun Violence Like a Virus? The first edition of The Trajectory, our latest newsletter, explores a new effort to improve data on nonfatal shootings,” click here. For “American Guns, American Deaths: What photographs of the sites of mass shootings show—and what they omit,” click here. For “How doctors buy their way out of trouble: Medical practitioners and providers paid $26.8 billion over the past decade to settle federal allegations including fraud, bribery and patient harm, a Reuters investigation found. Paying up means staying in business and, for some, avoiding prison. U.S. prosecutors helped them do it,” click here. For “‘It’s Not Moral’: A Wave Of Criminal Justice Reforms Is Leaving Out Those Already Convicted: Across the country, lawmakers are beginning to correct “tough on crime” policies. But many of these reforms explicitly exclude people who are already in prison,” click here. For “Devil in the grooves: The case against forensic firearms analysis: A landmark Chicago court ruling threatens a century of expert ballistics testimony,” click here. For “City Jails No Longer Announcing Deaths Behind Bars, Angering Watchdogs: The Department of Correction says that the de Blasio-era practice of notifying the press when someone dies in a detention facility is over. Advocacy groups and a federal monitor say it’s part of a broader effort to hide wrongdoing,” click here. For “Victims of Violent Crime Drive Legislative Change to State Programs, Pushing Against Barriers to Aid,” click here. For “Doctors call for changes to laws that criminalize drug use during pregnancy: Overdoses are a leading cause of preventable death among pregnant and postpartum women, yet fears of child abuse laws stop them from seeking help,” click here. For “Justice Department Finds Civil Rights Violations by the Minneapolis Police Department and the City of Minneapolis: Specifically, the Justice Department finds that the MPD…[a]long with the city, discriminates against people with behavioral health disabilities when responding to calls for assistance,” click here. For “Don’t ‘Punish Them More.’ Effort Grows to Ease Job Barriers After Prison Release: Nearly 2,000 formerly incarcerated people return to Cleveland each year with few job prospects. Some lawmakers want to change that,” click here. For “When a Conviction Is Challenged, What Do We Owe the Victim’s Family? In the final episode of “Just Say You’re Sorry,” we consider what cases like Larry Driskill’s mean for families like Bobbie Sue Hill’s,” click here. For “Three Years After George Floyd’s Murder, Police Reforms Are Slow-Paced: There have been mostly modest changes following protests that galvanized the country in 2020,” click here. For “Former Gun Company Executive Explains Roots of America’s Gun Violence Epidemic,” click here. For “My Friend Jordan Neely Was Homeless and in Mental Distress. But He Was Not Expendable. Jordan Neely was choked to death on a New York City subway car. Mentor and fellow Michael Jackson enthusiast Moses Harper recalls who he was in life,” click here. For "New laws make changes at the intersection of criminal justice and health care," click here. For “Georgia gun shop owner shutters store after mass shootings targeting children: ‘I’m not against the Second Amendment, but just with my conscience, I can’t sell it because, I don’t know who it’s going to affect and hurt,’ ” click here. 

FROM PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF THE KEY UPDATE BUT STILL FRESH!

CONFERENCES, WEBINARS, AND TRAININGS

APS Learning Community Hosts a Weekly Networking Meeting. Check Out Its Website for Upcoming Events.

The Academy of Peer Services (APS) Virtual Learning Community Networking Meeting for Peer Specialists is every Tuesday from 5:15 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. ET. Its purpose is to share ideas, experiences, and opportunities with others in the field of peer support, as well as to give and receive support to each other. To register, click here. For the Virtual Learning Community website, which includes a calendar of upcoming events, resources, and more, click here.

Active Minds Mental Health Conference July 7-8, 2023, in Washington, D.C.

Calling its conference “the nation’s leading mental health conference for young adults,” Active Minds will host its 2023 conference in Washington, D.C., July 7-8. For more information and to register, click here.

MHTTC Publishes Calendar of Events from Now Until September 19, 2023

The Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network (MHTTC) has published a calendar of its events from now through September 19. The calendar covers the 10 U.S.-based regional MHTTCs as well as the two national MHTTCs. The MHTTC is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. For the calendar, click here. (Courtesy of NYAPRS E-News)

NARMH Will Hold Its 2023 Annual Conference in Pittsburgh September 19-21

The theme of the National Association for Rural Mental Health conference is “Building Your Bridge: Linking Voices to Promote Rural Mental Health.” The conference will be held in person at the Sheraton Pittsburgh Hotel at Station Square. The deadline to submit a workshop proposal is August 1 or until the agenda is filled. For more information, click here.

25th Annual ISEPP Conference to Be Held October 20-22, 2023

The 2023 conference of the International Society for Ethical Psychology & Psychiatry will be held in the Los Angeles area from October 20 to October 22. There will also be a virtual component, via Zoom. For an approximate schedule, click here. 

ABCT 2023 Conference Is November 16-19 in Seattle

The Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT) 2023 conference will be held November 16-19 in Seattle. Its theme is “Cultivating Joy with CBT [Cognitive Behavioral Therapy].” For more information about the conference, click here. (Courtesy of Yulia Mikhailova)

MHTTC Offers Free Online Behavioral Health Courses

The Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network (MHTTC) “currently offers 20 online courses available through Healtheknowledge.org. HealtheKnowledge.org offers high-quality, on-demand, and instructor-led courses that are open to the public. Courses are free for a certificate of completion, and yearly membership options are available for purchase to gain access to other HealtheKnowledge resources and earn unlimited CE credits. View our course listings here. View our how-to guide to set up your HealtheKnowledge account.” MHTTC is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN RESEARCH

“Do You Want to Learn How the Immune System Works and What You Can Do to Improve Your Immune Health?”

Collaborative Support Programs of New Jersey (CSPNJ) and the University of Illinois Chicago are testing a new program that helps people learn about improving their immunity. You must be 18 years or older; speak English; have access to a Zoom-compatible computer, smartphone, or tablet; be willing to complete five sessions and three check-in calls on Zoom over a six-month period; and have a diagnosed mental health condition. Study participants have a 50/50 chance of getting the new program, but everyone gets paid $135 for completing three study interviews. Contact UIC researcher Jessica Jonikas at enhanceimmune@gmail.com or 312.725.2966 to set up a meeting to see if you’re eligible. (Courtesy of Peggy Swarbrick via Jacek Haciak)

UCSF Study Seeks BIPOC and/or LGBTQ Participants for Small Study

For a two-part study whose goal is “to understand the experiences of people who identify as minorities in recovery from psychosis,” a University of California San Francisco researcher is seeking “15 adults aged 18-35 who are from communities of color or are LGBTQ to share their lived experiences in video recordings that can be used to help reduce fear and shame associated with psychosis and encourage cultural sensitivity from providers.” Participants in Part 1 will be anonymous; in Part 2 they can give limited permission about where their videos are shared. Participants will be paid $100-$200. For details, including the time commitment, click here. If you qualify and are interested, please contact Stephanie.Ekey@ucsf.edu. 

Research Opportunity for Young Adult Peer Supporters

The Mental Health Services Research Lab of the Temple University College of Public Health invites youth peer support workers ages 18-30 who are currently working full-time or part-time in a peer support role to participate in a survey that aims to gather information about their workplace experiences. Questions? Contact Elizabeth Thomas at 215.204.1699 or elizabeth.thomas@temple.edu, or Haley Payne at haleypayne097@gmail.com. Those who complete the survey may be entered into a raffle to win cash prizes! For the Informed Consent Form and the survey, click here.

EPICC Works to Help Parents with Mental Health Conditions Connect with Their Kids

Engaging Parents and Increasing Connections with Children (EPICC) is a 10-week program created by the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion that is focused on helping parents with serious mental health conditions connect with their children through meaningful activities. For details and to apply, click here.

Young Adults with Psychiatric Diagnoses Are Sought for Study on Community Participation

The Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion is recruiting young adults (ages 18-30) with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression to take part in ConnectionsRx, designed to support engagement in meaningful community activities. Participants will be enrolled in the peer-led study for six months, and receive support to help meet community participation goals. Interviews (approximately 60 minutes each) will take place on Zoom. Participants will receive a $15 Amazon gift card (to a maximum of $45) for each survey completed. For the website, click here. Questions? Write to ConnectionsRx@temple.edu. 

South Southwest MHTTC Launches Youth and Young Adult Peer Supporters Survey

“Are you a peer specialist who provides peer support to other people under the age of 30? We want to hear from you! Please fill out the survey to assist the South Southwest Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (South Southwest MHTTC) in learning more about youth peer support across the country! The intent is to be able to include these peer supporters in research, training, and technical assistance activities surrounding youth peer support. The form should take 5-10 minutes to fill out, and can be done from a phone or a computer browser. To take the survey, click here.” Questions? Write to southsouthwest@mhttcnetwork.org.

Are You Interested in Pursuing Graduate School and/or a Research Career? Read Below.

Stephania Hayes (UC Davis), Shannon Pagdon (Columbia/NYS Psychiatric Institute/University of Pittsburgh), and Nev Jones (University of Pittsburgh) write: “We are gathering information from people with lived experience in the Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) or early psychosis space (including peer specialists, current/former CSC participants, and CSC youth coordinators) who are potentially interested in pursuing graduate school and/or a research career. All of us identify as having lived experience, work in CSC, and are invested in supporting the next generation of scholars who also have lived experience. We would like to create a discussion group and/or other supports for people interested in this career path. The link below leads to a very brief survey that will help us understand the level of interest in such supports, as well as areas of career interest. (Please note that this is not a research study.)” To participate in the anonymous survey, click here.

“Help Us Map the Landscape of Lived Experience and Family Involvement in 988 Policy and Related Crisis Response System Planning!”

“As 988 implementation rolls out alongside additional efforts to strengthen crisis response systems throughout the U.S., it's important to gauge the extent to which direct stakeholders (i.e., individuals who use or have used mental health crisis services and their families) have been involved in related policy, implementation and evaluation at the local, regional, state or federal levels. To map out involvement nationally, Mental Health America (lead: Kelly Davis), Nev Jones (University of Pittsburgh) and Keris Myrick (National Association of Peer Supporters) have developed a survey aimed at documenting the extent of stakeholder involvement, the forms this involvement has taken, and, where available, what concerns stakeholders have raised. Any individual with knowledge of lived experience and family involvement is eligible to participate; individuals completing the survey do not have to have lived experience themselves.” For more information and to access the survey, click here.

Survey Seeks Respondents Who Have Taken Mental Health Courses Involving Their Own Diagnoses

Have you taken a mental health course that covers a diagnosis you have? If so, you are invited to participate in a brief, anonymous, online survey--designed by a University of Pittsburgh MSW student--about what it's like for students with lived experience to study their own diagnoses in a classroom. The survey covers students' experiences of studying such subjects as "abnormal psychology," "psychopathology," and diagnosis and assessment when their own diagnoses are covered. "The goal of the project is to better understand what it feels like to take courses in which someone’s diagnosis is being taught/defined/discussed. There is currently no literature or reporting on the experiences of students in the above circumstances, or the associated impact." Interested? Please click here. Questions? Please email the project lead, Charlie Clement, at cjc204@pitt.edu

Peer Support in Higher Education Survey Seeks Respondents

“Peer support programs are growing on college campuses across the U.S. Mental Health America, Doors to Wellbeing, and the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion want to better understand the availability of peer support in higher education as well as the experiences and needs of students accessing peer support programs…We hope to use this research to support the expansion of peer support in higher education, including developing a national database of peer support programs in higher education and documenting pressing issues in campus programs…You may also indicate if you are interested in having your school’s peer support program listed in a national database of peer support programs in higher education.” For more information and to complete the survey, click here. 

Supported Education Survey Needs Your Help

Do you operate a program that provides dedicated supported education services for individuals with psychiatric disabilities/mental health conditions? If so, you are invited to complete the survey at the link below. The primary goal of the survey is to help create a National Supported Education Database (NSEdD) that will be "a searchable listing of diverse supported education programs and services for individuals experiencing psychiatric disabilities and/or mental health challenges...across the US and its territories." The NSEdD project is sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and co-administered by the five SAMHSA-funded national consumer and consumer-supporter technical assistance centers, in collaboration with research partners Drs. Nev Jones (University of Pittsburgh) and Mark Salzer (Temple University). For a link to the survey, which includes a definition of supported education, click here. For a flyer with information about the survey, click here.  

National Survey on Student Rights, Discrimination, and Accommodations in Higher Education Seeks Respondents  

"Have you experienced psychiatric disability-based discrimination or the denial of an accommodation in a postsecondary institution in the United States? Interested in informing national advocacy focus on psych disability rights in higher ed? Mental Health America (lead: Kelly Davis) and collaborators Dr. Nev Jones (University of Pittsburgh), Stefanie Kaufman-Mthimkhulu (Project LETS) and Brit Vanneman Esq. (Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law) have developed "a survey aimed at providing a more comprehensive understanding of student experiences of campus-based discrimination, mandated leaves of absence, and/or denial of academic, administrative and/or student-work accommodations in the U.S. Data will be used to inform national advocacy efforts and future projects, and in reports, presentations and publications." For eligibility and to access the survey, click here.

If You've Had, or Been Labeled with, "Negative Symptoms" in the Context of Psychosis...

"If you have experienced or been labeled with 'negative symptoms' in the context of psychosis, please consider contributing an anonymous account of your views and experiences," Dr. Nev Jones writes. "Currently, there is nowhere one can go to find lived experience perspectives/accounts on this topic—even though 'negative symptoms' regularly feature in research and clinical trials. Help us change this!" This survey is a companion to Psychosis Outside the Box; for that survey, click here. For more information and/or to share your story about "negative symptoms," click here.

“Are You Between the Ages of 21 and 60 and Drink Alcohol?”

"Researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are seeking adults--[both smokers and non-smokers]--to study whether a gene and smoking may affect drinking alcohol. Volunteers should be healthy and drug-free, and not seeking treatment for alcohol-related problems. Research participation includes three outpatient visits at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, MD; alcohol consumption; brain scans (MRI), blood draws, and filling out questionnaires. There is no cost to participate and compensation may be provided." For more information, click here. (Courtesy of Fran Hazam)

TU Collaborative Seeks Participants for Its Parenting Through Leisure Project; See Also the TU Collaborative's Parenting Resources, Including Information on Custody Issues

The Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion is seeking parents with lived experience of a mental health condition to participate in a paid research study. The TU Collaborative writes: "Our program, Parenting Through Leisure, focuses on helping parents with a serious mental illness participate in leisure activities with their child. We are looking for individuals who are 18 and older; are an adult parent with a diagnosis of schizophrenia-spectrum disorder, bipolar disorder, or depression; have a child who is 7 to 15 years old and is interested in participating in family leisure with you; have legal visitation rights, joint custody or full custody of the child, with at least weekly contact; and have a desire to engage in more leisure activities with their child." For details about the study and the remuneration as well as other benefits to eligible participants, and a link to sign up, click here. Questions? Please contact TUCollab@temple.edu. And for the TU Collaborative's Parenting web page--which includes links to many resources for parents with lived experience, including information about custody laws and a model family reunification statute--click here.

Survey Seeks Respondents Who Are in Administrative/ Leadership Positions in the Mental Health Field

If you are in an administrative/leadership position in the mental health arena, “the Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry (GAP) Committee on Psychiatric Administration and Leadership invites you to participate in the International Survey on Administrative Psychiatry. The survey has two purposes: 1. To identify the concerns and needs of mental health professionals/psychiatrists in administrative and leadership positions. 2. To determine training needs in administrative psychiatry. We ask you to complete this brief, [15- to 20-minute] questionnaire to help us in developing recommendations for action. We also want to let you know that, if you fill out this questionnaire, you permit the committee to use your anonymous data for scientific work.” Peer providers are included. For the survey, click here. (Courtesy of Oryx Cohen)

International Survey on Antipsychotic Medication Withdrawal Seeks Respondents

“Have you taken antipsychotic medication (such as Zyprexa, Seroquel, Abilify, Risperdal, Haldol, Geodon, Stelazine, and others), for any condition or diagnosis, with or without other medications? And did you ever stop taking antipsychotics, or try to stop taking them? Are you 18 years or older? If yes, you can take this survey about antipsychotic withdrawal and attempts to withdraw, including if you stopped taking them completely or if you tried to come off and still take them. The survey aims to improve mental health services by better understanding medication withdrawal. Lead researcher is Will Hall, a therapist and Ph.D. student who has himself taken antipsychotics. Service users/survivors/consumers from around the world also gave input. The study is sponsored by Maastricht University in the Netherlands; co-sponsors include the International Institute for Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal. Questions? Please contact will.hall@maastrichtuniversity.nl.”  For more information or to take the survey, click on www.antipsychoticwithdrawalsurvey.com

RESOURCES

“Alternatives to Coercion in Mental Health Settings: A Literature Review”

This 214-page report was commissioned by the United Nations Office at Geneva to inform the report of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It was published in 2018 by the Melbourne Social Equity Institute. To download the free report, click here.

“Open Dialogue Around the World—Implementation, Outcomes, Experiences, and Perspectives”

Frontiers in Psychology offers 16 articles about Open Dialogue. These include “Introducing Peer-supported Open Dialogue in Changing Mental Health Care,” “Using Open Dialogue-inspired Dialogism in Non-Psychiatric Medical Practice: A 10-Year Experience,” “Development of the Peer-supported Open Dialogue Attitude and Competence Inventory for Practitioners: A Delphi Study,” and 13 more. For links to all 16 articles, click here.

"Training of Lived Experience Workforces: A Rapid Review of Content and Outcomes"

“Recently, the lived and living experience (LLE) workforce in mental health and alcohol and other drugs (AOD) sectors has expanded,” researchers at La Trobe University and the Self Help Addiction Resource Center in Australia write. “Despite widespread benefit of this inclusion, some LLE practitioners have encountered personal and professional challenges in their workforce roles…[W]e present recommendations for improving training processes for this workforce.” For the article, published in Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services (Springer), click here.

Mental Health Activists Publish “White Paper on Improving Patient Outcomes”

Jim Gottstein, founder of the Law Project for Psychiatric Rights and author of The Zyprexa Papers, writes: “Faith Myers, Susan Musante, Peter Gøtzsche, David Healy, David Cohen, the International Society for Ethical Psychology & Psychiatry (ISEPP)—through its executive director, Chuck Ruby—and I have just published a ‘White Paper’ on improving psychiatric patient outcomes.  While it was written for a specific situation in Alaska, most of it is generally applicable; and…it presents compelling evidence for abolishing unwanted psychiatric interventions in favor of non-coercive approaches, such as Soteria houses, peer respites, Open Dialogue, warm lines, the Hearing Voices Network, emotional CPR (eCPR), [and other such approaches].” To download the free, 68-page “White Paper on Improving Patient Outcomes, Addressing Treatment-Caused Trauma & Injuries, Enhancing Patient Rights, and Grievance Procedures…,” click here.

“WHO’s New Series to Enhance the Meaningful Engagement of People with Lived Experience”

The World Health Organization’s “new ‘Intention to Action’ series is tackling both an evidence gap and a lack of standardized approaches on how to include people with lived experience into decision- and policy-making…The first publication—‘People power: Perspectives from individuals with lived experience of non-communicable diseases, mental health conditions and neurological conditions’—includes six detailed case studies from 12 individuals with lived experience of diverse health conditions.” For more information and a link to download the 80-page publication, click here. (Courtesy of Matthew Jackman)

“What Is Mental Illness?”

“This conversation between Justin Garson (philosopher), Nev Jones (community mental health researcher), and Marco Ramos (psychiatrist/historian)”--sponsored by The Philosopher–“will aim to offer a sense of the scope of what is at stake in our understanding of mental illness, considering the place of biology, society, histories of oppression, evolution, and lived experience in such an understanding.” For the video, click here. (Courtesy of Kevin Fitts)  

“Optimizing Recovery Funding, Volumes 1 & 2”

“In 2021, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) provided the Peer Recovery Center of Excellence (PR CoE) with supplemental funding for a special project to identify and recommend best practices and strategies to optimize funding for high-quality and effective recovery support services. The result was 'Volume 1: Barriers to Acquiring Funding for Organizations in the Ecosystem of Recovery Volume' and 'Volume 2: Strategies for State Funding of Recovery Support Services.'” To download the full, 130-page report, click here. For more information about the reports, including a brief video, click here.

“Are You a Leader with a CMHC? Partner with the Temple University Collaborative!”
“The Clinical Treatment Act is a new law to encourage participation of low-income and minoritized healthcare recipients in research as a matter of equity. The Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion seeks to partner with community mental health centers (CMHCs) across the U.S. to help get information about current and future research studies to service recipients in various programs. In return we are also available to support your organization with free trainings and other supports. Please contact Professor Bryan McCormick (bryan.mccormick@temple.edu) about this important partnership opportunity.” To read this announcement online, click here.

TU Collaborative Wants to Hear Your Story!

“We are working on a project to better understand social connections among adults with significant mental health challenges,” the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion writes. “We are seeking your stories on your social connections generally” and “what those connections mean to you.” The TU Collaborative will compile these stories based on a series of brief surveys. For details and to share your story, click here.

Call for Papers: “Recovery at 30: Emancipation, cooptation, or the end of an era?”

“The year 2023 marks exactly three decades since the publication of Bill Anthony’s seminal “Recovery from mental illness: the guiding vision of the mental health service system in the 1990s" (click here)...”In this special issue of Community Mental Health Journal,” the editors write, “we are soliciting both concept pieces (commentaries, critical reviews) and empirical work (qualitative, quantitative, ethnographic or mixed methods) that explore the question of whether recovery policy remains relevant and emancipatory today or whether the psy-fields are instead in need of fresh thinking and new, more diverse values-based frameworks.” The submission deadline is September 1, 2023. For more information, click here.

Common Threads: Stories of Survival & Recovery from Mental Illness

Common Threads: Stories of Survival & Recovery from Mental Illness, a 108-page compendium, includes “tales of survival and recovery” by a number of Floridians. To quote from the Introduction, “Many of the people in these stories have lived significant portions of their lives in psychiatric institutions, and only through their strengths have they found their way back to the community…In these tales, we hear about the importance of education and peer support…” To download the free document, click here.

“Crisis Now” Offers a “Roadmap to Safe, Effective Crisis Care”

The goal of Crisis Now: Transforming Crisis Services—led by the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) and developed with the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, and RI International—is “to provide all communities a roadmap to safe, effective crisis care that diverts people in distress from the emergency department and jail by developing a continuum of crisis care services that match people’s clinical needs.” Among the resources offered on the website are SAMHSA’s 80-page “National Guidelines for Behavioral Health Crisis Care Best Practice Toolkit” (2020), an “Overview of Crisis Funding Sources Available to States and Localities” (last updated March 2, 2022), and assessment tools, such as “How Does Your Crisis System Rate?” The Crisis Now partners write: “Are you interested in adding your organization to the list supporting Crisis Now, or do you have questions? Reach out to us at info@crisisnow.com. For the website, click here.

“What Is the Meaning of Life?” This Free Online Collection Offers Answers

Excellence Reporter offers more than “1,200 articles-interviews on ‘What Is the Meaning of Life?’ written by renowned spiritual leaders, mindfulness experts, great thinkers and authors, elders, artists, musicians, CEOs, etc.” The contributors include such renowned figures as Bertrand Russell; Carl Jung; the Dalai Lama; Eleanor Roosevelt; Epicurus; Erich Fromm; Kahlil Gibran; Buckminster Fuller; Robert Louis Stevenson; and Ron Bassman, executive director of MindFreedom International. To browse the free compendium, click here.

The UIC Center’s Solutions Suite for Health & Recovery Offers Free Tools

"The UIC Center offers tools, curricula, and implementation manuals for free use in community-based programs, peer-run programs, or one's own life. You can introduce the entire complement of products to foster improved health, wellness, and mental health recovery. Or, you can choose the ones that will work best for your program or your life. The Suite was developed in collaboration with Collaborative Support Programs of New Jersey. The UIC Center is funded by NIDILRR (National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research). For the UIC Solutions Suite for Health & Recovery, click here. (Courtesy of Peggy Swarbrick via Jacek Haciak)

U.S. Surgeon General Creates Community Toolkit for Addressing Health Misinformation

"The U.S. Surgeon General’s Community Toolkit for Addressing Health Misinformation, developed in collaboration with the HHS Office of Evaluation Sciences (OES), provides specific guidance and resources for health care providers, educators, librarians, faith leaders, and trusted community members to understand, identify, and stop the spread of health misinformation in their communities." For information about the toolkit (a 22-page overview of health misinformation, and resources to stop it), and links to a “Talk to Your Community About Health Misinformation” Infographic, a “Health Misinformation Checklist” Infographic, and the Surgeon General's press release, click here.

“Psychiatrist with Philosophical Interests” leads “Conversations in Critical Psychiatry,” a Psychiatric Times Series

Awais Aftab, who describes himself as a "psychiatrist with philosophical interests" in his Twitter bio, leads "Conversations in Critical Psychiatry," which, he says, "explores critical and philosophical perspectives in psychiatry and engages with prominent commentators within and outside the profession who have made meaningful criticisms of the status quo." Among those interviewed are Jim Gottstein, author of The Zyprexa Papers, on “The Fight for Pharma Accountability and Psychiatric Rights”; Allen Frances, M.D., author of Saving Normal; Sandra Steingard, M.D., and G. Scott Waterman, M.D., on "Integrating Academic Inquiry and Reformist Activism in Psychiatry"; Susannah Cahalan, author of Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness, on "50 Shades of Misdiagnosis"; Kathy Flaherty, J.D., executive director of the Connecticut Legal Rights Project, Inc., on "Reconsidering Care and Coercion in Psychiatry"; Nev Jones, Ph.D., on "Phenomenology, Power, Polarization, and the Discourse on Psychosis"; Dainius Puras, M.D., on "Global Psychiatry's Crisis of Values"; and many others. For the archived interviews, click here.

U.S. DOL Releases Guidance on FMLA Leave and Mental Health

The U.S. Department of Labor’s newly issued Fact Sheet #280 about the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) explains when eligible employees may take FMLA leave to address mental health conditions, and new Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) offers additional information. (Although the FMLA covers public and private employers nationwide, only those private employers who have 50 or more employees for at least 20 workweeks in a year are required to provide their eligible employees with FMLA leave.) For details, click here.

Hearing Voices Network Is Now Hosting Online Groups

“There are now ONLINE opportunities to connect, share experiences, and find mutual support,” the Hearing Voices Network (HVN) writes. “These groups are accessible via web-based platforms and by phone…Online groups are specifically for those with personal lived experience with hearing voices, seeing visions, and/or negotiating alternative realities. They are voice-hearer facilitated. With further questions and for details on how to access the group[s], please email info@hearingvoicesusa.org.” To read this announcement online and for more information, click here.

Virtual Group Works to Advance Peer Research Capacity, Leadership, and Involvement

Nev Jones, PhD—a strong advocate for building research capacity, leadership, and involvement among peers, survivors, and service users—leads a virtual group dedicated to this effort. Dr. Jones—assistant professor, School of Social Work, University of Pittsburgh—was part of the team that developed “User/Survivor Leadership & Capacity Building in Research: White Paper on Promoting Engagement Practices in Peer Evaluation/Research (PEPPER),” published by the Lived Experience Research Network. For the white paper, click here. Anyone interested in joining the virtual group can email Nev at nev.inbox@gmail.com.

Mad In America Invites You to Submit Your Personal Story (Within Certain Guidelines)

Mad In America writes: “A ‘personal story’ is defined as your story of being in relationship to psychiatry and/or the mental health system, whatever that means to you. It might involve your opinions and analysis of what happened to you, as well. It can be about a specific event, or about your overall journey, provided it fits the length requirements (1,500 to 3,000 words) and has a narrative arc. The piece should be about your personal experiences, not psychiatry or the mental health system in general. Submissions should fall under the theme of rethinking psychiatry and the mental health system, and should be original works not previously published elsewhere. For examples of the types of stories we publish, view our personal stories archive here.” For more information and/or to submit a personal story, click here.

ISPS-US Offers an Array of Archived Webinars—Free but Donations Are Welcomed

The ISPS-US (The International Society for Psychological and Social Approaches to Psychosis-US Chapter) is offering a whole raft of archived webinars, which are free (although donations are welcomed). Among the webinars are "Cognitive Behavioral & Related Therapies for Psychosis: Diverse Approaches to Supporting Recovery," "How Can the Uncontainable Be Contained? Paradoxes of Madness & Philosophy," "Robert Whitaker: The Rising Non-Pharmaceutical Paradigm for 'Psychosis,'" "Life with Voices: A Guide for Harmony," "COPE Project: Non-Pharmaceutical Research on Influencing Voices and Visions," "What Hurts and What Helps In Treatment For 'Psychosis': Insider Perspectives," and many others. For more information and to access the webinars, click here.

“Where DNA and Medications Meet”

Not all drugs are effective for all people; therapeutic response rates for many drugs are only 50%-75%. “OneOme, co-founded by [the] Mayo Clinic, provides evidence-based pharmacogenomic solutions that help improve patient outcomes and reduce costs through more personalized medication decisions.” OneOme’s RightMed Test is “a doctor-ordered pharmacogenomic (PGx) test that analyzes your DNA and provides your doctors with genetic information to help them determine how you may respond to certain medications. The results may help your doctors reduce medication trial and error, minimize risk of side effects, save you time and money, and make more informed prescribing decisions. Because your DNA doesn’t change over time, your doctors can use your test results to make more personalized medication decisions for you over the course of your lifetime.” For more information, click here. (Courtesy of Robin Osborne)

Doors to Wellbeing Offers “State Selfies: A Picture of Peer Services Reported by Peers”

Doors to Wellbeing’s “Peer Album” is a directory of nearly 600 peer-run organizations throughout the U.S. They invite updates and offer instructions for providing them and add, “If your entry has not made this first draft, we encourage you to re-submit.” For the 158-page directory, click here.

Disclaimer: The Clearinghouse does not necessarily endorse the opinions and opportunities included in the Key Update.

About the Key Update

The National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse is affiliated with the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion. The Key Update is the free monthly e-newsletter of the National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse. Volume 20, No. 1, July 2023. For content, reproduction or publication information, please contact Susan Rogers at selfhelpclearinghouse@gmail.com. Follow Susan on Twitter at @SusanRogersMH

Key Update, June 2023, Volume 19, Number 12

The National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse is affiliated with the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion.

TO CONTACT: THE CLEARINGHOUSE: SELFHELPCLEARINGHOUSE@GMAIL.COM  … SUSAN ROGERS: SUSAN.ROGERS.ADVOCACY@GMAIL.COM … JOSEPH ROGERS: JROGERS08034@GMAIL.COM 

THE KEY UPDATE IS COMPILED, WRITTEN, AND EDITED BY SUSAN ROGERS, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH CONSUMERS’ SELF-HELP CLEARINGHOUSE.

NOTE: THE "FROM PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF THE KEY UPDATE BUT STILL FRESH!" DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS DIRECTLY BELOW THE MONTHLY CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM DIGEST, INCLUDES ITEMS THAT HAD BEEN POSTED "ABOVE THE FOLD" IN EARLIER EDITIONS BUT ARE STILL RELEVANT. THESE INCLUDE ONGOING RESEARCH STUDIES THAT ARE STILL SEEKING PARTICIPANTS, AS WELL AS UPCOMING WEBINARS AND CONFERENCES, AND OTHER ITEMS OF CONTINUED INTEREST. DON'T MISS IT!

DEADLINE ALERT: Under “WEBINARS, CONFERENCES, AND OTHER EVENTS” (following “NEWS”), there are four events on May 24 and three on May 25! 

NEWS

“Psychiatric Detentions Rise 220% in First Year of 988”

“As contacts to the new 988 hotline number have risen, so have call tracing and police interventions,” according to a May 20, 2023, article by investigative journalist Rob Wipond, author of Your Consent Is Not Required: The Rise in Psychiatric Detentions, Forced Treatment, and Abusive Guardianships. To read the article, posted by Mad In America, click here.

“Social Vulnerability Has Direct Link to Suicide Risk, Study Shows”

“Statistical analysis shows that measures of social determinants of health are associated with higher rates of suicide at the county level in the US, providing the opportunity to intervene and prevent deaths,” according to a recent article by the University of Chicago Biological Sciences Division. For the article, click here.

WEBINARS, CONFERENCES, AND OTHER EVENTS

“Culturally Responsive Practice”

On May 24, 2023, at 9:45 a.m. through 12 p.m. ET (8:45 a.m.-11 a.m. CT), Great Lakes MHTTC will present a free training on “Culturally Responsive Practice.” “This class uncovers how our cultural identities and experiences shape the way we make meaning of the world and relate to others…This training looks at practical strategies for learning about an individual within the context of their culture. One of the specific strategies is the DSM 5 Cultural Formulation tool.” For details and to register, click here. 

“Neurodiversity: Acknowledging Differences, Leveraging Strengths, and Navigating the Nuances of Advocacy”

On May 24, 2023, at 12 p.m. ET, the New England MHTTC will present a one-hour webinar that will help participants understand “why neurodiversity is important for enhancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, as well as for reducing the stigma associated with diagnostic labels.” For more information and to register, click here. (For more trainings presented by various Mental Health Technology Transfer Center networks, funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMHSA], click here for the MHTTC calendar.)

“Experts by Experience: Paving the Way for Forensic Peer Support”

On May 24, 2023, at 3 p.m. ET, the Café TA Center will host a “free webinar on the power and possibilities of peer support for previously incarcerated people.” If you miss it, you can view it later on the Café TA Center website under "Recent Trainings and Webinars! For details and to register, click here.

NYAPRS Launches First “Celia Brown Unsung Champions of Advocacy Awards” Event

On May 24, 2023, at 6 p.m. ET, NYAPRS will honor “individuals who serve our community with dedication and commitment, but whose work has gone unrecognized or unknown to the wider public.” To register for the 90-minute event or for questions, click here. 

“Connecting Your Mind, Body, and Surroundings: Nature as a Form of Healing”

On May 25, 2023, at 1 p.m. ET, Mental Health America will present a free, 60-minute webinar “on how to connect with nature and incorporate it into practices of self-care.” For more information and to register, click here.

“Peer Voices in Policy-Making”

The National Coalition for Mental Health Recovery writes: “As part of a learning series on Peer Specialists and Recovery, SAMHSA will sponsor a free two-hour webinar on May 25, at 3 p.m. ET: ‘Peer Voices in Policy-Making: Empowering Peers in Policy Fellowships Movement.’” For more information and to register, click here.

NAADAC Continues Its Free “Peer Recovery Support” Webinar Series 

The National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC)—now known as the Association for Addiction Professionals—will continue its free, 10-part “Peer Recovery Support” webinar series on May 25, 3 p.m.-4:30 p.m. ET, with Part 4: "Peer Supervision--Leadership and Lived Experience." Then on June 29, also from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET, Part 5 will cover "Peer Support via Telehealth Platforms." For details, click here. (Courtesy of Jessi Davis)

Project LETS Hosts Three Webinars in Its “Anti-Carceral Altered States Series”

“Re-framing Psychosis: Anti-Carceral Approaches to Altered States: Care Strategies Grounded in an Abolitionist Practice” will include “Altered States Panel & Storytelling Event (May 27, 1 p.m.-3 p.m. ET); “Altered States Teach-In & Skills-Based Training (May 28, 12 p.m.-3 p.m. ET); and “Altered States Workshop for Healers & Mental Health Providers” (6 p.m.-8:30 p.m. ET). These events are part of a ISPS-US Project LETS series. ISPS-US—International Society for Psychological and Social Approaches to Psychosis (US Chapter)—writes: “Suggested Individual Event Donation: $15-25 (though you are welcome to contribute any amount—whether it is more or less) Please email support@projectlets.org if $$ is a barrier; no one will be turned away for lack of funds.) For more information and to register for the series, click here. (Courtesy of Yulia Mikhailova)

“Increasing Occupational Resiliency for Peer-Run Respite Staff & Volunteers”

On May 30, 2023, at 2 p.m. ET, as part of its Compassionate Approaches to Crisis Webinar Series, the National Empowerment Center will present “Increasing Occupational Resiliency for Peer-Run Respite Staff & Volunteers,” a free 90-minute webinar to help peer-run crisis respite staff and volunteers learn to sustain hope and co-create healing communities, identify key elements to help them sustain their own well-being while providing support, and more. For details and to register, click here.

Doors to Wellbeing Continues Its Monthly Webinar Series with a Focus on Youth

On May 30, 2023, at 2 p.m. ET, Doors to Wellbeing will present “Youth Peer Support Implementation: Ideas for Schools and Systems of Care.” The presenters write: “The Copeland Center and Youth MOVE PA have joined together in bringing a new training model to schools and communities throughout the Commonwealth. The Peer Generation Youth Empowerment Training model focuses on strategies for resiliency and offers pathways for individuals to get in touch with their unique and authentic selves.” For details and to register, click here.

PENTAC’s Free National Entrepreneur Speaker Series Continues on June 1 at 12 p.m. ET

June’s presenter is Lisa Taliaferro, president and CEO of the nonprofit Patients Not Prisoners. “We believe in a more restorative, not punitive, approach to justice,” Taliaferro said about her organization. To register, click here.

Judi’s Room in June Will Feature Dr. William Bronston, Who Helped Close Willowbrook

On June 7, at 6 p.m. ET (3 p.m. PT), I Love You, Lead On and MindFreedom International will present Dr. William Bronston, who spent three years as a staff physician at the infamous Willowbrook State School in Staten Island, New York, and who was deeply concerned about the plight of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. He will share what inspired him to write Public Hostage, Public Ransom: Ending Institutional America and A History and Sociology of the Willowbrook State School. To register for the free presentation, click here and then click on the red box to “reserve a spot.”

“From Lived Experience to Professional Practice: Peer Pathways Inside and Outside the Mental Health System”

On June 15, 2023, from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. ET, ISPS-US will present “From Lived Experience to Professional Practice: Peer Pathways Inside and Outside the Mental Health System.” To register, click here.

PharmedOut’s 2023 Conference to Be Held in Person (No Virtual Option) June 15-16

“Making Healthy People Sick: Invented Diseases and Overtreatment" is the theme of PharmedOut’s ninth conference, June 15-16, 2023, at Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, D.C. For the conference agenda and to register, click here. (There will be a “free special event, open to the public” with Carl Elliott, MD, PhD, on June 14 at 4 p.m. ET in the New Research Building Auditorium.) (Courtesy of Yulia Mikhailova)

“The Peer Perspective on Respite: 4-Part Series”

Southeast MHTTC writes: "Join us for this 4-part series as we take a look at mental health respite care from the peer perspective, including discussions on its history and future direction, when and how it is being used (both in the Southeast and nationally), and the ways it can benefit one's recovery journey." The first webinar was on May 16; it is archived and can be viewed here. The rest of the series airs on June 26, July 24, and August 7, all at 12 p.m. ET. To register, click here.

NARMH Will Hold Its 2023 Annual Conference in Pittsburgh September 19-21

The theme of the National Association for Rural Mental Health conference is “Building Your Bridge: Linking Voices to Promote Rural Mental Health.” The conference will be held in person at the Sheraton Pittsburgh Hotel at Station Square. The deadline to submit a workshop proposal is August 1 or until the agenda is filled. For more information, click here.

Save the Date! NYAPRS Will Host Its Annual Conference September 26-28, 2023

“Promoting Rights Across the Nation and Recovery Across the Life Span” is the theme of the 2023 NYAPRS annual conference, to be held once again at the Villa Roma Resort in Callicoon, New York. Besides “compelling and inspirational” featured speakers, the conference will also feature its many popular “longtime traditions.” The call for presentations and registration materials will be coming soon!

25th Annual ISEPP Conference to Be Held October 20-22, 2023

The 2023 conference of the International Society for Ethical Psychology & Psychiatry will be held in the Los Angeles area from October 20 to October 22. There will also be a virtual component, via Zoom. For an approximate schedule, click here. 

RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES

“Do You Want to Learn How the Immune System Works and What You Can Do to Improve Your Immune Health?”

Collaborative Support Programs of New Jersey (CSPNJ) and the University of Illinois Chicago are testing a new program that helps people learn about improving their immunity. You must be 18 years or older; speak English; have access to a Zoom-compatible computer, smartphone, or tablet; be willing to complete five sessions and three check-in calls on Zoom over a six-month period; and have a diagnosed mental health condition. Study participants have a 50/50 chance of getting the new program, but everyone gets paid $135 for completing three study interviews. Contact UIC researcher Jessica Jonikas at enhanceimmune@gmail.com or 312.725.2966 to set up a meeting to see if you’re eligible. (Courtesy of Peggy Swarbrick via Jacek Haciak)

RESOURCES

“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.

“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.

The June 2023 Digest of Articles Offering Healthy Lifestyle Advice

For “The Connection Between Seasonal Allergies and Mental Health,” click here. For “Preventing Tragedy: Best Practices for Suicide Prevention in the Workplace and Promoting Employee Well-Being,” click here. For “How to Spot a Wellness Scam,” click here. For “4 mistakes to avoid when you’re lonely: Misconceptions can stop us from getting close to others. But we can take steps to counter these beliefs,” click here.

The June 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 “How the Prison Litigation Reform Act Blocks Justice for Prisoners: Legislation signed by Bill Clinton makes it nearly impossible for people in prison to have their cases heard in court,” click here. For “Punishment Beyond Prisons 2023: Incarceration and supervision by state,” click here. For “Evidence Rules for Decarceration: Evidence rules have been relaxed, tweaked, specialized, or unmoored from their foundational principles in ways that facilitate prosecution and conviction or essentially force plea deals — without regard for the truth, fairness, or justice of the outcome,” click here. For “State Supreme Court Diversity — May 2023 Update: State supreme court benches fail to reflect the racial, ethnic, and gender diversity of the communities they serve and the diversity of the legal profession,” click here. For “Against ‘Work’: Calling incarcerated people 'workers' displaces the gravity of their situation and obscures the nature of carceral violence,” click here. For “Inside the Frustrating, Error-Ridden, Expensive World of Prison Messaging: Prison messaging apps are a lifeline—until they break,” click here. For “Limited-Scope Review of the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Strategies to Identify, Communicate, and Remedy Operational Issues: A new [42-page] report from the Justice Department’s Inspector General confirms that federal prison officials failed to address four critical flaws in the BOP’s operations. One is the continuing failure to staff federal prisons. Another is to hold staff accountable for misconduct,” click here. For “The System That Failed Jordan Neely: What a subway killing reveals about New York City’s revolving-door approach to mental illness and homelessness,” click here. For “In New York Prisons, Guards Who Brutalize Prisoners Rarely Get Fired: Records obtained by The Marshall Project reveal a state discipline system that fails to hold many guards accountable,” click here. For “Justice Department Reaches Settlement with Cumberland County [NJ] Addressing Conditions at County Jail: The proposed consent decree, which must still be approved by the court, resolves the United States’ claims that the jail fails to provide adequate mental health care to incarcerated individuals at risk of self-harm and suicide…” click here. For “Who Is a Danger in the Subway? Is it a thief? A homeless man? A man who intervenes? Or is it us?” click here. For “Youth Justice by the Numbers,” a 9-page report by The Sentencing Project, click here. For “Every state offers victim compensation. For the Longs and other Black families, it often isn't fair.” click here. For “Who Gets to Own a Gun in America? A recent Supreme Court ruling on gun rights is leading to interesting results in the lower courts, click here. For “Two Decades of Prison Did Not Prepare Me for the Horrors of County Jail,” click here. For “One of the Most Sacred Premises in American Law Is Bunk,” click here. For “TSA is testing facial recognition at more airports, raising privacy concerns,” click here. For “It’s OK to Drop Charges if You’ve Got the Wrong Person. ‘It’s Called Doing Your Job,’” click here. For “DOJ and DHS Racial Profiling Guidelines Must Close Loopholes Permitting Bias,” click here. For “The Supreme Court outlawed split juries, but hundreds remain in prison anyway,” click here. For “Holmesburg Prison’s medical experiments are Philadelphia’s ‘lasting shame’: For over 20 years, Dr. Albert Kligman experimented on incarcerated men at Philadelphia’s Holmesburg Prison. Those who profited have yet to redress the harm,” click here. For “16 Crucial Words That Went Missing From a Landmark Civil Rights Law: The phrase, seemingly deleted in error, undermines the basis for qualified immunity, the legal shield that protects police officers from suits for misconduct,” click here. For “Extreme heat will take an unequal toll on tribal jails: Decades of inadequate funding and rising temperatures are putting Indigenous detainees at risk,” click here. For “My Brother Was Wrongfully Convicted for Murder. 20 Years Later, So Was My Son: Although it was a coincidence, I knew it wasn’t a mistake. What Louisiana was doing to men like my brother Elvis and my son Cedric was intentional,” click here. For “New York’s Compassionate Release Laws Were Designed to Keep People from Dying Behind Bars. They’re Failing,” click here. For “The War on Gun Violence Has Failed. And Black Men Are Paying the Price. In Chicago and elsewhere, gun possession arrests are rising as shootings go unsolved,” click here. For “Gun Violence Isn’t Just a City Problem. Between 2011 and 2021, the overall firearm death rate in rural counties was nearly 40 percent higher than in urban counterparts,” click here. For “The Gun Industry Wants America’s Malls and Schools to Be War Zones: The bodies pile up. Republicans say it’s in God’s hands. And the new weapons coming to market are even deadlier. There’s only one logical conclusion,” click here. For “How Police Interrogation Techniques Fail People with Autism,” click here. For “Trials have become an endangered species. A new effort is trying to change that,” click here. For “The Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Efforts to Maintain and Construct Institutions,” click here. For “A Trailblazer of Trauma Studies Asks What Victims Really Want: Judith Herman’s seminal book ‘Trauma and Recovery’ created a template for her field. Three decades later, she’s published a follow-up to explain how survivors’ needs are still misunderstood,” click here. For “When ‘Shoot-First Culture’ Meets ‘Fear and Paranoia’: In less than a week, seven people were shot after doing the ordinary — ringing a doorbell or turning around in a driveway,” click here. For “Life in Prison for a Killing He Didn’t Cause or Condone: In Illinois alone, around 500 people are currently serving first-degree felony murder sentences for killings they did not commit themselves or intend to commit. Reform efforts must consider past injustices as well as future abuses,” click here. For “The Supreme Court Is Allergic to Holding Abusive Prosecutors Accountable” The judge-made doctrine of absolute immunity continues to shield DAs from facing consequences for egregious misconduct,” click here. For “Prison sex abuse must be rooted out, Justice official says,” click here. For “How two decades of gun culture helped shape America's 'Stand Your Ground' laws: Recent incidents highlight the legal and social norms related to self-defense,” click here. For “'Stand Your Ground' Laws Are Back in the News, but It's Not Clear Why: The duty to retreat from public confrontations has nothing to do with the cases cited in recent stories about seemingly unjustified shootings,” click here. For “‘Stand your ground’ laws empower armed citizens to defend property with violence – a simple mistake can get you shot, or killed,” click here. For “The Other Crime Victims: Can Perpetrators of Crime Also Be Victims of Crime?” click here. For “Police shouldn't handle mental health calls. Reform is critical for public safety. Giving community organizations a bigger role will allow officers more time to focus on the core functions of their job – serving the public by protecting life, liberty and property,” click here. For “Chokeholds, chemical spray, and head strikes: Rikers’ federal monitor details abusive correction officer unit,” click here. For “Police Killing Looms Over May DA Race in Eastern Pennsylvania: Christian Hall’s hands were raised when police shot him. A prosecutor running for Monroe County DA says it was justified. Another candidate vows to re-open the case,” click here. For “The Surprising Geography of Gun Violence: America’s regions are poles apart when it comes to gun deaths and the cultural and ideological forces that drive them,” click here. For “Care and Carceralism: Disentangling medical care from policing, prisons, and other punitive institutions remains an imperative–now more than ever,” click here. For “If your missing child ran away from home, the police may not look for them,” click here. For “American Gun Owners Are Bad at Owning Guns: There are many who never got training, and never intend to. This is a problem,” click here. For “Justice Department Announces Civil Legal Services Pilot Program,” click here. For “How a Text From the FBI Helped Me Understand My Brother’s Mental Illness: And everything wrong with how prisons handle mental health,” click here. For “In the Hole: Five incarcerated men on the minute-by-minute experience of solitary confinement,” click here.

FROM PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF THE KEY UPDATE BUT STILL FRESH!

CONFERENCES, WEBINARS, AND TRAININGS

APS Learning Community Hosts a Weekly Networking Meeting. Check Out Its Website for Upcoming Events.

The Academy of Peer Services (APS) Virtual Learning Community Networking Meeting for Peer Specialists is every Tuesday from 5:15 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. ET. Its purpose is to share ideas, experiences, and opportunities with others in the field of peer support, as well as to give and receive support to each other. To register, click here. For the Virtual Learning Community website, which includes a calendar of upcoming events, resources, and more, click here.

Active Minds Mental Health Conference July 7-8, 2023, in Washington, D.C.

Calling its conference “the nation’s leading mental health conference for young adults,” Active Minds will host its 2023 conference in Washington, D.C., July 7-8. For more information and to register, click here.

MHTTC Publishes Calendar of Events from Now Until September 19, 2023

The Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network (MHTTC) has published a calendar of its events from now through September 19. The calendar covers the 10 U.S.-based regional MHTTCs as well as the two national MHTTCs. The MHTTC is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. For the calendar, click here. (Courtesy of NYAPRS E-News)

NARPA Will Hold Its 2023 Conference September 6-9 in New Orleans

The 2023 conference of the National Association for Rights Protection and Advocacy (NARPA) will be held in New Orleans September 6-9. 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)

MHTTC Offers Free Online Behavioral Health Courses

The Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network (MHTTC) “currently offers 20 online courses available through Healtheknowledge.org. HealtheKnowledge.org offers high-quality, on-demand, and instructor-led courses that are open to the public. Courses are free for a certificate of completion, and yearly membership options are available for purchase to gain access to other HealtheKnowledge resources and earn unlimited CE credits. View our course listings here. View our how-to guide to set up your HealtheKnowledge account.” MHTTC is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN RESEARCH

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.

Are You a SUD Certified Peer Recovery Specialist? Then You’re Invited to Participate in a Study

You are invited to participate in a research study of “Stress and Coping Among SUD Certified Peer Recovery Specialists” if you are at least 18 years old and are employed or volunteering as a certified peer recovery specialist. (The job title in your state may be different.) The results of this study will be used to increase knowledge of job-related stress and coping among SUD Certified Peer Recovery Specialists. It involves two online surveys that take approximately 15 minutes to complete. All responses will be kept anonymous. You will not be asked to provide your name or contact information. To participate, click here. Questions? cynthia.thomas@waldenu.edu, 612.312.1210. 

EPICC Works to Help Parents with Mental Health Conditions Connect with Their Kids

Engaging Parents and Increasing Connections with Children (EPICC) is a 10-week program created by the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion that is focused on helping parents with serious mental health conditions connect with their children through meaningful activities. For details and to apply, click here.

Young Adults with Psychiatric Diagnoses Are Sought for Study on Community Participation

The Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion is recruiting young adults (ages 18-30) with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression to take part in ConnectionsRx, designed to support engagement in meaningful community activities. Participants will be enrolled in the peer-led study for six months, and receive support to help meet community participation goals. Interviews (approximately 60 minutes each) will take place on Zoom. Participants will receive a $15 Amazon gift card (to a maximum of $45) for each survey completed. For the website, click here. Questions? Write to ConnectionsRx@temple.edu. 

South Southwest MHTTC Launches Youth and Young Adult Peer Supporters Survey

“Are you a peer specialist who provides peer support to other people under the age of 30? We want to hear from you! Please fill out the survey to assist the South Southwest Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (South Southwest MHTTC) in learning more about youth peer support across the country! The intent is to be able to include these peer supporters in research, training, and technical assistance activities surrounding youth peer support. The form should take 5-10 minutes to fill out, and can be done from a phone or a computer browser. To take the survey, click here.” Questions? Write to southsouthwest@mhttcnetwork.org.

Are You Interested in Pursuing Graduate School and/or a Research Career? Read Below.

Stephania Hayes (UC Davis), Shannon Pagdon (Columbia/NYS Psychiatric Institute/University of Pittsburgh), and Nev Jones (University of Pittsburgh) write: “We are gathering information from people with lived experience in the Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) or early psychosis space (including peer specialists, current/former CSC participants, and CSC youth coordinators) who are potentially interested in pursuing graduate school and/or a research career. All of us identify as having lived experience, work in CSC, and are invested in supporting the next generation of scholars who also have lived experience. We would like to create a discussion group and/or other supports for people interested in this career path. The link below leads to a very brief survey that will help us understand the level of interest in such supports, as well as areas of career interest. (Please note that this is not a research study.)” To participate in the anonymous survey, click here.

“Help Us Map the Landscape of Lived Experience and Family Involvement in 988 Policy and Related Crisis Response System Planning!”

“As 988 implementation rolls out alongside additional efforts to strengthen crisis response systems throughout the U.S., it's important to gauge the extent to which direct stakeholders (i.e., individuals who use or have used mental health crisis services and their families) have been involved in related policy, implementation and evaluation at the local, regional, state or federal levels. To map out involvement nationally, Mental Health America (lead: Kelly Davis), Nev Jones (University of Pittsburgh) and Keris Myrick (National Association of Peer Supporters) have developed a survey aimed at documenting the extent of stakeholder involvement, the forms this involvement has taken, and, where available, what concerns stakeholders have raised. Any individual with knowledge of lived experience and family involvement is eligible to participate; individuals completing the survey do not have to have lived experience themselves.” For more information and to access the survey, click here.

Survey Seeks Respondents Who Have Taken Mental Health Courses Involving Their Own Diagnoses

Have you taken a mental health course that covers a diagnosis you have? If so, you are invited to participate in a brief, anonymous, online survey--designed by a University of Pittsburgh MSW student--about what it's like for students with lived experience to study their own diagnoses in a classroom. The survey covers students' experiences of studying such subjects as "abnormal psychology," "psychopathology," and diagnosis and assessment when their own diagnoses are covered. "The goal of the project is to better understand what it feels like to take courses in which someone’s diagnosis is being taught/defined/discussed. There is currently no literature or reporting on the experiences of students in the above circumstances, or the associated impact." Interested? Please click here. Questions? Please email the project lead, Charlie Clement, at cjc204@pitt.edu

Peer Support in Higher Education Survey Seeks Respondents

“Peer support programs are growing on college campuses across the U.S. Mental Health America, Doors to Wellbeing, and the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion want to better understand the availability of peer support in higher education as well as the experiences and needs of students accessing peer support programs…We hope to use this research to support the expansion of peer support in higher education, including developing a national database of peer support programs in higher education and documenting pressing issues in campus programs…You may also indicate if you are interested in having your school’s peer support program listed in a national database of peer support programs in higher education.” For more information and to complete the survey, click here. 

Supported Education Survey Needs Your Help

Do you operate a program that provides dedicated supported education services for individuals with psychiatric disabilities/mental health conditions? If so, you are invited to complete the survey at the link below. The primary goal of the survey is to help create a National Supported Education Database (NSEdD) that will be "a searchable listing of diverse supported education programs and services for individuals experiencing psychiatric disabilities and/or mental health challenges...across the US and its territories." The NSEdD project is sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and co-administered by the five SAMHSA-funded national consumer and consumer-supporter technical assistance centers, in collaboration with research partners Drs. Nev Jones (University of Pittsburgh) and Mark Salzer (Temple University). For a link to the survey, which includes a definition of supported education, click here. For a flyer with information about the survey, click here.  

National Survey on Student Rights, Discrimination, and Accommodations in Higher Education Seeks Respondents  

"Have you experienced psychiatric disability-based discrimination or the denial of an accommodation in a postsecondary institution in the United States? Interested in informing national advocacy focus on psych disability rights in higher ed? Mental Health America (lead: Kelly Davis) and collaborators Dr. Nev Jones (University of Pittsburgh), Stefanie Kaufman-Mthimkhulu (Project LETS) and Brit Vanneman Esq. (Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law) have developed "a survey aimed at providing a more comprehensive understanding of student experiences of campus-based discrimination, mandated leaves of absence, and/or denial of academic, administrative and/or student-work accommodations in the U.S. Data will be used to inform national advocacy efforts and future projects, and in reports, presentations and publications." For eligibility and to access the survey, click here.

If You've Had, or Been Labeled with, "Negative Symptoms" in the Context of Psychosis...

"If you have experienced or been labeled with 'negative symptoms' in the context of psychosis, please consider contributing an anonymous account of your views and experiences," Dr. Nev Jones writes. "Currently, there is nowhere one can go to find lived experience perspectives/accounts on this topic—even though 'negative symptoms' regularly feature in research and clinical trials. Help us change this!" This survey is a companion to Psychosis Outside the Box; for that survey, click here. For more information and/or to share your story about "negative symptoms," click here.

“Are You Between the Ages of 21 and 60 and Drink Alcohol?”

"Researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are seeking adults--[both smokers and non-smokers]--to study whether a gene and smoking may affect drinking alcohol. Volunteers should be healthy and drug-free, and not seeking treatment for alcohol-related problems. Research participation includes three outpatient visits at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, MD; alcohol consumption; brain scans (MRI), blood draws, and filling out questionnaires. There is no cost to participate and compensation may be provided." For more information, click here. (Courtesy of Fran Hazam)

TU Collaborative Seeks Participants for Its Parenting Through Leisure Project; See Also the TU Collaborative's Parenting Resources, Including Information on Custody Issues

The Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion is seeking parents with lived experience of a mental health condition to participate in a paid research study. The TU Collaborative writes: "Our program, Parenting Through Leisure, focuses on helping parents with a serious mental illness participate in leisure activities with their child. We are looking for individuals who are 18 and older; are an adult parent with a diagnosis of schizophrenia-spectrum disorder, bipolar disorder, or depression; have a child who is 7 to 15 years old and is interested in participating in family leisure with you; have legal visitation rights, joint custody or full custody of the child, with at least weekly contact; and have a desire to engage in more leisure activities with their child." For details about the study and the remuneration as well as other benefits to eligible participants, and a link to sign up, click here. Questions? Please contact TUCollab@temple.edu. And for the TU Collaborative's Parenting web page--which includes links to many resources for parents with lived experience, including information about custody laws and a model family reunification statute--click here.

Survey Seeks Respondents Who Are in Administrative/ Leadership Positions in the Mental Health Field

If you are in an administrative/leadership position in the mental health arena, “the Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry (GAP) Committee on Psychiatric Administration and Leadership invites you to participate in the International Survey on Administrative Psychiatry. The survey has two purposes: 1. To identify the concerns and needs of mental health professionals/psychiatrists in administrative and leadership positions. 2. To determine training needs in administrative psychiatry. We ask you to complete this brief, [15- to 20-minute] questionnaire to help us in developing recommendations for action. We also want to let you know that, if you fill out this questionnaire, you permit the committee to use your anonymous data for scientific work.” Peer providers are included. For the survey, click here. (Courtesy of Oryx Cohen)

International Survey on Antipsychotic Medication Withdrawal Seeks Respondents

“Have you taken antipsychotic medication (such as Zyprexa, Seroquel, Abilify, Risperdal, Haldol, Geodon, Stelazine, and others), for any condition or diagnosis, with or without other medications? And did you ever stop taking antipsychotics, or try to stop taking them? Are you 18 years or older? If yes, you can take this survey about antipsychotic withdrawal and attempts to withdraw, including if you stopped taking them completely or if you tried to come off and still take them. The survey aims to improve mental health services by better understanding medication withdrawal. Lead researcher is Will Hall, a therapist and Ph.D. student who has himself taken antipsychotics. Service users/survivors/consumers from around the world also gave input. The study is sponsored by Maastricht University in the Netherlands; co-sponsors include the International Institute for Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal. Questions? Please contact will.hall@maastrichtuniversity.nl.”  For more information or to take the survey, click on www.antipsychoticwithdrawalsurvey.com

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES

RESOURCES

Mental Health Activists Publish “White Paper on Improving Patient Outcomes”

Jim Gottstein, founder of the Law Project for Psychiatric Rights and author of The Zyprexa Papers, writes: “Faith Myers, Susan Musante, Peter Gøtzsche, David Healy, David Cohen, the International Society for Ethical Psychology & Psychiatry (ISEPP)—through its executive director, Chuck Ruby—and I have just published a ‘White Paper’ on improving psychiatric patient outcomes.  While it was written for a specific situation in Alaska, most of it is generally applicable; and…it presents compelling evidence for abolishing unwanted psychiatric interventions in favor of non-coercive approaches, such as Soteria houses, peer respites, Open Dialogue, warm lines, the Hearing Voices Network, emotional CPR (eCPR), [and other such approaches].” To download the free, 68-page “White Paper on Improving Patient Outcomes, Addressing Treatment-Caused Trauma & Injuries, Enhancing Patient Rights, and Grievance Procedures…,” click here.

“WHO’s New Series to Enhance the Meaningful Engagement of People with Lived Experience”

The World Health Organization’s “new ‘Intention to Action’ series is tackling both an evidence gap and a lack of standardized approaches on how to include people with lived experience into decision- and policy-making…The first publication—‘People power: Perspectives from individuals with lived experience of non-communicable diseases, mental health conditions and neurological conditions’—includes six detailed case studies from 12 individuals with lived experience of diverse health conditions.” For more information and a link to download the 80-page publication, click here. (Courtesy of Matthew Jackman)

“What Is Mental Illness?”

“This conversation between Justin Garson (philosopher), Nev Jones (community mental health researcher), and Marco Ramos (psychiatrist/historian)”--sponsored by The Philosopher–“will aim to offer a sense of the scope of what is at stake in our understanding of mental illness, considering the place of biology, society, histories of oppression, evolution, and lived experience in such an understanding.” For the video, click here. (Courtesy of Kevin Fitts)  

“Optimizing Recovery Funding, Volumes 1 & 2”

“In 2021, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) provided the Peer Recovery Center of Excellence (PR CoE) with supplemental funding for a special project to identify and recommend best practices and strategies to optimize funding for high-quality and effective recovery support services. The result was 'Volume 1: Barriers to Acquiring Funding for Organizations in the Ecosystem of Recovery Volume' and 'Volume 2: Strategies for State Funding of Recovery Support Services.'” To download the full, 130-page report, click here. For more information about the reports, including a brief video, click here.

“Are You a Leader with a CMHC? Partner with the Temple University Collaborative!”
“The Clinical Treatment Act is a new law to encourage participation of low-income and minoritized healthcare recipients in research as a matter of equity. The Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion seeks to partner with community mental health centers (CMHCs) across the U.S. to help get information about current and future research studies to service recipients in various programs. In return we are also available to support your organization with free trainings and other supports. Please contact Professor Bryan McCormick (bryan.mccormick@temple.edu) about this important partnership opportunity.” To read this announcement online, click here.

TU Collaborative Wants to Hear Your Story!

“We are working on a project to better understand social connections among adults with significant mental health challenges,” the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion writes. “We are seeking your stories on your social connections generally” and “what those connections mean to you.” The TU Collaborative will compile these stories based on a series of brief surveys. For details and to share your story, click here.

Call for Papers: “Recovery at 30: Emancipation, cooptation, or the end of an era?”

“The year 2023 marks exactly three decades since the publication of Bill Anthony’s seminal “Recovery from mental illness: the guiding vision of the mental health service system in the 1990s" (click here)...”In this special issue of Community Mental Health Journal,” the editors write, “we are soliciting both concept pieces (commentaries, critical reviews) and empirical work (qualitative, quantitative, ethnographic or mixed methods) that explore the question of whether recovery policy remains relevant and emancipatory today or whether the psy-fields are instead in need of fresh thinking and new, more diverse values-based frameworks.” The submission deadline is September 1, 2023. For more information, click here.

Common Threads: Stories of Survival & Recovery from Mental Illness

Common Threads: Stories of Survival & Recovery from Mental Illness, a 108-page compendium, includes “tales of survival and recovery” by a number of Floridians. To quote from the Introduction, “Many of the people in these stories have lived significant portions of their lives in psychiatric institutions, and only through their strengths have they found their way back to the community…In these tales, we hear about the importance of education and peer support…” To download the free document, click here.

“Crisis Now” Offers a “Roadmap to Safe, Effective Crisis Care”

The goal of Crisis Now: Transforming Crisis Services—led by the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) and developed with the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, and RI International—is “to provide all communities a roadmap to safe, effective crisis care that diverts people in distress from the emergency department and jail by developing a continuum of crisis care services that match people’s clinical needs.” Among the resources offered on the website are SAMHSA’s 80-page “National Guidelines for Behavioral Health Crisis Care Best Practice Toolkit” (2020), an “Overview of Crisis Funding Sources Available to States and Localities” (last updated March 2, 2022), and assessment tools, such as “How Does Your Crisis System Rate?” The Crisis Now partners write: “Are you interested in adding your organization to the list supporting Crisis Now, or do you have questions? Reach out to us at info@crisisnow.com. For the website, click here.

“What Is the Meaning of Life?” This Free Online Collection Offers Answers

Excellence Reporter offers more than “1,200 articles-interviews on ‘What Is the Meaning of Life?’ written by renowned spiritual leaders, mindfulness experts, great thinkers and authors, elders, artists, musicians, CEOs, etc.” The contributors include such renowned figures as Bertrand Russell; Carl Jung; the Dalai Lama; Eleanor Roosevelt; Epicurus; Erich Fromm; Kahlil Gibran; Buckminster Fuller; Robert Louis Stevenson; and Ron Bassman, executive director of MindFreedom International. To browse the free compendium, click here.

The UIC Center’s Solutions Suite for Health & Recovery Offers Free Tools

"The UIC Center offers tools, curricula, and implementation manuals for free use in community-based programs, peer-run programs, or one's own life. You can introduce the entire complement of products to foster improved health, wellness, and mental health recovery. Or, you can choose the ones that will work best for your program or your life. The Suite was developed in collaboration with Collaborative Support Programs of New Jersey. The UIC Center is funded by NIDILRR (National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research). For the UIC Solutions Suite for Health & Recovery, click here. (Courtesy of Peggy Swarbrick via Jacek Haciak)

U.S. Surgeon General Creates Community Toolkit for Addressing Health Misinformation

"The U.S. Surgeon General’s Community Toolkit for Addressing Health Misinformation, developed in collaboration with the HHS Office of Evaluation Sciences (OES), provides specific guidance and resources for health care providers, educators, librarians, faith leaders, and trusted community members to understand, identify, and stop the spread of health misinformation in their communities." For information about the toolkit (a 22-page overview of health misinformation, and resources to stop it), and links to a “Talk to Your Community About Health Misinformation” Infographic, a “Health Misinformation Checklist” Infographic, and the Surgeon General's press release, click here.

“Psychiatrist with Philosophical Interests” leads “Conversations in Critical Psychiatry,” a Psychiatric Times Series

Awais Aftab, who describes himself as a "psychiatrist with philosophical interests" in his Twitter bio, leads "Conversations in Critical Psychiatry," which, he says, "explores critical and philosophical perspectives in psychiatry and engages with prominent commentators within and outside the profession who have made meaningful criticisms of the status quo." Among those interviewed are Jim Gottstein, author of The Zyprexa Papers, on “The Fight for Pharma Accountability and Psychiatric Rights”; Allen Frances, M.D., author of Saving Normal; Sandra Steingard, M.D., and G. Scott Waterman, M.D., on "Integrating Academic Inquiry and Reformist Activism in Psychiatry"; Susannah Cahalan, author of Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness, on "50 Shades of Misdiagnosis"; Kathy Flaherty, J.D., executive director of the Connecticut Legal Rights Project, Inc., on "Reconsidering Care and Coercion in Psychiatry"; Nev Jones, Ph.D., on "Phenomenology, Power, Polarization, and the Discourse on Psychosis"; Dainius Puras, M.D., on "Global Psychiatry's Crisis of Values"; and many others. For the archived interviews, click here.

U.S. DOL Releases Guidance on FMLA Leave and Mental Health

The U.S. Department of Labor’s newly issued Fact Sheet #280 about the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) explains when eligible employees may take FMLA leave to address mental health conditions, and new Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) offers additional information. (Although the FMLA covers public and private employers nationwide, only those private employers who have 50 or more employees for at least 20 workweeks in a year are required to provide their eligible employees with FMLA leave.) For details, click here.

Hearing Voices Network Is Now Hosting Online Groups

“There are now ONLINE opportunities to connect, share experiences, and find mutual support,” the Hearing Voices Network (HVN) writes. “These groups are accessible via web-based platforms and by phone…Online groups are specifically for those with personal lived experience with hearing voices, seeing visions, and/or negotiating alternative realities. They are voice-hearer facilitated. With further questions and for details on how to access the group[s], please email info@hearingvoicesusa.org.” To read this announcement online and for more information, click here.

Virtual Group Works to Advance Peer Research Capacity, Leadership, and Involvement

Nev Jones, PhD—a strong advocate for building research capacity, leadership, and involvement among peers, survivors, and service users—leads a virtual group dedicated to this effort. Dr. Jones—assistant professor, School of Social Work, University of Pittsburgh—was part of the team that developed “User/Survivor Leadership & Capacity Building in Research: White Paper on Promoting Engagement Practices in Peer Evaluation/Research (PEPPER),” published by the Lived Experience Research Network. For the white paper, click here. Anyone interested in joining the virtual group can email Nev at nev.inbox@gmail.com.

Mad In America Invites You to Submit Your Personal Story (Within Certain Guidelines)

Mad In America writes: “A ‘personal story’ is defined as your story of being in relationship to psychiatry and/or the mental health system, whatever that means to you. It might involve your opinions and analysis of what happened to you, as well. It can be about a specific event, or about your overall journey, provided it fits the length requirements (1,500 to 3,000 words) and has a narrative arc. The piece should be about your personal experiences, not psychiatry or the mental health system in general. Submissions should fall under the theme of rethinking psychiatry and the mental health system, and should be original works not previously published elsewhere. For examples of the types of stories we publish, view our personal stories archive here.” For more information and/or to submit a personal story, click here.

ISPS-US Offers an Array of Archived Webinars—Free but Donations Are Welcomed

The ISPS-US (The International Society for Psychological and Social Approaches to Psychosis-US Chapter) is offering a whole raft of archived webinars, which are free (although donations are welcomed). Among the webinars are "Cognitive Behavioral & Related Therapies for Psychosis: Diverse Approaches to Supporting Recovery," "How Can the Uncontainable Be Contained? Paradoxes of Madness & Philosophy," "Robert Whitaker: The Rising Non-Pharmaceutical Paradigm for 'Psychosis,'" "Life with Voices: A Guide for Harmony," "COPE Project: Non-Pharmaceutical Research on Influencing Voices and Visions," "What Hurts and What Helps In Treatment For 'Psychosis': Insider Perspectives," and many others. For more information and to access the webinars, click here.

“Where DNA and Medications Meet”

Not all drugs are effective for all people; therapeutic response rates for many drugs are only 50%-75%. “OneOme, co-founded by [the] Mayo Clinic, provides evidence-based pharmacogenomic solutions that help improve patient outcomes and reduce costs through more personalized medication decisions.” OneOme’s RightMed Test is “a doctor-ordered pharmacogenomic (PGx) test that analyzes your DNA and provides your doctors with genetic information to help them determine how you may respond to certain medications. The results may help your doctors reduce medication trial and error, minimize risk of side effects, save you time and money, and make more informed prescribing decisions. Because your DNA doesn’t change over time, your doctors can use your test results to make more personalized medication decisions for you over the course of your lifetime.” For more information, click here. (Courtesy of Robin Osborne)

Doors to Wellbeing Offers “State Selfies: A Picture of Peer Services Reported by Peers”

Doors to Wellbeing’s “Peer Album” is a directory of nearly 600 peer-run organizations throughout the U.S. They invite updates and offer instructions for providing them and add, “If your entry has not made this first draft, we encourage you to re-submit.” For the 158-page directory, click here.

Disclaimer: The Clearinghouse does not necessarily endorse the opinions and opportunities included in the Key Update.

About the Key Update

The National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse is affiliated with the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion. The Key Update is the free monthly e-newsletter of the National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse. Volume 19, No. 12, June 2023. For content, reproduction or publication information, please contact Susan Rogers at selfhelpclearinghouse@gmail.com. Follow Susan on Twitter at @SusanRogersMH

Key Update, May 2023, Volume 19, Number 11

The National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse is affiliated with the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion.

TO CONTACT: THE CLEARINGHOUSE: SELFHELPCLEARINGHOUSE@GMAIL.COM  … SUSAN ROGERS: SUSAN.ROGERS.ADVOCACY@GMAIL.COM … JOSEPH ROGERS: JROGERS08034@GMAIL.COM 

THE KEY UPDATE IS COMPILED, WRITTEN, AND EDITED BY SUSAN ROGERS, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH CONSUMERS’ SELF-HELP CLEARINGHOUSE.

NOTE: THE "FROM PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF THE KEY UPDATE BUT STILL FRESH!" DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS DIRECTLY BELOW THE MONTHLY CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM DIGEST, INCLUDES ITEMS THAT HAD BEEN POSTED "ABOVE THE FOLD" IN EARLIER EDITIONS BUT ARE STILL RELEVANT. THESE INCLUDE ONGOING RESEARCH STUDIES THAT ARE STILL SEEKING PARTICIPANTS, AS WELL AS UPCOMING WEBINARS AND CONFERENCES, AND OTHER ITEMS OF CONTINUED INTEREST. DON'T MISS IT!

DEADLINE ALERT: Under “WEBINARS, CONFERENCES, AND OTHER EVENTS” (following “OPPORTUNITIES,” “RESOURCES,” and “NEWS”), there are seven events taking place this week (three on April 25, two on April 28, and one each on April 26 and 27)! And see the first item in the Criminal Legal System Digest: “Writing Beyond the Prison: Incarcerated Authors, Academics, and Activists Confront Mass Incarceration,” on April 28! This is aside from SAMHSA’s April 27 (5 p.m. ET) deadline, under “OPPORTUNITIES”!

 OPPORTUNITIES

You're Invited to Comment on SAMHSA's Draft Strategic Plan
SAMHSA writes: “This 4-year plan (for 2023-2026) will guide our work as SAMHSA advances its mission to lead public health and service delivery efforts that promote mental health, prevent substance misuse, and provide treatments and supports to foster recovery while ensuring equitable access and better outcomes.” Deadline: April 27, 2023, at 5 p.m. ET. For more information and to submit comments, visit SAMHSA’s Strategic Plan webpage.

“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.

National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention Seeks Your Input Into Its 2024 National Strategy

The National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention is conducting a national needs assessment to gather feedback about our nation's suicide prevention efforts and the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention. “We will use this information to inform the suicide prevention goals, objectives, and actions that will appear in the updated 2024 National Strategy…The needs assessment should take approximately 10 minutes to complete. It is completely anonymous and confidential.” Deadline: May 12, 2023. For more information and to provide input, click here. (Courtesy of Beckie Child)

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. 

 RESOURCES

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.

 May Is Mental Health Month

Mental Health America’s 2023 Mental Health Month campaign “is focused on how surroundings impact mental health.” Topics include “safe and stable housing, healthy home environments, neighborhoods and towns, and the outdoors and nature.” To download MHA’s free Mental Health Month toolkit, 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.

 NEWS

“A Radical Experiment in Mental Health Care, Tested Over Centuries”

“In the Belgian town of Geel, families have long taken in people with psychiatric conditions. Could this approach work elsewhere?,” The New York Times asks. “It is an approach to psychiatric care that has gone on in Geel (pronounced ‘hail’) since as early as the 13th century, archives show.” Although Geel was “often regarded over the centuries with suspicion,...the town has come up for reconsideration as an emblem of a humane alternative to the neglect or institutionalization of those with mental illness found in other places.” For the article, click here.

“77% of Americans Have Used Addictive Behaviors or Unhealthy Coping Mechanisms to Manage Their Mental Health”

“From restricted or binge eating to excessive gambling to extreme social media use, 77% of Americans surveyed say they have used at least one addictive behavior and/or unhealthy coping mechanism to manage their mental health issues,” according to a nationwide survey from Myriad Genetics Inc. “Two-thirds of those diagnosed with depression and/or anxiety have experienced trial and error in trying to find medication that works for them. Nearly half of this segment (45%) report they have turned to an unhealthy coping mechanism as a result of a medication failure.” For the press release, click here.

“Warning Over Antidepressants as Top Experts Say They May Raise Risk of Suicide”

“Antidepressants can raise the risk of suicide, researchers have warned today. The powerful drugs—taken by millions—can even be the means of death among patients battling the mental disorder, experts said.” This excerpt is from the April 20, 2023, edition of The Daily Mail, via Mad in America. For the article, click here. Years earlier, The Pharmaceutical Journal reported that “antidepressants increase the risk of events that can lead to suicide and violence in adults with no sign of a mental disorder.” For that article, click here.

“We’re Missing a Major Mental Health Crisis: Teen Boys Are Struggling, Too”

“Being male is the biggest risk factor for suicide, yet that fact isn’t widely known, says Richard V. Reeves, author of ‘Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male Is Struggling, Why It Matters, and What to Do About It’…In the United States, nearly four times as many males die of suicide than females, according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.” For the Washington Post article, click here.

"Poor Literacy Linked to Worse Mental Health Worldwide, Study Shows"
A new study by British researchers has found that the 14 percent of the world’s population that has little or no literacy are more likely to experience depression, loneliness, and anxiety. The researchers, from the University of East Anglia in the UK, “say their findings disproportionately affect women, who account for two-thirds of the world’s population who are illiterate.” For details, click here.

“Study Reveals Digital Peer Emotional Support Improves Youth Well-Being”

In a study led by researchers at a university in Singapore and a digital peer support platform, Acceset, “it was found that peer support via a digital platform enhanced the well-being of youth, with reduction of self-reported depression and anxiety symptoms after the intervention. Of note, digital peer support lowered depressive and anxiety symptoms in emerging adults [ages 19-25] following intervention, by nearly 40%, compared to symptoms prior to intervention. The effect of the intervention was sustained beyond the period of the intervention, for approximately six weeks.” For the article, in the Helsinki Times, click here.

WEBINARS, CONFERENCES, AND OTHER EVENTS

"Supporting the Health and Well-Being of Gender Diverse Youth: A Workshop"
On April 25, 2023 (9 a.m.-5 p.m. ET), the “Forum for Children’s Well-Being will host a one-day public workshop to explore the health and well-being of gender diverse youth. It will examine how this growing population is currently faring and will feature expert presentations and lived experience perspectives. Due to limited space, in-person attendance is by invitation only; however, the workshop will be publicly webcast with an opportunity for virtual participants to submit questions/comments for consideration. Registration is required for virtual attendance.” To register, click here.

“Using Evidence-based Practices in Mental Health Services”

On April 25, 2023, at 1 p.m. ET, the Northeast and Caribbean Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC) Network will present “a [free] training to learn about evidence-based practices (EBPs), what they are, how they become EBPs, and why we should implement them. We will explore how we can implement EBPs with fidelity and how we can integrate EBPs into our existing services,” To register, click here.

"Power, Conflict, and Integrity for Peer Specialists"
On April 25, at 2 p.m. ET, Doors to Wellbeing will present a webinar on “how to maintain personal integrity and professional ethics in regard to conflict in the workplace. It will present real-life scenarios and strategies to resolve each specific conflict.” For details and to register, click here.

“Recovery High Schools: Fostering Resilience and Healing”

On April 26, 2023, at 3 p.m. ET, the CAFÉ TA Center will present a free webinar on the role of Recovery High Schools in supporting the mental health and wellbeing of transition-age youth. For details and to register, click here.

“Jung, Psychedelics, and Therapy: A Process Work and Harm Reduction Approach”

On April 27, 2023, at 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT), “Process Work diplomate therapist and internationally recognized trainer” Will Hall will present a two-hour webinar that will address the question “Is ‘Psychedelic Therapy’ What We Think It Is?” “[T]oday's overhyped growth market for psychedelic ‘therapy’ is dominated by unexamined assumptions that are flawed—and dangerous…In practical and accessible terms, what does ethical harm reduction work with these unpredictable substances look like? Together we will rethink the ‘psychedelic renaissance’ from a [Carl] Jung and Process Work perspective.” For details, and to register (fee: $45; scholarship discounts available), click here.

“Advancing an Alternative: Peer-led, Community-Based Services that Promote Equity and Safety for All”

On April 28, 2023, at 1 p.m. ET, the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law and the National Disability Rights Network will host Part 2 of a two-part Learning Community webinar “that addresses SAMHSA’s priorities of crisis stabilization, mobile crisis, and children. The Learning Community will focus on leveraging federal funding & policy to increase best practice community-based services that are voluntary, evidence-based, and trauma-informed.” For details and to register, click here. Questions? kelle.masten@nasmhpd.org or paige.thomas@nasmhpd.org. (Courtesy of Elizabeth R. Stone)

“Violence and Psychiatric Drugs: Hope or Horror?”

On April 28, 2023, at 3 p.m. ET, the International Society for Ethical Psychology & Psychiatry will present a two-hour webinar that will “explore the relationship between psychiatric drugs and acts of violence. The presenters “will address a lingering and vital concern about this dangerous liaison between psychiatric drugs and violence that has researchers and clinicians from opposing camps disseminating information to the public in two opposing directions.” For details and to register (fee: $40), click here.

"How You Can Support Someone Struggling with Housing Insecurity" 
On May 2, 2023, at 1 p.m. ET, Mental Health America will present “I’m Facing Housing Insecurity; Now What?”--a one-hour webinar that will cover “how you can support someone struggling with housing insecurity and, if you yourself are, ways to seek help and take care of your mental health.” For details and to register, click here.

Judi's Room Will Host Two Events in May: A Celebration of Judy Heumann and a Showing of "Crip Camp"
On May 3, 2023, at 6 p.m. ET (3 p.m. PT), I Love You, Lead On and MindFreedom International will present a free Judi’s Room event, via Zoom, celebrating the life of Judy Heumann (1947-2023), who is “widely regarded as ‘the mother of the disability rights movement.’” And on May 17, at 6 p.m. ET (3 p.m. PT), there will be a free showing of the acclaimed documentary “Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution." For more about the celebration of Judy Heumann and to register and receive the Zoom link, click here and then click on the red "Get Tickets" box, and raise the 0 to 1, and click on Check Out. To register to view “Crip Camp,” click here and follow the same instructions.

PENTAC’s National Peer Entrepreneur Speaker Series Continues on May 4

On May 4, 2023, at 12 p.m. ET, PENTAC will feature Natalie Conrad, program manager with the California Association of Mental Health Peer-Run Organizations (CAMHPRO) and the founder of Erase the Stigma Now. To register for the one-hour presentation, click here.

Webinar Series: "Think Twice Before Calling the Police"
The American Friends Service Committee is presenting a four-part webinar series about “concrete skills and strategies to avoid calling law enforcement unless it is absolutely necessary,” AFSC writes. The dates of the 90-minute webinars are May 4, 11, 18, and 25, 2023; all four sessions will begin at 8 p.m. ET. To register, click here. (Recordings will be available on the AFSC website.) (Courtesy of Jacek Haciak)

Mad in America Is Hosting a Virtual Mad Poetry Slam and You're Invited
Poets with lived experience of mental distress are invited to perform their poetry live on Zoom at MIA’s Mad Poetry Slam on May 7, 2023, at 12 p.m. ET. Two or three poets will be featured and there will be an open mic for the last half hour of the event. The open mic poets will sign up on a first-come, first-served basis at the time of the event. (The deadline to submit your poetry to be considered as a featured poet has passed.) For more information, click here.

"How to Build Peer Support Ecosystems: Peer Services Offered in Communities Make a Difference in People's Lives" 
On May 10, 2023, at 1:30 p.m. ET, the National Coalition for Mental Health Recovery will host a free, 90-minute, SAMHSA-sponsored webinar during which you will “learn about peer-run respites, warmlines, recovery education, wellness centers, trauma-informed peer support, supported employment, housing support, and other innovations in peer-run services.” For details and to register, click here.

“Disability and Disclosure”

On May 11 at 9 a.m. ET, Rochester Works! will present a free, 90-minute workshop on “strategies to use while navigating the job search process as a person with a disability….” It will cover your rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act; if, when, and how to disclose a disability to an employer; what a reasonable accommodation is and how to get one at work or for an interview; what to do if you are facing a career change due to a disability; and what the Ticket to Work program is and how it can help you try going to work without the risk of losing your SSDI or SSI benefits. To register, click here.

"Addressing the Rising Mental Health Needs of an Aging Population: A Workshop"
On May 15 (12 p.m.-5 p.m. ET) and May 16 (9 a.m.-3 p.m. ET), 2023, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine will host a free public workshop “to explore the current state of mental health care for older adults in the U.S. and potential strategies to address the mental health needs and challenges of our aging population.” The in-person and virtual event will be held at the Keck Center (500 5th Street NW, Washington, DC) and online (information to follow). For details and to register, click here.

Conference on "Madpeoples' Coping Mechanisms" Issues Call for Papers
The Oxford University conference on “Madpeoples’ Coping Mechanisms,” September 25-26, 2023 (virtually and in person), has issued a call for papers (deadline: May 15, 2023). The organizers, both of whom have lived experience, write: “The aim of this workshop is to move beyond a focus on diagnostic categories and statistics…Instead, we want to focus on psychiatric problems from the perspective of those dealing with them...” For details and a link to submit a proposal, click here. To register, email paul.lodge@mansfield.ox.ac.uk. (Courtesy of Konstantina “Dina” Poursanidou)

“What Does Lived Experience Really Mean and Why Is It Important?”

On May 18, 2023, at 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT), the Northwest Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network (MHTTC) will sponsor a 90-minute webinar: “In this webinar, Pat Deegan will explore the origins of ‘lived-experience’ in philosophy and its migration into behavioral health. She will argue that lived-experience introduces a new way of knowing that can compliment, and at times disrupt, the clinical world view.” For more information and to register, click here. (Courtesy of Jacek Haciak)

National Academies and Nobel Foundation to Host “Nobel Prize Summit” May 24-26

On May 24, 2023 (9 a.m.-5 p.m. ET), the Nobel Foundation and the U.S. National Academy of Sciences will present (in person and virtually) “Truth, Trust and Hope”: a gathering of Nobel Prize laureates, distinguished scientists, global policymakers and international business leaders to explore solutions to the volume, velocity, and reach of misinformation and disinformation in today’s world.” For more information and to register, click here. “For a complete Summit agenda and list of speakers, including information on the additional activities that will be held May 25 and May 26, please visit the Nobel Prize Summit website.” (Courtesy of Fran Hazam)

ISPS-US Invites Proposals for Its 2023 Annual Conference
The International Society for Psychological and Social Approaches to Psychosis–U.S. Chapter has issued a call for proposals for its 2023 annual conference, taking place October 27-29 at the University of Delaware in Newark, Delaware. The theme is “Solidarity in Humanity: Sharing the Journey Through Psychosis and Extreme States.” The deadline is May 31. For details and to submit a proposal, click here. (Courtesy of Jacek Haciak)

The May 2023 Digest of Articles Offering Healthy Lifestyle Advice

For “​​Feel like a slug? You may have the wrong exercise mind-set. A new study shows that thinking you’re failing at exercise is bad for your health. Tracking all your movements can help,” click here. For “Exercise May Help Counteract the Toll of Poor Sleep,” click here. For “Yoga for Skeptics: It really is as healthy as people say. Here’s how to start a practice,” click here. For “When Someone You Love Is Upset, Ask This One Question,” click here. 

The May 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 details and to register for “Writing Beyond the Prison: Incarcerated Authors, Academics, and Activists Confront Mass Incarceration,” on April 28, 11:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. ET (via Zoom, and in person at Stony Brook University)," click here. For “Poor People Lose: Gideon v. Wainwright Is the Wrong Cure for the Reality That the Carceral System Is Designed to Target Poor People,” click here. For “​​No Bars, No Chains, No Locks: How Finland Is Reimagining Incarceration,” click here. For “What Irvo Otieno’s Killing Tells Us about Mental Healthcare in the U.S.: The system can end up prosecuting patients and relying on police — with sometimes fatal results,” click here. For “Lost and found: Finding therapy behind bars–I suffered from severe depression since childhood. It wasn’t until after I was incarcerated that I could actually name it,” click here. For “ John Oliver: “‘Putting people in solitary is torture, so let’s stop’: The Last Week Tonight host condemns US prisons’ use of solitary confinement, a practice deemed torture by the UN,” click here. For “A miscarriage of justice, a life in prison: Under current sentencing laws, Bobby Norfleet would have been released from prison decades ago. Instead, he’s spent most of his life behind bars. There are hundreds of people in prison just like him,” click here. For “Homeless Shelters Aren’t Equipped to Deal With New Mexico’s Most Troubled Foster Kids. Police See It for Themselves,” click here. For “A man with mental illness died after 20 days in solitary confinement. Did the jail system fail him?” click here. For “He Needed Medical Help. He Ended Up In Jail And Died Weeks Later. Joshua McLemore spent 20 days in solitary confinement instead of receiving the medical help he needed. A lawsuit says his death was ‘preventable,’” click here. For “A search for justice after a mentally ill 17-year-old stabs janitor to death,” click here. For “Sentencing Reform for Criminalized Survivors: Learning from New York’s Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act,” a 33-page manual by the Sentencing Project and the Survivors Justice Project, click here. For “Y’all Want It, We Got It: Issue 13 of News Inside fills reader requests and gives them something new to think about,” click here. For “Editorial: Presumed guilty! The toxic cost of money bail,” click here. For “Biden’s Justice Dept. keeps hard line in death row cases,” click here. For “A Spirit, Unbroken: How Martin Sostre’s ‘single act of resistance’ stood for a broader struggle for bodily autonomy and collective liberation,” click here. For “‘Prison Within a Prison’: New Mandate Offers Lifeline for Deaf People in Custody: The new rule, which goes in effect in January 2024, applies to phone companies serving prisons, jails and detention facilities nationwide,” click here. For “Prisons Use Menstruation as a Form of Punishment,” click here. For “How Criminal Records Hold Back Millions of People: More than 70 million Americans with arrest records face barriers to find work or a decent place to live,” click here. For “Judging in Secret: The Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel was once known as the ‘constitutional conscience’ of the executive branch, but in recent years it has been known principally for green-lighting torture, mass surveillance, and extrajudicial killings,” click here. For “States try to obscure execution details as drugmakers hinder lethal injection: Pharmaceutical companies have put the brakes on many states’ ability to execute prisoners using lethal injections. Lacking alternatives, states are trying to keep the public from learning details about how they carry out executions,” click here. For “Most New Yorkers Don’t Get the Trump Treatment at Arraignment: The 31,000 people arraigned for felonies in New York each year have very different experiences in court than the former president,” click here. For “What Happens When Your Social Media Photos End Up in the Hands of Police: Law enforcement agencies, from police departments to ICE, are using facial recognition, sometimes leading to wrongful arrests,” click here. For “A Platform for Prison Witness: ‘Including incarcerated people in national debates is not just about changing policies. It’s about creating a transformative learning experience,’” click here. For “How sexually abused girls are still ending up in jails and prisons: A new report on the sexual-abuse-to-prison pipeline says victims continue to be punished for the violence they endure,” click here. For “Local newsrooms want to stop sensationalizing crime, but it’s hard: Here are the common barriers they face and how journalists surmount them,” click here. For “How students are helping to get people out of prison,” click here. For “Bob Lee’s Murder and San Francisco’s So-Called Crime Epidemic: The killing of a tech executive reveals the cycle of outrage that puts enormous pressure on progressive district attorneys,” click here. 

FROM PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF THE KEY UPDATE BUT STILL FRESH!

CONFERENCES, WEBINARS, AND TRAININGS

“A Guide to Psychiatric Service and Emotional Support Animals”

On April 27, 2023, at 2 p.m. ET (11 a.m. PT),  Disability Rights California will present a free webinar on psychiatric service and emotional support animals. “Many people with mental health disabilities find that having a psychiatric service or emotional support animal improves their daily lives and their mental health and wellness. Learn the difference between these assistance animals and your rights regarding public access and reasonable accommodations.” For details and to register, click here.

NARPA Will Hold Its 2023 Conference September 6-9 in New Orleans

The 2023 conference of the National Association for Rights Protection and Advocacy (NARPA) will be held in New Orleans September 6-9. For more information, click here.

APS Learning Community Hosts a Weekly Networking Meeting. Check Out Its Website for Upcoming Events.

The Academy of Peer Services (APS) Virtual Learning Community Networking Meeting for Peer Specialists is every Tuesday from 5:15 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. ET. Its purpose is to share ideas, experiences, and opportunities with others in the field of peer support, as well as to give and receive support to each other. To register, click here. For the Virtual Learning Community website, which includes a calendar of upcoming events, resources, and more, click here.

Peerpocalypse is Coming! Are You Ready?

Peerpocalypse, organized by the Mental Health & Addiction Association of Oregon, will take place May 8-11, 2023, in Seaside Oregon, and virtually! For details, click here. To register, click here.

NAADAC Hosts Free “Peer Recovery Support” Webinar Series

The National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC)—now known as the Association for Addiction Professionals—will continue its free, 10-part “Peer Recovery Support” webinar series on May 25, 3 p.m.-4:30 p.m. ET. For details, click here. (Courtesy of Jessi Davis)

“Too Mad to Be True II—The Promises and Perils of the First-Person Perspective,” May 26-28, 2023

“Too mad to be true II—The promises and perils of the first-person perspective” (May 26-28, 2023) will be hosted by the University of Ghent and the Foundation for Psychiatry and Philosophy. For details, click here. Meanwhile, Dr. Nev Jones, a researcher and assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh who has lived experience of psychosis, and who was a keynote speaker at the first conference, discusses some of the events at the conference and responses to her keynote in a second presentation. In that presentation, Mad In America (MIA) reports, she takes issue with the individualizing, pathologizing focus of the “phenomenology of psychosis” literature, “argu[ing] that psychosis ‘could never be divorced from the structural vectors of poverty, incarceration and various neoliberal welfare schemes, but has always been intimately bound up with them.’” For the MIA article, click here. To see "To Do Justice to Madness: Orienting to the Politics of Phenomenological Psychopathology," click here.

Active Minds Mental Health Conference July 7-8, 2023, in Washington, D.C.

Calling its conference “the nation’s leading mental health conference for young adults,” Active Minds will host its 2023 conference in Washington, D.C., July 7-8. Early bird registration is available until May 15 at 5:30 p.m. ET ($110 for students, $175 for general). For more information and to register, click here.

MHTTC Publishes Calendar of Events from Now Until September 19, 2023

The Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network (MHTTC) has published a calendar of its events from now through September 19. The calendar covers the 10 U.S.-based regional MHTTCs as well as the two national MHTTCs. The MHTTC is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. For the calendar, click here. (Courtesy of NYAPRS E-News)

ABCT 2023 Conference Is November 16-19 in Seattle

The Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT) 2023 conference will be held November 16-19 in Seattle. Its theme is “Cultivating Joy with CBT [Cognitive Behavioral Therapy].” For more information about the conference, click here. (Courtesy of Yulia Mikhailova)

MHTTC Offers Free Online Behavioral Health Courses

The Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network (MHTTC) “currently offers 20 online courses available through Healtheknowledge.org. HealtheKnowledge.org offers high-quality, on-demand, and instructor-led courses that are open to the public. Courses are free for a certificate of completion, and yearly membership options are available for purchase to gain access to other HealtheKnowledge resources and earn unlimited CE credits. View our course listings here. View our how-to guide to set up your HealtheKnowledge account.” MHTTC is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES

Request for Information (RFI): Gaps and Opportunities in Global Mental Health Research

“Respond to NIMH’s request for information (RFI) to identify research gaps and opportunities that will advance our understanding and role in supporting basic, translational, and services-oriented global mental health research. All responses must be submitted electronically by May 5, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Please use this submission web form or email NIMHGlobalMentalHealthRFI@nih.gov. Please use the subject line GMH RFI Response.” 

OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN RESEARCH

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.

Are You a SUD Certified Peer Recovery Specialist? Then You’re Invited to Participate in a Study

You are invited to participate in a research study of “Stress and Coping Among SUD Certified Peer Recovery Specialists” if you are at least 18 years old and are employed or volunteering as a certified peer recovery specialist. (The job title in your state may be different.) The results of this study will be used to increase knowledge of job-related stress and coping among SUD Certified Peer Recovery Specialists. It involves two online surveys that take approximately 15 minutes to complete. All responses will be kept anonymous. You will not be asked to provide your name or contact information. To participate, click here. Questions? cynthia.thomas@waldenu.edu, 612.312.1210. 

EPICC Works to Help Parents with Mental Health Conditions Connect with Their Kids

Engaging Parents and Increasing Connections with Children (EPICC) is a 10-week program created by the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion that is focused on helping parents with serious mental health conditions connect with their children through meaningful activities. For details and to apply, click here.

Young Adults with Psychiatric Diagnoses Are Sought for Study on Community Participation

The Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion is recruiting young adults (ages 18-30) with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression to take part in ConnectionsRx, designed to support engagement in meaningful community activities. Participants will be enrolled in the peer-led study for six months, and receive support to help meet community participation goals. Interviews (approximately 60 minutes each) will take place on Zoom. Participants will receive a $15 Amazon gift card (to a maximum of $45) for each survey completed. For the website, click here. Questions? Write to ConnectionsRx@temple.edu. 

South Southwest MHTTC Launches Youth and Young Adult Peer Supporters Survey

“Are you a peer specialist who provides peer support to other people under the age of 30? We want to hear from you! Please fill out the survey to assist the South Southwest Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (South Southwest MHTTC) in learning more about youth peer support across the country! The intent is to be able to include these peer supporters in research, training, and technical assistance activities surrounding youth peer support. The form should take 5-10 minutes to fill out, and can be done from a phone or a computer browser. To take the survey, click here.” Questions? Write to southsouthwest@mhttcnetwork.org.

Are You Interested in Pursuing Graduate School and/or a Research Career? Read Below.

Stephania Hayes (UC Davis), Shannon Pagdon (Columbia/NYS Psychiatric Institute/University of Pittsburgh), and Nev Jones (University of Pittsburgh) write: “We are gathering information from people with lived experience in the Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) or early psychosis space (including peer specialists, current/former CSC participants, and CSC youth coordinators) who are potentially interested in pursuing graduate school and/or a research career. All of us identify as having lived experience, work in CSC, and are invested in supporting the next generation of scholars who also have lived experience. We would like to create a discussion group and/or other supports for people interested in this career path. The link below leads to a very brief survey that will help us understand the level of interest in such supports, as well as areas of career interest. (Please note that this is not a research study.)” To participate in the anonymous survey, click here.

“Help Us Map the Landscape of Lived Experience and Family Involvement in 988 Policy and Related Crisis Response System Planning!”

“As 988 implementation rolls out alongside additional efforts to strengthen crisis response systems throughout the U.S., it's important to gauge the extent to which direct stakeholders (i.e., individuals who use or have used mental health crisis services and their families) have been involved in related policy, implementation and evaluation at the local, regional, state or federal levels. To map out involvement nationally, Mental Health America (lead: Kelly Davis), Nev Jones (University of Pittsburgh) and Keris Myrick (National Association of Peer Supporters) have developed a survey aimed at documenting the extent of stakeholder involvement, the forms this involvement has taken, and, where available, what concerns stakeholders have raised. Any individual with knowledge of lived experience and family involvement is eligible to participate; individuals completing the survey do not have to have lived experience themselves.” For more information and to access the survey, click here.

Survey Seeks Respondents Who Have Taken Mental Health Courses Involving Their Own Diagnoses

Have you taken a mental health course that covers a diagnosis you have? If so, you are invited to participate in a brief, anonymous, online survey--designed by a University of Pittsburgh MSW student--about what it's like for students with lived experience to study their own diagnoses in a classroom. The survey covers students' experiences of studying such subjects as "abnormal psychology," "psychopathology," and diagnosis and assessment when their own diagnoses are covered. "The goal of the project is to better understand what it feels like to take courses in which someone’s diagnosis is being taught/defined/discussed. There is currently no literature or reporting on the experiences of students in the above circumstances, or the associated impact." Interested? Please click here. Questions? Please email the project lead, Charlie Clement, at cjc204@pitt.edu

Peer Support in Higher Education Survey Seeks Respondents

“Peer support programs are growing on college campuses across the U.S. Mental Health America, Doors to Wellbeing, and the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion want to better understand the availability of peer support in higher education as well as the experiences and needs of students accessing peer support programs…We hope to use this research to support the expansion of peer support in higher education, including developing a national database of peer support programs in higher education and documenting pressing issues in campus programs…You may also indicate if you are interested in having your school’s peer support program listed in a national database of peer support programs in higher education.” For more information and to complete the survey, click here. 

BU Seeks Peer Support Specialists for a Research Study

The Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation at Boston University is developing and testing the effectiveness of a coaching service called Coaching and Advancement for Peer Providers (CAPP) “to increase organizational commitment and job satisfaction and decrease turnover among mental health peer providers.” BU CPR writes: “We need Peer Support Specialists (PSS) to participate in our study. Who can participate? People who are in a paid job as a Peer Support Specialist providing support to other people with mental health challenges, who are employed at least 10 hours per week, who have worked for the past six months in a mental health program, and who are experiencing stress because of challenges in the workplace. The study involves 16 one-hour sessions of coaching over a four-month period designed to help you with your job, meeting online (through Zoom, for example) with your coach, and filling out surveys one time before coaching starts and three additional times. You will have a 50/50 chance of getting a coach or having a one-time meeting to give you information about challenges at work. Benefits? You may learn strategies to help make work less stressful.” For more information, click here. For questions, contact Principal Investigator E. Sally Rogers, Sc.D., at erogers@bu.edu or 617-353-3549.

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

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES

TU Collaborative Wants to Hear Your Story!

“We are working on a project to better understand social connections among adults with significant mental health challenges,” the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion writes. “We are seeking your stories on your social connections generally” and “what those connections mean to you.” The TU Collaborative will compile these stories based on a series of brief surveys. For details and to share your story, click here.

Call for Papers: “Recovery at 30: Emancipation, cooptation, or the end of an era?”

“The year 2023 marks exactly three decades since the publication of Bill Anthony’s seminal “Recovery from mental illness: the guiding vision of the mental health service system in the 1990s" (click here)...”In this special issue of Community Mental Health Journal,” the editors write, “we are soliciting both concept pieces (commentaries, critical reviews) and empirical work (qualitative, quantitative, ethnographic or mixed methods) that explore the question of whether recovery policy remains relevant and emancipatory today or whether the psy-fields are instead in need of fresh thinking and new, more diverse values-based frameworks.” The submission deadline is September 1, 2023. For more information, click here.

Common Threads: Stories of Survival & Recovery from Mental Illness

Common Threads: Stories of Survival & Recovery from Mental Illness, a 108-page compendium, includes “tales of survival and recovery” by a number of Floridians. To quote from the Introduction, “Many of the people in these stories have lived significant portions of their lives in psychiatric institutions, and only through their strengths have they found their way back to the community…In these tales, we hear about the importance of education and peer support…” To download the free document, click here.

“Crisis Now” Offers a “Roadmap to Safe, Effective Crisis Care”

The goal of Crisis Now: Transforming Crisis Services—led by the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) and developed with the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, and RI International—is “to provide all communities a roadmap to safe, effective crisis care that diverts people in distress from the emergency department and jail by developing a continuum of crisis care services that match people’s clinical needs.” Among the resources offered on the website are SAMHSA’s 80-page “National Guidelines for Behavioral Health Crisis Care Best Practice Toolkit” (2020), an “Overview of Crisis Funding Sources Available to States and Localities” (last updated March 2, 2022), and assessment tools, such as “How Does Your Crisis System Rate?” The Crisis Now partners write: “Are you interested in adding your organization to the list supporting Crisis Now, or do you have questions? Reach out to us at info@crisisnow.com. For the website, click here.

“What Is the Meaning of Life?” This Free Online Collection Offers Answers

Excellence Reporter offers more than “1,200 articles-interviews on ‘What Is the Meaning of Life?’ written by renowned spiritual leaders, mindfulness experts, great thinkers and authors, elders, artists, musicians, CEOs, etc.” The contributors include such renowned figures as Bertrand Russell; Carl Jung; the Dalai Lama; Eleanor Roosevelt; Epicurus; Erich Fromm; Kahlil Gibran; Buckminster Fuller; Robert Louis Stevenson; and Ron Bassman, executive director of MindFreedom International. To browse the free compendium, click here.

The UIC Center’s Solutions Suite for Health & Recovery Offers Free Tools

"The UIC Center offers tools, curricula, and implementation manuals for free use in community-based programs, peer-run programs, or one's own life. You can introduce the entire complement of products to foster improved health, wellness, and mental health recovery. Or, you can choose the ones that will work best for your program or your life. The Suite was developed in collaboration with Collaborative Support Programs of New Jersey. The UIC Center is funded by NIDILRR (National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research). For the UIC Solutions Suite for Health & Recovery, click here. (Courtesy of Peggy Swarbrick via Jacek Haciak)

U.S. Surgeon General Creates Community Toolkit for Addressing Health Misinformation

"The U.S. Surgeon General’s Community Toolkit for Addressing Health Misinformation, developed in collaboration with the HHS Office of Evaluation Sciences (OES), provides specific guidance and resources for health care providers, educators, librarians, faith leaders, and trusted community members to understand, identify, and stop the spread of health misinformation in their communities." For information about the toolkit (a 22-page overview of health misinformation, and resources to stop it), and links to a “Talk to Your Community About Health Misinformation” Infographic, a “Health Misinformation Checklist” Infographic, and the Surgeon General's press release, click here.

"Psychiatrist with Philosophical Interests" leads "Conversations in Critical Psychiatry," a Psychiatric Times Series

Awais Aftab, who describes himself as a "psychiatrist with philosophical interests" in his Twitter bio, leads "Conversations in Critical Psychiatry," which, he says, "explores critical and philosophical perspectives in psychiatry and engages with prominent commentators within and outside the profession who have made meaningful criticisms of the status quo." Among those interviewed are Allen Frances, M.D., author of Saving Normal; Sandra Steingard, M.D., and G. Scott Waterman, M.D., on "Integrating Academic Inquiry and Reformist Activism in Psychiatry"; Susannah Cahalan, author of Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness, on "50 Shades of Misdiagnosis"; Kathy Flaherty, J.D., executive director of the Connecticut Legal Rights Project, Inc., on "Reconsidering Care and Coercion in Psychiatry"; Nev Jones, Ph.D., on "Phenomenology, Power, Polarization, and the Discourse on Psychosis"; Dainius Puras, M.D., on "Global Psychiatry's Crisis of Values"; and many others. For the archived interviews, click here.

CNN Offers “A Guide to Helping and Getting Help During the Coronavirus Crisis”

CNN writes: “The coronavirus pandemic is overwhelming, and one of the most excruciating parts for many people is the feeling of utter helplessness in the face of widespread suffering and hardship. CNN’s Impact Your World has compiled a list of donation opportunities and tips to help those affected by the crisis. Click on a category or scroll down to browse a list of organizations, resources and ideas. Need help? Most categories also include resources for financial, emotional or social support.” For the free guide, click here.

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.

Seven Ways to Keep a Digital Copy of Your Vaccination Card on Your Smartphone

“You'll need proof of vaccination to go back to work or enter many restaurants, gyms and event venues, so keep your COVID-19 card handy.” This is the advice of CNET.com, a tech support website. Besides the obvious—taking a photo of the card to store on your phone—there are six other suggestions. For details, click here. (Courtesy of Yvonne Smith)

ISPS-US Offers an Array of Archived Webinars—Free but Donations Are Welcomed

The ISPS-US (The International Society for Psychological and Social Approaches to Psychosis-US Chapter) is offering a whole raft of archived webinars, which are free (although donations are welcomed). Among the webinars are "Cognitive Behavioral & Related Therapies for Psychosis: Diverse Approaches to Supporting Recovery," "How Can the Uncontainable Be Contained? Paradoxes of Madness & Philosophy," "Robert Whitaker: The Rising Non-Pharmaceutical Paradigm for 'Psychosis,'" "Life with Voices: A Guide for Harmony," "COPE Project: Non-Pharmaceutical Research on Influencing Voices and Visions," "What Hurts and What Helps In Treatment For 'Psychosis': Insider Perspectives," and many others. For more information and to access the webinars, click here.

“Where DNA and Medications Meet”

Not all drugs are effective for all people; therapeutic response rates for many drugs are only 50%-75%. “OneOme, co-founded by [the] Mayo Clinic, provides evidence-based pharmacogenomic solutions that help improve patient outcomes and reduce costs through more personalized medication decisions.” OneOme’s RightMed Test is “a doctor-ordered pharmacogenomic (PGx) test that analyzes your DNA and provides your doctors with genetic information to help them determine how you may respond to certain medications. The results may help your doctors reduce medication trial and error, minimize risk of side effects, save you time and money, and make more informed prescribing decisions. Because your DNA doesn’t change over time, your doctors can use your test results to make more personalized medication decisions for you over the course of your lifetime.” For more information, click here. (Courtesy of Robin Osborne)

Doors to Wellbeing Offers “State Selfies: A Picture of Peer Services Reported by Peers”

Doors to Wellbeing’s “Peer Album” is a directory of nearly 600 peer-run organizations throughout the U.S. They invite updates and offer instructions for providing them and add, “If your entry has not made this first draft, we encourage you to re-submit.” For the 158-page directory, click here.

Disclaimer: The Clearinghouse does not necessarily endorse the opinions and opportunities included in the Key Update.

About the Key Update

The National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse is affiliated with the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion. The Key Update is the free monthly e-newsletter of the National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse. Volume 19, No. 11, May 2023. For content, reproduction or publication information, please contact Susan Rogers at selfhelpclearinghouse@gmail.com. Follow Susan on Twitter at @SusanRogersMH

Key Update, April 2023, Volume 19, Number 10

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@GteMAIL.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: See “Webinars, Conferences, and Other Events” below for several events happening this week (the last week of March) and “Other Opportunities” for a March 31 deadline!

NEWS

SAMHSA Invites Public Comment on Its National Model Standards for Peer Support Certification. Deadline: April 10

“...SAMHSA’s Office of Recovery (OR) has developed a set of National Model Standards for Peer Support Certification, inclusive of Mental Health, Substance Use, and Family/Youth Peer Support.” The deadline for comments is April 10, 2023, at 5 p.m. ET. For more information, click here. To comment, click here.

The New Yorker Asks: “Can A.I. Treat Mental Illness?”

"The treatment of mental illness requires imagination, insight, and empathy—traits that A.I. can only pretend to have…” To read the article, click here. See also “ ‘Out Of Control’: Dozens of Telehealth Startups Sent Sensitive Health Information to Big Tech Companies,” in the February 2023 Key Update. ICYMI, click here. And see “The Imminent Danger of A.I. Is One We’re Not Talking About,” originally published in The New York Times (click here).

HHS Announces the Theme for National Minority Health Month (April 2023)

The theme for National Minority Health Month 2023 is “Better Health Through Better Understanding.” For details, click here. For the announcement in Spanish, click here.

“Psychedelics are a Promising Therapy, but They Can Be Dangerous for Some”

The recent popularity of psychedelics “is partly attributed to clinical trials showing that the drugs, most notably psilocybin and ketamine, hold real promise in treating some mental health disorders, particularly depression,” according to an article originally in The New York Times. But “experts’ primary worry about [some of these drugs] is that they can trigger a psychotic or manic episode” as well as other dangerous side effects. For the article, click here.

“SAMHSA Seeks $10.8 Billion in FY 2024 to Bolster Mental Health and Substance Use Services”

“The President’s Budget for FY 2024 includes $10.8 billion for SAMHSA, $3.3 billion over the agency’s FY 2023 enacted budget,” according to a SAMHSA press release. “Investments will fund critical needs in key priority programs that address crisis care, youth mental health, and overdose prevention.” For the press release, click here. For SAMHSA’s FY 2024 Congressional Budget Justification, click here. (Courtesy of Anthony Fox)

Is Psychoanalysis Worth a Second Look?

In “Therapy Wars: the Revenge of Freud,” The Guardian writes: “Cheap and effective, CBT became the dominant form of therapy, consigning Freud to psychology’s dingy basement. But new studies have cast doubt on its supremacy – and shown dramatic results for psychoanalysis. Is it time to get back on the couch?” For the article, click here.

“3 Skills from Psychotherapy That Can Change Your Brain” Draws Some Criticism

“Choose reflection over reflex; bring softness, not hostility; and be curious, not judgmental,” psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Christopher W.T. Miller writes in The Washington Post. “The benefits of psychotherapy, exercise, mindfulness, yoga and meditation for mental health have been backed by encouraging scientific data,” Miller adds. But Chuck Ruby, PhD, executive director of the International Society for Ethical Psychology & Psychiatry (ISEPP), responded to the article on Twitter as follows: “A token nod to exploring meaning through a relationship, yet still desperately clinging to the brain defect idea...” For the Post article, click here. For Chuck Ruby on Twitter, search @ISEPPDirector.

Exercise Found to Be 53% More Effective, on Average, Than Medication or Psychotherapy

After a “comprehensive synthesis” involving “97 reviews of 1,039 published randomized controlled trials that included 128,000 adult participants,” British researchers recommended that exercise “should be integrated as a standard component of treatment for mental health conditions.” This is a departure from U.S. clinical guidelines, which “only mention exercise and diet as second-line approaches when therapy or medications are ‘ineffective or unacceptable,’” the article, in MindSiteNews, notes. For the article, which includes a link to the article in BMJ’s British Journal of Sports Medicine, click here.

“The World Mourns the Passing of Judy Heumann, Disability Rights Activist” 

On March 4, 2023, powerful disability rights activist Judy Heumann died in Washington, D.C., at age 75. To read about her many important achievements, click here and on Heumann’s website, which includes the recording of her funeral and memorial service. “Some people say that what I did changed the world,” Heumann wrote. “But really, I simply refused to accept what I was told about who I could be. And I was willing to make a fuss about it.”

WEBINARS, CONFERENCES, AND OTHER EVENTS

“Empowering the Peer Workforce by Taking Charge Together”

On March 28, 2023, at 2 p.m. ET, Doors to Wellbeing will present a free webinar exploring how Project Return Peer Support Network has empowered the peer workforce through the utilization of trainings from a values-based peer perspective, modeling, and sharing of lived experience. For more information and to register, click here.

“Engaging Students in Building Emotional Self-Awareness”

On March 28 at 2 p.m. ET, Mental Health America, Child Trends, and NACDD will present a 60-minute webinar panel discussion to discuss “the importance of emotional self-awareness for youth, the different factors that impact how youth identify and manage their emotions, and strategies educators can use to support students in developing self-awareness and emotional regulation.” For details and to register, click here.

14th Annual Pat Risser RSVP Conference on March 29, 2023

This hybrid conference, livestreamed for $15 with CEUs, $10 without CEUs, “brings together a distinguished group of presenters, discussing critical and cutting-edge topics that impact behavioral health.” For details and to register, click here. 

You’re Invited to SAMHSA’s Recovery Exchange Meeting on March 29

On March 29, 2023, at 1 p.m. ET, The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration invites you to participate in a stakeholder meeting for an update on the goals and activities of SAMHSA’s Office of Recovery (OR), to meet the OR team, and to talk with recovery leaders from across the U.S. To register, click here. (Courtesy of Braunwynn Franklin)

“The Growth Equation: Improving Financials to Achieve Your Goals”

On March 29, 2023, at 1 p.m. ET, Netsmart will present a free webinar aimed at human services provider organizations. “...Efficient and simplified financial operations play a significant role in sustainability and ability to seize new opportunities…[S]uccess means preparing for growth through focused attention to financial and administrative operational practices, staffing shortages and the ever-changing funding landscape.” For details and to register, click here.

“Using Mainstream ‘Apps’ in Mental Health Services”

On March 30, 2023, at 12 p.m. ET, the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion will present an interactive webinar on “Using Mainstream ‘Apps’ in Mental Health Services.” It will include strategies that “practitioners” can employ to identify, evaluate, and use mainstream applications–either cell phone apps or internet apps–to increase the community participation of service recipients. To register, click here.

CMS Innovation Center Invites You to a Virtual Listening Session on March 31

On March 31, 2023, at 2:30 p.m. ET, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Innovation Center invites you to join a one-hour virtual listening session on “The Approach to Person-Centered Care: Commitment to Patient Partnership Across the Model Lifecycle.” Attendees may submit written comments or questions before the webinar via the registration page or during the session in the Question & Answer window. To register, click here. For more information, click here.

In April, Judi’s Room Will Celebrate Sally Zinman, a Fierce Warrior for Social Justice

On April 5, 2023, at 6 p.m. ET (3 p.m. PT), I Love You, Lead On and MindFreedom International will present a free Judi’s Room event, via Zoom, celebrating the life of Sally Zinman (1937-2022), one of the founders of the consumer/survivor movement for social justice. To register, click here.

“Soteria: The Power of Human Connection” on April 5 and May 3

On April 5, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. ET, and again on May 3, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. ET, Pathways Vermont Training Institute will present “Soteria: The Power of Human Condition,” an interactive online workshop. Among topics covered will be the history of Soteria, modern updates to the original Soteria, and the power of human connection in non-coercive settings. For more information and to register for the April 5 workshop, click here. To register for the May 3 workshop, click here. (Courtesy of Yulia Mikhailova)

PENTAC’s National Peer Entrepreneur Speaker Series Continues on April 6

On April 6, 2023, at 12 p.m. ET, PENTAC will feature Jennifer Randal-Thorpe, president and CEO of Meaningful Minds United, the statewide peer-run organization in Louisiana. For details and to register, click here.

“Exploring the Role of Employers and Systems in Workforce Retention”

The Peer Recovery Center of Excellence has opened applications for a six-month training and technical assistance series designed to support employers in implementing changes in policies and procedures, hiring practices, and systemic relationships in order to improve the retention of peer staff. The series will serve 10 to 15 employers from across the country. The deadline for programs or organizations to apply is April 7, 2023. For details and the application, click here.

NCMHR Invites You to Its Next Advocacy Call, on April 10 at 2 p.m. ET

The National Coalition for Mental Health Recovery (NCMHR) invites you to participate in a series of advocacy calls on the second Monday of each month through December 2023. (The times will alternate between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. ET: On May 8, the time will be 5 p.m. ET. ) You do not need to have attended Alternatives 2022 in order to participate. (Mark your calendars: Unless these plans change, this will be your last reminder.) For details and the Zoom link (which is always the same), click here. 

“Your ADA Rights at Work”’

On April 11, 2023, at 2 p.m. ET (11 a.m. PT), Disability Rights California will present a free webinar on “Your ADA Rights at Work. “Join us as we discuss the ADA and ways to find information on the types of accommodations you can ask for, as well as how to file a complaint if it comes to that, and much more…This training is presented from a peer perspective…” For details and to register, click here.

NARPA Announces Call for Papers. Deadline: April 12, 2023

The 2023 conference of the National Association for Rights Protection and Advocacy (NARPA) will be held in New Orleans September 6-9. The deadline to submit a workshop proposal is April 12, 2023. For the Request for Proposals (RFP) and links to additional information, click here.

Early Psychosis Care (Free, Hybrid) Conference, April 12-13

Missouri’s first free, hybrid Early Psychosis Care conference will be held April 12-13, 2023. “The goals of our conference are to provide early psychosis care education, reduce stigma associated with psychosis, explain evidence-based models of care, and show there is hope through engaging voices of lived experience.” For details and to register, click here. (Courtesy of Yulia Mikhailova)

PeerTAC to Present a Peer Support Supervision Webinar and Consultation Call in April

On April 13, 2023, at 12 p.m. ET, PeerTAC will host a 75-minute presentation on “Supervision,” with a follow-up 75-minute “Supervision Consultation Call” on April 20, at 12 p.m. ET. For more information and to register for these events, scroll down at this link.

ISPS-US Launches Trans-theoretical Peer Supervision Group

“Join ISPS-US as a member to access our new Trans-theoretical Peer Supervision Group! This group will provide an opportunity for ISPS-US members from various orientations...to come together to discuss clinical work with individuals experiencing psychosis and extreme states.” The first session is April 14 at 12 p.m. ET. To join ISPS-US, click here. Members can register for the event by clicking here.

“A Guide to Psychiatric Service and Emotional Support Animals”

On April 27, 2023, at 2 p.m. ET (11 a.m. PT),  Disability Rights California will present a free webinar on psychiatric service and emotional support animals. “Many people with mental health disabilities find that having a psychiatric service or emotional support animal improves their daily lives and their mental health and wellness. Learn the difference between these assistance animals and your rights regarding public access and reasonable accommodations.” For details and to register, click here.

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES

MHA Invites Applications for the Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health

“In 2019, Mental Health America launched the Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health to recognize and support corporate leaders and advocates committed to worker mental health and well-being. Submission deadline: March 31, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. ET. To find out if your workplace qualifies, take this two-minute quiz here. For the recording of a one-hour webinar about the Bell Seal, click here. For details and to apply, click here. Questions? Contact Taylor Adams at tadams@mhanational.org.

National Survey of Peer Supporters’ Experiences Using Spirituality and Religion in Their Work

The Copeland Center on Wellness and Recovery and the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion invite peer supporters to participate in a brief survey whose goal is “to better understand whether and how they use religion and spirituality in their work. Perceived barriers and facilitators of using religion/spirituality will also be explored.” Participants become eligible for a raffle with cash prizes. Questions? Contact PI Elizabeth Thomas, PhD.: elizabeth.thomas@temple.edu or 215.204.1699. For details and for the Research Subject Consent Form, click here. 

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.

Are You a SUD Certified Peer Recovery Specialist? Then You’re Invited to Participate in a Study

You are invited to participate in a research study of “Stress and Coping Among SUD Certified Peer Recovery Specialists” if you are at least 18 years old and are employed or volunteering as a certified peer recovery specialist. (The job title in your state may be different.) The results of this study will be used to increase knowledge of job-related stress and coping among SUD Certified Peer Recovery Specialists. It involves two online surveys that take approximately 15 minutes to complete. All responses will be kept anonymous. You will not be asked to provide your name or contact information. To participate, click here. Questions? cynthia.thomas@waldenu.edu, 612.312.1210. 

RESOURCES

NCAPPS Launches a Culture and Person-Centered Practices Video Series 

In a new series of short videos, community members of the National Center on Advancing Person-Centered Practices and Systems “share their thoughts on how their racial and cultural identities shape their expectations and views of support systems…[K]ey topics include cultural norms, language barriers, ageism, sexuality, spirituality, and disability.” For details and to access the videos and a companion guide, click here. (Courtesy of Jacek Haciak)

The Cafe TA Center Is Offering Two Free Employment Guides

Although these two new employment guides are primarily targeted toward employers, the Cafe TA Center writes that First Seek to Understand and Dealing with Disclosure have broad applicability: “Whether you are an employer looking to improve your workplace culture, an employee seeking resources to explain mental health to your employer, or an advocate in need of tools to talk about workplace mental health, these two guides can be helpful for you!” For more information and to download the free guides, click here.

“Designing Withdrawal Support Services for Antidepressant Users”

In an article subtitled “Patients’ views on existing services and what they really need,” prominent British researchers concluded, in part: “Our findings indicate, in keeping with previous studies, that clinicians require upskilling in safe tapering of antidepressants, and that patients need specialized services to help them stop safely.” For the abstract, click here. For the “Harm Reduction Guide to Coming Off Psychiatric Drugs,” click here.

Mad in Ireland Presents a Podcast About Domestic and Sexual Violence Peer Support

Some peer supporters “are using their own lived experience of sexual violence and mental health to support others,” Mad In Ireland reports. “In this podcast facilitated by Martha Griffin of Mad in Ireland, Leona O’Callaghan from Haven Hub, Limerick, and Karol Mac Gairbheith from Peer Practice, Donegal speak about sexual violence, peer support working, trauma, safeguarding and personal boundaries.” For the podcast, click here.

The April 2023 Digest of Articles Offering Healthy Lifestyle Advice

For “How to Feel Alive Again,” click here. For “How to Meditate When You Can’t Sit Still,” click here. For “5 Exercises to Keep an Aging Body Strong and Fit,” click here. For “How to Reset Your Happiness Set Point: The surprising truth about what science says makes us happier in the long term,” click here. For “An illustrated guide to feeling happier, every day,” click here. 

The April 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 “​​In Florida, showing mental health struggles could get a child detained: Advocates say the Baker Act, designed as a measure of last resort, is not used that way. The result: Kindergarteners can be forcibly committed to psych centers for exams,” click here. For “How ‘Cruel and Not Unusual’ Conditions Persist in Many Lockups: Insight from a discussion with journalists, formerly incarcerated people and experts,” click here. For “What Can Federal Courts Do About Extreme, Outdated Sentences? The scattered aftermath of a recent Supreme Court ruling shows the need for new solutions.” click here. For “State Prison Sentences in the U.S. Are Getting Longer—But Not Necessarily Keeping Us Safer,” click here. For “Study Shows Low Safety Risk of Reducing Long Sentences: Recent Council on Criminal Justice research suggests that reducing sentences of 10 years or longer by modest margins could significantly reduce prison populations without damaging public safety,” click here. For “It took almost 30 years for Pell Grants to return to prison. But, for many, college is still out of reach,” click here. For  “U.S. Justice Department urges panel not to limit 'acquitted conduct' sentencings: Despite White House promises of sentencing reform, Justice Department lawyers told the U.S. Sentencing Commission last week that trial judges should be allowed to impose longer sentences on defendants based on conduct for which they were acquitted at trial. The Commission announced a proposal to eliminate such “acquitted conduct” sentences last month. The Commission has until May 1 to submit its final proposal to Congress for approval,” click here. For “Supporting Improved Responses to People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities,” click here. For “California faces hefty court fines for lagging efforts to prevent prisoner suicides,” click here. For “Police Pleaded for Hours With a N.J. Man in Crisis. Then They Shot Him,” click here. For “Are guns, tasers and shields the best response to a mental health crisis? Paterson police killing again forces question of how officers handle people in distress,” click here. For “The Books Banned in Your State’s Prisons,” click here. For “5 Things We Learned About Prison Book Ban Policies,” click here. For “Qualified Immunity Is Burning a Hole in the Constitution: Police officers’ go-to defense against civil suits allows them to violate the Constitution with impunity,” click here. For “Texas death row inmate Andre Thomas’ attorneys apply for clemency, citing mental illness: At issue is whether Thomas, who gouged out his eyes after confessing to the 2004 murders of his estranged wife, their son and her daughter, is competent to be executed in April,” click here. For “Prison Deaths Rose Almost 50% When Pandemic Hit, Report Shows,” click here. For “Justice Dept. touts new focus on local violence intervention programs: Attorney General Merrick Garland spoke to the first grantees of a federal program focused on investing in community anti-violence efforts,” click here. For “Shooting First and Asking Questions Later: In rural communities, fatal police shootings have occurred at high rates, without the attention (and protests) that urban shootings have drawn,” click here. For “Sexual harassment of corrections staff plagues Bureau of Prisons,” click here. For “No Cop City Anywhere: Chicago’s #NoCopAcademy campaign and #StopCopCity in Atlanta are part of the same movement: to end violent policing, protect the environment and defend Black and brown lives,” click here. For “What the Panic Over Shoplifting Reveals About American Crime Policy: Lawmakers consider bills to crack down on people ripping off retailers, even as some stores walk back claims about a growing theft problem,” click here. For “How the State Sanctions Police Violence: In a new book, civil rights lawyer Joanna Schwartz explores how myths about public safety have been used to roll back civil rights and protect police,” click here. For “Understanding Firearm Deaths by State—and How to Reduce Them,” click here. For “Overdose Prevention Centers: A Successful Strategy for Preventing Death and Disease: Strong evidence indicates that overdose prevention centers (OPCs) reduce the transmission of HIV and hepatitis, prevent overdose deaths, reduce public injections, reduce the volume of shared or discarded syringes, and increase the number of drug users entering treatment programs,” click here. “Guest: I am one of many domestic violence victims incarcerated in Oklahoma, but there's hope: In almost every state, including Oklahoma, it is unusual for courts to consider the abuse a survivor has suffered in sentencing. What does it say about a society that it treats some of its most victimized and vulnerable citizens with so little compassion and mercy?” click here. “As crime-solving goes hi-tech, public defenders scramble to keep up,” click here. For “A state-funded reentry program stops the revolving door for Colorado’s formerly incarcerated,” 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 “Women’s Mass Incarceration: The Whole Pie 2023,” click here. “Don't Just Hire 'Better Cops.' Punish the Bad Ones: Convincing law enforcement officers that those who do wrong will suffer consequences is by far the most powerful tool for changing police behavior in the long run,” click here. For “Biggest racial gap in prison is among violent offenders – focusing on intervention instead of incarceration could change the numbers,” click here. For “Jail Before Trial Should Be the Exception, Not the Norm: Lawmakers in some states are pushing to make it harder for defendants to avoid pretrial detention. There are better ways to protect public safety that don’t conflict with the presumption of innocence,” click here. For “Choice of Counsel: People assigned a public defender are the only ones deprived of the right to choose their lawyer. This often intersects disastrously with racial bias,” click here. For “Elizabeth Holmes Has Two Young Children. Should That Keep Her Out of Prison? Sending new moms to prison has devastating consequences. Some states are starting to rethink the practice,” click here. For “The State of the Nation on Gideon’s 60th Anniversary,” click here. For “The Prison Newspaper Directory finds that the number of prison-based papers is growing: There are at least 24 known prison newspapers in 12 states, and four of them were launched in 2022,” click here. For “The Rise of Life-Without-Parole Sentences: We explore sentences that imprison people for life without parole, and comedian Ali Siddiq unpacks his behind-bars beginning in comedy,” click here. For “A New Idea on Justice Reform: An innovative proposal would channel money to states with the goal of reducing prison populations while preserving public safety,” click here. For 

FROM PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF THE KEY UPDATE BUT STILL FRESH!

CONFERENCES, WEBINARS, AND TRAININGS

APS Learning Community Hosts a Weekly Networking Meeting. Check Out Its Website for Upcoming Events.

The Academy of Peer Services (APS) Virtual Learning Community Networking Meeting for Peer Specialists is every Tuesday from 5:15 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. ET. Its purpose is to share ideas, experiences, and opportunities with others in the field of peer support, as well as to give and receive support to each other. To register, click here. For the Virtual Learning Community website, which includes a calendar of upcoming events, resources, and more, click here.

SHARE!’s Free, Virtual Peer Workforce Conference Will Take Place on April 26; Deadline to Submit Proposals Is April 5

SHARE! will host its free, virtual 2023 Peer Workforce Conference–”Bridging Research and Practice”–on April 26. For more information and to register, click here. To submit a proposal by April 5, click here.

ISSTD to Host 40th Annual Conference in Louisville April 13-17, 2023

The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD) will host its 40th annual conference in Louisville; the pre-conference will be held April 13-14 and the conference April 15-17. The theme is “Shifting the Societal Denial of Dissociation.” A virtual option (details of which are explained at the conference link, here) will also be available. 

NAADAC Hosts Free “Peer Recovery Support” Webinar Series

The National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC)—now known as the Association for Addiction Professionals—will continue its free, 10-part “Peer Recovery Support” webinar series on April 27, 3 p.m.-4:30 p.m. ET. For details, click here. (Courtesy of Jessi Davis)

Peerpocalypse is Coming! Are You Ready?

Peerpocalypse, organized by the Mental Health & Addiction Association of Oregon, will take place May 8-11, 2023, in Seaside Oregon, and virtually! For details, click here. To register, click here.

“Too Mad to Be True II—The Promises and Perils of the First-Person Perspective,” May 26-28, 2023

“Too mad to be true II—The promises and perils of the first-person perspective” (May 26-28, 2023) will be hosted by the University of Ghent and the Foundation for Psychiatry and Philosophy. For details, click here. Meanwhile, Dr. Nev Jones, a researcher and assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh who has lived experience of psychosis, and who was a keynote speaker at the first conference, discusses some of the events at the conference and responses to her keynote in a second presentation. In that presentation, Mad In America (MIA) reports, she takes issue with the individualizing, pathologizing focus of the “phenomenology of psychosis” literature, “argu[ing] that psychosis ‘could never be divorced from the structural vectors of poverty, incarceration and various neoliberal welfare schemes, but has always been intimately bound up with them.’” For the MIA article, click here. To see "To Do Justice to Madness: Orienting to the Politics of Phenomenological Psychopathology," click here.

Active Minds Mental Health Conference July 7-8, 2023, in Washington, D.C.

Calling its conference “the nation’s leading mental health conference for young adults,” Active Minds will host its 2023 conference in Washington, D.C., July 7-8. Early bird registration is available until May 15 at 5:30 p.m. ET ($110 for students, $175 for general). For more information and to register, click here.

MHTTC Publishes Calendar of Events from Now Until September 19, 2023

The Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network (MHTTC) has published a calendar of its events from now through September 19. The calendar covers the 10 U.S.-based regional MHTTCs as well as the two national MHTTCs. The MHTTC is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. For the calendar, click here. (Courtesy of NYAPRS E-News)

ABCT 2023 Conference Is November 16-19 in Seattle

The Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT) 2023 conference will be held November 16-19 in Seattle. Its theme is “Cultivating Joy with CBT [Cognitive Behavioral Therapy].” For more information about the conference, click here. (Courtesy of Yulia Mikhailova)

MHTTC Offers Free Online Behavioral Health Courses

The Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network (MHTTC) “currently offers 20 online courses available through Healtheknowledge.org. HealtheKnowledge.org offers high-quality, on-demand, and instructor-led courses that are open to the public. Courses are free for a certificate of completion, and yearly membership options are available for purchase to gain access to other HealtheKnowledge resources and earn unlimited CE credits. View our course listings here. View our how-to guide to set up your HealtheKnowledge account.” MHTTC is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES

Call for Book Chapter Proposals for “Beyond Accommodations: ‘Cripping’ Possibilities in Higher Education”

“What would it look like to re-imagine academia as a place of acceptance, belonging, and flourishing of disabled faculty, staff, and students?...[T]his edited book invites contributions from disabled, chronically ill, mad, and neurodivergent people across the globe to (desire and) share how they are ‘cripping’ and transforming the classroom, the university, and academia more broadly.” “Please submit a 250-word abstract with tentative chapter title and short bio to Dr. Alan Martino, alan.martino@ucalgary.ca. Deadline for abstracts: March 31, 2023.” (Courtesy of Konstantina [Dina] Poursanidou)

Request for Information (RFI): Gaps and Opportunities in Global Mental Health Research

“Respond to NIMH’s request for information (RFI) to identify research gaps and opportunities that will advance our understanding and role in supporting basic, translational, and services-oriented global mental health research. All responses must be submitted electronically by May 5, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Please use this submission web form or email NIMHGlobalMentalHealthRFI@nih.gov. Please use the subject line GMH RFI Response.” 

OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN RESEARCH

EPICC Works to Help Parents with Mental Health Conditions Connect with Their Kids

Engaging Parents and Increasing Connections with Children (EPICC) is a 10-week program created by the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion that is focused on helping parents with serious mental health conditions connect with their children through meaningful activities. For details and to apply, click here.

Young Adults with Psychiatric Diagnoses Are Sought for Study on Community Participation

The Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion is recruiting young adults (ages 18-30) with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression to take part in ConnectionsRx, designed to support engagement in meaningful community activities. Participants will be enrolled in the peer-led study for six months, and receive support to help meet community participation goals. Interviews (approximately 60 minutes each) will take place on Zoom. Participants will receive a $15 Amazon gift card (to a maximum of $45) for each survey completed. For the website, click here. Questions? Write to ConnectionsRx@temple.edu. 

South Southwest MHTTC Launches Youth and Young Adult Peer Supporters Survey

“Are you a peer specialist who provides peer support to other people under the age of 30? We want to hear from you! Please fill out the survey to assist the South Southwest Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (South Southwest MHTTC) in learning more about youth peer support across the country! The intent is to be able to include these peer supporters in research, training, and technical assistance activities surrounding youth peer support. The form should take 5-10 minutes to fill out, and can be done from a phone or a computer browser. To take the survey, click here.” Questions? Write to southsouthwest@mhttcnetwork.org.

Are You Interested in Pursuing Graduate School and/or a Research Career? Read Below.

Stephania Hayes (UC Davis), Shannon Pagdon (Columbia/NYS Psychiatric Institute/University of Pittsburgh), and Nev Jones (University of Pittsburgh) write: “We are gathering information from people with lived experience in the Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) or early psychosis space (including peer specialists, current/former CSC participants, and CSC youth coordinators) who are potentially interested in pursuing graduate school and/or a research career. All of us identify as having lived experience, work in CSC, and are invested in supporting the next generation of scholars who also have lived experience. We would like to create a discussion group and/or other supports for people interested in this career path. The link below leads to a very brief survey that will help us understand the level of interest in such supports, as well as areas of career interest. (Please note that this is not a research study.)” To participate in the anonymous survey, click here.

“Help Us Map the Landscape of Lived Experience and Family Involvement in 988 Policy and Related Crisis Response System Planning!”

“As 988 implementation rolls out alongside additional efforts to strengthen crisis response systems throughout the U.S., it's important to gauge the extent to which direct stakeholders (i.e., individuals who use or have used mental health crisis services and their families) have been involved in related policy, implementation and evaluation at the local, regional, state or federal levels. To map out involvement nationally, Mental Health America (lead: Kelly Davis), Nev Jones (University of Pittsburgh) and Keris Myrick (National Association of Peer Supporters) have developed a survey aimed at documenting the extent of stakeholder involvement, the forms this involvement has taken, and, where available, what concerns stakeholders have raised. Any individual with knowledge of lived experience and family involvement is eligible to participate; individuals completing the survey do not have to have lived experience themselves.” For more information and to access the survey, click here.

Survey Seeks Respondents Who Have Taken Mental Health Courses Involving Their Own Diagnoses

Have you taken a mental health course that covers a diagnosis you have? If so, you are invited to participate in a brief, anonymous, online survey--designed by a University of Pittsburgh MSW student--about what it's like for students with lived experience to study their own diagnoses in a classroom. The survey covers students' experiences of studying such subjects as "abnormal psychology," "psychopathology," and diagnosis and assessment when their own diagnoses are covered. "The goal of the project is to better understand what it feels like to take courses in which someone’s diagnosis is being taught/defined/discussed. There is currently no literature or reporting on the experiences of students in the above circumstances, or the associated impact." Interested? Please click here. Questions? Please email the project lead, Charlie Clement, at cjc204@pitt.edu

Peer Support in Higher Education Survey Seeks Respondents

“Peer support programs are growing on college campuses across the U.S. Mental Health America, Doors to Wellbeing, and the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion want to better understand the availability of peer support in higher education as well as the experiences and needs of students accessing peer support programs…We hope to use this research to support the expansion of peer support in higher education, including developing a national database of peer support programs in higher education and documenting pressing issues in campus programs…You may also indicate if you are interested in having your school’s peer support program listed in a national database of peer support programs in higher education.” For more information and to complete the survey, click here. 

BU Seeks Peer Support Specialists for a Research Study

The Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation at Boston University is developing and testing the effectiveness of a coaching service called Coaching and Advancement for Peer Providers (CAPP) “to increase organizational commitment and job satisfaction and decrease turnover among mental health peer providers.” BU CPR writes: “We need Peer Support Specialists (PSS) to participate in our study. Who can participate? People who are in a paid job as a Peer Support Specialist providing support to other people with mental health challenges, who are employed at least 10 hours per week, who have worked for the past six months in a mental health program, and who are experiencing stress because of challenges in the workplace. The study involves 16 one-hour sessions of coaching over a four-month period designed to help you with your job, meeting online (through Zoom, for example) with your coach, and filling out surveys one time before coaching starts and three additional times. You will have a 50/50 chance of getting a coach or having a one-time meeting to give you information about challenges at work. Benefits? You may learn strategies to help make work less stressful.” For more information, click here. For questions, contact Principal Investigator E. Sally Rogers, Sc.D., at erogers@bu.edu or 617-353-3549.

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

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES

TU Collaborative Wants to Hear Your Story!

“We are working on a project to better understand social connections among adults with significant mental health challenges,” the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion writes. “We are seeking your stories on your social connections generally” and “what those connections mean to you.” The TU Collaborative will compile these stories based on a series of brief surveys. For details and to share your story, click here.

Call for Papers: “Recovery at 30: Emancipation, cooptation, or the end of an era?”

“The year 2023 marks exactly three decades since the publication of Bill Anthony’s seminal “Recovery from mental illness: the guiding vision of the mental health service system in the 1990s" (click here)...”In this special issue of Community Mental Health Journal,” the editors write, “we are soliciting both concept pieces (commentaries, critical reviews) and empirical work (qualitative, quantitative, ethnographic or mixed methods) that explore the question of whether recovery policy remains relevant and emancipatory today or whether the psy-fields are instead in need of fresh thinking and new, more diverse values-based frameworks.” The submission deadline is September 1, 2023. For more information, click here.

Common Threads: Stories of Survival & Recovery from Mental Illness

Common Threads: Stories of Survival & Recovery from Mental Illness, a 108-page compendium, includes “tales of survival and recovery” by a number of Floridians. To quote from the Introduction, “Many of the people in these stories have lived significant portions of their lives in psychiatric institutions, and only through their strengths have they found their way back to the community…In these tales, we hear about the importance of education and peer support…” To download the free document, click here.

“Crisis Now” Offers a “Roadmap to Safe, Effective Crisis Care”

The goal of Crisis Now: Transforming Crisis Services—led by the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) and developed with the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, and RI International—is “to provide all communities a roadmap to safe, effective crisis care that diverts people in distress from the emergency department and jail by developing a continuum of crisis care services that match people’s clinical needs.” Among the resources offered on the website are SAMHSA’s 80-page “National Guidelines for Behavioral Health Crisis Care Best Practice Toolkit” (2020), an “Overview of Crisis Funding Sources Available to States and Localities” (last updated March 2, 2022), and assessment tools, such as “How Does Your Crisis System Rate?” The Crisis Now partners write: “Are you interested in adding your organization to the list supporting Crisis Now, or do you have questions? Reach out to us at info@crisisnow.com. For the website, click here.

“What Is the Meaning of Life?” This Free Online Collection Offers Answers

Excellence Reporter offers more than “1,200 articles-interviews on ‘What Is the Meaning of Life?’ written by renowned spiritual leaders, mindfulness experts, great thinkers and authors, elders, artists, musicians, CEOs, etc.” The contributors include such renowned figures as Bertrand Russell; Carl Jung; the Dalai Lama; Eleanor Roosevelt; Epicurus; Erich Fromm; Kahlil Gibran; Buckminster Fuller; Robert Louis Stevenson; and Ron Bassman, executive director of MindFreedom International. To browse the free compendium, click here.

The UIC Center’s Solutions Suite for Health & Recovery Offers Free Tools

"The UIC Center offers tools, curricula, and implementation manuals for free use in community-based programs, peer-run programs, or one's own life. You can introduce the entire complement of products to foster improved health, wellness, and mental health recovery. Or, you can choose the ones that will work best for your program or your life. The Suite was developed in collaboration with Collaborative Support Programs of New Jersey. The UIC Center is funded by NIDILRR (National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research). For the UIC Solutions Suite for Health & Recovery, click here. (Courtesy of Peggy Swarbrick via Jacek Haciak)

U.S. Surgeon General Creates Community Toolkit for Addressing Health Misinformation

"The U.S. Surgeon General’s Community Toolkit for Addressing Health Misinformation, developed in collaboration with the HHS Office of Evaluation Sciences (OES), provides specific guidance and resources for health care providers, educators, librarians, faith leaders, and trusted community members to understand, identify, and stop the spread of health misinformation in their communities." For information about the toolkit (a 22-page overview of health misinformation, and resources to stop it), and links to a “Talk to Your Community About Health Misinformation” Infographic, a “Health Misinformation Checklist” Infographic, and the Surgeon General's press release, click here.

"Psychiatrist with Philosophical Interests" leads "Conversations in Critical Psychiatry," a Psychiatric Times Series

Awais Aftab, who describes himself as a "psychiatrist with philosophical interests" in his Twitter bio, leads "Conversations in Critical Psychiatry," which, he says, "explores critical and philosophical perspectives in psychiatry and engages with prominent commentators within and outside the profession who have made meaningful criticisms of the status quo." Among those interviewed are Allen Frances, M.D., author of Saving Normal; Sandra Steingard, M.D., and G. Scott Waterman, M.D., on "Integrating Academic Inquiry and Reformist Activism in Psychiatry"; Susannah Cahalan, author of Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness, on "50 Shades of Misdiagnosis"; Kathy Flaherty, J.D., executive director of the Connecticut Legal Rights Project, Inc., on "Reconsidering Care and Coercion in Psychiatry"; Nev Jones, Ph.D., on "Phenomenology, Power, Polarization, and the Discourse on Psychosis"; Dainius Puras, M.D., on "Global Psychiatry's Crisis of Values"; and many others. For the archived interviews, click here.

CNN Offers “A Guide to Helping and Getting Help During the Coronavirus Crisis”

CNN writes: “The coronavirus pandemic is overwhelming, and one of the most excruciating parts for many people is the feeling of utter helplessness in the face of widespread suffering and hardship. CNN’s Impact Your World has compiled a list of donation opportunities and tips to help those affected by the crisis. Click on a category or scroll down to browse a list of organizations, resources and ideas. Need help? Most categories also include resources for financial, emotional or social support.” For the free guide, click here.

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.

Seven Ways to Keep a Digital Copy of Your Vaccination Card on Your Smartphone

“You'll need proof of vaccination to go back to work or enter many restaurants, gyms and event venues, so keep your COVID-19 card handy.” This is the advice of CNET.com, a tech support website. Besides the obvious—taking a photo of the card to store on your phone—there are six other suggestions. For details, click here. (Courtesy of Yvonne Smith)

ISPS-US Offers an Array of Archived Webinars—Free but Donations Are Welcomed

The ISPS-US (The International Society for Psychological and Social Approaches to Psychosis-US Chapter) is offering a whole raft of archived webinars, which are free (although donations are welcomed). Among the webinars are "Cognitive Behavioral & Related Therapies for Psychosis: Diverse Approaches to Supporting Recovery," "How Can the Uncontainable Be Contained? Paradoxes of Madness & Philosophy," "Robert Whitaker: The Rising Non-Pharmaceutical Paradigm for 'Psychosis,'" "Life with Voices: A Guide for Harmony," "COPE Project: Non-Pharmaceutical Research on Influencing Voices and Visions," "What Hurts and What Helps In Treatment For 'Psychosis': Insider Perspectives," and many others. For more information and to access the webinars, click here.

“Where DNA and Medications Meet”

Not all drugs are effective for all people; therapeutic response rates for many drugs are only 50%-75%. “OneOme, co-founded by [the] Mayo Clinic, provides evidence-based pharmacogenomic solutions that help improve patient outcomes and reduce costs through more personalized medication decisions.” OneOme’s RightMed Test is “a doctor-ordered pharmacogenomic (PGx) test that analyzes your DNA and provides your doctors with genetic information to help them determine how you may respond to certain medications. The results may help your doctors reduce medication trial and error, minimize risk of side effects, save you time and money, and make more informed prescribing decisions. Because your DNA doesn’t change over time, your doctors can use your test results to make more personalized medication decisions for you over the course of your lifetime.” For more information, click here. (Courtesy of Robin Osborne)

Doors to Wellbeing Offers “State Selfies: A Picture of Peer Services Reported by Peers”

Doors to Wellbeing’s “Peer Album” is a directory of nearly 600 peer-run organizations throughout the U.S. They invite updates and offer instructions for providing them and add, “If your entry has not made this first draft, we encourage you to re-submit.” For the 158-page directory, click here.

Disclaimer: The Clearinghouse does not necessarily endorse the opinions and opportunities included in the Key Update.

About the Key Update

The National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse is affiliated with the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion. The Key Update is the free monthly e-newsletter of the National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse. Volume 19, No. 10, April 2023. For content, reproduction or publication information, please contact Susan Rogers at selfhelpclearinghouse@gmail.com. Follow Susan on Twitter at @SusanRogersMH

Key Update, March 2023, Volume 19, Number 9

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!

NEWS

“Cause for Concern: The Stripping Away of Patients' Rights”

“There's a problematic trend toward binding arbitration agreements,” MedPage Today reports. “An investigation by The Markup and STAT found that dozens of direct-to-consumer telehealth companies ‘were leaking sensitive medical information they collect to the world's largest advertising platforms.’...[and] 46 of the 50 companies (92%) required that disputes be resolved via arbitration…When patients sign a binding arbitration agreement or realize in retrospect that they implicitly agreed to these terms, they understandably assume it is enforceable and that they've already given up their rights” even if these agreements may not be enforceable under state law. For the article, click here. 

MHA Publishes “2022: The State of Mental Health in America”

In “2022: The State of Mental Health in America,” Mental Health America ranks the 50 states and the District of Columbia based on 15 measures. To download the free, 45-page report and to see additional statistics, click here.

“Performing Acts of Kindness Is a Powerful Tool to Fight Depression and Anxiety, Study Finds”

“According to a study from researchers at Ohio State University published in The Journal of Positive Psychology, performing acts of kindness may even result in greater social well-being than techniques used in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to treat depression and anxiety. 'Social connection seems to be one of the most powerful ingredients for flourishing in life,' David Cregg, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist and co-author of the study, told TODAY in a segment that aired Jan. 20." For an article about the study, click here. (Courtesy of Peggy Swarbrick)

CONFERENCES AND OTHER EVENTS

NDRN (Virtual) Conference to Be Held February 27-March 2

The (virtual) 2023 conference of the National Disability Rights Network (#NDRN2023) will take place February 27-March 2. “Members of the public may register at a cost of $40 per session. Attendees seeking CLEs at an eligible session pay an additional $35 per session.” For details (including the presentation topics on each day) and to register, click here. 

Peerpocalypse 2023 Scholarships Applications Are Due February 28!

Scholarship applications for Peerpocalypse (May 8-11 in Seaside, Oregon) are due Saturday, February 28th, 2023 at 11:59 pm Pacific Time. For the scholarship application and more information about the conference, click here. (Courtesy of Kevin Fitts)

Call for Applications: Emerge July 2023 Hybrid Disability Studies Workshop. Deadline: February 28! 

“The Paul K. Longmore Institute on Disability at San Francisco State University proudly announces Emerge, a three-year initiative made possible thanks to a generous $1 million grant from the Mellon Foundation. This support will allow the Longmore Institute to lead a month-long July workshop for 10 emerging Disability Studies scholar-activists, held three consecutive summers at San Francisco State University with an option for hybrid participation.” The deadline for the Call for Applications for “disabled activists, artists, cultural producers, filmmakers, and academics” is February 28, 2023, at 8 p.m. ET, 5 p.m. PT. For details and to apply, click here. (Courtesy of Bevin Croft and Nev Jones)

Deadline to Apply for Mad Camp 2023 Is March 1!

The deadline to apply for Mad Camp (July 20-24 2023) is March 1! Will Hall writes: “Mad people gathering for community and connection in the forested mountains of Northern California. Wow! We are now launching ticket applications. (We raised more than $4,400 in scholarship funds and counting!) Deadline to apply is March 1! Space is limited so if you are planning on coming, please fill out the application form! Check www.madcamp.net for information, including the Frequent Questions page. Go HERE to fill out the ticket application form!” For the Facebook event page you can share, click here.

ABCT Issues Call for Proposals for Its 2023 Conference, November 16-19 in Seattle. Deadline: March 14

The Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT) has issued a call for proposals for its 2023 conference, to 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. For details about submitting proposals, due by March 14 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time, click here. (Courtesy of Yulia Mikhailova)

Call for Proposals: “Too Mad to Be True II—The Promises and Perils of the First-Person Perspective.” Deadline: March 15

March 15 is the deadline to submit a proposal for “Too mad to be true II—The promises and perils of the first-person perspective” (May 26-28, 2023), hosted by the University of Ghent and the Foundation for Psychiatry and Philosophy. For details, click here. Meanwhile, Dr. Nev Jones, a researcher and assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh who has lived experience of psychosis, and who was a keynote speaker at the first conference, discusses some of the events at the conference and responses to her keynote in a second presentation. In that presentation, Mad In America (MIA) reports, she takes issue with the individualizing, pathologizing focus of the “phenomenology of psychosis” literature, “argu[ing] that psychosis ‘could never be divorced from the structural vectors of poverty, incarceration and various neoliberal welfare schemes, but has always been intimately bound up with them.’” For the MIA article, click here. To see "To Do Justice to Madness: Orienting to the Politics of Phenomenological Psychopathology," click here.

Registration Is Open for the ADA Virtual Mini-Con, March 28, 2023

The theme of the ADA Virtual Mini-Con, to be held on March 28, 2023 (9 a.m.-4 p.m. ET), is “Emerging Issues in the ADA and Criminal Justice.” Registration ends on March 24, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Space is limited to the first 500 registrants who pay the $50 fee. For details and to register, click here. 

SHARE!’s Free, Virtual Peer Workforce Conference Will Take Place on April 26; Deadline to Submit Proposals Is April 5

SHARE! will host its free, virtual 2023 Peer Workforce Conference–”Bridging Research and Practice”–on April 26. For more information and to register, click here. To submit a proposal by April 5, click here.

Active Minds Mental Health Conference July 7-8, 2023, in Washington, D.C.

Calling its conference “the nation’s leading mental health conference for young adults,” Active Minds will host its 2023 conference in Washington, D.C., July 7-8. Early bird registration is available until May 15 at 5:30 p.m. ET ($110 for students, $175 for general). For more information and to register, click here.

FREE WEBINARS AND OTHER EVENTS

CoE-IHS Webinar: “Peers Part 1–Leveraging the Untapped Potential of Peer Services in Integrated Care”

On February 28, 2023, at 12 p.m. ET, The Center of Excellence for Integrated Health Solutions (CoE-IHS) will present a free, one-hour webinar entitled “Leveraging the Untapped Potential of Peer Services in Integrated Care.” CoE-IHS writes: “Join us…to learn more about the critical role that peer support plays in integrated care settings, aiding in the healing and recovery of individuals with mental health conditions and substance use disorders.” For more information and to register, click here. 

“What is Peer Support and How Do I Supervise A Peer Support Specialist?”

On February 28, 2023, 2 p.m.-3 p.m. ET, Doors to Wellbeing will present the latest in its monthly webinar series: “What is Peer Support and How Do I Supervise A Peer Support Specialist?” Doors to Wellbeing writes: “This webinar will address the questions: What is it Peer Support Specialists do that is so different from other mental health professionals? And how do supervisors provide guidance and support to the Peer Support Specialists they manage?” For details and to register, click here. 

“Community-Driven Crisis Response: A Workbook for Coordinators” to Be Launched on February 28

On February 28, 2023, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET, the Council of State Governments Justice Center and the Bureau of Justice Assistance will launch “Community-Driven Crisis Response: A Workbook for Coordinators.” “This new resource was designed specifically for planning team coordinators who have been tasked with developing and implementing community-led responses to behavioral health crisis calls.” For more information and to register, click here.  

The Next Judi’s Room Will Celebrate the Life of Celia Brown

On March 1, 2023, at 6 p.m. ET (3 p.m. PT), I Love You, Lead On and MindFreedom International will host a free Judi’s Room event, via Zoom, celebrating the life of beloved mental health advocate Celia Brown (1952-2022). “After our remembrances of Celia, there will be time for general networking,” the organizers write. Everyone is welcome. “Meeting ID: 856 1185 8093. ASL will be provided if requested one week in advance.” To pre-register and get a passcode, click here.

PENTAC Will Host the Next Presentation in Its National Entrepreneur Speaker Series on March 2 

On March 2 (12 p.m.-1 p.m. ET), you can view the “National Entrepreneur Speaker Series, featuring Darian Elmendorf, co-founder and CEO of Compass Peer Services in Delaware. To register, click here. 

"Our Disability Roadmap” Webinar on March 10

On March 10, 2023, at 1 p.m. ET, “join Samuel Habib as he speaks with disability justice pioneer Bob Williams in the fifth of [Communication First’s] year-long, FREE series of webinars: ‘Our Disability Roadmap.’ Bob and Samuel will discuss a wide range of issues…including career pathways, higher education, independent living, AAC [Augmentative and Alternative Communication], advocacy, and much more.” For more information and to register, click here.

NCMHR Invites You Its Next Advocacy Call, on March 13 

The National Coalition for Mental Health Recovery (NCMHR) is inviting you to participate in a series of advocacy calls that will take place the second Monday of each month through December 2023. The first meeting was on February 13 at 2 p.m. ET. (Meeting times will alternate between midday and evenings; the time on March 13 is 5 p.m. ET.) You do not need to have attended Alternatives 2022 in order to participate in these calls. For details and the Zoom link, click here. 

The 3rd “Trauma in the Workplace” Webinar Is Coming Up

The Academy of Peer Services (APS) Virtual Learning Community is presenting the third 90-minute webinar in its “Trauma in the Workplace” series at 10 a.m. ET on March 16, 2023. A recording of the first webinar is available; the second webinar will also be archived. For details and to register, click here.

“Exclusionary Sanism: A Critical Dialogue” on March 21

On March 21, 2023, at 12 p.m. ET (9 a.m. PT), Nev Jones, Nika Mavrody, Aerik Woodams, and David Mordecai will engage in a panel discussion on “Exclusionary Sanism: A Critical Dialogue.” The discussion is connected to the Critical Psychiatry Conference.To register for the panel discussion, click here.

RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES

WPA Invites Responses to Its Survey on “Implementing Alternatives to Coercion as a Key Component to Improving Mental Health Care”

March 15, 2023, is the World Psychiatric Association’s deadline for responding to its survey on alternatives to coercion. WPA writes: “We want to incorporate the voices of persons with lived experience of mental health conditions and their families and caregivers into our work. Therefore we have prepared this survey to gather ideas from a range of perspectives…[W]e thank you very much for sharing your important insights…If you have any questions or difficulties with GoogleForms please contact WPAConsultation22@gmail.com.” For the survey and additional information, click here. (Courtesy of Shira Collings)

Request for Information (RFI): Gaps and Opportunities in Global Mental Health Research

“Respond to NIMH’s request for information (RFI) to identify research gaps and opportunities that will advance our understanding and role in supporting basic, translational, and services-oriented global mental health research. All responses must be submitted electronically by May 5, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Please use this submission web form or email NIMHGlobalMentalHealthRFI@nih.gov. Please use the subject line GMH RFI Response.” 

“Stigma Toward Peer Specialists on Inpatient Units”

“Being a peer specialist on an inpatient unit has been a powerful experience. I have seen great care provided, and I have been a part of many transformative conversations. However, the work culture of the unit I work on and other units I have been to does not include staff treating patients and peer specialists as equals. A major shift in the culture of these units is definitely needed.” So begins a personal account of “Stigma Toward Peer Specialists on Inpatient Units,” in Psychiatric Services. For the story, click here. (Courtesy of Nev Jones)

Call for Book Chapter Proposals for “Beyond Accommodations: ‘Cripping’ Possibilities in Higher Education”

“What would it look like to re-imagine academia as a place of acceptance, belonging, and flourishing of disabled faculty, staff, and students?...[T]his edited book invites contributions from disabled, chronically ill, mad, and neurodivergent people across the globe to (desire and) share how they are ‘cripping’ and transforming the classroom, the university, and academia more broadly.” “Please submit a 250-word abstract with tentative chapter title and short bio to Dr. Alan Martino, alan.martino@ucalgary.ca. Deadline for abstracts: March 31, 2023.” (Courtesy of Konstantina (Dina) Poursanidou)

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.

The March 2023 Digest of Articles Offering Healthy Lifestyle Advice

For “9 Tips to Help Stop Ruminating: Ruminating over the past, present, or future can be challenging, but there are strategies to manage it. Here are a few tips that can help,” click here. For “How to Tell If Your Brain Needs a Break,” click here. For “PFAS expert tips: How to reduce your exposure to harmful ‘forever chemicals,’” click here. For “Many Personal Care Products Contain Harmful Chemicals. Here’s What to Do About It,” click here. For “12 Chemicals in Personal Care Products You Should Avoid: The Dirty Dozen,” click here. For “Want to live a longer life? Try eating like a centenarian: You can’t change your genes, but improving your diet will make you healthier and could make a difference in life expectancy,” click here. For “These everyday items endanger the environment. Here’s how to handle them. How to safely dispose of paint, batteries, light bulbs and other potentially risky products cluttering up your cabinets,” click here. For “The Secret to a Better Workout Is Probably Already in Your Kitchen,” click here. 

The March 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 “Is It Forensics or Is It Junk Science?” click here. For “How ‘Cruel and Not Unusual’ Conditions Persist in Many Lockups: Insight from a discussion with journalists, formerly incarcerated people and experts,” click here. For “Prosecuting the unthinkable: Experts question handling of cases where mothers are accused of killing their children,” click here. For “Addressing Trauma in Women’s Prisons,” click here. For “Giving Incarcerated People What They Want—Better News Access: The Marshall Project explains its decision to offer free news to incarcerated people on tablets that otherwise charge users,” click here. For “Texans with mental illnesses are dying in Houston-area jails. They didn’t need to be there,” click here. For “The Marshall Project and Vice News to Launch Inside Story Show: Developed by formerly incarcerated people, the video series brings news, interviews and profiles into U.S. prisons and jails,” click here. For “Defending Attica: How Radical Lawyers Played a Key Role Standing Up for Survivors of the Attica Uprising,” click here. For “How the Department of Justice is Failing Victims of Sexual Assault in Prison,” click here. For “The U.S. Probation System Has Become a Quagmire: What was originally intended as an alternative to incarceration has become a system for mass state control,” click here. For “‘You Ain’t No Big Man’: Videos Show Disparities in Cleveland Police Response to Kids in Crisis: Body cam footage reveals that officers don’t always follow department guidelines or training,” click here. For “When Law Enforcement Alone Can’t Stop the Violence: Amid a murder crisis in America, community-based solutions have received a flood of funding. How effective are they?,” click here. For “‘America’s dirty little secret’: Thousands of misdemeanor defendants don’t get attorneys,” click here. For “Prison, jail staff rarely face legal consequences after sex abuse of inmates, report finds,” click here. For “Bouie: Memphis proves the police cannot be a law unto themselves: Institution of American policing lies outside of any meaningful democratic control,” click here. For ‘Unconstitutional’ public defense systems upend lives, freedom across West,” click here. For “9th Circuit upholds California prison reforms, citing abuse of inmates with disabilities,” click here. For “When You’re Sentenced for a Crime That Even a Jury Agrees You Didn’t Commit: The Supreme Court might end an infuriatingly unjust practice in criminal sentencing,” click here. For “First sweeping federal gun crime report in 20 years released,” click here. For “Sending Help Instead of the Police in Albuquerque: A novel community-safety department has been taking calls off the hands of a force with the country’s second-highest fatal-shooting rate. Has it improved public safety?,” click here. For “The Killing of Tyre Nichols Reaffirms the Urgent Need for Police Accountability,” click here. For “The Culture and Practices of Policing That Killed Tyre Nichols (and So Many Others),” click here. For “​​The Lawfare Podcast: How the Police Became Untouchable,” click here. For “Mapping the Legacy of Prison Hunger Strikes in Texas: ‘I'm willing to die for the cause, because I can't live,’" click here. For “Criminalizing Survival: The Criminal Legal System Heaps More Violence on Victims of Gender-based Violence. Ending These Structures Is the Only Way to Protect Them,” click here. For “Spiritual Advisors Offering Final Comfort in Execution Rooms,” click here. For “Originalism Is Going to Get Women Killed: A federal court has ruled that a law barring domestic-violence offenders from owning firearms is unconstitutional,” click here. For “A Cop Sexually Assaulted Their Son. Then Child Protective Services Retaliated. How a family in Missouri almost lost their kid, and couldn’t fight back thanks to qualified immunity laws,” click here. For “One State’s Effort to Keep Some Police Encounters From Turning Deadly,” click here. For “What Can Federal Courts Do About Extreme, Outdated Sentences?,” click here. For “From Freddie Gray to Tyre Nichols, early police claims often misleading. An examination of seven prominent deadly cases where initial statements by authorities turned out to be false or incomplete,” click here. For “Texas death row inmate Andre Thomas’ attorneys apply for clemency, citing mental illness. At issue is whether Thomas, who gouged out his eyes after confessing to the 2004 murders of his estranged wife, their son and her daughter, is competent to be executed in April,” click here. For “Using State Constitutional Protections to Improve Life Behind Bars: Rulings in Oregon and Utah offer a road map for other state courts,” click here.

FROM PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF THE KEY UPDATE BUT STILL FRESH!

CONFERENCES, WEBINARS, AND TRAININGS

MHTTC Publishes Calendar of Events from Now Until September 19, 2023

The Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network (MHTTC) has published a calendar of its events from now through September 19. The calendar covers the 10 U.S.-based regional MHTTCs as well as the two national MHTTCs. The MHTTC is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. For the calendar, click here. (Courtesy of NYAPRS E-News)

NAADAC Hosts Free “Peer Recovery Support” Webinar Series, Issues Call for Proposals for Its Annual Conference, and Will Present Third Annual Virtual Summit on “Engagement in the Black Community”

First, the National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC)—now known as the Association for Addiction Professionals—will launch its free, 10-part “Peer Recovery Support” webinar series on January 26, 3 p.m.-4:30 p.m. ET. For details, click here. Second, NAADAC members and non-members are invited to submit presentation proposals for 1.5-hour breakout sessions at its 2023 Annual Conference, to be held in Denver October 6-11. Submission deadline: January 31. For details and to submit a proposal, click here. Third, NADAAC will present its third annual virtual summit on “Engagement in the Black Community” on February 9-10, 2023, 12 p.m.-5 p.m. ET. For details and to register, click here. (Courtesy of Jessi Davis)

APS Learning Community Offers a Free, Three-Part Webinar Series on “Trauma in the Workplace” and Hosts a Weekly Networking Meeting. Check Out Its Website for Upcoming Events.

The Academy of Peer Services (APS) Virtual Learning Community will continue its free, three-part “Trauma in the Workplace” webinar series on February 16, 2023, at 10 a.m. ET, with the second webinar in the series. For details and to register, click here. The third of the 90-minute webinars will take place on March 16 at 10 a.m. ET; for details and to register, click here. The first webinar in the series, presented on January 19, is available for free viewing, along with other archived APS Learning Community webinars (click here). In addition, the APS Networking Meeting for Peer Specialists is every Tuesday from 5:15 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. ET. Its purpose is to share ideas, experiences, and opportunities with others in the field of peer support, as well as to give and receive support to each other. To register, click here. For the Virtual Learning Community website, which includes a calendar of upcoming events, resources, and more, click here.

MHTTC Offers Free Online Behavioral Health Courses

The Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network (MHTTC) “currently offers 20 online courses available through Healtheknowledge.org. HealtheKnowledge.org offers high-quality, on-demand, and instructor-led courses that are open to the public. Courses are free for a certificate of completion, and yearly membership options are available for purchase to gain access to other HealtheKnowledge resources and earn unlimited CE credits. View our course listings here. View our how-to guide to set up your HealtheKnowledge account.” MHTTC is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

ISSTD to Host 40th Annual Conference in Louisville April 13-17, 2023

The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD) will host its 40th annual conference in Louisville; the pre-conference will be held April 13-14 and the conference April 15-17. The theme is “Shifting the Societal Denial of Dissociation.” A virtual option (details of which are explained at the conference link, here) will also be available. Early Bird registration is available through February 15.

BHN/OMH to Host a Free, Four-Part (Virtual) Series on Understanding and Reducing Stigma This Winter

“Mental Health Stigma: What Is It? Who Does It Impact? How Do We Reduce It?” Behavioral Health News and the New York State Office of Mental Health will offer a four-part (virtual) roundtable series to discuss these questions, featuring people with lived experience, advocates, policy makers, mental health providers, community leaders, researchers, and media figures. The four 90-minute roundtables, each of which will begin at 2 p.m. ET, are “Understanding the Experience of Mental Health Stigma” (January 12); “The Experience of Mental Health Stigma among Diverse Groups” (January 26); “The Role of the Media in Reducing Stigma” (February 9); and “Paths to Reduce Stigma and Promote Positive Attitudes” (March 2). For details and to register for any or all of the free roundtables, click here.

“So You’re Ready to Work; Now What?”

Rebel Leadership Group LLC and CAFE TAC has launched a new, 12-part interactive employment training series! “This series will be recovery-centered and strengths-based, examining the process of finding, applying for, and succeeding in a job through the lens of recovery, helping attendees to identify strengths and skills, align the job-seeking and employment experience with their personal recovery path, and providing opportunity for discussion in a peer-centered space…Registering for any of the 12 sessions will automatically register you for all future sessions.” For details and to register, click here. 

“The Role of Peer Specialists in Promoting Health Equity”: A 5-Part Series

On January 19, 2023, at 1 p.m. ET, PENTAC will present the first 90-minute webinar in a five-part series; the topic will be “Understanding the Drivers of Health Inequities.” The rest of the series is scheduled for January 26 (“Racial Justice and the Mental Health Recovery Movement”), February 9 (“Helpers, Healers, and Jailers–Understanding the Difference”), February 16 (“Implementing a Framework for Culturally Relevant Peer Support Services”), and March 2 (“Putting All the Pieces Together: An Action Plan for Promoting Health Equity”). All of the 90-minute sessions will begin at 1 p.m. ET. To register for the first webinar (which will enroll you in all of the sessions), click here.

OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN RESEARCH

New TU Collaborative Study on Bringing Activity into (or Back into) Your Life

“The Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion, in collaboration with the Copeland Center for Wellness and Recovery, is conducting research on a new online peer group workshop called REACH (Resilience, Education, Action, Community, Health). Participation (for adults 18-65 who have “significant mental health concerns”) involves a 12-session (on Mondays) “peer-delivered online intervention by the Copeland Center to explore meaningful activities.” For more information or to volunteer to participate, contact TUCollab@temple.edu. 

Young Adults with Psychiatric Diagnoses Are Sought for Study on Community Participation

The Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion is recruiting young adults (ages 18-30) with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression to take part in ConnectionsRx, designed to support engagement in meaningful community activities. Participants will be enrolled in the peer-led study for six months, and receive support to help meet community participation goals. Interviews (approximately 60 minutes each) will take place on Zoom. Participants will receive a $15 Amazon gift card (to a maximum of $45) for each survey completed. For the website, click here. Questions? Write to ConnectionsRx@temple.edu. 

South Southwest MHTTC Launches Youth and Young Adult Peer Supporters Survey

“Are you a peer specialist who provides peer support to other people under the age of 30? We want to hear from you! Please fill out the survey to assist the South Southwest Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (South Southwest MHTTC) in learning more about youth peer support across the country! The intent is to be able to include these peer supporters in research, training, and technical assistance activities surrounding youth peer support. The form should take 5-10 minutes to fill out, and can be done from a phone or a computer browser. To take the survey, click here.” Questions? Write to southsouthwest@mhttcnetwork.org.

Are You Interested in Pursuing Graduate School and/or a Research Career? Read Below.

Stephania Hayes (UC Davis), Shannon Pagdon (Columbia/NYS Psychiatric Institute/University of Pittsburgh), and Nev Jones (University of Pittsburgh) write: “We are gathering information from people with lived experience in the Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) or early psychosis space (including peer specialists, current/former CSC participants, and CSC youth coordinators) who are potentially interested in pursuing graduate school and/or a research career. All of us identify as having lived experience, work in CSC, and are invested in supporting the next generation of scholars who also have lived experience. We would like to create a discussion group and/or other supports for people interested in this career path. The link below leads to a very brief survey that will help us understand the level of interest in such supports, as well as areas of career interest. (Please note that this is not a research study.)” To participate in the anonymous survey, click here.

“Help Us Map the Landscape of Lived Experience and Family Involvement in 988 Policy and Related Crisis Response System Planning!”

“As 988 implementation rolls out alongside additional efforts to strengthen crisis response systems throughout the U.S., it's important to gauge the extent to which direct stakeholders (i.e., individuals who use or have used mental health crisis services and their families) have been involved in related policy, implementation and evaluation at the local, regional, state or federal levels. To map out involvement nationally, Mental Health America (lead: Kelly Davis), Nev Jones (University of Pittsburgh) and Keris Myrick (National Association of Peer Supporters) have developed a survey aimed at documenting the extent of stakeholder involvement, the forms this involvement has taken, and, where available, what concerns stakeholders have raised. Any individual with knowledge of lived experience and family involvement is eligible to participate; individuals completing the survey do not have to have lived experience themselves.” For more information and to access the survey, click here.

Survey Seeks Respondents Who Have Taken Mental Health Courses Involving Their Own Diagnoses

Have you taken a mental health course that covers a diagnosis you have? If so, you are invited to participate in a brief, anonymous, online survey--designed by a University of Pittsburgh MSW student--about what it's like for students with lived experience to study their own diagnoses in a classroom. The survey covers students' experiences of studying such subjects as "abnormal psychology," "psychopathology," and diagnosis and assessment when their own diagnoses are covered. "The goal of the project is to better understand what it feels like to take courses in which someone’s diagnosis is being taught/defined/discussed. There is currently no literature or reporting on the experiences of students in the above circumstances, or the associated impact." Interested? Please click here. Questions? Please email the project lead, Charlie Clement, at cjc204@pitt.edu

Peer Support in Higher Education Survey Seeks Respondents

“Peer support programs are growing on college campuses across the U.S. Mental Health America, Doors to Wellbeing, and the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion want to better understand the availability of peer support in higher education as well as the experiences and needs of students accessing peer support programs…We hope to use this research to support the expansion of peer support in higher education, including developing a national database of peer support programs in higher education and documenting pressing issues in campus programs…You may also indicate if you are interested in having your school’s peer support program listed in a national database of peer support programs in higher education.” For more information and to complete the survey, click here. 

BU Seeks Peer Support Specialists for a Research Study

The Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation at Boston University is developing and testing the effectiveness of a coaching service called Coaching and Advancement for Peer Providers (CAPP) “to increase organizational commitment and job satisfaction and decrease turnover among mental health peer providers.” BU CPR writes: “We need Peer Support Specialists (PSS) to participate in our study. Who can participate? People who are in a paid job as a Peer Support Specialist providing support to other people with mental health challenges, who are employed at least 10 hours per week, who have worked for the past six months in a mental health program, and who are experiencing stress because of challenges in the workplace. The study involves 16 one-hour sessions of coaching over a four-month period designed to help you with your job, meeting online (through Zoom, for example) with your coach, and filling out surveys one time before coaching starts and three additional times. You will have a 50/50 chance of getting a coach or having a one-time meeting to give you information about challenges at work. Benefits? You may learn strategies to help make work less stressful.” For more information, click here. For questions, contact Principal Investigator E. Sally Rogers, Sc.D., at erogers@bu.edu or 617-353-3549.

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

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES

Nominations Are Open for Six Mental Health America Awards

“Nominations are now open for six MHA awards that recognize peers, individuals, journalists, advocates, and MHA affiliates making a difference in mental health,” Mental Health America writes. “These awards will be given out during formal ceremonies at the 2023 Mental Health America Conference, held June 8-10, 2023 in Washington, D.C.” The deadline to nominate yourself or others is March 1, 2023, at 5 p.m. ET. For information about the six awards, and to submit one or more nominations, click here.

TU Collaborative Wants to Hear Your Story!

“We are working on a project to better understand social connections among adults with significant mental health challenges,” the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion writes. “We are seeking your stories on your social connections generally” and “what those connections mean to you.” The TU Collaborative will compile these stories based on a series of brief surveys. For details and to share your story, click here.

Call for Papers: “Recovery at 30: Emancipation, cooptation, or the end of an era?”

“The year 2023 marks exactly three decades since the publication of Bill Anthony’s seminal “Recovery from mental illness: the guiding vision of the mental health service system in the 1990s" (click here)...”In this special issue of Community Mental Health Journal,” the editors write, “we are soliciting both concept pieces (commentaries, critical reviews) and empirical work (qualitative, quantitative, ethnographic or mixed methods) that explore the question of whether recovery policy remains relevant and emancipatory today or whether the psy-fields are instead in need of fresh thinking and new, more diverse values-based frameworks.” The submission deadline is September 1, 2023. For more information, click here.

Common Threads: Stories of Survival & Recovery from Mental Illness

Common Threads: Stories of Survival & Recovery from Mental Illness, a 108-page compendium, includes “tales of survival and recovery” by a number of Floridians. To quote from the Introduction, “Many of the people in these stories have lived significant portions of their lives in psychiatric institutions, and only through their strengths have they found their way back to the community…In these tales, we hear about the importance of education and peer support…” To download the free document, click here.

“Crisis Now” Offers a “Roadmap to Safe, Effective Crisis Care”

The goal of Crisis Now: Transforming Crisis Services—led by the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) and developed with the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, and RI International—is “to provide all communities a roadmap to safe, effective crisis care that diverts people in distress from the emergency department and jail by developing a continuum of crisis care services that match people’s clinical needs.” Among the resources offered on the website are SAMHSA’s 80-page “National Guidelines for Behavioral Health Crisis Care Best Practice Toolkit” (2020), an “Overview of Crisis Funding Sources Available to States and Localities” (last updated March 2, 2022), and assessment tools, such as “How Does Your Crisis System Rate?” The Crisis Now partners write: “Are you interested in adding your organization to the list supporting Crisis Now, or do you have questions? Reach out to us at info@crisisnow.com. For the website, click here.

“What Is the Meaning of Life?” This Free Online Collection Offers Answers

Excellence Reporter offers more than “1,200 articles-interviews on ‘What Is the Meaning of Life?’ written by renowned spiritual leaders, mindfulness experts, great thinkers and authors, elders, artists, musicians, CEOs, etc.” The contributors include such renowned figures as Bertrand Russell; Carl Jung; the Dalai Lama; Eleanor Roosevelt; Epicurus; Erich Fromm; Kahlil Gibran; Buckminster Fuller; Robert Louis Stevenson; and Ron Bassman, executive director of MindFreedom International. To browse the free compendium, click here.

The UIC Center’s Solutions Suite for Health & Recovery Offers Free Tools

"The UIC Center offers tools, curricula, and implementation manuals for free use in community-based programs, peer-run programs, or one's own life. You can introduce the entire complement of products to foster improved health, wellness, and mental health recovery. Or, you can choose the ones that will work best for your program or your life. The Suite was developed in collaboration with Collaborative Support Programs of New Jersey. The UIC Center is funded by NIDILRR (National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research). For the UIC Solutions Suite for Health & Recovery, click here. (Courtesy of Peggy Swarbrick via Jacek Haciak)

U.S. Surgeon General Creates Community Toolkit for Addressing Health Misinformation

"The U.S. Surgeon General’s Community Toolkit for Addressing Health Misinformation, developed in collaboration with the HHS Office of Evaluation Sciences (OES), provides specific guidance and resources for health care providers, educators, librarians, faith leaders, and trusted community members to understand, identify, and stop the spread of health misinformation in their communities." For information about the toolkit (a 22-page overview of health misinformation, and resources to stop it), and links to a “Talk to Your Community About Health Misinformation” Infographic, a “Health Misinformation Checklist” Infographic, and the Surgeon General's press release, click here.

"Psychiatrist with Philosophical Interests" leads "Conversations in Critical Psychiatry," a Psychiatric Times Series

Awais Aftab, who describes himself as a "psychiatrist with philosophical interests" in his Twitter bio, leads "Conversations in Critical Psychiatry," which, he says, "explores critical and philosophical perspectives in psychiatry and engages with prominent commentators within and outside the profession who have made meaningful criticisms of the status quo." Among those interviewed are Allen Frances, M.D., author of Saving Normal; Sandra Steingard, M.D., and G. Scott Waterman, M.D., on "Integrating Academic Inquiry and Reformist Activism in Psychiatry"; Susannah Cahalan, author of Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness, on "50 Shades of Misdiagnosis"; Kathy Flaherty, J.D., executive director of the Connecticut Legal Rights Project, Inc., on "Reconsidering Care and Coercion in Psychiatry"; Nev Jones, Ph.D., on "Phenomenology, Power, Polarization, and the Discourse on Psychosis"; Dainius Puras, M.D., on "Global Psychiatry's Crisis of Values"; and many others. For the archived interviews, click here.

CNN Offers “A Guide to Helping and Getting Help During the Coronavirus Crisis”

CNN writes: “The coronavirus pandemic is overwhelming, and one of the most excruciating parts for many people is the feeling of utter helplessness in the face of widespread suffering and hardship. CNN’s Impact Your World has compiled a list of donation opportunities and tips to help those affected by the crisis. Click on a category or scroll down to browse a list of organizations, resources and ideas. Need help? Most categories also include resources for financial, emotional or social support.” For the free guide, click here.

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.

Seven Ways to Keep a Digital Copy of Your Vaccination Card on Your Smartphone

“You'll need proof of vaccination to go back to work or enter many restaurants, gyms and event venues, so keep your COVID-19 card handy.” This is the advice of CNET.com, a tech support website. Besides the obvious—taking a photo of the card to store on your phone—there are six other suggestions. For details, click here. (Courtesy of Yvonne Smith)

ISPS-US Offers an Array of Archived Webinars—Free but Donations Are Welcomed

The ISPS-US (The International Society for Psychological and Social Approaches to Psychosis-US Chapter) is offering a whole raft of archived webinars, which are free (although donations are welcomed). Among the webinars are "Cognitive Behavioral & Related Therapies for Psychosis: Diverse Approaches to Supporting Recovery," "How Can the Uncontainable Be Contained? Paradoxes of Madness & Philosophy," "Robert Whitaker: The Rising Non-Pharmaceutical Paradigm for 'Psychosis,'" "Life with Voices: A Guide for Harmony," "COPE Project: Non-Pharmaceutical Research on Influencing Voices and Visions," "What Hurts and What Helps In Treatment For 'Psychosis': Insider Perspectives," and many others. For more information and to access the webinars, click here.

“Where DNA and Medications Meet”

Not all drugs are effective for all people; therapeutic response rates for many drugs are only 50%-75%. “OneOme, co-founded by [the] Mayo Clinic, provides evidence-based pharmacogenomic solutions that help improve patient outcomes and reduce costs through more personalized medication decisions.” OneOme’s RightMed Test is “a doctor-ordered pharmacogenomic (PGx) test that analyzes your DNA and provides your doctors with genetic information to help them determine how you may respond to certain medications. The results may help your doctors reduce medication trial and error, minimize risk of side effects, save you time and money, and make more informed prescribing decisions. Because your DNA doesn’t change over time, your doctors can use your test results to make more personalized medication decisions for you over the course of your lifetime.” For more information, click here. (Courtesy of Robin Osborne)

Doors to Wellbeing Offers “State Selfies: A Picture of Peer Services Reported by Peers”

Doors to Wellbeing’s “Peer Album” is a directory of nearly 600 peer-run organizations throughout the U.S. They invite updates and offer instructions for providing them and add, “If your entry has not made this first draft, we encourage you to re-submit.” For the 158-page directory, click here.

Disclaimer: The Clearinghouse does not necessarily endorse the opinions and opportunities included in the Key Update.

About the Key Update

The National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse is affiliated with the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion. The Key Update is the free monthly e-newsletter of the National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse. Volume 19, No. 9, March 2023. For content, reproduction or publication information, please contact Susan Rogers at selfhelpclearinghouse@gmail.com. Follow Susan on Twitter at @SusanRogersMH

Key Update, February 2023, Volume 19, Number 8

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: There are three webinars scheduled for today (January 26) and a fourth for tomorrow (January 27)! See the first three items under “Webinars, Trainings, and Conferences” for details.

NEWS

“NIH Advances Landmark Recommendations on Disability Inclusion and Anti-ableism”

“In 2021, within its Working Group on Diversity, the NIH [National Institutes of Health] established a subgroup on individuals with disabilities…to explore ways to increase disability equity and inclusion. The committee that advises the NIH’s director endorsed the subgroup’s landmark set of recommendations, which were finally published on Dec. 30." To read the STAT article, click here. 

“ ‘Out Of Control’: Dozens of Telehealth Startups Sent Sensitive Health Information to Big Tech Companies”

“An investigation by The Markup and STAT found 49 out of 50 telehealth websites sharing health data via Big Tech’s tracking tools,” according to a recent article. For the article, click here.

“What Is the Frequency and Nature of Visual Hallucinations in Non-clinical Participants?”

According to a study published in November 2022, visual hallucinations (VH) “are seemingly common in non-clinical populations and are similar in a number of ways to those of people with psychosis. Awareness that VH occur on a continuum could normalize people's experiences and reduce their negative appraisals and related distress.” For the study, © British Psychological Society, click here. 

“Talking about...PPI” [Patient and Public Involvement] in Mental Health Research

“'Talking about...PPI' [Patient and Public Involvement] is a new video series in which experienced public contributors in mental health research talk to researchers about their role. The conversations offer lots of useful insight, experience and guidance for researchers.” For more information, click here.

Yale’s New Policies Will Help Students with Mental Health Conditions; NASMHPD Manuals May Help Students, Families, and Campus Staff and Administrators

Yale University has made major changes to its medical leave policy that will allow students struggling with mental health problems to take time off—rather than withdraw—and to return to campus when they’re ready, without reapplying. In addition, for the “Student and Family” Version of “Back to School: Toolkits to Support the Full Inclusion of Students with Early Psychosis in Higher Education,” a 94-page manual–one of a two-part series available from the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD)--click here. For the 57-page “Campus Staff and Administrator Version,” click here.

Your Consent Is Not Required: The Rise in Psychiatric Detentions, Forced Treatment, and Abusive Guardianships

Your Consent Is Not Required: The Rise in Psychiatric Detentions, Forced Treatment and Abusive Guardianships “investigates people's experiences of civil psychiatric detentions, and the science, economics, and cultural politics of forced treatment,” says its author, Rob Wipond. Author and psychologist Bruce Levine described the book as "a hugely important investigation of psychiatry's ‘extra-legal’ policing of people who have done nothing illegal but who create tension for their families or society… A vivid picture of an injustice ignored by the mainstream media.” And Scientific American columnist John Horgan wrote: "Rob Wipond's exposé is passionate, thoroughly reported and rigorously reasoned. This book grabbed my attention from the start and never let go.” For more information and to order the book, click here or visit your local bookstore.

WEBINARS, TRAININGS, AND CONFERENCES

MHTTC Publishes Calendar of Events from Now Until September 19, 2023

The Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network (MHTTC) has published a calendar of its events from now through September 19. The calendar covers the 10 U.S.-based regional MHTTCs as well as the two national MHTTCs. The MHTTC is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. For the calendar, click here. (Courtesy of NYAPRS E-News)

NAADAC Hosts Free “Peer Recovery Support” Webinar Series, Issues Call for Proposals for Its Annual Conference, and Will Present Third Annual Virtual Summit on “Engagement in the Black Community”

First, the National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC)—now known as the Association for Addiction Professionals—will launch its free, 10-part “Peer Recovery Support” webinar series on January 26, 3 p.m.-4:30 p.m. ET. For details, click here. Second, NAADAC members and non-members are invited to submit presentation proposals for 1.5-hour breakout sessions at its 2023 Annual Conference, to be held in Denver October 6-11. Submission deadline: January 31. For details and to submit a proposal, click here. Third, NADAAC will present its third annual virtual summit on “Engagement in the Black Community” on February 9-10, 2023, 12 p.m.-5 p.m. ET. For details and to register, click here. (Courtesy of Jessi Davis)

“Psychosis, Sociopolitical Trauma and the Asian Diaspora”

On January 27, 2023, at 4:30 p.m. ET, the International Society for Psychological and Social Approaches to Psychosis-U.S. Chapter (ISPS-US) will present a “conversation about the impact of trauma born of war on those who are deemed ‘other’ within the communities in which they seek refuge.” For more information about this 90-minute webinar, click here.

Café TA Center to Present “Master Your Personal Narrative: Storytelling as a Leadership Tool”

This free six-part series—beginning on January 31, 2023, at 1:30 p.m. ET and continuing every Tuesday at the same time through March 7—will explore how to “broaden the idea of the personal recovery narrative and discuss how you can use your story as a leadership tool in different contexts, including advocacy, executive/organizational leadership, and agency-level systems change.” For details and to register, click here.

“Finding Your Rhythm: Infusing Music into Crisis Settings”

On January 31, 2023, at 2 p.m. ET, the National Empowerment Center (NEC) will present a free, 90-minute webinar on “Finding Your Rhythm: Infusing Music into Crisis Settings.” NEC writes: “In this webinar, learn about meaningful and creative ways to bring music into crisis treatment settings, from songwriting and singalongs to intimate performances.” For details and to register, click here.

“Expanding Access to and Use of Behavioral Health Services for People Experiencing Homelessness”

On February 2, at 2 p.m. ET (11 a.m. PT), “join the MHTTC Network, SAMHSA and Abt Associates for an upcoming webinar highlighting findings from SAMHSA's new guide, “Expanding Access to and Use of Behavioral Health Services for People Experiencing Homelessness.” “This webinar will provide an overview of the SAMHSA guide and include presentations from four organizations that are currently using the evidence-based practices featured in this guide to support mental health and substance use needs among individuals experiencing homelessness.” For details and to register, click here.

Free Intentional Peer Support Training on February 5

On February 5, 2023, at 12 p.m. ET, a free Intentional Peer Support (IPS) training will be sponsored by the 2022 International Peer Respite/Soteria Summit. It is a follow-up to the Summit, but new participants are welcome. The sponsors write: “In this three-hour online overview, participants will learn about the history of IPS as well as the tasks and principles of this transformational framework. There will be an opportunity to ask questions and have interactive discussions with the facilitators and other participants.” The Summit website has a list of resources; and some short videos from the Summit are available here. For more information and to register, click here; registrants will be emailed the link to participate before February 5.

Online Conference on “Withdrawal from Psychiatric Drugs 2,” February 10-11, 2023

The International Institute for Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal (IIPDW) is holding its second online conference–"Withdrawal from Psychiatric Drugs 2”–February 10-11, 2023. “...The conference will look at the latest developments in research and the world of online peer support…Anyone with a personal or professional interest is welcome.” For more information and to register, click here. 

ADAA to Offer Two Free Webinars in February; Others Can Be Viewed on Demand

The Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) will offer two free 60-minute webinars in February: on February 9, 2023, at 1 p.m. ET: “Perfectly Imperfect Love: Tips to Recognize & Move Past Relationship OCD” (click here); and “Athletes and Mental Health,” on February 13 at 12 p.m. ET (click here). All webinars are recorded and are available to watch on-demand. For more information, click here.

APS Learning Community Offers a Free, Three-Part Webinar Series on “Trauma in the Workplace” and Hosts a Weekly Networking Meeting. Check Out Its Website for Upcoming Events.

The Academy of Peer Services (APS) Virtual Learning Community will continue its free, three-part “Trauma in the Workplace” webinar series on February 16, 2023, at 10 a.m. ET, with the second webinar in the series. For details and to register, click here. The third of the 90-minute webinars will take place on March 16 at 10 a.m. ET; for details and to register, click here. The first webinar in the series, presented on January 19, is available for free viewing, along with other archived APS Learning Community webinars (click here). In addition, the APS Networking Meeting for Peer Specialists is every Tuesday from 5:15 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. ET. Its purpose is to share ideas, experiences, and opportunities with others in the field of peer support, as well as to give and receive support to each other. To register, click here. For the Virtual Learning Community website, which includes a calendar of upcoming events, resources, and more, click here.

Doors to Wellbeing to Host the Next Webinar in Its Monthly Series on February 28

Stay tuned to the Doors to Wellbeing website for details of its February webinar!

MHTTC Offers Free Online Behavioral Health Courses

The Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network (MHTTC) “currently offers 20 online courses available through Healtheknowledge.org. HealtheKnowledge.org offers high-quality, on-demand, and instructor-led courses that are open to the public. Courses are free for a certificate of completion, and yearly membership options are available for purchase to gain access to other HealtheKnowledge resources and earn unlimited CE credits. View our course listings here. View our how-to guide to set up your HealtheKnowledge account.” MHTTC is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

ISSTD to Host 40th Annual Conference in Louisville April 13-17, 2023

The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD) will host its 40th annual conference in Louisville; the pre-conference will be held April 13-14 and the conference April 15-17. The theme is “Shifting the Societal Denial of Dissociation.” A virtual option (details of which are explained at the conference link, here) will also be available. Early Bird registration is available through February 15.

OPPORTUNITIES

“Want to Help Transform Campus Mental Health Policy and Supports in the United States?” 

Leaders of the disability rights movement who have received a PCORI “convening” grant “are recruiting potential members for workgroups to develop research priorities in each of three areas leading up to the convening, or who are interested in participating in the final all-day virtual summit in Fall 2023.” The three areas are “campus crisis response and integration of campus support in the context of hospitalization; medical leaves and/or psychiatric disabilities requiring cross-division coordination; and psychiatric disability accommodations and ADA-related policy and practice…To facilitate diverse involvement, we are asking interested individuals to fill out an expression of interest form.” For details and the application, click here. Deadline: February 3, 2023.

New TU Collaborative Study on Bringing Activity into (or Back into) Your Life

“The Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion, in collaboration with the Copeland Center for Wellness and Recovery, is conducting research on a new online peer group workshop called REACH (Resilience, Education, Action, Community, Health). Participation (for adults 18-65 who have “significant mental health concerns”) involves a 12-session (on Mondays) “peer-delivered online intervention by the Copeland Center to explore meaningful activities.” For more information or to volunteer to participate, contact TUCollab@temple.edu. 

Nominations Are Open for Six Mental Health America Awards

“Nominations are now open for six MHA awards that recognize peers, individuals, journalists, advocates, and MHA affiliates making a difference in mental health,” Mental Health America writes. “These awards will be given out during formal ceremonies at the 2023 Mental Health America Conference, held June 8-10, 2023 in Washington, D.C.” The deadline to nominate yourself or others is March 1, 2023, at 5 p.m. ET. For information about the six awards, and to submit one or more nominations, click here.

RESOURCES

“The Need for a New Generation of Digital Mental Health Tools to Support More Accessible, Effective and Equitable Care”

An editorial in the February 2023 edition of World Psychiatry highlights “the need for a new generation of digital mental health tools to support more accessible, effective and equitable care.” The authors conclude: “Achieving optimal health, including mental health, means that we must address social/political determinants of health. Technology literacy now is considered a social determinant of health…Thus, supporting digital self-determination should be the first priority…” Scroll down for the editorial at this link.

Mental Health Advocate Pat Deegan’s Website Offers 2 Articles and 24 Posters for Free

“We are making a change to our website so that everyone can access my FREE posters and papers more easily,” Pat Deegan writes. The two articles currently available are “Recovery, Rehabilitation, and the Conspiracy of Hope” and “Prescribing Hope for Recovery.” The website also includes 24 free posters, with messages such as “Recovery happens for ordinary people like me and you who, upon awakening, swing our feet over the edge of the bed, stand up and face the day." For the articles and posters, click here. (Courtesy of Elizabeth R. Stone)

The February 2023 Digest of Articles Offering Healthy Lifestyle Advice

For “How a Bit of Awe Can Improve Your Health,” click here. For “The 7-Day Happiness Challenge: If you take this seven-day challenge and if you commit yourself to doing all of these things without cheating, not only you will know what makes happy people happy, but at the end of the challenge, you might also experience that happiness for yourself,” click here. For “How to Become a Morning Exercise Person,” click here. For “You Can Do This 10-Minute Workout at Home with No Equipment,” click here. 

The February 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 “Drive Change is a New York City nonprofit that ‘provides opportunities for young people to further their social and professional development through the power of work…At Drive Change our mission is to support formerly incarcerated young people, and create quality employment pathways to ensure their economic and emotional wellbeing,’” click here. For “W.Va. journalist let go after reporting on abuse allegations: A West Virginia journalist lost her job last month after she reported about alleged abuse of people with disabilities within the state agency that runs West Virginia’s foster care and psychiatric facilities,” click here. For “Reflections on Long Prison Sentences: A Conversation with Crime Survivors, Formerly Incarcerated People, and Family Members: If we want to improve conditions in prisons and protect public safety we need to think differently about long prison sentences. That starts with listening more often to incarcerated people and their families,” click here. For “Brady ’s Failure: The rule was supposed to prevent prosecutors from hiding evidence. It hasn’t worked—but there’s a better way,” click here. For “Federal Inmates Suffering From Unconstitutional Medical Neglect Could Get Relief Under Rule Change: The U.S. Sentencing Commission might make medical neglect a qualifying condition for compassionate release,” click here. For “The Brutal Reality of Life in America’s Most Notorious Jail: I’ve been locked up in maximum-security prisons for two decades. My time on Rikers Island was worse,” click here. For “'This Place Is Crazy': Our mental-health-care system is broken. Ten of every eleven psychiatric patients housed by the government are incarcerated. Here’s what this crisis looks like from the inside—a series of lost lives and a few rare victories—as reported by a prisoner-journalist,” click here. For “‘Riotsville, USA’ Shows the Birth of Police Militarization: Everything Looks Like a Nail–A new documentary uses archive footage to show how the government started thinking of protesters as enemies, and police as soldiers,” click here. For “How an Illicit Cell Phone Helped Me Take College Courses from Prison: ‘I didn’t want to give any type of indication that I am in prison, because I didn’t want to be kicked out,’” click here. For “The Many Ingenious Ways People in Prison Use (Forbidden) Cell Phones: Despite the security concerns of administrators, incarcerated people use phones to hustle, make TikToks or publicize prison conditions,” click here. For “EXPLAINER: Biden inaction, mixed signals on death penalty,” click here. For “How Biden Can Reverse Trump’s Death Penalty Expansion: Biden vowed to end the death penalty. A recent court filing suggests where he might start,” click here. For “Proposed BOP Rule Will Hurt Struggling Families,” click here. For “To avoid false confessions, Pennsylvania needs to mandate taped interrogations | Opinion,” click here. For “Is Bail Reform Causing an Increase in Crime? Bail reform isn’t increasing crime. At least not in Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia and New Jersey. ‘Neither violent nor nonviolent crimes or charges increased markedly immediately after jurisdictions implemented bail reform,’” click here. For “Data-Driven Decarceration: A close analysis of prison data can help us think strategically about the tradeoffs of different approaches to ending mass incarceration,” click here. For “Editorial: Three police killings in one week expose L.A.'s deadly response to mental health crisis,” click here. For “California says it will dismantle death row. The move brings cheers and anger,” click here. For “Police Killed 1,183 People in 2022. Despite a Viral Claim, That's Not a 'Record High.' Any unjustified killing by the government demands public attention. But fatal shootings by police used to be much more common,” click here. For “District attorney determines 'no basis' for criminal liability in Brieon Green jail death,” click here. For “Why So Many Jails Are in a ‘State of Complete Meltdown’: Overcrowding, violence and abuse proliferate at jails across the country, as staffing problems make long-simmering problems worse,” click here. For “The Graying of America’s Prisons: In a first-of-its-kind project, PJP contributors chronicle the now ubiquitous experience of growing old behind bars,” click here. For “Is Death by Incarceration the New Normal for Aging Prisoners? Thousands of older people occupy bed space in maximum security prisons, even though the recidivism rate for people older than 65 is close to zero,” click here. For “A New Beginning for Formerly Incarcerated Women,” click here. For “For the exonerated, compensation is a battle for stability and dignity,” click here. For “ ‘It’s Crushing’: The Lasting Trauma of the Exonerated: Proving your innocence is only part of the battle to put your life back together,” click here. For “Maine’s Prisons Taught Washington a Crucial Lesson in Fighting Opioids: Using drugs to treat addicts inside prison might just be the best way to stem the crisis of overdose deaths,” click here. For “Federal Prisons Were Told to Provide Addiction Medications. Instead, They Punish People Who Use Them. Congress directed the Bureau of Prisons to make Suboxone and other medications widely available, but only a small fraction of those who need the help have received it,” click here. For “Biden signs bill to ease costs for prisoner calls to family,” click here. For “Txas Cities Prioritize Police Over People: Fort Worth spends six times more on criminal justice than community services,” click here. For “Man died in Maricopa County jail after law enforcement used excessive force, family alleges,” click here. For “Notable ruling on meth sentencing guidelines by a notable federal sentencing judge,” click here. For “US, Massachusetts prison officials strike mental health deal,” click here. For “Bill forcing feds to fix prison cameras is signed into law,” click here. 

FROM PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF THE KEY UPDATE BUT STILL FRESH!

CONFERENCES, WEBINARS, AND TRAININGS

BHN/OMH to Host a Free, Four-Part (Virtual) Series on Understanding and Reducing Stigma This Winter

“Mental Health Stigma: What Is It? Who Does It Impact? How Do We Reduce It?” Behavioral Health News and the New York State Office of Mental Health will offer a four-part (virtual) roundtable series to discuss these questions, featuring people with lived experience, advocates, policy makers, mental health providers, community leaders, researchers, and media figures. The four 90-minute roundtables, each of which will begin at 2 p.m. ET, are “Understanding the Experience of Mental Health Stigma” (January 12); “The Experience of Mental Health Stigma among Diverse Groups” (January 26); “The Role of the Media in Reducing Stigma” (February 9); and “Paths to Reduce Stigma and Promote Positive Attitudes” (March 2). For details and to register for any or all of the free roundtables, click here.

“So You’re Ready to Work; Now What?”

Rebel Leadership Group LLC and CAFE TAC has launched a new, 12-part interactive employment training series! “This series will be recovery-centered and strengths-based, examining the process of finding, applying for, and succeeding in a job through the lens of recovery, helping attendees to identify strengths and skills, align the job-seeking and employment experience with their personal recovery path, and providing opportunity for discussion in a peer-centered space…Registering for any of the 12 sessions will automatically register you for all future sessions.” For details and to register, click here. 

“The Role of Peer Specialists in Promoting Health Equity”: A 5-Part Series

On January 19, 2023, at 1 p.m. ET, PENTAC will present the first 90-minute webinar in a five-part series; the topic will be “Understanding the Drivers of Health Inequities.” The rest of the series is scheduled for January 26 (“Racial Justice and the Mental Health Recovery Movement”), February 9 (“Helpers, Healers, and Jailers–Understanding the Difference”), February 16 (“Implementing a Framework for Culturally Relevant Peer Support Services”), and March 2 (“Putting All the Pieces Together: An Action Plan for Promoting Health Equity”). All of the 90-minute sessions will begin at 1 p.m. ET. To register for the first webinar (which will enroll you in all of the sessions), click here.

OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN RESEARCH

Young Adults with Psychiatric Diagnoses Are Sought for Study on Community Participation

The Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion is recruiting young adults (ages 18-30) with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression to take part in ConnectionsRx, designed to support engagement in meaningful community activities. Participants will be enrolled in the peer-led study for six months, and receive support to help meet community participation goals. Interviews (approximately 60 minutes each) will take place on Zoom. Participants will receive a $15 Amazon gift card (to a maximum of $45) for each survey completed. For the website, click here. Questions? Write to ConnectionsRx@temple.edu. 

South Southwest MHTTC Launches Youth and Young Adult Peer Supporters Survey

“Are you a peer specialist who provides peer support to other people under the age of 30? We want to hear from you! Please fill out the survey to assist the South Southwest Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (South Southwest MHTTC) in learning more about youth peer support across the country! The intent is to be able to include these peer supporters in research, training, and technical assistance activities surrounding youth peer support. The form should take 5-10 minutes to fill out, and can be done from a phone or a computer browser. To take the survey, click here.” Questions? Write to southsouthwest@mhttcnetwork.org.

Are You Interested in Pursuing Graduate School and/or a Research Career? Read Below.

Stephania Hayes (UC Davis), Shannon Pagdon (Columbia/NYS Psychiatric Institute/University of Pittsburgh), and Nev Jones (University of Pittsburgh) write: “We are gathering information from people with lived experience in the Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) or early psychosis space (including peer specialists, current/former CSC participants, and CSC youth coordinators) who are potentially interested in pursuing graduate school and/or a research career. All of us identify as having lived experience, work in CSC, and are invested in supporting the next generation of scholars who also have lived experience. We would like to create a discussion group and/or other supports for people interested in this career path. The link below leads to a very brief survey that will help us understand the level of interest in such supports, as well as areas of career interest. (Please note that this is not a research study.)” To participate in the anonymous survey, click here.

“Help Us Map the Landscape of Lived Experience and Family Involvement in 988 Policy and Related Crisis Response System Planning!”

“As 988 implementation rolls out alongside additional efforts to strengthen crisis response systems throughout the U.S., it's important to gauge the extent to which direct stakeholders (i.e., individuals who use or have used mental health crisis services and their families) have been involved in related policy, implementation and evaluation at the local, regional, state or federal levels. To map out involvement nationally, Mental Health America (lead: Kelly Davis), Nev Jones (University of Pittsburgh) and Keris Myrick (National Association of Peer Supporters) have developed a survey aimed at documenting the extent of stakeholder involvement, the forms this involvement has taken, and, where available, what concerns stakeholders have raised. Any individual with knowledge of lived experience and family involvement is eligible to participate; individuals completing the survey do not have to have lived experience themselves.” For more information and to access the survey, click here.

Survey Seeks Respondents Who Have Taken Mental Health Courses Involving Their Own Diagnoses

Have you taken a mental health course that covers a diagnosis you have? If so, you are invited to participate in a brief, anonymous, online survey--designed by a University of Pittsburgh MSW student--about what it's like for students with lived experience to study their own diagnoses in a classroom. The survey covers students' experiences of studying such subjects as "abnormal psychology," "psychopathology," and diagnosis and assessment when their own diagnoses are covered. "The goal of the project is to better understand what it feels like to take courses in which someone’s diagnosis is being taught/defined/discussed. There is currently no literature or reporting on the experiences of students in the above circumstances, or the associated impact." Interested? Please click here. Questions? Please email the project lead, Charlie Clement, at cjc204@pitt.edu

Peer Support in Higher Education Survey Seeks Respondents

“Peer support programs are growing on college campuses across the U.S. Mental Health America, Doors to Wellbeing, and the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion want to better understand the availability of peer support in higher education as well as the experiences and needs of students accessing peer support programs…We hope to use this research to support the expansion of peer support in higher education, including developing a national database of peer support programs in higher education and documenting pressing issues in campus programs…You may also indicate if you are interested in having your school’s peer support program listed in a national database of peer support programs in higher education.” For more information and to complete the survey, click here. 

BU Seeks Peer Support Specialists for a Research Study

The Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation at Boston University is developing and testing the effectiveness of a coaching service called Coaching and Advancement for Peer Providers (CAPP) “to increase organizational commitment and job satisfaction and decrease turnover among mental health peer providers.” BU CPR writes: “We need Peer Support Specialists (PSS) to participate in our study. Who can participate? People who are in a paid job as a Peer Support Specialist providing support to other people with mental health challenges, who are employed at least 10 hours per week, who have worked for the past six months in a mental health program, and who are experiencing stress because of challenges in the workplace. The study involves 16 one-hour sessions of coaching over a four-month period designed to help you with your job, meeting online (through Zoom, for example) with your coach, and filling out surveys one time before coaching starts and three additional times. You will have a 50/50 chance of getting a coach or having a one-time meeting to give you information about challenges at work. Benefits? You may learn strategies to help make work less stressful.” For more information, click here. For questions, contact Principal Investigator E. Sally Rogers, Sc.D., at erogers@bu.edu or 617-353-3549.

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

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES

TU Collaborative Wants to Hear Your Story!

“We are working on a project to better understand social connections among adults with significant mental health challenges,” the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion writes. “We are seeking your stories on your social connections generally” and “what those connections mean to you.” The TU Collaborative will compile these stories based on a series of brief surveys. For details and to share your story, click here.

Call for Papers: “Recovery at 30: Emancipation, cooptation, or the end of an era?”

“The year 2023 marks exactly three decades since the publication of Bill Anthony’s seminal “Recovery from mental illness: the guiding vision of the mental health service system in the 1990s" (click here)...”In this special issue of Community Mental Health Journal,” the editors write, “we are soliciting both concept pieces (commentaries, critical reviews) and empirical work (qualitative, quantitative, ethnographic or mixed methods) that explore the question of whether recovery policy remains relevant and emancipatory today or whether the psy-fields are instead in need of fresh thinking and new, more diverse values-based frameworks.” The submission deadline is September 1, 2023. For more information, click here.

Common Threads: Stories of Survival & Recovery from Mental Illness

Common Threads: Stories of Survival & Recovery from Mental Illness, a 108-page compendium, includes “tales of survival and recovery” by a number of Floridians. To quote from the Introduction, “Many of the people in these stories have lived significant portions of their lives in psychiatric institutions, and only through their strengths have they found their way back to the community…In these tales, we hear about the importance of education and peer support…” To download the free document, click here.

“Crisis Now” Offers a “Roadmap to Safe, Effective Crisis Care”

The goal of Crisis Now: Transforming Crisis Services—led by the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) and developed with the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, and RI International—is “to provide all communities a roadmap to safe, effective crisis care that diverts people in distress from the emergency department and jail by developing a continuum of crisis care services that match people’s clinical needs.” Among the resources offered on the website are SAMHSA’s 80-page “National Guidelines for Behavioral Health Crisis Care Best Practice Toolkit” (2020), an “Overview of Crisis Funding Sources Available to States and Localities” (last updated March 2, 2022), and assessment tools, such as “How Does Your Crisis System Rate?” The Crisis Now partners write: “Are you interested in adding your organization to the list supporting Crisis Now, or do you have questions? Reach out to us at info@crisisnow.com. For the website, click here. (Courtesy of Kevin Fitts)

“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 Allen Frances, M.D., author of Saving Normal; Sandra Steingard, M.D., and G. Scott Waterman, M.D., on "Integrating Academic Inquiry and Reformist Activism in Psychiatry"; Susannah Cahalan, author of Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness, on "50 Shades of Misdiagnosis"; Kathy Flaherty, J.D., executive director of the Connecticut Legal Rights Project, Inc., on "Reconsidering Care and Coercion in Psychiatry"; Nev Jones, Ph.D., on "Phenomenology, Power, Polarization, and the Discourse on Psychosis"; Dainius Puras, M.D., on "Global Psychiatry's Crisis of Values"; and many others. For the archived interviews, click here.

CNN Offers “A Guide to Helping and Getting Help During the Coronavirus Crisis”

CNN writes: “The coronavirus pandemic is overwhelming, and one of the most excruciating parts for many people is the feeling of utter helplessness in the face of widespread suffering and hardship. CNN’s Impact Your World has compiled a list of donation opportunities and tips to help those affected by the crisis. Click on a category or scroll down to browse a list of organizations, resources and ideas. Need help? Most categories also include resources for financial, emotional or social support.” For the free guide, click here.

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.

Seven Ways to Keep a Digital Copy of Your Vaccination Card on Your Smartphone

“You'll need proof of vaccination to go back to work or enter many restaurants, gyms and event venues, so keep your COVID-19 card handy.” This is the advice of CNET.com, a tech support website. Besides the obvious—taking a photo of the card to store on your phone—there are six other suggestions. For details, click here. (Courtesy of Yvonne Smith)

ISPS-US Offers an Array of Archived Webinars—Free but Donations Are Welcomed

The ISPS-US (The International Society for Psychological and Social Approaches to Psychosis-US Chapter) is offering a whole raft of archived webinars, which are free (although donations are welcomed). Among the webinars are "Cognitive Behavioral & Related Therapies for Psychosis: Diverse Approaches to Supporting Recovery," "How Can the Uncontainable Be Contained? Paradoxes of Madness & Philosophy," "Robert Whitaker: The Rising Non-Pharmaceutical Paradigm for 'Psychosis,'" "Life with Voices: A Guide for Harmony," "COPE Project: Non-Pharmaceutical Research on Influencing Voices and Visions," "What Hurts and What Helps In Treatment For 'Psychosis': Insider Perspectives," and many others. For more information and to access the webinars, click here.

“Where DNA and Medications Meet”

Not all drugs are effective for all people; therapeutic response rates for many drugs are only 50%-75%. “OneOme, co-founded by [the] Mayo Clinic, provides evidence-based pharmacogenomic solutions that help improve patient outcomes and reduce costs through more personalized medication decisions.” OneOme’s RightMed Test is “a doctor-ordered pharmacogenomic (PGx) test that analyzes your DNA and provides your doctors with genetic information to help them determine how you may respond to certain medications. The results may help your doctors reduce medication trial and error, minimize risk of side effects, save you time and money, and make more informed prescribing decisions. Because your DNA doesn’t change over time, your doctors can use your test results to make more personalized medication decisions for you over the course of your lifetime.” For more information, click here. (Courtesy of Robin Osborne)

Doors to Wellbeing Offers “State Selfies: A Picture of Peer Services Reported by Peers”

Doors to Wellbeing’s “Peer Album” is a directory of nearly 600 peer-run organizations throughout the U.S. They invite updates and offer instructions for providing them and add, “If your entry has not made this first draft, we encourage you to re-submit.” For the 158-page directory, click here.

Disclaimer: The Clearinghouse does not necessarily endorse the opinions and opportunities included in the Key Update.

About the Key Update

The National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse is affiliated with the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion. The Key Update is the free monthly e-newsletter of the National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse. Volume 19, No. 8, February 2023. For content, reproduction or publication information, please contact Susan Rogers at selfhelpclearinghouse@gmail.com. Follow Susan on Twitter at @SusanRogersMH

Key Update, January 2023, Volume 19, Number 7

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!

***

NEWS

“Mental Health Care is Broken. Is Police Hospitalizing More People the Answer?”

“In New York City and other areas across the country, some leaders are pushing to forcefully commit more people,” the Marshall Project reports. The New York City plan is especially controversial: It involves giving police officers’ the task of deciding whether unhoused people are unable to care for themselves, despite the fact that “encounters between officers and people in crisis can easily escalate, and end in use of force, criminal charges, or even death.” In addition, locking people up against their will is traumatizing; and studies have shown that “in the week following discharge from a psychiatric hospital, people are at a dramatically high risk for suicide.” Instead, cities should invest in community-based services and supports, such as Housing First and peer-run crisis respites. For “Rethinking How Law Enforcement Is Deployed: Many major cities no longer rely solely on police to address social issues and traffic violations,” click here. For the Marshall Project story, click here. To sign a petition addressed to Mayor Adams of New York City to “Stop the Expansion of Involuntary Removal for People Living with Serious Mental Illness,” click here.

Death of Beloved Movement Leader Celia Brown Inspires Heartfelt Tributes; Her Final Presentation Was a Keynote on How “Peer Support Facilitates Change” 

When Celia Brown, board president of MindFreedom International and a founder of Surviving Race: The intersection of Disability, Injustice and Human Rights, died of cancer on December 11, 2022, many of her numerous friends and colleagues posted loving memories of her. NYAPRS CEO Harvey Rosenthal wrote: “Celia was and will always be one of our movement’s most cherished and most influential leaders....” Taina Laing, CEO, Baltic Street AEH, wrote: “Celia was a pioneer and what we call a Mother of The Movement.” PsychRights.org founder and author of The Zyprexa Papers Jim Gottstein, quoted in Mad In America, noted Celia’s instrumental role in the passage of the UN’s Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and wrote: “There have been an immense number of accolades for Celia Brown on her passing, all deserved and none hyped.” “...it’s hard to overstate the impact she had and the void she is leaving behind,” wrote psychiatrist and activist Peter Stastny. For NYAPRS’s “In Honor and Remembrance of Celia Brown,” click here. For the Mad In America tribute, click here. For Celia’s final presentation, a keynote entitled “Peer Support Facilitates Change,” at the 2022 ISPS-US conference on November 5, 2022, click here. 

Flaws, Bias, and Deception Affect the Approval Process for Drugs and Other Medical Interventions

The approval process for drugs and other medical interventions is flawed due to reporting bias and Broad Medical Uncertainty (BMU) as well as “image manipulation,” according to three 2022 articles, and a fourth study, from 2016. In “Selective publication of antidepressant trials and its influence on apparent efficacy…,” published by PLOS Medicine, the authors note that the published literature has “inflated the apparent efficacy of antidepressant drugs.” They conclude that “[r]eporting bias persists but appears to have diminished for newer, compared to older, antidepressants.” In “Broad Medical Uncertainty and the Ethical Obligation for Openness,” British researchers argue that “flaws in medical research methodologies, bias in publication practices, financial and other conflicts of interest, and features of how evidence is translated into practice” have resulted in “ ‘Broad Medical Uncertainty’ (BMU) regarding the effectiveness of many medical interventions.” And in “Image manipulation in science is suddenly in the news. But these cases are hardly rare,” published by STAT, the authors write, “Thanks to Photoshop, researchers could prettify the images in their manuscripts in ways that might cross the line into deception in an effort to clear the bar of peer review,” and that “[a] retraction for image manipulation happens about once every other day…” For the PLOS Medicine article, click here. For the BMU paper, published by Springer, click here. For the STAT article (Courtesy of Berta Britz), click here. And for “Antidepressants 'likely increase suicides in all ages' and manufacturers underreport side effects: Study” (2016), click here.

Birdwatching Is Good for Your Mental Health

British researchers used the “Urban Mind smartphone application to examine the impact of seeing or hearing birds on self-reported mental well-being in real-life contexts” on 1,292 participants between April 2018 and October 2021. They reported that “everyday encounters with birdlife were associated with time-lasting improvements in mental well-being. These improvements were evident not only in healthy people but also in those with a diagnosis of depression…” For a Nice News article about the study, published in Scientific Reports, click here.

TRAININGS, WEBINARS, AND CONFERENCES

BHN/OMH to Host a Free, Four-Part (Virtual) Series on Understanding and Reducing Stigma This Winter

“Mental Health Stigma: What Is It? Who Does It Impact? How Do We Reduce It?” Behavioral Health News and the New York State Office of Mental Health will offer a four-part (virtual) roundtable series to discuss these questions, featuring people with lived experience, advocates, policy makers, mental health providers, community leaders, researchers, and media figures. The four 90-minute roundtables, each of which will begin at 2 p.m. ET, are “Understanding the Experience of Mental Health Stigma” (January 12); “The Experience of Mental Health Stigma among Diverse Groups” (January 26); “The Role of the Media in Reducing Stigma” (February 9); and “Paths to Reduce Stigma and Promote Positive Attitudes” (March 2). For details and to register for any or all of the free roundtables, click here.

HUG ME Ink Seeks Planning Committee Members for 2024 Peer-A-Palooza

HUG ME Ink will be hosting its 2nd Annual Peer-A-Palooza Peer Summit in 2024, and is seeking members for the Planning Committee. “If you're interested in being on the Planning Committee for the 2024 PEER-A-PALOOZA, please fill out the application HERE. The deadline to apply is January 7, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. CST.” For information about the 2022 Peer-A-Palooza, click here.

MHA Issues Call for Proposals for its Annual Conference: Deadline January 9

The theme of Mental Health America’s annual conference, to be held June 6-10, 2023, in Washington, DC, and online, is Next Gen Prevention. Workshop proposals are due by January 9; Affiliate Day proposals are due by January 13. For details and to apply, click here.

“The Role of Peer Specialists in Promoting Health Equity”: A 5-Part Series

On January 19, 2023, at 1 p.m. ET, PENTAC will present the first 90-minute webinar in a five-part series; the topic will be “Understanding the Drivers of Health Inequities.” The rest of the series is scheduled for January 26 (“Racial Justice and the Mental Health Recovery Movement”), February 9 (“Helpers, Healers, and Jailers–Understanding the Difference”), February 16 (“Implementing a Framework for Culturally Relevant Peer Support Services”), and March 2 (“Putting All the Pieces Together: An Action Plan for Promoting Health Equity”). All of the 90-minute sessions will begin at 1 p.m. ET. To register for the first webinar (which will enroll you in all of the sessions), click here.

Beyond the Bars Conference 2023 Issues Request for Proposals: Deadline, January 20

Columbia University’s Center for Justice has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for its 2023 Beyond the Bars conference, to be held March 24-26, 2023. “This year's conference theme is Seeding Justice, exploring the ways in which movements for justice cultivate healing, accountability and transformation, for people and communities, as well as to hold harmful carceral systems to account.” For details about the conference, to be held at the Columbia University School of Social Work in New York City, and/or to submit a proposal, click here. The deadline is January 20 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

2023 Conference on Critical Psychiatry Issues Call for (Blogpost) Proposals

Vanderbilt University’s (Virtual/Hybrid) Conference on Critical Psychiatry (CCP), April 1-2, 2023, welcomes blogposts to be shared on the CCP website. Deadline: February 3, 2023 at 11:59PM CST. CCP writes that the conference will be “led by students + academics + practitioners + activists mostly from the US; we want to form a unified front of critiques.” The conference theme is Pluralism in Anti-oppressive Praxis. For more about the conference, click here. For details and to submit a proposal, click here.

Free Trainings Are Offered by Crestwood Behavioral Health Recovery Resilience Solutions 

“Recovery Resilience Solutions offers a wide range of peer, recovery, resilience and wellness trainings, products and events.” These include “Terms of Enpeerment,” a free 90-minute workshop which “will help your team, organization, and/or system fully embrace inclusion of peer support specialists to increase recovery outcomes”; “Building Bounce Back Families,” “a free 90-minute fun, engaging, and highly interactive workshop to provide participants with concrete tools and a process to build and strengthen resilient family relationships”; and “40 Days to a Resilient Journey of Meaning and Purpose,” accompanied by a “Next 40 Days Flight Packet.” For details about these and other trainings, some of which are California-specific, and to register, click here.

Introduction to Advocacy for Youth and Young Adults: Free National Virtual Workshop

PENTAC (Peer Experience National Technical Assistance Center) is presenting a free two-part workshop on “Introduction to Advocacy for Youth and Young Adults.” In Part 1, on January 25, 2023, 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m. ET, youth and young adults will explore advocacy topics to help them learn how to determine their needs, speak up to communicate, and ask for the help they need. In Part 2, March 22, 2023, 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m. ET, they will also learn the basics of being able to mentor others. Exclusive to individuals 12+; minors must have the permission of a caregiver. For details and to register for the January 25 workshop, click here. (Registration for the March 22 workshop will be available later.)

“How to Live and Work with Differing Perspectives” Is the Next Doors to Wellbeing Webinar

Doors to Wellbeing will present the next webinar in its monthly series on January 31, 2023, at 2 p.m. ET. Doors to Wellbeing writes: “Wellness and recovery are self-directed and can take many different paths. However, as peer supporters, we may feel conflicts with those perspectives. This webinar will explore strategies and skills to help us navigate differing perspectives, our own judgements, and support us to meet people where they are at.” For details and to register, click here.

“The Potential Contribution of User/Survivor-led Research and Open Dialogue to PPI [Patient and Public Involvement] Research Capacity”

INTAR (International Network Towards Alternatives and Rights-Based Supports) is offering three archived webinars, held in October and November 2022, that focus on user-led research in the context of mental health. The three are “Dialogue between established Peer Leaders in the mental health field,” “Owning our Own Destiny: Survivor/Service User Research & the Implications for PPI,” and “Open Dialogue Approaches to Public/Citizen Engagement in Research–doubling roles and moving forward.” For details and to view the webinars, click here. 

RESEARCH STUDIES

“Boundary Ethics in Peer Support: A Case Study”

In “Boundary Ethics in Peer Support: A Case Study,” the author, who has lived experience and a “side gig” as a peer supporter, writes: “Despite the rising prominence of peer support, little literature has explored ethics in the provision of care between people with mental illness. Drawing on a case narrative from a larger empirical study on peer support in the United States, this paper will reflect on boundary ethics: that is, the physical, emotional, and social parameters that people engaged in peer support set in relationships with one another.” For the article, published in the Journal of Ethics in Mental Health, click here.

“Perspectives from Voice-hearers and Their Voices on the ‘Talking with Voices’ Approach”

Talking with Voices (TwV) "is based on an understanding of voice-hearing as a relational phenomenon, often linked to trauma. Therapy involves facilitation of dialogical engagement between hearers and their voices…The current study explored experiences of the TwV approach from the perspectives of voice-hearers and also of their voices. Ten qualitative interviews were subjected to Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis.” For “ ‘It allowed us to let our pain out’: perspectives from voice-hearers and their voices on the ‘talking with voices’ approach,” click here.

RESOURCES

“A Selected Compendium of Mental Health Programs, Initiatives, and Resources on College Campuses”

The Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion has published the 55-page “Selected Compendium of Mental Health Programs, Initiatives, and Resources on College Campuses.” The author writes, “This document will highlight both the unique innovative efforts and common health promotion efforts on college campuses that assist students in maximizing their mental health and academic success.” To download the free document, click here.

Cafe TA Center Newsletter Focuses on Disaster Preparedness

“Mental Health and Natural Disasters: Including Your Disaster Plan in Your Recovery Plan” is the Page 1 headline of Focus 2.0, the newsletter of the Cafe TA Center.  “Natural disasters can be traumatizing experiences that create real challenges for people in recovery from serious mental health conditions. The good news is that by making disaster prep part of your personal recovery plan, you can make sure you’re ready for whatever comes your way!” For the newsletter, click here.

International Mad Studies Journal Is Launched

Volume 1, Number 1, of the International Mad Studies Journal has been published, and is available online for free! It was founded by a psychiatric survivor in Australia “in the context of working in academia and seeing the challenges of producing alternative knowledges and ideas in mental health,” according to the Introduction. Together with “like-minded people” with lived experience as well as allies, they “wanted to challenge the dominance of traditional mental health discourse, both inside and outside the academy.” To read the Journal, click here.

Global Mental Health Peer Network Offers Many Free Resources

The Global Mental Health Peer Network offers numerous free resources “from lived experience perspectives and our collective expertise in various areas of mental health.” Among the podcasts are “A Story of Living and Thriving with Schizophrenia” and “Supporting My Mother with Her Mental Illness.” Among the free academic publications are “Testifying after an Investigation: Shaping the Mental Health of Public Safety Personnel,” “Mental Health and the City in th Post-Covid-19 Era,” and “Rights-based Mental Health Care.” For the resources, click here.

“The Politics of Service User Labour” is a Zine about the Politics of Peer Support Employment

“ ‘The Politics of Service User Labour’ talks about issues that concern service users/survivors who perform different kinds of labour (paid and unpaid) in the mental health sector…Though there have been improvements in employment and inclusion opportunities over the years, problems remain. We still need to work together to advance working conditions, wages, and benefits for service users/survivors.” For the 19-page zine, click here. (Courtesy of Ann Kasper and Karen Machin)

Disability Visibility Project Creates, Shares, and Amplifies Disability Media and Culture

“The Disability Visibility Project (DVP) is an online community dedicated to creating, sharing, and amplifying disability media and culture." Among its many activities, DVP “publishes original essays, reports, and blog posts about ableism, intersectionality, culture, media, and politics from the perspective of disabled people; builds online spaces for people to share and connect; champions disability culture and history; organizes and facilitates events, gives presentations, participates on panels; supports and amplifies the work of other disabled people and organizations in the community using social media; and partners and collaborates with other activists and organizations in various campaigns such as #CripTheVote, #CripLit, Access Is Love, and DisabledWriters.com." For the DVP website, click here.

“Therapeutic Drama Therapy Opens the Door to Healing Through Performance”

A recent article in Yes! Solutions Journalism reports on the positive impact of psychodrama, “a method of drama therapy in which the client dramatizes an inner wound or conflict by casting the rest of the group as characters in their story. The North American Drama Therapy Association describes drama therapy as an embodied, experiential practice that invites ‘participants to tell their stories, set goals and solve problems, express feelings, or achieve catharsis.’ Other methods include improvisation, masks, puppetry, and writing plays or poetry.” For the article, click here. (Courtesy of Kevin Fitts)

The January 2023 Digest of Articles Offering Healthy Lifestyle Advice

For “Small Steps to Improve Your Mental Health in 2023: Well’s most popular mental health stories of 2022 are full of insights and guidance to usher you into the new year,” click here. FOR “14 Steps to a Healthy Lifestyle,” click here. For “Need to Defuse Family Squabbles? Learn From an FBI Crisis Negotiator,” click here. For “Why Does My Sleep Become Worse as I Age?” click here.

The January 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 “Jail Is a Death Sentence for a Growing Number of Americans: In Houston’s jail, where the population is at its highest in a decade, 24 people have died this year. More than half had a history of mental problems,” click here. For “Why So Many Jails Are in a ‘State of Complete Meltdown’: Overcrowding, violence and abuse proliferate at jails across the country, as staffing problems make long-simmering problems worse,” click here. For “Sentenced to Trauma: Inside the volatility and disorder of prison: ‘I have been in the penal system since 2004. I have been changed, but not for the better,’” click here. For “The Death of Daniel Prude and the Birth of a Thousand Lies,” click here. For “The Wyoming Honor Farm: Where Prisoners Learn to Train Wild Horses,” click here. For “As Police Arrest More Seniors, Those With Dementia Face Deadly Consequences: Many cities are changing how they respond to mental health calls, but less attention has been paid to the unique risks for people with Alzheimer’s and other brain diseases,” click here. For “The Crime Spike Is No Mystery: By zooming out and looking at the big picture, the question of what causes violence becomes quite answerable. Producing a sustained reduction in violence may not be possible without addressing extreme, persistent segregation by race, ethnicity and income,” click here. For “The Search for Beauty in a Prison Cell: ‘People don’t understand how many of us sought to become more than our crimes or how many of us starved for lack of a conduit to the dignity that we sought,’ writes Reginald Dwayne Betts,” click here. For “What You Need to Know About the Rise in U.S. Mass Shootings,” click here. For “Why states should change Medicaid rules to cover people leaving prison: People leaving prison have sky-high mortality rates. Most are likely Medicaid-eligible. Making sure they are covered upon release from prison would save lives and reduce recidivism,” click here. For “Eleanor Jackson Piel, Lawyer Who Fought Capital Convictions, Dies at 102,” click here. For “Troubled south Mississippi man becomes another casualty in rising number of jail suicides: People battling mental illness in Mississippi jails spend an average of 555 days in custody before a judge orders they be evaluated to determine whether they are mentally competent to stand trial. It then takes an average of another 191 days to process someone through their competency hearing,” click here. For “As fatal police shootings increase, more go unreported: Flawed FBI data has left thousands of deaths uncounted and complicates efforts to hold troubled police departments accountable,” click here. For “The Year in Books: As 2022 draws to a close, we reflect on books that informed, inspired, and empowered us to envision a world without mass incarceration,” click here. For “News Inside: Welcome to our award-winning print publication, circulating free of charge in hundreds of prisons and jails across the United States. To request a subscription for an incarcerated person, please fill out this registration form. Contact us at newsinside@themarshallproject.org with any questions.” For more information about News Inside and links to the previous issues, click here. For “Hugh Ryan on the Urgency of Prison Abolition: ‘Let’s tear down these monstrous warehouses of human misery,’” click here. For “Federal Prisons Were Told to Provide Addiction Medications. Instead, They Punish People Who Use Them. Congress directed the Bureau of Prisons to make Suboxone and other medications widely available, but only a small fraction of those who need the help have received it,” click here. For “Why Youth Incarceration Fails: An Updated Review of the Evidence” (34 pages), click here. For “Bars and Barriers: Far from a decarceral plan, 'Barred' is nonetheless a trenchant look at how the criminal system fails the innocent and guilty alike,” click here. For “Study: Federal magistrates, prosecutors misunderstand bail law, jailing people who should go free: Despite the study, the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts says the federal judiciary has worked hard to make sure defendants aren't detained ‘unless the law identifies a specific need to protect the public,’" click here. For “Senate Investigation Finds Federal Prisons Fail to Prevent or Investigate Rapes: Long delays and management failures ‘allowed serious, repeated sexual abuse in at least four facilities to go undetected,’” click here. For “The United States Is Crime Sick. Health Care Is the Cure. Politicians on both sides of the aisle spent the midterms telling us that more police and prisons will make us safer. Voters didn’t bite—and perhaps they know better,” click here. For “Experience the Great Outdoors From Prison: Incarcerated men and women watch nature videos on loop in a mental health program,” click here. For “The Books Banned in Your State’s Prisons,” click here. For “Prisoners in 2021: Statistical Tables,” by the Bureau of Justice Statistics, click here. For “ ‘Suicide by Cop’: How Police Present Killings as Unavoidable,” click here. For “Some of Our Best Work of 2022: From coverage of prison violence and abuses in a juvenile lockup to investigations by our new Cleveland team, our reporters told stories that made a difference,” by the Marshall Project, click here.

FROM PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF THE KEY UPDATE BUT STILL FRESH!

CONFERENCES, WEBINARS, AND TRAININGS

“So You’re Ready to Work; Now What?”

Rebel Leadership Group LLC and CAFE TAC has launched a new, 12-part interactive employment training series! “This series will be recovery-centered and strengths-based, examining the process of finding, applying for, and succeeding in a job through the lens of recovery, helping attendees to identify strengths and skills, align the job-seeking and employment experience with their personal recovery path, and providing opportunity for discussion in a peer-centered space…Registering for any of the 12 sessions will automatically register you for all future sessions.” For details and to register, click here. 

Rutgers University Sponsors Free Wellness Self-Care Program for Service Providers

The Wellness Training Learning Collaborative of the Rutgers Center of Alcohol and Substance Use Studies Is sponsoring a series of free wellness trainings, designed as stand-alone sessions, for health care professionals. They write: “Join us to engage in a series of interactive sessions to empower [health care] professionals to practice simple self-care strategies to stay well. Learn how to build these wellness self-care habits into day-to-day life.” The upcoming sessions are on Jan. 19 and Jan. 26, 2023. For descriptions and to register for one or both of the sessions, whose times vary, click here and scroll down to page 5. (Although the times say EDT, EST began on Nov. 6.)

NASMHPD’s 2014 Webinar Series on Trauma-Informed Peer Support Is Still Relevant“

SAMHSA’s National Center for Trauma-Informed Care (NCTIC) hosted a series of three 75-minute webinars in September 2014 that introduced key concepts in NCTIC’s day-long Trauma-Informed Peer Support (TIPS) training. Peer support providers are the primary audience. For more information and to listen to the recordings and download the PowerPoint slides, click here.

PsychAlive Offers a Variety of Webinars on Mental Health Topics, Many Free, Others $15

PsychAlive is a free, nonprofit resource created by the Glendon Association, whose mission is “to save lives and enhance mental health by addressing the social problems of suicide, violence, child abuse and troubled interpersonal relationships.” Psychalive.org offers a variety of upcoming and archived webinars, many of which are free, while others are available for $15. Among the myriad topics are “From Anxiety to Action: How to Stay Sane While Fighting Climate Change,” “How to Overcome Insecurity,” “Powerful Tools to Fight Depression,” and “Understanding and Overcoming Adverse Childhood Experiences.” To check out the webinars, click here.

Learning Collaborative Webinar Series Offers Several Archived Presentations 

The Doors to Wellbeing website offers a number of webinars that you may find of interest: “The Importance of Policies and Procedures in Peer-run Organizations”; “Building Partnerships to Enhance the Peer Workforce,” by Kyneta Lee, Tim Saubers, and Todd Noack; “Handing Over the Keys: Leadership Succession Planning in Non-Profit Organizations,” by Elise Padilla and Maxine Henry; “How to Embed Strategic Planning into the Culture of Your Organization,” by Oryx Cohen; “Fundraising and Sustainability: Building your Organization by Telling the Right Story to the Right Audience”; “Developing a Board of Directors for Mental Health Organizations,” by Amey Dettmer and Matthew Federici; and “Conflict Management in Peer-Run Organizations: Tools for Effective Conversations.” Certificates of attendance are not available for any of these presentations. For more information and to register for any or all of them, click here. 

National Safety Council Offers a Free Webinar Series Focusing on Mental Health in the Workplace

"The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic will affect employees well beyond the initial crisis," the National Safety Council writes. "Employers have a unique ability and responsibility to address the mental health and wellbeing of their workers, which is a true organization-wide effort. This free Mental Health Webinar Series led by the National Safety Council, and first presented in August 2020, speaks to a variety of positions within an organization and how each one can address stress and mental health." Four of the five webinars are titled: "Supporting Employee Mental Health" and respectively subtitled "Resources for Employees," "Actions for Leadership," "Actions for Supervisors," and "Actions for HR Professionals." To view the free, archived webinars, click here.

OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN RESEARCH

Telehealth Research Study for Behavioral Health Services Providers

The Great Lakes MHTTC is seeking participants for their research study on the use of virtual behavioral health services and its benefits and challenges…If you choose to be in this voluntary study, please complete this 10-minute survey developed by the Great Lakes MHTTC to gain a better understanding of a) how telehealth is being used by behavioral health services providers, b) its benefits, c) its challenges, and d) projected use in the future. You can receive a copy of the survey results by including your email at the end of the survey. The survey results will also be available on the Great Lakes MHTTC website. Note: This survey is open to the public, regardless of location.” Take the survey here. Questions? todd.molfenter@wisc.edu

Young Adults with Psychiatric Diagnoses Are Sought for Study on Community Participation

The Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion is recruiting young adults (ages 18-30) with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression to take part in ConnectionsRx, designed to support engagement in meaningful community activities. Participants will be enrolled in the peer-led study for six months, and receive support to help meet community participation goals. Interviews (approximately 60 minutes each) will take place on Zoom. Participants will receive a $15 Amazon gift card (to a maximum of $45) for each survey completed. For the website, click here. Questions? Write to ConnectionsRx@temple.edu. 

South Southwest MHTTC Launches Youth and Young Adult Peer Supporters Survey

“Are you a peer specialist who provides peer support to other people under the age of 30? We want to hear from you! Please fill out the survey to assist the South Southwest Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (South Southwest MHTTC) in learning more about youth peer support across the country! The intent is to be able to include these peer supporters in research, training, and technical assistance activities surrounding youth peer support. The form should take 5-10 minutes to fill out, and can be done from a phone or a computer browser. To take the survey, click here.” Questions? Write to southsouthwest@mhttcnetwork.org.

Are You Interested in Pursuing Graduate School and/or a Research Career? Read Below.

Stephania Hayes (UC Davis), Shannon Pagdon (Columbia/NYS Psychiatric Institute/University of Pittsburgh), and Nev Jones (University of Pittsburgh) write: “We are gathering information from people with lived experience in the Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) or early psychosis space (including peer specialists, current/former CSC participants, and CSC youth coordinators) who are potentially interested in pursuing graduate school and/or a research career. All of us identify as having lived experience, work in CSC, and are invested in supporting the next generation of scholars who also have lived experience. We would like to create a discussion group and/or other supports for people interested in this career path. The link below leads to a very brief survey that will help us understand the level of interest in such supports, as well as areas of career interest. (Please note that this is not a research study.)” To participate in the anonymous survey, click here.

“Help Us Map the Landscape of Lived Experience and Family Involvement in 988 Policy and Related Crisis Response System Planning!”

“As 988 implementation rolls out alongside additional efforts to strengthen crisis response systems throughout the U.S., it's important to gauge the extent to which direct stakeholders (i.e., individuals who use or have used mental health crisis services and their families) have been involved in related policy, implementation and evaluation at the local, regional, state or federal levels. To map out involvement nationally, Mental Health America (lead: Kelly Davis), Nev Jones (University of Pittsburgh) and Keris Myrick (National Association of Peer Supporters) have developed a survey aimed at documenting the extent of stakeholder involvement, the forms this involvement has taken, and, where available, what concerns stakeholders have raised. Any individual with knowledge of lived experience and family involvement is eligible to participate; individuals completing the survey do not have to have lived experience themselves.” For more information and to access the survey, click here.

Survey Seeks Respondents Who Have Taken Mental Health Courses Involving Their Own Diagnoses

Have you taken a mental health course that covers a diagnosis you have? If so, you are invited to participate in a brief, anonymous, online survey--designed by a University of Pittsburgh MSW student--about what it's like for students with lived experience to study their own diagnoses in a classroom. The survey covers students' experiences of studying such subjects as "abnormal psychology," "psychopathology," and diagnosis and assessment when their own diagnoses are covered. "The goal of the project is to better understand what it feels like to take courses in which someone’s diagnosis is being taught/defined/discussed. There is currently no literature or reporting on the experiences of students in the above circumstances, or the associated impact." Interested? Please click here. Questions? Please email the project lead, Charlie Clement, at cjc204@pitt.edu

Peer Support in Higher Education Survey Seeks Respondents

“Peer support programs are growing on college campuses across the U.S. Mental Health America, Doors to Wellbeing, and the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion want to better understand the availability of peer support in higher education as well as the experiences and needs of students accessing peer support programs…We hope to use this research to support the expansion of peer support in higher education, including developing a national database of peer support programs in higher education and documenting pressing issues in campus programs…You may also indicate if you are interested in having your school’s peer support program listed in a national database of peer support programs in higher education.” For more information and to complete the survey, click here. 

BU Seeks Peer Support Specialists for a Research Study

The Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation at Boston University is developing and testing the effectiveness of a coaching service called Coaching and Advancement for Peer Providers (CAPP) “to increase organizational commitment and job satisfaction and decrease turnover among mental health peer providers.” BU CPR writes: “We need Peer Support Specialists (PSS) to participate in our study. Who can participate? People who are in a paid job as a Peer Support Specialist providing support to other people with mental health challenges, who are employed at least 10 hours per week, who have worked for the past six months in a mental health program, and who are experiencing stress because of challenges in the workplace. The study involves 16 one-hour sessions of coaching over a four-month period designed to help you with your job, meeting online (through Zoom, for example) with your coach, and filling out surveys one time before coaching starts and three additional times. You will have a 50/50 chance of getting a coach or having a one-time meeting to give you information about challenges at work. Benefits? You may learn strategies to help make work less stressful.” For more information, click here. For questions, contact Principal Investigator E. Sally Rogers, Sc.D., at erogers@bu.edu or 617-353-3549.

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

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES

TU Collaborative Wants to Hear Your Story!

“We are working on a project to better understand social connections among adults with significant mental health challenges,” the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion writes. “We are seeking your stories on your social connections generally” and “what those connections mean to you.” The TU Collaborative will compile these stories based on a series of brief surveys. For details and to share your story, click here.

Call for Papers: “Recovery at 30: Emancipation, cooptation, or the end of an era?”

“The year 2023 marks exactly three decades since the publication of Bill Anthony’s seminal “Recovery from mental illness: the guiding vision of the mental health service system in the 1990s" (click here)...”In this special issue of Community Mental Health Journal,” the editors write, “we are soliciting both concept pieces (commentaries, critical reviews) and empirical work (qualitative, quantitative, ethnographic or mixed methods) that explore the question of whether recovery policy remains relevant and emancipatory today or whether the psy-fields are instead in need of fresh thinking and new, more diverse values-based frameworks.” The submission deadline is September 1, 2023. For more information, click here.

Common Threads: Stories of Survival & Recovery from Mental Illness

Common Threads: Stories of Survival & Recovery from Mental Illness, a 108-page compendium, includes “tales of survival and recovery” by a number of Floridians. To quote from the Introduction, “Many of the people in these stories have lived significant portions of their lives in psychiatric institutions, and only through their strengths have they found their way back to the community…In these tales, we hear about the importance of education and peer support…” To download the free document, click here.

“Crisis Now” Offers a “Roadmap to Safe, Effective Crisis Care”

The goal of Crisis Now: Transforming Crisis Services—led by the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) and developed with the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, and RI International—is “to provide all communities a roadmap to safe, effective crisis care that diverts people in distress from the emergency department and jail by developing a continuum of crisis care services that match people’s clinical needs.” Among the resources offered on the website are SAMHSA’s 80-page “National Guidelines for Behavioral Health Crisis Care Best Practice Toolkit” (2020), an “Overview of Crisis Funding Sources Available to States and Localities” (last updated March 2, 2022), and assessment tools, such as “How Does Your Crisis System Rate?” The Crisis Now partners write: “Are you interested in adding your organization to the list supporting Crisis Now, or do you have questions? Reach out to us at info@crisisnow.com. For the website, click here. (Courtesy of Kevin Fitts)

“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 Allen Frances, M.D., author of Saving Normal; Sandra Steingard, M.D., and G. Scott Waterman, M.D., on "Integrating Academic Inquiry and Reformist Activism in Psychiatry"; Susannah Cahalan, author of Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness, on "50 Shades of Misdiagnosis"; Kathy Flaherty, J.D., executive director of the Connecticut Legal Rights Project, Inc., on "Reconsidering Care and Coercion in Psychiatry"; Nev Jones, Ph.D., on "Phenomenology, Power, Polarization, and the Discourse on Psychosis"; Dainius Puras, M.D., on "Global Psychiatry's Crisis of Values"; and many others. For the archived interviews, click here.

CNN Offers “A Guide to Helping and Getting Help During the Coronavirus Crisis”

CNN writes: “The coronavirus pandemic is overwhelming, and one of the most excruciating parts for many people is the feeling of utter helplessness in the face of widespread suffering and hardship. CNN’s Impact Your World has compiled a list of donation opportunities and tips to help those affected by the crisis. Click on a category or scroll down to browse a list of organizations, resources and ideas. Need help? Most categories also include resources for financial, emotional or social support.” For the free guide, click here.

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.

Seven Ways to Keep a Digital Copy of Your Vaccination Card on Your Smartphone

“You'll need proof of vaccination to go back to work or enter many restaurants, gyms and event venues, so keep your COVID-19 card handy.” This is the advice of CNET.com, a tech support website. Besides the obvious—taking a photo of the card to store on your phone—there are six other suggestions. For details, click here. (Courtesy of Yvonne Smith)

ISPS-US Offers an Array of Archived Webinars—Free but Donations Are Welcomed

The ISPS-US (The International Society for Psychological and Social Approaches to Psychosis-US Chapter) is offering a whole raft of archived webinars, which are free (although donations are welcomed). Among the webinars are "Cognitive Behavioral & Related Therapies for Psychosis: Diverse Approaches to Supporting Recovery," "How Can the Uncontainable Be Contained? Paradoxes of Madness & Philosophy," "Robert Whitaker: The Rising Non-Pharmaceutical Paradigm for 'Psychosis,'" "Life with Voices: A Guide for Harmony," "COPE Project: Non-Pharmaceutical Research on Influencing Voices and Visions," "What Hurts and What Helps In Treatment For 'Psychosis': Insider Perspectives," and many others. For more information and to access the webinars, click here.

“Where DNA and Medications Meet”

Not all drugs are effective for all people; therapeutic response rates for many drugs are only 50%-75%. “OneOme, co-founded by [the] Mayo Clinic, provides evidence-based pharmacogenomic solutions that help improve patient outcomes and reduce costs through more personalized medication decisions.” OneOme’s RightMed Test is “a doctor-ordered pharmacogenomic (PGx) test that analyzes your DNA and provides your doctors with genetic information to help them determine how you may respond to certain medications. The results may help your doctors reduce medication trial and error, minimize risk of side effects, save you time and money, and make more informed prescribing decisions. Because your DNA doesn’t change over time, your doctors can use your test results to make more personalized medication decisions for you over the course of your lifetime.” For more information, click here. (Courtesy of Robin Osborne)

Doors to Wellbeing Offers “State Selfies: A Picture of Peer Services Reported by Peers”

Doors to Wellbeing’s “Peer Album” is a directory of nearly 600 peer-run organizations throughout the U.S. They invite updates and offer instructions for providing them and add, “If your entry has not made this first draft, we encourage you to re-submit.” For the 158-page directory, click here.

Disclaimer: The Clearinghouse does not necessarily endorse the opinions and opportunities included in the Key Update.

About the Key Update

The National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse is affiliated with the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion. The Key Update is the free monthly e-newsletter of the National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse. Volume 19, No. 7, January 2023. For content, reproduction or publication information, please contact Susan Rogers at selfhelpclearinghouse@gmail.com. Follow Susan on Twitter at @SusanRogersMH

Key Update, December 2022, Volume 19, Number 6

Deadline Alert! Under CONFERENCES, TRAININGS, AND WEBINARS, and under …BUT STILL FRESH, a few of the events listed are taking place on November 28 (the publication date of this newsletter!), November 29, November 30, December 1, and December 2.

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!

***

NEWS

“Telehealth Giant Drew People with Addiction. Deaths, Overdoses Followed”

“Cerebral, once the fastest-growing provider of online mental healthcare, was ill-equipped to treat those who didn’t disclose substance-use disorders, employees say,” a recent Bloomberg article reported. Multiple overdoses and deaths have resulted. “For most of its history, the company delegated the delicate task of interacting with patients in emergency situations to…mostly unlicensed personnel” and provided very little crisis training. (Psychiatrist David Mou said Cerebral has been striving to do better since he became CEO in May 2022. However, Cerebral’s performance during the 16 months in which Mou was chief medical officer have also “generated criticism,” Bloomberg notes.) Psychiatrist/neurologist Alyson Maloy, a Physicians for Patient Protection board member, said (generalizing): “‘When corporations come in and they try to squeeze the practice of medicine into this corporate model of productivity and maximizing profit, there are many situations in which it doesn’t work. And those tension points are where people get hurt.’” For the Bloomberg article, click here.

Two Recent Articles Highlight the Value of Lived Experience

In STAT and Slate, NAMI’s chief medical officer, Ken Duckworth, MD, writes about the value of lived experience to both individuals and in designing mental health policy. In STAT, he writes, “The country needs to determine a unique, even radical, path for reimagining treatment and, in the meantime, offer a different perspective on what ‘expertise’ means…Lived experience is expertise.” For “Unseen Mental Health Experts: People with Mental Illness,” in STAT, click here. And in Slate, he writes, “There are lots of ideas about how to overcome the shortage of mental health professionals…But there’s one thing we can definitely do: broaden the idea of who has something to offer…Peers may be a helpful resource to consider when you are waiting for weeks or months at a time for a licensed professional.” (Duckworth also promotes the medical model, and takes a “both/and” approach to peer support.) For “The Mental Health Care System Is Finally Recognizing the Value of Peer Support,” in Slate, click here.

PEER Magazine Names 10 Top Innovators

In PEER Magazine’s inaugural issue (Autumn/Winter 2022), 10 individuals are highlighted as top innovators. The 10 are Dan Fisher, MD, PhD (on the cover); Eliza Alys Young; Braunwynn Franklin; Becky Ray; Mark Salzer, PhD; Chris Hansen; Laura Rose; Jerome Lawrence; Brandee Roloff Izquierdo Johnson, PhD; and Celia Brown. Also included is an article about “Mental American Monster: The Sprawl of American Psychiatry: True Horror,” a documentary by Lauren J. Tenney and Richard J. Hall (click here); and “The Trans Lifeline (click here): Actionizing a National Campaign to Do No Harm in Response to 988.” PEER is edited by Jen Padron. For the magazine, click here; for a free Kindle copy, click here.

“Too Evil to Be Believable”: Attorney Jim Gottstein, Author of The Zyprexa Papers, Is Interviewed

Attorney and PsychRights founder Jim Gottstein, author of The Zyprexa Papers, is interviewed by psychologist Nick Fortino on the Psychology Is podcast. Among the many topics covered are Eli Lilly’s dishonest “science” (08:28), Jim’s experience of receiving and releasing the Zyprexa papers (26:35), What if there were no drugs? (52:40), and Might The Zyprexa Papers become a movie? (01:11:00). To listen, click here. Jim was also interviewed on Facebook by Nicole Lamberson of Medicating Normal. For that interview, click here.

New Book Examines the History, Research, Values, Guidelines, and Practice of Peer Support

A new book—What it Takes: Wisdom from Peer Support Specialists and Supervisors—by members of the National Association of Peer Supporters (N.A.P.S.) “is about the practice of peer support from its origins in self-help to its continuing evolution as a profession…The book is intended to provide the latest information on a philosophy and profession that is at the forefront of the transformation of behavioral health services from a medical model satisfied with symptom relief and stability to a recovery model determined to inform those with a diagnosis of mental illness that a quality life is possible and doable.” Rita Cronise, one of the editors, notes that all of the proceeds from the sale of the book will support ongoing efforts of the National Association of Peer Supporters: "Everything beyond the expenses of publishing and promotion will go to N.A.P.S." For more information about the book, due to be published on February 14, 2023, click here.

Rest In Power Lois Curtis, Lead Plaintiff in Olmstead v. L.C.

Lois Curtis, the lead plaintiff in the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1999 case that upheld the community integration mandate of the Americans with Disabilities Act, died on November 3, 2022, of pancreatic cancer at her home outside of Atlanta. (Curtis’s co-plaintiff, Elaine Wilson, died in 2004.) The Olmstead decision had a significance in the disability rights community that has been compared to Brown v. Board of Education. "We went from a system in 1999 that the only places that most people with disabilities and older adults could get services were in institutions like nursing homes and psychiatric hospitals, to systems that are primarily focused on supporting people with services in their own homes,” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services official Alison Barkoff told NPR. For the NPR article, click here. 

Music May Improve Mental Health as Much as Exercise, Research Shows

“[A] scientific review published in JAMA concludes that music’s benefit to mental health is actually comparable to that of exercise…The review found “moderate-quality quantitative evidence of associations between music interventions and clinically significant changes in mental HRQOL [health-related quality of life]...However, the review is not without limitations, including the broad nature of inclusion criteria and the possibility of bias in the studies analyzed.” For the article, in Nice News, click here.

CONFERENCES, TRAININGS, AND WEBINARS

MHAAO  Issues Call for Proposals for Peerpocalypse; Deadline: November 30

The deadline to apply to present a workshop at Peerpocalypse, presented by the Mental Health & Addiction Association of Oregon (MHAAO), is November 30! The conference will be held May 8-11, 2023, in Seaside, Oregon, and virtually. For more information and to submit a proposal, click here. For more about the conference, click here. (The deadline on the form is October 31; however, it has been extended to November 30.)

Mindspring to Present Numerous Free Webinars in November and December

“Talking to Kids about Mental Health,” the first of many upcoming webinars offered by Mindspring Mental Health Alliance, will take place on November 28, 2022, at 1 p.m. ET. Mindspring writes: ”Learn how to help children understand what mental illness is and is not, and how to answer their questions, with a licensed therapist.”  For more information and to register, click here. For information about upcoming Mindspring webinars on November 29 and 30 and in December, click here.

PSCFL Presents Speaker Series Featuring Peer Entrepreneurs

On December 1, 2022, at 12 p.m. ET, the Peer Support Coalition of Florida (PSCFL) will host Kwadeidra Zhane Wilson, “the creative eye and old soul behind Experience KZW.” PSCFL writes: “Join us for this inspiring series where we will ‘Take a Walk in the Shoes of a Peer Entrepreneur!…Learn about their businesses, how they got started, and how they balance managing their wellness while running a successful business.” Questions? Contact Sherry Warner, sherry@peersupportfl.org, 407.793.1139 ext. 108. For details and to register, click here.

“Serving an Underserved Population: Peer Support, Disability, and Mental Health”

On December 1, 2022, at 2 p.m. ET, Mental Health America will present a free, 60-minute webinar entitled “Serving an Underserved Population: Peer Support, Disability, and Mental Health.” According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Adults with disabilities report experiencing frequent mental distress almost 5 times as often as adults without disabilities.” Mental Health America writes that “persons with disabilities face additional challenges to both recovery and the services of peer support.” For details and to register, click here.

NEC to Present an International Virtual eCPR Training, Beginning December 2

The National Empowerment Center (NEC) will present an international virtual eCPR (emotional CPR) training comprising three four-hour sessions, on December 2, 9, and 16, 2022, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET. The training is limited to 12 participants. To receive a certificate, you need to attend all three four-hour sessions. NEC writes: “The cost is $120 to $250; please pay what you can afford. Those who can afford to pay $250 will help subsidize those who cannot. A limited number of scholarships are available; to apply, please email info@emotional-cpr.org.” For details and to register, click here.

“The Peer Support Specialist Workforce During Covid-19: Changes, Challenges, and Opportunities”

On December 7, 2022, at 1 p.m. ET, the Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation will present “The Peer Support Specialist Workforce During Covid-19: Changes, Challenges, and Opportunities” as part of its “Making Sense of Employment Research” webinar series “designed to discuss a recently published research study, in a clear and relevant way, even for those who know little or nothing about research.” For more information and to register, click here.

“Integrating Behavioral Health Peer Support Specialists into Crisis Response”

On December 8, 2022, at 1 p.m. ET, the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s Academic Training Initiative to Inform Police Responses will present a one-hour webinar that will “provide an overview of the roles of behavioral health peer support specialists across the criminal [legal] system, discuss the newer role of peer support specialists in crisis response, and provide examples of how peer support specialists are trained and embedded in teams of professionals tasked with responding to crisis calls in the community. Additionally, this webinar will consider how people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) might be integrated into similar peer support roles to enhance crisis responses to people with IDD.” For details and to register, click here. (Courtesy of Elizabeth R. Stone)

National Empowerment Center to Host a Virtual Coffee House on December 8

On December 8, 2022, from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. ET, the National Empowerment Center will host Kim’s Coffee House, “a virtual space where we can informally get together, share stories, perhaps strategize together, and support each other. We are opening the Coffee House in December particularly because the holidays can be such a difficult time for folks and we wanted to hold space for anybody who would like some support or just pop in to say hi. Everyone is welcome at Kim's Coffee House, no matter where you are or how you are doing; positive and celebratory sharing is welcome as much as holding space for folks going through a hard time.” For more information and to register (for free), click here.

McLean Hospital Offers “The Global Impact of Emotional Trauma: A Course for Professionals”

“McLean Hospital is pleased to offer this on-demand course aimed at dispelling long-held misconceptions about assessing and treating emotional trauma. Experts from around the world will share the latest updates in the field, including delivering care in low-resource settings and exploring special populations such as the unique experiences of refugees and displaced persons.” For more information and to register, click here. For other free on-demand McLean webinars on mental health topics, click here.

Peer Support Coalition of Florida Offers a Variety of Free Trainings

The Peer Support Coalition of Florida (PSCFL)–dedicated to advancing peer support in Florida and throughout the nation–is offering a number of free trainings, which are outlined in their 10-page training calendar. The dates of the trainings–for peers, for peer supervisors, and for youth and those who serve youth–are on page 10 of the catalog, which is available here.

OPPORTUNITIES

HSRI Offers Policy Fellowship for People with Lived Experience

The Human Services Research Institute (HSRI) has established a Policy Fellowship for people with lived experience of behavioral health systems to gain experience with applied research into behavioral health systems. HSRI writes: “We're deeply committed to hiring and developing leaders with lived experience, and this fellowship is one more step in that direction. It's designed for people who may not have a ton of research experience and want to get a foot in the door. Please get in touch with Bevin Croft (bcroft@hsri.org) if you have any questions. Applicants are asked to respond here: HSRI’s Career Center.”

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.

Telehealth Research Study for Behavioral Health Services Providers

The Great Lakes MHTTC is seeking participants for their research study on the use of virtual behavioral health services and its benefits and challenges…If you choose to be in this voluntary study, please complete this 10-minute survey developed by the Great Lakes MHTTC to gain a better understanding of a) how telehealth is being used by behavioral health services providers, b) its benefits, c) its challenges, and d) projected use in the future. You can receive a copy of the survey results by including your email at the end of the survey. The survey results will also be available on the Great Lakes MHTTC website. Note: This survey is open to the public, regardless of location.” Take the survey here. Questions? todd.molfenter@wisc.edu

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.

RESOURCES

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.

MHA Publishes “Getting Started Guide for New Caregivers”

Mental Health America’s “Getting Started Guide for New Caregivers” is “an online guide to help new mental health caregivers navigate their role.” The web page offers links to Getting Started; Challenging Stigma; Starting a Conversation; Legal Caregivers; Caregiving in the Treatment Setting; Navigating Red Tape, Cost, & Logistics; Best Practices in Supporting Your Loved One; Understanding Challenges During the Recovery Process; Caregiver Concerns; Taking Care of Yourself; and Additional Resources. For the online guide, click here. 

“Physical Wellness for Work” Workbook Offers Activities to Augment Health and Wellness

“Success at work requires a level of stamina, energy, and concentration that can be challenging to sustain without attention to daily wellness habits and routines. ‘Physical Wellness for Work’ offers manageable activities to augment health and wellness. Its underlying philosophy is that even small changes in daily habits can result in increased energy and health for a better and more satisfying workday.” For the free 21-page workbook, a product of the UIC Health & Recovery Solutions Suite, click here. (Courtesy of Peggy Swarbrick via Jacek Haciak)

The December 2022 Digest of Articles Offering Healthy Lifestyle Advice

For “Feeling Dismissed? How to Spot ‘Medical Gaslighting’ and What to Do About It. Experts share tips on advocating for yourself in a health care setting,” click here. For “Can’t Sleep? Try Sticking Your Head in the Freezer. In a new book, a sleep scientist offers tips for better rest—without reaching for a pill,” click here.

The December 2022 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 “Why So Many Jails Are in a ‘State of Complete Meltdown’: Overcrowding, violence and abuse proliferate at jails across the country, as staffing problems make long-simmering problems worse,” click here. For “Record numbers of people are dying in Georgia’s largest jails: The deaths have been attributed to drug overdoses, suicides and other causes in the state’s five biggest lockups amid a trio of crises,” click here. For “Who’s Really Cycling In and Out of Cleveland’s Courts? Often miscast as violent criminals, most repeat defendants commit nonviolent crimes borne out of untreated addiction and mental illness, a Marshall Project analysis shows,” click here. For “The Problem With How Courts Decide Whether Someone Can Be Executed: The criminal justice system is unequipped to grapple with the complexity of mental illness,” click here. For “An autistic teen needed mental health help. He spent weeks in an ER instead. Zach Chafos languished for a total of 76 days in a Maryland ER waiting for a psychiatric bed -- part of a growing mental health treatment crisis for teens across the country,” click here. For “Inmate Suicides Rose Sharply in U.S. Prisons, Jails During Pandemic: More inmates kill themselves amid pandemic isolation, increased use of drugs, staff shortages,” click here. For “He Pocketed His Victims’ Organs. Was His Death Penalty Trial Fair? As Andre Thomas faces execution for three gory murders, a court questions jury bias and his competency,” click here. For “In Pa. county jails, people with mental illness are routinely met with pepper spray and stun guns: A WITF investigation finds that corrections officers use physical force on people who may be unable to comply with orders due to a mental health condition,” click here. For “Chilling Audio Provides Rare Glimpse Into Abuse at Troubled Illinois Residential Facility: No one was charged when staff were caught on a 911 tape threatening violence against a Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center resident who has developmental disabilities. New reporting shows a culture of cover-ups at the facility,” click here. For “New Orleans capital defense attorney Billy Sothern dies,” click here. For “Billy Sothern, Crusading New Orleans Defense Lawyer, Dies at 45: He was known for taking on some of Louisiana’s toughest cases, including the wrongful conviction of Albert Woodfox, who spent 42 years in solitary confinement,” click here. For “Rochester to Pay $12 Million to Family of Man Killed by the Police: Daniel Prude died in March 2020 after police officers put a mesh hood over his head and pressed his face into the pavement,” click here. For “Florida’s Voter Fraud Arrests Are Scaring Away Formerly Incarcerated Voters: DeSantis made a spectacle of arresting voters with felony convictions. Now, some eligible voters are opting out of midterms even beyond Florida,” click here. For “After an autistic teen’s in-custody death, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office used criminal search warrants to dig into his past,” click here. For “In San Francisco, ‘No Intention to Seek Justice’: Internal emails, interviews with former DA staff, and the recent treatment of certain victim families show how Chesa Boudin’s recall and Brooke Jenkins’s early decisions disrupted the city’s most sensitive and rarely-prosecuted cases—police killings,” click here. For “I Spent Over 40 Years Working in Corrections. I Wasn’t Ready for Rikers. Rikers Island jail complex ‘reflects our nation’s racist and destructive fixation on imprisonment,’ writes former New York City jails commissioner Vincent Schiraldi. ‘It’s Exhibit A for why we need to end mass incarceration,’” click here. For “A deputy mistook a blind man’s cane for a gun. He ended up in jail anyway. Sheriff Mark Hunter called the man’s arrest ‘unacceptable’ as he announced the deputy and her supervisor had been punished,” click here. For “Report Finds ‘Code of Silence’ at Mental Health Facility Where Staff Abused and Neglected Patients: A newly released report from an agency watchdog echoes reporting published earlier this year that revealed widespread collusion to cover up misconduct at the Illinois facility,” click here. For “Forced Prison Labor Was Also on the Ballot: Voters in four states—Alabama, Oregon, Tennessee, and Vermont —approved ending the practice of involuntary labor and slavery as punishment for a criminal conviction,” click here. For “La. voters keep ‘slavery’ at Angola prison, once and still a plantation,” click here. For “End of slavery exception in state constitutions could reform prison labor: ‘Personal profit in the system is an opening for justice to be corrupted,’” click here. For “7 Key Criminal Justice Takeaways From the Midterms: Sheriffs. Prosecutors. Abortion and slavery amendments,” click here. For “Bobby Bostic released on parole after being imprisoned in Missouri for 27 years: The St. Louis native who has been behind bars since he was 16 was among 100 people given life sentences as juveniles who got a new chance at parole after state legislators passed a law in 2021,” click here. For “A Passport to the Future: Restoring Pell grants for incarcerated students is long overdue. But without meaningful infrastructure, true freedom will remain elusive,” click here. For “Jeffery Gerritt: Extend moratorium, then kill Pa.'s death penalty,” click here. For “He Pocketed His Victims’ Organs. Was His Death Penalty Trial Fair? As Andre Thomas faces execution for three gory murders, a court questions jury bias and his competency,” click here. For “D’Angelo Burgess Fled From Police. Does That Make Him a Killer? An Oklahoma case raises issues about both felony murder charges and high-speed police pursuits,” click here. For “Record number of defendants with mental illness 'decompensating' in Washington jails. More people than ever before with mental illness are waiting in Washington jails for court-ordered treatment. Research shows this causes their illnesses to worsen,” click here. For “Why unhoused people in the US are choosing to go to jail: ‘I kept reoffending’: People on the street who are resistant to shelters face a cruel choice: living rough in the cold or spending time behind bars,” click here. For “Son's killing by officers forges a mom's campaign to divert the police,” click here. For “How Mass Incarceration Shapes Our Elections,” click here. For “Wait times for mental health services in WA jails worsen as fines spiral,” click here. For “‘I will not be party to this violent system’: An abolitionist against jailing gets a jury summons in Baltimore City | GUEST COMMENTARY,” click here. For “Prosecutors in These States Can Review Sentences They Deem Extreme. Few Do. Five states now allow prosecutors to seek shorter sentences in old cases. Louisiana shows why many DAs haven’t,” click here. For “Course Correcctions: The Return of Prison Education: Federal grants are rebooting higher education behind bars, but the benefits aren't evenly distributed to all of the incarcerated,” click here. For “What’s It Like to Be an Editor of a Prison Newspaper? The incarcerated editor of The Nash News in North Carolina shares about the power of higher ed and his work at the prison newspaper,” click here. For “Recidivism Is Inadequate Measure of Success After Prison; New Measurements and National Standards Are Needed, Says New Report,” click here. For “Juvenile (in)justice: girls in the system,” click here.

FROM PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF THE KEY UPDATE BUT STILL FRESH!

CONFERENCES, WEBINARS, AND TRAININGS

30th Annual (Virtual) Forensic Rights and Treatment Conference, Nov. 30-Dec. 1

The theme of Drexel University’s 30th Annual Forensic Rights and Treatment Conference, to be held November 30-December 1, 2022, is Homeward Bound: Exploring Issues Faced by Justice-Involved Persons. Drexel writes: “The conference will be available to registrants until December 31, 2022, and you will be able to see all of the workshop offerings. Once you complete the evaluation tool and a validation tool, you will receive your CE credit within two weeks…The times represented on the brochure may slightly change in the virtual event.” Questions? Write to bheweb@drexel.edu or call us at 215.831.4055. For more information and to register, click here.

“So You’re Ready to Work; Now What?”

On October 11, 2022, at 12 p.m. ET, Rebel Leadership Group LLC and CAFE TAC launched a new, 12-part interactive employment training series! “This series will be recovery-centered and strengths-based, examining the process of finding, applying for, and succeeding in a job through the lens of recovery, helping attendees to identify strengths and skills, align the job-seeking and employment experience with their personal recovery path, and providing opportunity for discussion in a peer-centered space…Registering for any of the 12 sessions will automatically register you for all future sessions.” For details and to register, click here. 

ISEPP’s 2021 Conference Is Available to View Online

The 2021 conference of the International Society for Ethical Psychology and Psychiatry can be viewed online. The theme of the conference, convened October 9-10, 2021, was “The Destructive Propaganda of the Mental Health Industry: How Did We Get Here? Where Are We Going?” It was dedicated to the life and memory of Paula J. Caplan, Ph.D. To buy a ticket to watch the full conference recording for $22.85, click here.

Rutgers University Sponsors Free Wellness Self-Care Program for Service Providers

The Wellness Training Learning Collaborative of the Rutgers Center of Alcohol and Substance Use Studies Is sponsoring a series of free wellness trainings, designed as stand-alone sessions, for health care professionals. They write: “Join us to engage in a series of interactive sessions to empower [health care] professionals to practice simple self-care strategies to stay well. Learn how to build these wellness self-care habits into day-to-day life.” The upcoming sessions are on Dec. 8, 2022, and Jan. 19 and Jan. 26, 2023. For descriptions and to register for one or more of the sessions, whose times vary, click here and scroll down to page 5. (Although all the times say EDT, EST began on Nov. 6.)

NASMHPD’s 2014 Webinar Series on Trauma-Informed Peer Support Is Still Relevant“

SAMHSA’s National Center for Trauma-Informed Care (NCTIC) hosted a series of three 75-minute webinars in September 2014 that introduced key concepts in NCTIC’s day-long Trauma-Informed Peer Support (TIPS) training. Peer support providers are the primary audience. For more information and to listen to the recordings and download the PowerPoint slides, click here.

PsychAlive Offers a Variety of Webinars on Mental Health Topics, Many Free, Others $15

PsychAlive is a free, nonprofit resource created by the Glendon Association, whose mission is “to save lives and enhance mental health by addressing the social problems of suicide, violence, child abuse and troubled interpersonal relationships.” Psychalive.org offers a variety of upcoming and archived webinars, many of which are free, while others are available for $15. Among the myriad topics are “From Anxiety to Action: How to Stay Sane While Fighting Climate Change,” “How to Overcome Insecurity,” “Powerful Tools to Fight Depression,” and “Understanding and Overcoming Adverse Childhood Experiences.” To check out the webinars, click here.

Learning Collaborative Webinar Series Offers Several Archived Presentations 

The Doors to Wellbeing website offers a number of webinars that you may find of interest: “The Importance of Policies and Procedures in Peer-run Organizations”; “Building Partnerships to Enhance the Peer Workforce,” by Kyneta Lee, Tim Saubers, and Todd Noack; “Handing Over the Keys: Leadership Succession Planning in Non-Profit Organizations,” by Elise Padilla and Maxine Henry; “How to Embed Strategic Planning into the Culture of Your Organization,” by Oryx Cohen; “Fundraising and Sustainability: Building your Organization by Telling the Right Story to the Right Audience”; “Developing a Board of Directors for Mental Health Organizations,” by Amey Dettmer and Matthew Federici; and “Conflict Management in Peer-Run Organizations: Tools for Effective Conversations.” Certificates of attendance are not available for any of these presentations. For more information and to register for any or all of them, click here. 

National Safety Council Offers a Free Webinar Series Focusing on Mental Health in the Workplace

"The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic will affect employees well beyond the initial crisis," the National Safety Council writes. "Employers have a unique ability and responsibility to address the mental health and wellbeing of their workers, which is a true organization-wide effort. This free Mental Health Webinar Series led by the National Safety Council, and first presented in August 2020, speaks to a variety of positions within an organization and how each one can address stress and mental health." Four of the five webinars are titled: "Supporting Employee Mental Health" and respectively subtitled "Resources for Employees," "Actions for Leadership," "Actions for Supervisors," and "Actions for HR Professionals." To view the free, archived webinars, click here.

OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN RESEARCH

Young Adults with Psychiatric Diagnoses Are Sought for Study on Community Participation

The Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion is recruiting young adults (ages 18-30) with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression to take part in ConnectionsRx, designed to support engagement in meaningful community activities. Participants will be enrolled in the peer-led study for six months, and receive support to help meet community participation goals. Interviews (approximately 60 minutes each) will take place on Zoom. Participants will receive a $15 Amazon gift card (to a maximum of $45) for each survey completed. For the website, click here. Questions? Write to ConnectionsRx@temple.edu. 

Researchers Ask, How Can Community-Based Organizations Use Data to Thrive?

“Researchers at Live & Learn Inc. are exploring the needs and preferences of community-based organizations that want to use data to improve and sustain their programs. What we learn will help us to develop tools to support community-based organizations to conduct program evaluation. If you represent a community-based organization that offers programs and services to support the well-being of people with mental health and substance use concerns, please take 15 minutes to complete our survey. Survey respondents will be entered into a raffle for a $25 eGift card. After the survey, we may invite you to participate in an interview, for which you will be compensated. Responses to the survey and interviews will not be shared with anyone outside of the research team. For more information, visit our website or contact Morgan Pelot: morgan@livelearninc.net, 805.244.5262.”

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. 

BU Seeks Peer Support Specialists for a Research Study

The Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation at Boston University is developing and testing the effectiveness of a coaching service called Coaching and Advancement for Peer Providers (CAPP) “to increase organizational commitment and job satisfaction and decrease turnover among mental health peer providers.” BU CPR writes: “We need Peer Support Specialists (PSS) to participate in our study. Who can participate? People who are in a paid job as a Peer Support Specialist providing support to other people with mental health challenges, who are employed at least 10 hours per week, who have worked for the past six months in a mental health program, and who are experiencing stress because of challenges in the workplace. The study involves 16 one-hour sessions of coaching over a four-month period designed to help you with your job, meeting online (through Zoom, for example) with your coach, and filling out surveys one time before coaching starts and three additional times. You will have a 50/50 chance of getting a coach or having a one-time meeting to give you information about challenges at work. Benefits? You may learn strategies to help make work less stressful.” For more information, click here. For questions, contact Principal Investigator E. Sally Rogers, Sc.D., at erogers@bu.edu or 617-353-3549.

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

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES

“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. (Courtesy of Kevin Fitts)

“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)

Poetry Coalition to Launch "Poetry & Disability Justice" Initiative

"This year, the 25+ organizations nationwide that comprise the Poetry Coalition will launch 'The future lives in our bodies: Poetry & Disability Justice,' the coalition’s sixth annual programming initiative...Poetry Coalition members aim to demonstrate how poetry can inspire questions in their communities about disability justice and spark increased engagement with this important theme. Member organizations are committed to offering programming that is accessible and that includes disabled, neurodivergent, and d/Deaf poets and those of diverse racial, ethnic, and gender identities, backgrounds, and communities. All organizations and others interested are invited to create programs on this theme in 2022 and share their efforts using the hashtags #DisabilityJustice and #PoetryCoalition. For some additional resources to assist with programming, particularly in creating accessible programming, click here.

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 Allen Frances, M.D., author of Saving Normal; Sandra Steingard, M.D., and G. Scott Waterman, M.D., on "Integrating Academic Inquiry and Reformist Activism in Psychiatry"; Susannah Cahalan, author of Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness, on "50 Shades of Misdiagnosis"; Kathy Flaherty, J.D., executive director of the Connecticut Legal Rights Project, Inc., on "Reconsidering Care and Coercion in Psychiatry"; Nev Jones, Ph.D., on "Phenomenology, Power, Polarization, and the Discourse on Psychosis"; Dainius Puras, M.D., on "Global Psychiatry's Crisis of Values"; and many others. For the archived interviews, click here.

CNN Offers “A Guide to Helping and Getting Help During the Coronavirus Crisis”

CNN writes: “The coronavirus pandemic is overwhelming, and one of the most excruciating parts for many people is the feeling of utter helplessness in the face of widespread suffering and hardship. CNN’s Impact Your World has compiled a list of donation opportunities and tips to help those affected by the crisis. Click on a category or scroll down to browse a list of organizations, resources and ideas. Need help? Most categories also include resources for financial, emotional or social support.” For the free guide, click here.

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.

Seven Ways to Keep a Digital Copy of Your Vaccination Card on Your Smartphone

“You'll need proof of vaccination to go back to work or enter many restaurants, gyms and event venues, so keep your COVID-19 card handy.” This is the advice of CNET.com, a tech support website. Besides the obvious—taking a photo of the card to store on your phone—there are six other suggestions. For details, click here. (Courtesy of Yvonne Smith)

ISPS-US Offers an Array of Archived Webinars—Free but Donations Are Welcomed

The ISPS-US (The International Society for Psychological and Social Approaches to Psychosis-US Chapter) is offering a whole raft of archived webinars, which are free (although donations are welcomed). Among the webinars are "Cognitive Behavioral & Related Therapies for Psychosis: Diverse Approaches to Supporting Recovery," "How Can the Uncontainable Be Contained? Paradoxes of Madness & Philosophy," "Robert Whitaker: The Rising Non-Pharmaceutical Paradigm for 'Psychosis,'" "Life with Voices: A Guide for Harmony," "COPE Project: Non-Pharmaceutical Research on Influencing Voices and Visions," "What Hurts and What Helps In Treatment For 'Psychosis': Insider Perspectives," and many others. For more information and to access the webinars, click here.

“Where DNA and Medications Meet”

Not all drugs are effective for all people; therapeutic response rates for many drugs are only 50%-75%. “OneOme, co-founded by [the] Mayo Clinic, provides evidence-based pharmacogenomic solutions that help improve patient outcomes and reduce costs through more personalized medication decisions.” OneOme’s RightMed Test is “a doctor-ordered pharmacogenomic (PGx) test that analyzes your DNA and provides your doctors with genetic information to help them determine how you may respond to certain medications. The results may help your doctors reduce medication trial and error, minimize risk of side effects, save you time and money, and make more informed prescribing decisions. Because your DNA doesn’t change over time, your doctors can use your test results to make more personalized medication decisions for you over the course of your lifetime.” For more information, click here. (Courtesy of Robin Osborne)

Doors to Wellbeing Offers “State Selfies: A Picture of Peer Services Reported by Peers”

Doors to Wellbeing’s “Peer Album” is a directory of nearly 600 peer-run organizations throughout the U.S. They invite updates and offer instructions for providing them and add, “If your entry has not made this first draft, we encourage you to re-submit.” For the 158-page directory, click here.

Disclaimer: The Clearinghouse does not necessarily endorse the opinions and opportunities included in the Key Update.

About The Key Update

The National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse is now affiliated with the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion.

The Key Update is the free monthly e-newsletter of the National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse. Volume 19, No. 6, December 2022. For content, reproduction or publication information, please contact Susan Rogers at selfhelpclearinghouse@gmail.com. Follow Susan on Twitter at @SusanRogersMH

Key Update, November 2022, Volume 19, Number 5

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!

***

NEWS

Study Examines “The Economic Burden of Mental Health Inequities in the United States”

In “The Economic Burden of Mental Health Inequities in the United States,” the Satcher Health Leadership Institute (SHLI) reports on a four-year period (2016-2020) when, at minimum, nearly 117,000 lives and approximately $278 billion could have been saved. This study, led by Daniel E. Dawes JD, “aims to close an important gap in behavioral health and health equity research relative to mental health inequities.” “For the first time,” Dawes writes, “there is tangible evidence demonstrating how decades of systemic health inequities have yielded significantly worse outcomes for racial and ethnic minoritized, marginalized, and under-resourced populations.” For more information and to download the free, 62-page report, published by SHLI at the Morehouse College of Medicine, click here.

A Treatment for Schizophrenia? What about Dicing with Ego Death? Researchers Seek Answers about Psychedelics. 

There has recently been a surge in research into psychedelic drugs because clinical studies have shown that microdosing such drugs as LSD, psilocybin (’shrooms) and mescaline can help treat anxiety, mood, and substance use disorders; suicidal ideation, and PTSD. But “Could Psychedelic Drugs Have a Role in the Treatment of Schizophrenia?” (click here). (See also “New Paradigms of Old Psychedelics in Schizophrenia” [click here].) Meanwhile, some people are using psychedelics to pursue “ego death,” i.e., “a loss of one’s sense of self.” However, “[w]hile some of those who seek out ego death find themselves happier after the experience, the scientific jury is still out on the topic,” according to “Why more people are seeking out ‘ego death’ via psychedelic drugs” (click here), in Salon. (Courtesy of Kevin Fitts)

CONFERENCES, TRAININGS, AND WEBINARS

You Are Invited to a National Stakeholder Call with the CMS Administrator (November 1)

On November 1, 2022, from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. ET, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will provide an update on their recent accomplishments and—CMS writes—“how our cross-cutting initiatives are advancing CMS's Strategic Plan.” After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing a link to join the call. When you click on the link on November 1, “you will see a message stating that the host will allow you to join the event momentarily. Please continue to wait at that screen until the CMS team begins the call.” These national stakeholder calls will be held quarterly. To register, click here.

Free, Virtual Alternatives 2022 Conference Publishes Exciting Schedule Details!

The National Coalition for Mental Health Recovery is finalizing plans for the FREE—donations are welcome!—virtual Alternatives 2022, on November 2 and November 3, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. ET; and November 4, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. ET. The conference theme is “Our Roots, Advocacy, Policies & Future.” Each day will feature keynote presentations offering a variety of perspectives on the past, present, and future of the peer movement. For details of the speakers and presentations, click here. Action Groups will meet every day. In addition to time dedicated to strategic planning, there will be short presentations from subject experts. For more information, click here. Networking, arts, and movement sessions are scheduled from 6 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET on Nov. 3 and Nov. 4 (click here). To register, click here.

Rutgers University Sponsors Free Wellness Self-Care Program for Service Providers

The Wellness Training Learning Collaborative of the Rutgers Center of Alcohol and Substance Use Studies Is sponsoring a series of free wellness trainings, designed as stand-alone sessions, for health care professionals. They write: “Join us to engage in a series of interactive sessions to empower [health care] professionals to practice simple self-care strategies to stay well. Learn how to build these wellness self-care habits into day-to-day life.” The upcoming sessions are on Nov. 3, Nov. 17, and Dec. 8, 2022; and Jan. 19 and Jan. 26, 2023. For descriptions and to register for one or more of the sessions, whose times vary, click here and scroll down to pages 4 and 5.

Mental Health America to Present Two Free Webinars in Early November

On November 3 at 1 p.m. ET, Mental Health America (MHA) will present “Creating a Mental Health Strategy with DEIB at the Core.” “Developing a meaningful mental health strategy with diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) in mind affects the culture, employees’ feelings of confidence and inclusion, and opportunities available to employees with diverse backgrounds. This panel-style webinar will discuss ways to approach your organization’s mental health strategy with DEIB at its core.” And on November 9 at 1 p.m. ET, MHA will present “Who Cares for the Caregiver?” “This webinar will answer that question and provide encouragement to caregivers, as well as offer tips to non-caregivers on how to support caregivers in their life.” For more information and to register for either or both webinars, click here.

Wildflower Alliance to Host a Virtual 16-Hour Training on the “Alternatives to Suicide” Approach

When Conversation Turns to Suicide is “a 16-hour training based on the Alternatives to Suicide approach, and intended as an alternative to ASIST, QPR, and similar approaches that remain rooted in conventional medicalized systems,” the Wildflower Alliance writes. “Participants will learn common myths about suicide, a framework for being in conversation with someone who is struggling, the links between trauma (including systemic oppression) and suicide, the importance of power sharing, and more!” The four-part training will be held on November 7, 8, 14, and 15, from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET, via Zoom. Tickets are on a sliding scale from $25 to $200; sales end on November 6. For details and to register, click here. (Courtesy of Judene Shelley)

Pathways Vermont to Host a Training on “Soteria: The Power of Human Connection”

On November 9, 2022, at 1 p.m. ET, Pathways Vermont will host a three-hour interactive online workshop on Soteria House. “In this workshop, we’ll cover the history of Soteria and its place in the larger history of mental health reform movements dating back to the 1950s…” For details about the rest of the agenda, and to register, click here.  (“Tickets for this event are $50 per person. If this amount is a barrier to your attendance, please contact training@pathwaysvermont.org to explore possibilities.”) (Courtesy of Jim Gottstein)

“Madness: Fighting for Justice in Mental Health,” Streaming Free on Nov. 25-27

The 28th conference of the Disruption Network Lab (#DNL28) will take place November 25-27, 2022, in Berlin, Germany–and will be streamed internationally for free! The organizers write: “What does it mean to have a just mental health care system and who has access to it? Who decides who is labeled as mad?” Wilda White is among the keynote speakers. For details and to obtain a ticket, click here.

Doors to Wellbeing Will Host Its Next Free Webinar on November 29

On November 29, 2022, at 2 p.m. ET, Doors to Wellbeing will host the latest webinar in its monthly one-hour series. The topic will be “Peer Internship Program: Where Lived and Work Experience Make the Difference.” “Learn about [the Peer Internship Program in Delaware] and how it is benefiting their community.” For more information and to register, click here. 

30th Annual (Virtual) Forensic Rights and Treatment Conference, Nov. 30-Dec. 1

The theme of Drexel University’s 30th Annual Forensic Rights and Treatment Conference, to be held November 30-December 1, 2022, is Homeward Bound: Exploring Issues Faced by Justice-Involved Persons. Drexel writes: “The conference will be available to registrants until December 31, 2022, and you will be able to see all of the workshop offerings. Once you complete the evaluation tool and a validation tool, you will receive your CE credit within two weeks…The times represented on the brochure may slightly change in the virtual event.” Questions? Write to bheweb@drexel.edu or call us at 215.831.4055. For more information and to register, click here.

RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES

Young Adults with Psychiatric Diagnoses Are Sought for Study on Community Participation

The Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion is recruiting young adults (ages 18-30) with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression to take part in ConnectionsRx, designed to support engagement in meaningful community activities. Participants will be enrolled in the peer-led study for six months, and receive support to help meet community participation goals. Interviews (approximately 60 minutes each) will take place on Zoom. Participants will receive a $15 Amazon gift card (to a maximum of $45) for each survey completed. For the website, click here. Questions? Write to ConnectionsRx@temple.edu. 

Researchers Ask, How Can Community-Based Organizations Use Data to Thrive?

“Researchers at Live & Learn Inc. are exploring the needs and preferences of community-based organizations that want to use data to improve and sustain their programs. What we learn will help us to develop tools to support community-based organizations to conduct program evaluation. If you represent a community-based organization that offers programs and services to support the well-being of people with mental health and substance use concerns, please take 15 minutes to complete our survey. Survey respondents will be entered into a raffle for a $25 eGift card. After the survey, we may invite you to participate in an interview, for which you will be compensated. Responses to the survey and interviews will not be shared with anyone outside of the research team. For more information, visit our website or contact Morgan Pelot: morgan@livelearninc.net, 805.244.5262.”

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.

RESOURCES

From You, I Get the Story: Amplifying the Voices of Students with Mental Health Issues on College Campuses

This free, 33-page manual, published by the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion, “brings more than 50 student voices to the forefront to help college faculty, administrators, and staff better understand and serve students with significant mental health issues. Read their thoughts about what students think faculty, staff, administrators, and other students should understand about them, advice they would give to other students about being successful and dealing with discrimination, and more. (The title is excerpted from “See Me, Feel Me,” by The Who.) To download From You, I Get the Story: Amplifying the Voices of Students with Mental Health Issues on College Campuses, 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 details and to download the free manual, click here. (Courtesy of Peggy Swarbrick, via Jacek Haciak)

MHA Toolkit Offers Free Mental Health Resources for Students, Parents, and Teachers

“Mental Health America has created free resources that look at the issues young people face that are having an impact on their mental health and offer tips on how to deal with these issues and the resulting emotions. The MHA toolkit can also help parents and school personnel better understand the issues, such as the effects of social media on youth mental health and how to be supportive.” To download the free toolkit, click here.

30 Comics About Mental Health That You Might Relate To

“My comics cover a variety of topics, like love, depression, self-reflection, and anxiety,” artist Holly Chisolm writes. “After about 6 months of making comics, I decided to quit my job and freelance part-time so that I could dedicate more time to making and promoting Just Peachy. In the future, I hope to make a book and raise awareness about mental illnesses and my personal struggle with depression.” For Holly’s comics, click here.

The November 22 Digest of Articles Offering Healthy Lifestyle Advice

For “Taking a break from the news can improve mental health, study finds,” click here. For “Small Daily Practices to Boost Mental Health: Positive psychological behaviors promote good mental health hygiene, which reduces stress and improves overall well-being,” click here. For “In stressful jobs, depression risk rises with hours worked, study in new doctors finds,” click here. For “Patients believe in psychotherapy more when practitioners demonstrate warmth and competence,” click here. For “How to Fall Back Without Missing a Beat: Earlier mornings and shorter evening light can be a tough adjustment. But there are ways to prepare for the end of daylight saving,” click here.

The November 2022 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 “‘A Moral Disgrace’: How The U.S. Stopped Counting Deaths Behind Bars: The Department of Justice is failing miserably at collecting data on deaths. Experts say that makes it hard to identify the worst prisons and jails,” click here. For “The First Step Act’s Prison Reforms: The law has failed to reach many of its intended beneficiaries in federal prisons. Congress and the Department of Justice must act to fulfill its promise,” click here. For “Banned From Jobs: People Released From Prison Fight Laws That Keep Punishing Them. Post-conviction employment bans put many on the road back to prison,” click here. For “Defund Social Workers. They’re often just cops by another name,” click here. For “A new community safety blueprint: How the federal government can address violence and harm through a public health approach,” click here. For “I spent years in solitary confinement. End this horrific mistreatment of people in prison. Choose care over punishment. Listen to alternatives proposed by people who, like me, have survived the same prison conditions,” click here. For “Biden pledged to end solitary confinement. Federal prisons are increasing its use. Data from the federal Bureau of Prisons shows inmates held in "restrictive housing" increased 7% from May to September and more than 11% from spring 2021,” click here. For “Increasing the Demand for Workers with a Criminal Record: The partner for our study is a large nationwide staffing platform based in the United States, which third‐party businesses use to connect with available workers,” click here. For “How I Survived a Year in ‘the Hole’ Without Losing My Mind: In prison, going to ‘the hole’ can mean spending 23 hours a day alone in a tiny cell. Here, incarcerated author Michael J. Nichols shares his top 10 tips for enduring long stretches of ‘administrative segregation,’” click here. For “Shackles, depression, 100 days in solitary: Records shed light on NC prison suicides,” click here. For “Rikers Could Soon Have a Federal Receiver—How Have Takeovers Worked in Other U.S. Jails? Corrections departments in California and Chicago highlight benefits and challenges of moves to place chaotic lockups under outside control,” click here. For “International Wrongful Conviction Day is Nothing to Celebrate | Opinion,” click here. For “They’re in federal prison, and they’re done staying quiet. One D.C. man in a federal facility describes a ‘revolving door of death and depression’ in a new report that offers a unique look into the nation’s prisons,” click here. For “New Yorkers can now look up the records of police they encounter,” click here. For “What an Alabama Prisoners’ Strike Tells Us About Prison Labor: Exploitation of incarcerated people isn’t limited to lockups. Voters in some states have a chance to curtail it,” click here. For “Murder Rate Mystery: New FBI Crime Stats Don’t Include NYC, LA. Biggest US cities haven’t converted to new reporting system. Policymakers urged to exercise care amid data ‘blind spots,’” click here. For “What Can FBI Data Say About Crime in 2021? It’s Too Unreliable to Tell. The transition to a new data system creates huge gaps in national crime stats sure to be exploited by politicians in this election year,” click here. For “NYPD is Illegally Sending People to Rikers Without Ever Seeing a Judge, Lawsuit Claims: ‘Nothing short of an extrajudicial campaign of terror and kidnapping,’” click here. For “Opinion: For those freed after wrongful convictions, gratitude is a lot to ask,” click here. For “ ‘It’s Crushing’: The Lasting Trauma of the Exonerated. Proving your innocence is only part of the battle to put your life back together,” click here. For “‘A Moral Disgrace’: How The U.S. Stopped Counting Deaths Behind Bars: The Department of Justice is failing miserably at collecting data on deaths. Experts say that makes it hard to identify the worst prisons and jails,” click here. For “A Jury Acquitted Them of Various Charges. They Served Prison Time for Them Anyway. The Supreme Court may soon consider if acquitted conduct sentencing is illegal,” click here. For “Thousands of eligible Wisconsin voters face ballot barriers in jail: While many incarcerated people retain the constitutional right to vote, Wisconsin counties can do more to ensure that right can be exercised,” click here. For “Opinion  Why D.C. has rehired fired police—and given them back pay,” click here. For “The Department of Corrections Couldn’t Stop This Lifer From Winning a Pulitzer Prize—It Tried,” click here. For “A Los Angeles Supportive Housing Program Interrupted the Cycle Between Jail and Homelessness—and Largely Paid for Itself,” click here.

FROM PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF THE KEY UPDATE BUT STILL FRESH!

OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN RESEARCH

Researcher Seeks Peer Supporters for Survey of Burnout and Job Satisfaction

“Evidence has demonstrated that peer support is beneficial to individuals receiving services for mental health treatment,” writes PhD candidate Melody Madaris, a therapist who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and PTSD. “However, there is little research showing how providing peer services affects the peer support worker. The goal of this 20-minute, anonymous survey—for which respondents will not be compensated—is to give supervisors and policy makers information to better support peers in the workforce.” About her experience as a therapist, Melody has written, “I have seen how my just being real about my own story with clients has sometimes created better outcomes than the use of regimented, evidence-based curriculums.” For the informed consent statement (pages 1 and 2), and the Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval letter (page 3), click here. To participate in the survey, click here.

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. 

BU Seeks Peer Support Specialists for a Research Study

The Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation at Boston University is developing and testing the effectiveness of a coaching service called Coaching and Advancement for Peer Providers (CAPP) “to increase organizational commitment and job satisfaction and decrease turnover among mental health peer providers.” BU CPR writes: “We need Peer Support Specialists (PSS) to participate in our study. Who can participate? People who are in a paid job as a Peer Support Specialist providing support to other people with mental health challenges, who are employed at least 10 hours per week, who have worked for the past six months in a mental health program, and who are experiencing stress because of challenges in the workplace. The study involves 16 one-hour sessions of coaching over a four-month period designed to help you with your job, meeting online (through Zoom, for example) with your coach, and filling out surveys one time before coaching starts and three additional times. You will have a 50/50 chance of getting a coach or having a one-time meeting to give you information about challenges at work. Benefits? You may learn strategies to help make work less stressful.” For more information, click here. For questions, contact Principal Investigator E. Sally Rogers, Sc.D., at erogers@bu.edu or 617-353-3549.

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

CONFERENCES

“So You’re Ready to Work; Now What?”

On October 11, 2022, at 12 p.m. ET, Rebel Leadership Group LLC and CAFE TAC launched a new, 12-part interactive employment training series! “This series will be recovery-centered and strengths-based, examining the process of finding, applying for, and succeeding in a job through the lens of recovery, helping attendees to identify strengths and skills, align the job-seeking and employment experience with their personal recovery path, and providing opportunity for discussion in a peer-centered space…Registering for any of the 12 sessions will automatically register you for all future sessions.” For details and to register, click here. 

National Association for Rural Mental Health Conference to Be Held November 2-4, 2022

The 47th Annual National Association for Rural Mental Health (NARMH) conference will be held at the Embassy Suites in Boulder, Colorado, November 2-4, 2022. The theme is “Beyond the Pandemic—Building on Rural Resiliency.” The early-bird registration fee is $500; for people who are retired or students, it’s $250. For more information as it becomes available, click here.

The International Conference on Trauma and Mental Health Will Take Place November 3-4

The International Conference on Trauma and Mental Health will take place November 3-4, 2022, in San Francisco. For more information, click here.

ISPS-US (Hybrid) 2022 Conference to Be Held November 4-6

The 2022 ISPS-US (International Society for Psychological and Social Approaches to Psychosis—U.S. Chapter) conference will be held November 4-6 in Sacramento, California, as well as online. The conference theme is Opportunity Through Experience: Psychosis, Extreme States, and Possibilities for Transformation. ISPS-US writes: “People with lived experience, family members, clinicians, and researchers are all invited to propose presentations that promote mutual collaboration and respect, and can allow us to offer each other both greater understanding and more light. We especially welcome proposals from members of marginalized groups whose experiences have included systemic as well as relational traumas and challengesFor more information, click here. (Courtesy of Jacek Haciak)

ISEPP’s 2021 Conference Is Available to View Online

The 2021 conference of the International Society for Ethical Psychology and Psychiatry can be viewed online. The theme of the conference, convened October 9-10, 2021, was “The Destructive Propaganda of the Mental Health Industry: How Did We Get Here? Where Are We Going?” It was dedicated to the life and memory of Paula J. Caplan, Ph.D. To buy a ticket to watch the full conference recording for $22.85, click here.

Save the Date! MHAAO to Host Peerpocalypse 2023 May 8-11

The Mental Health & Addiction Association of Oregon will host the tenth annual Peerpocalypse conference May 8-11, 2023. More information will follow on the conference web page; stay tuned!

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES

“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. (Courtesy of Kevin Fitts)

“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.

Rutgers Releases W-TLC Virtual Toolbox and Training/Learning Collaborative Series

“The Rutgers Center of Alcohol & Substance Use Studies has announced the release of the Wellness Training Learning Collaborative (W-TLC) virtual toolbox and Training/Learning Collaborative series…This toolkit provides peer support, individual, and organizational approaches to support the wellbeing of the critical health care workforce.” For descriptions of the 12 upcoming sessions—including two in July (July 7 and July 28), with the remaining sessions to be held August 2022 through January 2023—and to register for them, click here. For the “Journey to Wellness Guide,” click here. (Note: Information about the Journey to Wellness Guide was included in the April 2022 Key Update.)

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)

Poetry Coalition to Launch "Poetry & Disability Justice" Initiative

"This year, the 25+ organizations nationwide that comprise the Poetry Coalition will launch 'The future lives in our bodies: Poetry & Disability Justice,' the coalition’s sixth annual programming initiative...Poetry Coalition members aim to demonstrate how poetry can inspire questions in their communities about disability justice and spark increased engagement with this important theme. Member organizations are committed to offering programming that is accessible and that includes disabled, neurodivergent, and d/Deaf poets and those of diverse racial, ethnic, and gender identities, backgrounds, and communities. All organizations and others interested are invited to create programs on this theme in 2022 and share their efforts using the hashtags #DisabilityJustice and #PoetryCoalition. For some additional resources to assist with programming, particularly in creating accessible programming, click here.

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 Allen Frances, M.D., author of Saving Normal; Sandra Steingard, M.D., and G. Scott Waterman, M.D., on "Integrating Academic Inquiry and Reformist Activism in Psychiatry"; Susannah Cahalan, author of Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness, on "50 Shades of Misdiagnosis"; Kathy Flaherty, J.D., executive director of the Connecticut Legal Rights Project, Inc., on "Reconsidering Care and Coercion in Psychiatry"; Nev Jones, Ph.D., on "Phenomenology, Power, Polarization, and the Discourse on Psychosis"; Dainius Puras, M.D., on "Global Psychiatry's Crisis of Values"; and many others. For the archived interviews, click here.

CNN Offers “A Guide to Helping and Getting Help During the Coronavirus Crisis”

CNN writes: “The coronavirus pandemic is overwhelming, and one of the most excruciating parts for many people is the feeling of utter helplessness in the face of widespread suffering and hardship. CNN’s Impact Your World has compiled a list of donation opportunities and tips to help those affected by the crisis. Click on a category or scroll down to browse a list of organizations, resources and ideas. Need help? Most categories also include resources for financial, emotional or social support.” For the free guide, click here.

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.

NASMHPD’s 2014 Webinar Series on Trauma-Informed Peer Support Is Still Relevant“

SAMHSA’s National Center for Trauma-Informed Care (NCTIC) hosted a series of three 75-minute webinars in September 2014 that introduced key concepts in NCTIC’s day-long Trauma-Informed Peer Support (TIPS) training. Peer support providers are the primary audience. For more information and to listen to the recordings and download the PowerPoint slides, click here.

PsychAlive Offers a Variety of Webinars on Mental Health Topics, Many Free, Others $15

PsychAlive is a free, nonprofit resource created by the Glendon Association, whose mission is “to save lives and enhance mental health by addressing the social problems of suicide, violence, child abuse and troubled interpersonal relationships.” Psychalive.org offers a variety of upcoming and archived webinars, many of which are free, while others are available for $15. Among the myriad topics are “From Anxiety to Action: How to Stay Sane While Fighting Climate Change,” “How to Overcome Insecurity,” “Powerful Tools to Fight Depression,” and “Understanding and Overcoming Adverse Childhood Experiences.” To check out the webinars, click here.

Learning Collaborative Webinar Series Offers Several Archived Presentations 

The Doors to Wellbeing website offers a number of webinars that you may find of interest: “The Importance of Policies and Procedures in Peer-run Organizations”; “Building Partnerships to Enhance the Peer Workforce,” by Kyneta Lee, Tim Saubers, and Todd Noack; “Handing Over the Keys: Leadership Succession Planning in Non-Profit Organizations,” by Elise Padilla and Maxine Henry; “How to Embed Strategic Planning into the Culture of Your Organization,” by Oryx Cohen; “Fundraising and Sustainability: Building your Organization by Telling the Right Story to the Right Audience”; “Developing a Board of Directors for Mental Health Organizations,” by Amey Dettmer and Matthew Federici; and “Conflict Management in Peer-Run Organizations: Tools for Effective Conversations.” Certificates of attendance are not available for any of these presentations. For more information and to register for any or all of them, click here. 

National Safety Council Offers a Free Webinar Series Focusing on Mental Health in the Workplace

"The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic will affect employees well beyond the initial crisis," the National Safety Council writes. "Employers have a unique ability and responsibility to address the mental health and wellbeing of their workers, which is a true organization-wide effort. This free Mental Health Webinar Series led by the National Safety Council, and first presented in August 2020, speaks to a variety of positions within an organization and how each one can address stress and mental health." Four of the five webinars are titled: "Supporting Employee Mental Health" and respectively subtitled "Resources for Employees," "Actions for Leadership," "Actions for Supervisors," and "Actions for HR Professionals." To view the free, archived webinars, click here.

Seven Ways to Keep a Digital Copy of Your Vaccination Card on Your Smartphone

“You'll need proof of vaccination to go back to work or enter many restaurants, gyms and event venues, so keep your COVID-19 card handy.” This is the advice of CNET.com, a tech support website. Besides the obvious—taking a photo of the card to store on your phone—there are six other suggestions. For details, click here. (Courtesy of Yvonne Smith)

 ISPS-US Offers an Array of Archived Webinars--Free but Donations Are Welcomed

The ISPS-US (The International Society for Psychological and Social Approaches to Psychosis-US Chapter) is offering a whole raft of archived webinars, which are free (although donations are welcomed). Among the webinars are "Cognitive Behavioral & Related Therapies for Psychosis: Diverse Approaches to Supporting Recovery," "How Can the Uncontainable Be Contained? Paradoxes of Madness & Philosophy," "Robert Whitaker: The Rising Non-Pharmaceutical Paradigm for 'Psychosis,'" "Life with Voices: A Guide for Harmony," "COPE Project: Non-Pharmaceutical Research on Influencing Voices and Visions," "What Hurts and What Helps In Treatment For 'Psychosis': Insider Perspectives," and many others. For more information and to access the webinars, click here.

“Where DNA and Medications Meet”

Not all drugs are effective for all people; therapeutic response rates for many drugs are only 50%-75%. “OneOme, co-founded by [the] Mayo Clinic, provides evidence-based pharmacogenomic solutions that help improve patient outcomes and reduce costs through more personalized medication decisions.” OneOme’s RightMed Test is “a doctor-ordered pharmacogenomic (PGx) test that analyzes your DNA and provides your doctors with genetic information to help them determine how you may respond to certain medications. The results may help your doctors reduce medication trial and error, minimize risk of side effects, save you time and money, and make more informed prescribing decisions. Because your DNA doesn’t change over time, your doctors can use your test results to make more personalized medication decisions for you over the course of your lifetime.” For more information, click here. (Courtesy of Robin Osborne)

Lived Experience Leadership Features 12 Years of Research Studies...

"Lived Experience Leadership features 12 years of research studies focused on this workforce in a range of settings, to foster a better of understanding and respect for Lived Experience as a distinct discipline and build clarity on what makes this work unique and valuable. Importantly, this body of research was led by Lived Experience researchers. Lived Experience Leadership provides clear and simple to read research summaries to allow community members and people employed within various industries the opportunity to easily understand and apply strategies within their own workplace. This website also includes easy to download definitions, audio/visual resources, and key work by other Australian and International sources. The website will continue to grow to include larger collections of our research as well as other key work. For the Lived Experience Leadership website, click here. (Courtesy of Jacek Haciak)

Doors to Wellbeing Offers “State Selfies: A Picture of Peer Services Reported by Peers”

Doors to Wellbeing’s “Peer Album” is a directory of nearly 600 peer-run organizations throughout the U.S. They invite updates and offer instructions for providing them and add, “If your entry has not made this first draft, we encourage you to re-submit.” For the 158-page directory, click here.

Disclaimer: The Clearinghouse does not necessarily endorse the opinions and opportunities included in the Key Update.

About The Key Update

The National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse is now affiliated with the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion.

The Key Update is the free monthly e-newsletter of the National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse. Volume 19, No. 5, November 2022. For content, reproduction or publication information, please contact Susan Rogers at selfhelpclearinghouse@gmail.com. Follow Susan on Twitter at @SusanRogersMH

Key Update, October 2022, Volume 19, Number 4

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!

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The Current U.S. Drug Policy Is Not “Scientifically Coherent,” Researchers Say

“Evidence points to an incongruence between international drug policy and expert opinion about safety, abuse potential, and therapeutic potential of specific drugs,” Ohio State and Johns Hopkins University researchers noted in a recent article published in the International Journal of Drug Policy. Focusing on four drugs–psilocybin, methamphetamine, ketamine, and alprazolam (Xanax)–the researchers found that “American psychiatrists’ perceptions about safety and abuse/therapeutic potentials associated with certain psychoactive drugs were inconsistent with those indicated by their placement in drug schedules. These findings add to a growing consensus amongst experts that the current drug policy is not scientifically coherent.” For the article, click here. (Courtesy of Elizabeth R. Stone)

NCMHR Is Excited to Host Free (Virtual) Alternatives 2022: Nov. 2, 3, and 4!

The National Coalition for Mental Health Recovery (NCMHR) will host Alternatives 2022, a virtual conference, on November 2 and November 3, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. ET; and November 4, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. ET. The conference will be FREE—although donations are welcome! November 2 includes a Youth Leader Panel, who will describe the future they want to see; a presentation on the history of the peer self-help and advocacy movement by longtime movement leaders; and the opportunity for participants to plan actions in one of three strategic areas: Advocacy at the Federal and State Levels; Alternatives to Force, Confinement, & Coercion; and Joining Our Struggle for Freedom to Other Struggles. November 3 includes presentations on peer crisis alternatives and additional organizing in the action groups, which will continue on November 4. On November 2 and November 3 between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. ET, there will be a choice of arts and movement activities as well as networking opportunities. As more information becomes available, it will be posted on the Alternatives conference website (click here). To register, click here.

MindFreedom International’s Next Judi’s Room to Be Held on October 5

On October 5, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. ET, 3 p.m. PT, MindFreedom International will host its next monthly Judi’s Room. The topic is “Independent Living Advocates: Potential Allies in the Fight for Alternatives to Guardianship.” The speakers will be Ron Bassman, former MindFreedom International executive director, and Karen Koch, advocate at Roads to Freedom Center for Independent Living (RTFCIL), one of the largest CILs in Pennsylvania. For more information and to register for free, click here.

Next Installment in PSCFL's National Peer Entrepreneur Speaker Series Is on October 6

On October 6, 2022, the Peer Support Coalition of Florida (PSCFL) Inc. will present the next episode in its National Peer Entrepreneur Series, held every first Thursday of the month at 12 p.m. ET. “Learn about [the peer entrepreneurs’] businesses, how they got started, and how they balance managing their wellness while running a successful business,” PSCFL writes. Those who attend any episodes in the series can apply to enroll in a six-session Aspiring Entrepreneurship Workshop, “which concludes with a warm handoff to a SCORE mentor for business development support,” PSCFL adds. “If you are a peer entrepreneur and would like to share your story of recovery and entrepreneurship, please contact Sherry@peersupportfl.org." To register for the October 6 workshop, click here. For more about peer entrepreneurs, and an interview with Live & Learn Inc. CEO and founder Laysha Ostrow, click here.

NYAPRS Seeks Presenters for TED-Style Talks at Its Rehabilitation and Recovery Academy

The deadline is October 7 to apply to present a 13-minute TED-style talk at NYAPRS’s Rehabilitation and Recovery Academy, to be held in person at the Hilton in downtown Albany on November 8-9, 2022. NYAPRS writes: “Details coming soon for an exciting program filled with best practices and innovation related to psychiatric rehabilitation services. Apply today to share your stories of support, best-practice implementation or other stories of recovery!” To apply, click here.

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.

“Making Mental Health & Well-Being for All a Global Priority” Is the Theme of World Mental Health Day (October 10)

“Growing social and economic inequalities, protracted conflicts, violence and public health emergencies affect whole populations, threatening progress towards improved well-being,” the World Health Organization writes in honor of World Mental Health Day on October 10. “We must deepen the value and commitment we give to mental health as individuals, communities and governments and match that value with more commitment, engagement and investment by all stakeholders, across all sectors. We must strengthen mental health care so that the full spectrum of mental health needs is met through a community-based network of accessible, affordable and quality services and supports.” For more information, click here.

“So You’re Ready to Work; Now What?”

On October 11, 2022, at 12 p.m. ET, Rebel Leadership Group LLC and CAFE TAC will launch a new, 12-part interactive employment training series! “This series will be recovery-centered and strengths-based, examining the process of finding, applying for, and succeeding in a job through the lens of recovery, helping attendees to identify strengths and skills, align the job-seeking and employment experience with their personal recovery path, and providing opportunity for discussion in a peer-centered space…Registering for any of the 12 sessions will automatically register you for all future sessions.” For details and to register, click here. 

PSCFL's 3-Part National Supervision Series Begins on October 13

On October 13 and October 27, 2022, from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. ET, the Peer Experience National Technical Assistance Center, a program of Peer Support Coalition of Florida (PSCFL) Inc., will host the first two parts of a three-part “National Supervision Series.” The date of Part 3 is to be determined. (Hurricane Ian required canceling the original Part 1 date of September 29 and a shift in the schedule.) PSCFL writes: “This series is a skill-building framework for effective peer support supervision with an understanding of best practices of both peer services and supervision. It is recommended for anyone who supervises peer specialists.” To register for all three sessions, click here. (“The sessions can be beneficial independently, and registration for each is independent,” PSCFL writes.) (Because the sessions are interactive, they will not be archived.)

Free Webinar: “Art and Healing—The Beauty Path”

On October 20, 2022, at 2 p.m. ET, the National Empowerment Center (NEC) will present a free, 90-minute webinar on “Art and Healing—The Beauty Path.” NEC writes: “We know that hope and healing are closely related, and this webinar will explore how art guides one artist, Meghan Caughey, in her recovery, plus how making art can be a tool for you in your own path and in supporting others.” For more information and to register, click here.

“Mental Illness Is Not in Your Head”

“Two recent books by historians explore the crisis in biological psychiatry, tracing the political, economic, social, and professional factors that led psychiatrists to attempt to pin the reality of mental illness—and the legitimacy of the profession—on the brain,” writes a Yale University historian of medicine and psychiatry resident in Boston Review. “They reveal that U.S. psychiatry, across its history, has been dangerously susceptible to hype and ‘cool,’ ranging from enthusiasm for brain dissection in the 1890s to the fanfare surrounding neurotransmitters and genetics a century later.” For the article, click here. (Courtesy of Berta Britz)

Celebrate Global Peer Support Celebration Day at the N.A.P.S. Conference! And Download the “Global Peer Support Celebration Day Toolkit”!

On October 20, 2022, to observe Global Peer Support Celebration Day—always the third Thursday in October—N.A.P.S. has invited writer, consultant, facilitator, advocate, and psychiatric survivor Nze Okoronta (they/them) to speak during a lunchtime plenary session at the annual conference. Nze specializes in the design, operation and supervision of peer-led and peer-operated crisis alternatives based in harm-reduction principles, informed consent models, and safer alternatives to navigating emotional distress. For more about Nze, click here and here. For the “Global Peer Support Celebration Day Toolkit,” click here. Nze also co-authored “Hotline Peer Specialist Integration: Preliminary Considerations for Equity and Sustainability” (click here.) (This document was included in the July 2022 Key Update.)

Researcher Seeks Peer Supporters for Survey of Burnout and Job Satisfaction

“Evidence has demonstrated that peer support is beneficial to individuals receiving services for mental health treatment,” writes PhD candidate Melody Madaris, a therapist who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and PTSD. “However, there is little research showing how providing peer services affects the peer support worker. The goal of this 20-minute, anonymous survey—for which respondents will not be compensated—is to give supervisors and policy makers information to better support peers in the workforce.” About her experience as a therapist, Melody has written, “I have seen how my just being real about my own story with clients has sometimes created better outcomes than the use of regimented, evidence-based curriculums.” For the informed consent statement (pages 1 and 2), and the Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval letter (page 3), click here. To participate in the survey, click here.

Doors to Wellbeing Will Host Its Next Free Webinar on October 25

On October 25, 2022, at 2 pm. ET, Doors to Wellbeing will host the latest webinar in its monthly one-hour series. The topic will be “How DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) Initiatives Can Be Leveraged to Advance Peer Support Work.” “Studies have shown that when it comes to DEI initiatives, the one demographic that is the most often left out or an afterthought is those with disabilities. This is especially true for those with invisible disabilities. With over 61 million Americans having a physical or mental disability, it is important that peer supporters have a seat at the table when DEI initiatives are crafted. This webinar will provide an overview of diversity, equity, & inclusion, how we can respond when faced with microaggressions, and five ways that peer supporters can be change agents for DEI initiatives.”  For more information and to register, click here.

“Hearing Voices” Exhibit Provides First-Person Accounts of Life in 19th-Century Asylums

“Hearing Voices: Memoirs from the Margins of Mental Health” is a free in-person and virtual exhibit presented by the Library Company of Philadelphia at 1314 Locust Street, Philadelphia. “These first-hand accounts range from positive tales of redemption and recovery, to harrowing stories of deceit and torture...[W]e are provided with an insight into the inner-workings of 19th-century asylums and the experiences of some of the most vulnerable in our society.” The exhibit runs through December 22, 2022; Library Company visitors must present proof of Covid-19 vaccination and wear a mask. For more information, click here. To view the exhibit online, click here. (Courtesy of Loran Kundra)

MHAAO Issues Call for Proposals for Peerpocalypse 2023

The Mental Health & Addiction Association of Oregon will host the tenth annual Peerpocalypse conference May 8-11, 2023, and is seeking presentation proposals for its workshop sessions. MHAAO writes: “This year's Peerpocalypse will be held in a hybrid format with in-person participation in beautiful Seaside, Oregon, and virtually.” The deadline for proposals is October 31, 2022, at 11:45 p.m. PT. For details and to submit a proposal, click here. (Courtesy of Kevin Fitts)

Mental Health America Offers “Peer Support: Research and Reports”

“Peers are an essential component of recovery-focused systems and are key across settings and stages of recovery,” writes Mental Health America on a web page devoted to “Peer Support: Research and Reports.” The page has numerous subsidiary topics and links. For the compendium, click here.

Peer Support Toolkit Is Designed to Help Agencies Successfully Integrate Peer Providers

The Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services (DBHIDS) has created a toolkit “designed to support behavioral health treatment agencies with the process of integrating peer providers into their service settings…Tools in this kit are designed to help agencies to recruit, retain, and effectively deploy people in recovery in a variety of peer support roles. The resources and information provided [are] relevant for executive leadership along with supervisors and peer staff.” For details and to download the toolkit, click here.

NASMHPD’s 2014 Webinar Series on Trauma-Informed Peer Support Is Still Relevant“

SAMHSA’s National Center for Trauma-Informed Care (NCTIC) hosted a series of three 75-minute webinars in September 2014 that introduced key concepts in NCTIC’s day-long Trauma-Informed Peer Support (TIPS) training. Peer support providers are the primary audience. For more information and to listen to the recordings and download the PowerPoint slides, click here.

The October 22 Digest of Articles Offering Healthy Lifestyle Advice

For “NIH-funded study shows sound sleep supports immune function: Adults who cut back on sleep for six weeks had increased markers of inflammation,” click here. (Courtesy of Peggy Swarbrick via Jacek Haciak) For “What Is a Vulnerability Hangover and How Do You Deal with Them? Getting things off our chest and sharing helps us feel better, we’re told. However, what about the shame or fear of judgment that can sometimes follow? Sonia Vadlamani explains what causes this initial regret—known as a vulnerability hangover—and how to overcome it,” click here. For “Are You a Clutterer? Do you have more possessions than you can comfortably handle? Are you embarrassed to invite family, friends, health care providers, or maintenance workers into your home …? Do you find it easier to drop something instead of putting it away … ?” click here. For “Surprisingly Happy to Have Helped: Underestimating Prosociality Creates a Misplaced Barrier to Asking for Help,” click here.

The October 2022 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 “Decarcerating from Within: A path for imprisoned writers to offer reasoned analysis on policies affecting the carceral state,” click here. For “Let Incarcerated People Serve the Communities They Hurt: A group of men in a New York prison organized a school supply donation campaign. Then prison leadership squashed it,” click here. For “Growing Justice: Why understanding restorative and transformative justice on their own terms, and at their best and worst, will help us build more of both,” click here. For “Prisoner Advocates Turn to the UN to End Extreme Prison Sentences: In a sharply worded complaint to UN special rapporteurs submitted on Thursday, advocacy groups call for an end to ‘death by incarceration’ sentencing in the U.S.,” click here. For “Afraid of Jail? Buy an Upgrade: How California’s pay-to-stay jails create a two-tiered justice system,” click here. For “Providing Health Care at Reentry Is a Critical Step in Criminal Justice Reform,” click here. For “An average of 25 mentally ill Mississippians wait in jail for hospital bed each day, report finds,” click here. For “People Age Out of Crime. Prison Sentences Should Reflect That,” click here. For “From Prison to the Art Gallery: Formerly incarcerated artists are making waves in the collecting world, hoping to create pathways, and dignity, for their peers,” click here. For “Protecting the Connection Between Parents in Prison and Their Children: The child of a formerly incarcerated person writes about how bad policies make the hardships of separation even worse,” click here. For “Clear Creek County deputies shoot and kill man who asked for help after car crash,” click here. For “Senate Investigation Finds Justice Department Undercounted Prison and Jail Deaths Last Year by Nearly 1,000: The report says the inaccuracies ‘deprived Congress and the American public of information about who is dying in custody and why,’” click here. For “The Irrefutable Case for Police Reform: Lawless cops must be subordinated to democracy,” click here. For “What’s Dangerous Is America’s Lack of Crime Data,” click here. For “Millions of People With Felonies Can Now Vote. Most Don’t Know It. In a handful of key states, no more than 1 in 4 formerly incarcerated people registered in time for the 2020 election, a Marshall Project analysis found,” click here.

FROM PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF THE KEY UPDATE BUT STILL FRESH!

OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN RESEARCH

“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. 

BU Seeks Peer Support Specialists for a Research Study

The Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation at Boston University is developing and testing the effectiveness of a coaching service called Coaching and Advancement for Peer Providers (CAPP) “to increase organizational commitment and job satisfaction and decrease turnover among mental health peer providers.” BU CPR writes: “We need Peer Support Specialists (PSS) to participate in our study. Who can participate? People who are in a paid job as a Peer Support Specialist providing support to other people with mental health challenges, who are employed at least 10 hours per week, who have worked for the past six months in a mental health program, and who are experiencing stress because of challenges in the workplace. The study involves 16 one-hour sessions of coaching over a four-month period designed to help you with your job, meeting online (through Zoom, for example) with your coach, and filling out surveys one time before coaching starts and three additional times. You will have a 50/50 chance of getting a coach or having a one-time meeting to give you information about challenges at work. Benefits? You may learn strategies to help make work less stressful.” For more information, click here. For questions, contact Principal Investigator E. Sally Rogers, Sc.D., at erogers@bu.edu or 617-353-3549.

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

CONFERENCES

APA to Host Mental Health Services Conference October 13-14 in Washington, DC

The American Psychiatric Association writes: “The 2022 Mental Health Services Conference will bring psychiatrists and other mental health professionals together to collaborate on practical advice to influence systems-level change for their patients. Join us in-person in Washington, D.C. at the Capital Hilton Hotel, October 13-14, as we work together to develop practical solutions to solve real-world issues.” Sessions include “988 and Crisis Care: What Happens After the Call?”; “Mental Health Professionals’ Role in Reclaiming Community Members from the Justice System”; and “The Overturning of Roe vs Wade: Implications for Women’s Health and the Practice of Medicine.” For more information, click here.

NARPA Announces Exciting Keynoters to Speak at Its 2022 Annual Rights Conference, October 26-29

The National Association for Rights Protection and Advocacy (NARPA) will hold its 2022 Annual Rights Conference at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Newark Airport October 26-29. The four inspiring keynote speakers will be Rob Wipond, an activist, investigative journalist, and author of the upcoming “Your Consent Is Not Required: The Rise in Forced Detentions, Forced Treatment, And Abusive Guardianships; Ruth Lowenkron, Director, Disability Justice Program, New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, who has filed lawsuits against the New York Police Department about their responses to mental health crisis calls; Vesper Moore, an indigenous political activist, leader, author, trainer and educator in the psychiatric survivor and disability rights movements; Deborah Dorfman, Executive Director, Disability Rights Connecticut, who is active in individual, class action, and systemic reform litigation for disability rights around the nation; and Robert Dinerstein, Professor of Law, American University Washington College of Law, who will speak about recent developments in mental health law. Visit www.narpa.org for registration form and updates. 

National Association for Rural Mental Health Conference to Be Held November 2-4, 2022

The 47th Annual National Association for Rural Mental Health (NARMH) conference will be held at the Embassy Suites in Boulder, Colorado, November 2-4, 2022. The theme is “Beyond the Pandemic—Building on Rural Resiliency.” The early-bird registration fee is $500; for people who are retired or students, it’s $250. For more information as it becomes available, click here.

The International Conference on Trauma and Mental Health will take place November 3-4, 2022, in San Francisco. For more information, click here.

ISPS-US (Hybrid) 2022 Conference to Be Held November 4-6

The 2022 ISPS-US (International Society for Psychological and Social Approaches to Psychosis—U.S. Chapter) conference will be held November 4-6 in Sacramento, California, as well as online. The conference theme is Opportunity Through Experience: Psychosis, Extreme States, and Possibilities for Transformation. ISPS-US writes: “People with lived experience, family members, clinicians, and researchers are all invited to propose presentations that promote mutual collaboration and respect, and can allow us to offer each other both greater understanding and more light. We especially welcome proposals from members of marginalized groups whose experiences have included systemic as well as relational traumas and challengesFor more information, click here. (Courtesy of Jacek Haciak)

ISEPP’s 2021 Conference Is Available to View Online

The 2021 conference of the International Society for Ethical Psychology and Psychiatry can be viewed online. The theme of the conference, convened October 9-10, 2021, was “The Destructive Propaganda of the Mental Health Industry: How Did We Get Here? Where Are We Going?” It was dedicated to the life and memory of Paula J. Caplan, Ph.D. To buy a ticket to watch the full conference recording for $22.85, click here.

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES

“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. (Courtesy of Kevin Fitts)

“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.

Rutgers Releases W-TLC Virtual Toolbox and Training/Learning Collaborative Series

“The Rutgers Center of Alcohol & Substance Use Studies has announced the release of the Wellness Training Learning Collaborative (W-TLC) virtual toolbox and Training/Learning Collaborative series…This toolkit provides peer support, individual, and organizational approaches to support the wellbeing of the critical health care workforce.” For descriptions of the 12 upcoming sessions—including two in July (July 7 and July 28), with the remaining sessions to be held August 2022 through January 2023—and to register for them, click here. For the “Journey to Wellness Guide,” click here. (Note: Information about the Journey to Wellness Guide was included in the April 2022 Key Update.)

Peer Advocates Over 50 Years Old Are Invited to a Weekly Empowering Support Group

"People over 50 who are mental health lived-experience advocates, change makers, visionaries, and current status quo challengers" are invited to join "a weekly, open, upbeat, peer-support empowering environment for seasoned peers with lived experience who are active, and were active, as advocates for positive change," the WiseCrackers write. The goal of the recently launched group is "to support mental health advocates over 50 years of age with pure peer support practices based on natural curiosity, acceptance, humor, and positive networking." The free, 90-minute Zoom meetings are held on Mondays at 7 p.m. ET, 6 p.m. CT, 5 p.m. MT, and 4 p.m. PT. The meetings are currently co-facilitated by "East and West Coast Peers" and sponsored by the Community for Positive Aging. To register and to review the WiseCracker Principles of support, click here. Questions? Contact info@choiceheals.com or 503.208.0065.

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)

Poetry Coalition to Launch "Poetry & Disability Justice" Initiative

"This year, the 25+ organizations nationwide that comprise the Poetry Coalition will launch 'The future lives in our bodies: Poetry & Disability Justice,' the coalition’s sixth annual programming initiative...Poetry Coalition members aim to demonstrate how poetry can inspire questions in their communities about disability justice and spark increased engagement with this important theme. Member organizations are committed to offering programming that is accessible and that includes disabled, neurodivergent, and d/Deaf poets and those of diverse racial, ethnic, and gender identities, backgrounds, and communities. All organizations and others interested are invited to create programs on this theme in 2022 and share their efforts using the hashtags #DisabilityJustice and #PoetryCoalition. For some additional resources to assist with programming, particularly in creating accessible programming, click here.

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 Allen Frances, M.D., author of Saving Normal; Sandra Steingard, M.D., and G. Scott Waterman, M.D., on "Integrating Academic Inquiry and Reformist Activism in Psychiatry"; Susannah Cahalan, author of Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness, on "50 Shades of Misdiagnosis"; Kathy Flaherty, J.D., executive director of the Connecticut Legal Rights Project, Inc., on "Reconsidering Care and Coercion in Psychiatry"; Nev Jones, Ph.D., on "Phenomenology, Power, Polarization, and the Discourse on Psychosis"; Dainius Puras, M.D., on "Global Psychiatry's Crisis of Values"; and many others. For the archived interviews, click here.

CNN Offers “A Guide to Helping and Getting Help During the Coronavirus Crisis”

CNN writes: “The coronavirus pandemic is overwhelming, and one of the most excruciating parts for many people is the feeling of utter helplessness in the face of widespread suffering and hardship. CNN’s Impact Your World has compiled a list of donation opportunities and tips to help those affected by the crisis. Click on a category or scroll down to browse a list of organizations, resources and ideas. Need help? Most categories also include resources for financial, emotional or social support.” For the free guide, click here.

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.

PsychAlive Offers a Variety of Webinars on Mental Health Topics, Many Free, Others $15

PsychAlive is a free, nonprofit resource created by the Glendon Association, whose mission is “to save lives and enhance mental health by addressing the social problems of suicide, violence, child abuse and troubled interpersonal relationships.” Psychalive.org offers a variety of upcoming and archived webinars, many of which are free, while others are available for $15. Among the myriad topics are “From Anxiety to Action: How to Stay Sane While Fighting Climate Change,” “How to Overcome Insecurity,” “Powerful Tools to Fight Depression,” and “Understanding and Overcoming Adverse Childhood Experiences.” To check out the webinars, click here.

Learning Collaborative Webinar Series Offers Several Archived Presentations 

The Doors to Wellbeing website offers a number of webinars that you may find of interest: “The Importance of Policies and Procedures in Peer-run Organizations”; “Building Partnerships to Enhance the Peer Workforce,” by Kyneta Lee, Tim Saubers, and Todd Noack; “Handing Over the Keys: Leadership Succession Planning in Non-Profit Organizations,” by Elise Padilla and Maxine Henry; “How to Embed Strategic Planning into the Culture of Your Organization,” by Oryx Cohen; “Fundraising and Sustainability: Building your Organization by Telling the Right Story to the Right Audience”; “Developing a Board of Directors for Mental Health Organizations,” by Amey Dettmer and Matthew Federici; and “Conflict Management in Peer-Run Organizations: Tools for Effective Conversations.” Certificates of attendance are not available for any of these presentations. For more information and to register for any or all of them, click here. 

National Safety Council Offers a Free Webinar Series Focusing on Mental Health in the Workplace

"The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic will affect employees well beyond the initial crisis," the National Safety Council writes. "Employers have a unique ability and responsibility to address the mental health and wellbeing of their workers, which is a true organization-wide effort. This free Mental Health Webinar Series led by the National Safety Council, and first presented in August 2020, speaks to a variety of positions within an organization and how each one can address stress and mental health." Four of the five webinars are titled: "Supporting Employee Mental Health" and respectively subtitled "Resources for Employees," "Actions for Leadership," "Actions for Supervisors," and "Actions for HR Professionals." To view the free, archived webinars, click here.

Seven Ways to Keep a Digital Copy of Your Vaccination Card on Your Smartphone

“You'll need proof of vaccination to go back to work or enter many restaurants, gyms and event venues, so keep your COVID-19 card handy.” This is the advice of CNET.com, a tech support website. Besides the obvious—taking a photo of the card to store on your phone—there are six other suggestions. For details, click here. (Courtesy of Yvonne Smith)

ISPS-US Offers an Array of Archived Webinars--Free but Donations Are Welcomed

The ISPS-US (The International Society for Psychological and Social Approaches to Psychosis-US Chapter) is offering a whole raft of archived webinars, which are free (although donations are welcomed). Among the webinars are "Cognitive Behavioral & Related Therapies for Psychosis: Diverse Approaches to Supporting Recovery," "How Can the Uncontainable Be Contained? Paradoxes of Madness & Philosophy," "Robert Whitaker: The Rising Non-Pharmaceutical Paradigm for 'Psychosis,'" "Life with Voices: A Guide for Harmony," "COPE Project: Non-Pharmaceutical Research on Influencing Voices and Visions," "What Hurts and What Helps In Treatment For 'Psychosis': Insider Perspectives," and many others. For more information and to access the webinars, click here.

“Where DNA and Medications Meet”

Not all drugs are effective for all people; therapeutic response rates for many drugs are only 50%-75%. “OneOme, co-founded by [the] Mayo Clinic, provides evidence-based pharmacogenomic solutions that help improve patient outcomes and reduce costs through more personalized medication decisions.” OneOme’s RightMed Test is “a doctor-ordered pharmacogenomic (PGx) test that analyzes your DNA and provides your doctors with genetic information to help them determine how you may respond to certain medications. The results may help your doctors reduce medication trial and error, minimize risk of side effects, save you time and money, and make more informed prescribing decisions. Because your DNA doesn’t change over time, your doctors can use your test results to make more personalized medication decisions for you over the course of your lifetime.” For more information, click here. (Courtesy of Robin Osborne)

Lived Experience Leadership Features 12 Years of Research Studies...

"Lived Experience Leadership features 12 years of research studies focused on this workforce in a range of settings, to foster a better of understanding and respect for Lived Experience as a distinct discipline and build clarity on what makes this work unique and valuable. Importantly, this body of research was led by Lived Experience researchers. Lived Experience Leadership provides clear and simple to read research summaries to allow community members and people employed within various industries the opportunity to easily understand and apply strategies within their own workplace. This website also includes easy to download definitions, audio/visual resources, and key work by other Australian and International sources. The website will continue to grow to include larger collections of our research as well as other key work. For the Lived Experience Leadership website, click here. (Courtesy of Jacek Haciak)

Doors to Wellbeing Offers “State Selfies: A Picture of Peer Services Reported by Peers”

Doors to Wellbeing’s “Peer Album” is a directory of nearly 600 peer-run organizations throughout the U.S. They invite updates and offer instructions for providing them and add, “If your entry has not made this first draft, we encourage you to re-submit.” For the 158-page directory, click here.

Disclaimer: The Clearinghouse does not necessarily endorse the opinions and opportunities included in the Key Update.

About The Key Update

The National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse is now affiliated with the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion.

The Key Update is the free monthly e-newsletter of the National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse. Volume 19, No. 4, October 2022. For content, reproduction or publication information, please contact Susan Rogers at selfhelpclearinghouse@gmail.com. Follow Susan on Twitter at @SusanRogersMH

Key Update, September 2022, Volume 19, Number 3

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!

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New Report Reveals Big Pharma’s Threats to Medical Whistleblowers

New research published in the Journal of Scientific Practice and Integrity provides details of publicly documented threats to, and harassment of, clinicians and scientists after they communicated “safety, efficacy, or data integrity findings contrary to corporate interests.” Two of the many drugs covered in the report—entitled “Davids versus Goliaths: Pharma and academia threats to individual scientists and clinicians”—are antidepressants: paroxetine (brand names Paxil, Aropax, Pexeva, Seroxat, Sereupin and Brisdelle) and fluoxetine (Prozac). For “Davids versus Goliaths,” click here. In addition, attorney Jim Gottstein blew the whistle on atypical antipsychotic olanzapine (Zyprexa). He tells this story in his masterly book, The Zyprexa Papers (click here). (Courtesy of Elizabeth Saenger)

“Psychiatric Advance Directives—What They Can Do for You”

On August 31, at 4 p.m. ET, 1 p.m. PT, Disability Rights California will present “Psychiatric Advance Directives—What They Can Do for You.” The speakers will discuss “what Psychiatric Advance Directives (PADs) are, why they are important, how they can protect rights, PAD section options, and advocacy opportunities for PADs.” For details and to register, click here. (The link skips to the registration field; scroll up for details of the webinar.)

Save the Date! NCMHR to Host Alternatives 2022, a Virtual Conference, on Nov. 2, 3, and 4

The National Coalition for Mental Health Recovery will host Alternatives 2022, a virtual conference, on November 2 and November 3, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. ET; and November 4, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. ET. The conference will be FREE—although donations are welcome! “Alternatives 2022 will be a ‘working conference’ where we will return to our roots of advocacy and social justice,” NCMHR writes. “In addition to speakers and panels, conference participants will be able to join work groups to develop action steps in key priority areas. We need to make the voice of persons with lived experience more prominent nationally. We want to fire up our movement and remind everyone of our roots and the need for advocacy.” As more information becomes available, it will be posted on the Alternatives conference website (click here). To register, click here.

Stakeholders with Lived Experience Work to Prevent Co-optation and Tokenism in Research

“As reviewers, editors, and researchers with lived experience of mental health challenges, addiction, and/or psychosocial distress/disability, the authors have struggled to find an adequate way to address inappropriate or misleading use of the term ‘participatory methods’ to describe research that involves people with lived experience in only a superficial or tokenistic manner….” To read their entire article—“Strengthening Review and Publication of Participatory Mental Health Research to Promote Empowerment and Prevent Co-optation”—published online by Psychiatric Services—click here. (For more on this topic, see below.)

Two Recent Articles Explain: People with Lived Experience Can Play a Vital Role in Research

In “They’re Able to See Things That I Don’t” and “The lived experience of psychosis,” the authors, respectively, explain the important contributions that individuals with lived experience can make in research. “People with disorders are no longer simply subjects to be studied but ‘experts by experience,’ who can play key roles in the research process itself,” write the authors in “They’re able to see things that I don’t,” published in August 2022 by the British Psychological Society (BPS). And in “The lived experience of psychosis: a bottom-up review co-written by experts by experience and academics,” published in May 2022 in World Psychiatry, “experts by experience played a major role in picking the themes for the study and in screening and discussing first-person accounts.” For the BPS article, click here. For the World Psychiatry article, click here. (Courtesy of Janet Paleo)

Researchers Develop New Scale to Measure Patients’ Psychological Safety

Researchers at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow have devised a measure to assess an individual’s feelings of safety. According to a recent Science Daily piece, the Neuroception of Psychological Safety Scale (NPSS)—called “the first of its kind”—has the potential to be used in a variety of settings, “such as tracking progress in psychological therapy or assessing whether a sense of psychological safety enhances learning or improves hospital outcomes.” Using statistical methods to assess participants’ responses to a questionnaire, the researchers established which statements were most associated with feeling safe, leading to the 29-item scale. The study has been published in the journal Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy. For the Science Daily report, click here.

MHA Will Present Three Youth-Focused Webinars in September

Mental Health America will present three webinars in September that highlight youth mental health: “Reducing the Risk of Youth Suicide: A Discussion on Education, Prevention, and Early Intervention” (September 6, 1 p.m. ET); “ ‘Follow Me and Like My Beautiful Selfies’: Social Media Use and Adolescent Mental Health” (September 13, 2 p.m. ET); and “Where do I fit in?” (September 20, 3 p.m. ET). For details and to register, click here.

“‘The Best Tool We Have’ for Self-Harming and Suicidal Teens” and “This Teen was Prescribed 10 Psychiatric Drugs. She’s Not Alone.”

“Studies indicate that dialectical behavior therapy offers greater benefits than more generalized therapy” for teens with mental health challenges, according to a recent article in The New York Times. “A 2018 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association…found that DBT led to sharper drops in suicidal attempts and self-harm among adolescents than a more generalized therapy did. A 2014 study by researchers in Norway found a similar effect, noting that the therapy also has a relatively low dropout rate, and concluded that ‘it is indeed possible for adolescents to be engaged, retained, and treated’ using DBT.” This article was a sidebar to a Page 1 New York Times story: “This Teen was Prescribed 10 Psychiatric Drugs. She’s Not Alone.” For the main story on the New York Times website, click here. If you’re stuck behind the New York Times paywall, here’s a different link (courtesy of Kevin Fitts): (click here). For “‘The Best Tool We Have’ for Self-Harming and Suicidal Teens” on the New York Times website,  click here.

MindFreedom International’s Next Judi's Room to Be Held on September 7

On September 7, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. ET, 3 p.m. PT, MindFreedom International will host its next monthly Judi’s Room. For more information stay tuned here! To register for free, click here.

Guide Offers Best Practices for Peer Support and Leadership in EIP Services

A 106-page guide— Peer Involvement and Leadership in Early Intervention in Psychosis Services: From Planning to Peer Support and Evaluation—aims “to provide a range of different stakeholders with information and best practices for peer support and leadership in early intervention for psychosis (EIP) services…Unlike many other U.S. peer support manuals, the aim of this guide is to provide coverage of a broad range of domains in which peers might assume leadership or advisory roles. These include program development and planning, direct service delivery (including peer support), public outreach and engagement, clinician education, and quality improvement and evaluation.” The author is Nev Jones, Ph.D., a “community engaged mental health services researcher” who has lived experience. For the guide, click here.

Seven Years of Stepping Up Will Highlight Efforts to Reduce Criminal Legal System Involvement of Individuals with Mental Health Conditions

On September 8, 2022, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET, the Council of State Governments Justice Center (CSG JC) will host Seven Years of Stepping Up. CSG JC writes: “Communities across the country are reducing over-incarceration of people with mental illnesses as part of the national Stepping Up initiative…The virtual event will highlight counties’ achievements over the past seven years, explore emerging trends in the field, and chart a path forward for the movement. It is free and open to the public.  The latest CSG JC newsletter also includes “How to Use an Integrated Approach to Address the Mental Health Needs of Youth in the Justice System” and a lot of other information. For the newsletter, click here. For another CSG JC newsletter (State of Justice, August 19, 2022), click here. (For more about the criminal legal system, in which many individuals with mental health conditions find themselves, scroll down.)

Suicide Hotlines: What the Research Says; “New 988 Hotline Doesn’t Currently Use Geolocation Services,” AP Reports; NBC News: “New 988 hotline draws criticism that it could lead to a police response, but advocates say it’s misguided”; NPR: “Social Media Posts Warn People Not to Call 988. Here’s What You Need to Know”; and SAMHSA’S “988 Frequently Asked Questions”

Now that the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline has launched, “it helps [journalists] to be familiar with the research on suicide prevention lifelines," writes Naseem Miller, senior health editor of The Journalist’s Resource, a project of the Harvard Kennedy School’s Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy. For the research roundup, click here. (Courtesy of Elizabeth R. Stone) In addition, AP reports, the claims that using the new 988 mental health hotline “will automatically route your geolocation information to local authorities,” are false. For the AP article, click here. However, the headline of “New 988 hotline draws criticism that it could led to a police response…” is misleading in claiming that “advocates say it’s misguided,” because some advocates disagree. For the NBC News article, click here. And a recent segment on NPR attempts to answer the question, “So should I use 988 or not?” Their answer? “It depends.” For the NPR article, click here. Meanwhile, SAMHSA reports that “the FCC held a 988 Geolocation Forum in May 2022 and the agency is actively analyzing the information gathered during that forum,” For more, click here. (For more about 988, see below.)

Free Webinar: “988: What’s the Scoop?”

On September 13, 2022, at 12 p.m. ET, PsychU will host a free, one-hour “discussion with experts in suicide prevention and mental health: ‘988: What’s the Scoop?’ ” PsychU writes: “…Our experts will share insights on nationwide and state-specific efforts and gaps with respect to 988, and what this means for health care providers and individuals in crisis. Finally, we will highlight how 988 could evolve over time to shape our mental health care environment and the role health care providers can play to make positive changes at their local and regional levels.” Certificates of Completion can be downloaded. For details and to register, click here.

“Mental Health Activists Hold Diverse and Varied Perspectives on Psychiatry”

“An article published in the journal Psychiatric Services looks at the variety of perspectives in the world of mental health activists and advocates (MHAAs),” Mad in America writes. For their review (including a link to the abstract of the article: “Beyond binary narratives of mental health advocacy: Latent profiles of mental health activists and advocates with lived experience”), click here.

September 14 Is World Hearing Voices Day; (Hybrid) World Hearing Voices Congress 2022 to Be Held in Brazil; Study Highlights Positive Outcomes of Voice-Hearing Group Members in Brazil

1. “World Hearing Voices Day recognizes and values the diversity of those of us who hear voices, see visions, or have related sensory experiences,” writes Intervoice. “It is a day to promote our right to define our experiences in our own way.” 2. This year’s International Hearing Voices Congress will be hosted in Porto Alegre, Brazil, November 3-5, by Hearing Voices Brazil. The Congress will also be running online in partnership with Online Events. “We will share more details on themes and topics when we have them,” Intervoice writes (click here). 3. Mad In America reports on new research in Brazil demonstrating “how voice hearing groups can be a strategy for the care and recovery of individuals who hear voices.” For the article, click here.

Mental Health Book Fair Will Celebrate Students Who Combat Prejudice and Discrimination

On September 16, 2022, three college students who have disclosed their mental health status in ways that help combat prejudice and discrimination will each receive a $500 Disclosure Scholarship at the Prevention, Wellness & Recovery Book Fair sponsored by Gift of Voice, a mental health training and technical assistance center based in Edwardsville, Illinois. The Fair will feature published authors who themselves are in mental health and addiction recovery. “With so many negative consequences for mental health disclosure, it’s no wonder people don’t seek out support when they’re struggling,” said Gift of Voice founder AJ French. “The only way I know how to change these life-altering outcomes is by developing positive consequences for disclosure.” For more about the Fair, including the location and the hours, click here.

NYAPRS Opens Registration for Its 2022 Annual Conference

NYAPRS has launched registration for its 2022 Annual Conference (September 21-23, Villa Roma Resort and Conference Center, Callicoon, New York). Conference fees will appear as you proceed through the registration process. For more information, visit the NYAPRS website. Program details will be released soon via the NYAPRS E-News and website. For more about registration (including Covid precautions), click here.

NARPA Rights Conference Offers Scholarships for Persons with Lived Experience

The deadline is September 20 to apply for a scholarship to attend the NARPA Rights Conference, to be held at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Newark Airport in Newark, New Jersey, October 26-29, 2022. For details and to apply, click here.

Doors to Wellbeing Will Host Its Next Free Webinar on September 27
On September 27, 2022, at 2 pm. ET, Doors to Wellbeing will host the latest in its monthly one-hour webinar series. For more information as it becomes available, and to register, click here.

Protest Planned at AOT Conference in San Antonio, October 13-14

Texas mental health advocates are planning a protest at the Treatment Advocacy Center’s National AOT [Assisted Outpatient Treatment] Symposium and Learning Collaborative, to be held at the Menger Hotel in San Antonio, Texas, October 13-14, 2022. For information about the conference, click here. For the Treatment Advocacy Center’s 74-page “2022 Texas AOT Practitioner’s Guide,” click here. “Attendance for this event is FREE. However, there will be a charge of $150 for any cancellations after October 6, 2022 or for no shows.” As information about the protest becomes available, it will be posted on the Prosumers International website (click here).

“Start Your Own Friendship Project with This Easy-to-Follow Guide”

“The Friendship Squad is a mutual aid project for social support,” writes Dan Frey, director of City Voices. “Basically, my purpose was to connect people who were secure in their recovery from mental health and/or addiction challenges and who have a solid support system, with people who may be struggling, lacking support, lonely and/or isolated,” he said. If you want to start your own Friendship Project, “I will help you every step of the way free of charge.” For more information, click here. (Courtesy of Surviving Spirit Newsletter)

Invitation to Contribute to a Celebration of Steve Harrington

We are holding a celebration of the life of Steve Harrington at the upcoming N.A.P.S. Annual Conference. Steve was the founder of the National Association of Peer Specialists, and touched many lives in his quest for growing the peer support workforce. He died in November 2021. Rita Cronise is collecting items to include in a slideshow of Steve’s life that will be shared at the conference. If you knew Steve and have a brief memory or photo to share, please contact Rita at rita.cronise@rutgers.edu.  

The Movement Mourns Sally Zinman, Fierce Warrior for Social Justice, Who Died on August 25, 2022

Sally Zinman, who struggled with cancer for many years, died on August 25, 2022. Announcing Sally’s death, Harvey Rosenthal wrote: "Rest in peace & power, Sally, & know that your legacy of self-empowerment, community organizing & activism...& transformational change & courage, determination & love will go on forever." Addressing her community of mental health activists in her acceptance speech at the SAMHSA Voice Awards ceremony in 2016, Sally said: “We, all of us, have been soldiers in a march towards transformation, from a system based on chronicity to one of recovery, from a system that decided everything about us without us, to one in which nothing is about us without us. From a system that considered people with lived experience as not able to run their own lives, to one that values consumer-run programs and peer support. From a system based on force to one based on choice and self-determination and freedom. And from a world that dehumanized and isolated people with lived experience to one that embraces us as neighbors, friends, family members, business colleagues, and every kind of professional.” For the entirety of Sally’s speech, click here. (Courtesy of Ann Kasper)

The September 2022 Digest of Articles Offering Healthy Lifestyle Advice

For “Wellness in Eight Dimensions,” click here. For “How to Make Friends as an Adult,” click here. For “Can You Pass the 10-Second Balance Test? This simple, often neglected skill can pay huge dividends later in life,” click here.

The September 2022 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 “After Another Mentally Ill Person Dies in Police Custody, Experts Call for Widespread Training, Health Resources,” click here. For “Mental Health Professionals Really Can Assume Some Police Duties: In Denver, it’s proving cheaper and maybe more effective—in limited circumstances. Here’s how,” click here. For “How Qualified Immunity Fails People at Risk of Suicide,” click here. For “A BFD for Criminal Justice Reform: The fight to reduce mass incarceration just got a big boost,” click here. For “Bringing Balance and Fairness to Reporting on Safety and Justice: A New Resource for Reporters Who Cover Complex Issues Involving Crime & the Legal System,” click here. For “Voting in Jails: Advocacy Strategies to #UnlockTheVote,” click here. For “How Policing Has—and Hasn’t—Changed Since George Floyd: More than two years after millions took to the streets to protest police violence, the problem persists. That doesn’t mean nothing has changed,” click here. For “Jail Guitar Doors goes into the prisons, jails, and juvenile detention facilities all around this nation bringing with us the undeniable, UNIVERSAL POWER OF MUSIC to help our fellow imprisoned human beings onto the right track toward successful reentry,” click here. (Courtesy of Surviving Spirit newsletter) For “Restraints and involuntary medication are widespread at corrections facility for people with mental illness, report alleges,” click here. For “ ‘When People Fear Me Based on My Jail Tats and Scars, They Miss the Real Me’: A recent ride to a public clinic gave Jose Armendariz a quick break from jail. But he couldn’t escape the fear and judgment of the other patients,” click here. For “The Arizona Prison System Is Censoring The Nation. We’re Doing Something About It. Arizona prison authorities are stopping incarcerated people from reading The Nation. We’re working with the ACLU’s National Prison Project to assert their First Amendment rights,” click here. For “How Electronic Monitoring Incentivizes Prolonged Punishment: An innovative method to help reduce mass incarceration is often derailed by outrageous fees and onerous rules that can send people back to prison,” click here. For “ ‘It’s Crushing’: The Lasting Trauma of the Exonerated. Proving your innocence is only part of the battle to put your life back together,” click here. For “For wrongfully convicted Black men, exoneration can be just as traumatizing as prison: Black people are wrongfully convicted at a higher rate—and pay a high price even after being exonerated,” click here. For “Via multiple rulings, Michigan Supreme Court places new restrictions on when juveniles can receive life sentences,” click here. For “Hundreds of Thousands of Incarcerated People Are in Danger Amid Scorching Heat,” click here. For “ ‘Cooking Them to Death’: The Lethal Toll of Hot Prisons,” click here. For “Prison Money Diaries: What People Really Make (and Spend) Behind Bars: We asked people in prison to track their earning and spending — and bartering and side hustles — for 30 days. Their accounts reveal a thriving underground economy behind bars,” click here. For “We Spent a Year Following a Troubled Police Force. Listen to the Entire Podcast Series: ‘Changing the Police,’ a podcast from The Marshall Project and NPR’s Embedded, examines what one community wants from its cops,” click here. “Some [cities] have launched crisis-response programs that offer alternatives to the police for some non-violent mental health emergencies. But in Yonkers, for now, the police still handle these calls.” See Episode 4, which covers this issue, at this link (click here). For ”Albert Woodfox, Angola 3 member and prison reformer, dies at 75. He served 43 years in solitary confinement, perhaps longest in U.S. history,” click here. For “US Sentencing Commission Restocked After Senate Confirmations,” click here. For “I spent 14 years in solitary confinement. Here’s why we should end the practice. Solitary confinement took away a piece of me that I will never get back. It's also more expensive and hurts prisoners' mental health,” click here. For “Seattle's Crackdown on Low-Level Crime Targets the Poor, Mentally Ill. The City’s Quest for ‘Accountability’ Also Reinforces Systemic Racism,” click here. For “How funding mental health services could reduce incarceration in Oklahoma,” click here. For “Staffing shortages and deficient training leave First Step Act floundering, federal prison employees say: ‘This is the biggest failure I've seen of something that's a law. It's pathetic,’ one prison counselor said,” click here.

FROM PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF THE KEY UPDATE BUT STILL FRESH!

OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN RESEARCH

“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. 

BU Seeks Peer Support Specialists for a Research Study

The Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation at Boston University is developing and testing the effectiveness of a coaching service called Coaching and Advancement for Peer Providers (CAPP) “to increase organizational commitment and job satisfaction and decrease turnover among mental health peer providers.” BU CPR writes: “We need Peer Support Specialists (PSS) to participate in our study. Who can participate? People who are in a paid job as a Peer Support Specialist providing support to other people with mental health challenges, who are employed at least 10 hours per week, who have worked for the past six months in a mental health program, and who are experiencing stress because of challenges in the workplace. The study involves 16 one-hour sessions of coaching over a four-month period designed to help you with your job, meeting online (through Zoom, for example) with your coach, and filling out surveys one time before coaching starts and three additional times. You will have a 50/50 chance of getting a coach or having a one-time meeting to give you information about challenges at work. Benefits? You may learn strategies to help make work less stressful.” For more information, click here. For questions, contact Principal Investigator E. Sally Rogers, Sc.D., at erogers@bu.edu or 617-353-3549.

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

CONFERENCES

National Latino Behavioral Health Conference to Be Held in Las Vegas September 15-16, 2022

“The National Hispanic and Latino Addiction Technology Transfer Center (NHL-ATTC) and the National Hispanic and Latino Prevention Technology Transfer Center (NHL-PTTC) invite you to join us for the 2022 National Latino Behavioral Health Conference: Latino Behavioral Health Equity ¡Juntos Podemos! [Together We Can!] on September 15-16, 2022 at the Sahara Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. The purpose of the 2022 National Latino Behavioral Health Conference is to highlight the latest and most relevant data around Prevention, Treatment, Recovery, Policy, and Research focusing on the Hispanic and Latino communities.” For more information and to register, click here.

AD4E 2022 Virtual Conference to Take Place September 16

The 3rd annual A Disorder for Everyone (AD4E) festival, to take place on September 16, 2022, “will bring you a whole day of change-making talks, presentations, conversations, poetry from far and wide,” the organizers write. The conference will begin at 9:00 BST (British Summer Time). For a time conversion table, click here. For more information and to buy a ticket, click here. (Courtesy of Kevin Fitts)

APA to Host Mental Health Services Conference October 13-14 in Washington, DC

The American Psychiatric Association writes: “The 2022 Mental Health Services Conference will bring psychiatrists and other mental health professionals together to collaborate on practical advice to influence systems-level change for their patients. Join us in-person in Washington, D.C. at the Capital Hilton Hotel, October 13-14, as we work together to develop practical solutions to solve real-world issues.” Sessions include “988 and Crisis Care: What Happens After the Call?”; “Mental Health Professionals’ Role in Reclaiming Community Members from the Justice System”; and “The Overturning of Roe vs Wade: Implications for Women’s Health and the Practice of Medicine.” For more information, click here.

2022 N.A.P.S. (Hybrid) Conference to Be Held 10/19-21

The 2022 conference of the National Association of Peer Supporters will be held October 19-21, 2022, at the Sheraton DFW (at the Dallas/Ft. Worth International Airport), and virtually. The conference theme is The Value and Values of Peer Support. "The 2022 N.A.P.S. conference will be the first time we gather in person since 2019. I can't wait to see you there! Join us for networking, education, and celebration of each other," said Jessi Davis, N.A.P.S. board president. To register, click here.

NARPA Announces Exciting Keynoters to Speak at Its 2022 Annual Rights Conference, October 26-29

The National Association for Rights Protection and Advocacy (NARPA) will hold its 2022 Annual Rights Conference at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Newark Airport October 26-29. The four inspiring keynote speakers will be Rob Wipond, an activist, investigative journalist, and author of the upcoming “Your Consent Is Not Required: The Rise in Forced Detentions, Forced Treatment, And Abusive Guardianships; Ruth Lowenkron, Director, Disability Justice Program, New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, who has filed lawsuits against the New York Police Department about their responses to mental health crisis calls; Vesper Moore, an indigenous political activist, leader, author, trainer and educator in the psychiatric survivor and disability rights movements; Deborah Dorfman, Executive Director, Disability Rights Connecticut, who is active in individual, class action, and systemic reform litigation for disability rights around the nation; and Robert Dinerstein, Professor of Law, American University Washington College of Law, who will speak about recent developments in mental health law. Visit www.narpa.org for registration form and updates. 

National Association for Rural Mental Health Conference to Be Held November 2-4, 2022

The 47th Annual National Association for Rural Mental Health (NARMH) conference will be held at the Embassy Suites in Boulder, Colorado, November 2-4, 2022. The theme is “Beyond the Pandemic—Building on Rural Resiliency.” The early-bird registration fee is $500; for people who are retired or students, it’s $250. For more information as it becomes available, click here.

The International Conference on Trauma and Mental Health will take place November 3-4, 2022, in San Francisco. For more information, click here.

ISPS-US (Hybrid) 2022 Conference to Be Held November 4-6

The 2022 ISPS-US (International Society for Psychological and Social Approaches to Psychosis—U.S. Chapter) conference will be held November 4-6 in Sacramento, California, as well as online. The conference theme is Opportunity Through Experience: Psychosis, Extreme States, and Possibilities for Transformation. ISPS-US writes: “People with lived experience, family members, clinicians, and researchers are all invited to propose presentations that promote mutual collaboration and respect, and can allow us to offer each other both greater understanding and more light. We especially welcome proposals from members of marginalized groups whose experiences have included systemic as well as relational traumas and challengesFor more information, click here. (Courtesy of Jacek Haciak)

ISEPP’s 2021 Conference Is Available to View Online

The 2021 conference of the International Society for Ethical Psychology and Psychiatry can be viewed online. The theme of the conference, convened October 9-10, 2021, was “The Destructive Propaganda of the Mental Health Industry: How Did We Get Here? Where Are We Going?” It was dedicated to the life and memory of Paula J. Caplan, Ph.D. To buy a ticket to watch the full conference recording for $22.85, click here.

PETITIONS AND OPEN LETTERS

ISEPP Invites Mental Health Practitioners and Academicians to Sign Its Open Letter to the Major U.S. Mental Health Professional Organizations

The Coalition Against Medicalized Psychology & Psychiatry (CAMPP)—the action committee of the International Society for Ethical Psychology & Psychiatry (ISEPP)—asks mental health practitioners and academicians worldwide “to join us in signing an open letter to the American Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association, American Counseling Association, National Association of Social Workers, and American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy to provide evidence for framing emotional distress and troublesome behaviors as illnesses or defects in a person’s biology—and, if they can't, to publicly reject the medical model of mental disorder. With this we hope to raise awareness of the harmful effects of that model. Send me your name, credentials, profession, position, city, state, and country to be appended to the letter. Pass this email on to others in your network and ask them to sign too. Our plan is to share the above organizations' responses (or lack of responses) with The Washington Post and The New York Times science and/or health editors.” For the letter, click here. (Courtesy of Elizabeth R. Stone) (For another ISEPP petition, see below.)

ISEPP Circulates Petition to Support Human Rights in Psychiatric Treatment

ISEPP seeks signatures on a petition to  "[m]ake a strong statement that any psychiatric or psychotherapeutic interventions without full and honest informed consent are unethical and inhumane." For the petition, click here. (Courtesy of Amy Smith)

Please Sign a Petition to Help Save a Public Mental Health Model in Italy

"Trieste is recognized by the World Health Organization as the model of global best practice in mental health care," according to a change.org petition highlighted in a recent NPR article. "It has inspired dozens of programs throughout the world to create an integrated network of community services focused upon the whole-person needs of its users; maintaining their dignity as citizens; and minimizing the coercive practices of old fashioned institutional settings...Trieste has shown us how community inclusion improves people’s lives. But this great achievement is now threatened by a new right-wing regional government that, on poorly informed and ideological grounds, is fast and impulsively dismantling Trieste's wonderful system of community care...As a Friend of Trieste and all that it stands for, please sign this petition and distribute it widely. For updates on this situation, please consult www.accoglienza.us." For the NPR article, "A public mental health model in Italy earns global praise. Now it faces its demise," click here. For the petition, click here. (Courtesy of Laura Van Tosh)

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES

“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. (Courtesy of Kevin Fitts)

South Southwest MHTTC Publishes “Hotline Peer Specialist Integration: Preliminary Considerations for Equity and Sustainability”

“Authors Kirill Staklo (he/him) and Nze Okoronta (they/them) provide an overview of the necessary information for the integration of peer specialists in hotline programming for equity and sustainability. Topics include Intro to the Peer Role; Medical trauma and minority stress; Hotline work: How is it different?; Informed consent and harm reduction; Best practices in service establishment and training; and further resources.” For the 26-page document, published by the South Southwest Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network, click here. (Courtesy of Jessi Davis)

“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.

Rutgers Releases W-TLC Virtual Toolbox and Training/Learning Collaborative Series

“The Rutgers Center of Alcohol & Substance Use Studies has announced the release of the Wellness Training Learning Collaborative (W-TLC) virtual toolbox and Training/Learning Collaborative series…This toolkit provides peer support, individual, and organizational approaches to support the wellbeing of the critical health care workforce.” For descriptions of the 12 upcoming sessions—including two in July (July 7 and July 28), with the remaining sessions to be held August 2022 through January 2023—and to register for them, click here. For the “Journey to Wellness Guide,” click here. (Note: Information about the Journey to Wellness Guide was included in the April 2022 Key Update.)

“Would You Like to Share Your Experiences to Help Others Who Are Trying to Find Freedom, Healing & Hope Beyond Psychiatry?”

“I am currently working on a book about life beyond psychiatric services and would love to include the wisdom and expertise of as many survivors as possible!,” Jacqui Dillon, a person with lived experience in the UK, posted on Facebook. “I am looking for submissions between 500 and 2,000 words. I am aiming to cover a range of issues and experiences which many of us have had to engage with, which will be useful for people currently trying to navigate their way out of the system. Please feel free to focus on whichever areas interest you most. You are free to use your own name, or a pseudonym, whichever feels most comfortable to you. Please contact me here for further information, or send your submissions here: beyondthemadhouse@gmail.com. Submissions are required by mid-September.” For the Facebook post, click here. (Courtesy of Philip Benjamin via Jacek Haciak)

Lancet Offers Stakeholders New Opportunities

Check out these opportunities for stakeholder involvement! (1) The Lancet Psychiatry Commission's "Lived Experience Hub" invites stakeholders to contribute blogposts to convey criticisms, concerns and/or ideas relevant to the work of the Commission. For details, click here. To submit a blog, email lancetcommissionpsychosis@gmail.com. (2) The Lancet Psychiatry Commission's "lived experience research group" is a new listserv focused on lived experience advocacy and activism on participatory psychosis research and related policy and practice. In part, this will serve as a sounding board for Lancet Commission work and a place to engage in dialogue about what needs to change. To join, email  lancetcommissionpsychosis@gmail.com. (Courtesy of Dr. Nev Jones)

Peer Advocates Over 50 Years Old Are Invited to a Weekly Empowering Support Group

"People over 50 who are mental health lived-experience advocates, change makers, visionaries, and current status quo challengers" are invited to join "a weekly, open, upbeat, peer-support empowering environment for seasoned peers with lived experience who are active, and were active, as advocates for positive change," the WiseCrackers write. The goal of the recently launched group is "to support mental health advocates over 50 years of age with pure peer support practices based on natural curiosity, acceptance, humor, and positive networking." The free, 90-minute Zoom meetings are held on Mondays at 7 p.m. ET, 6 p.m. CT, 5 p.m. MT, and 4 p.m. PT. The meetings are currently co-facilitated by "East and West Coast Peers" and sponsored by the Community for Positive Aging. To register and to review the WiseCracker Principles of support, click here. Questions? Contact info@choiceheals.com or 503.208.0065.

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)

Poetry Coalition to Launch "Poetry & Disability Justice" Initiative

"This year, the 25+ organizations nationwide that comprise the Poetry Coalition will launch 'The future lives in our bodies: Poetry & Disability Justice,' the coalition’s sixth annual programming initiative...Poetry Coalition members aim to demonstrate how poetry can inspire questions in their communities about disability justice and spark increased engagement with this important theme. Member organizations are committed to offering programming that is accessible and that includes disabled, neurodivergent, and d/Deaf poets and those of diverse racial, ethnic, and gender identities, backgrounds, and communities. All organizations and others interested are invited to create programs on this theme in 2022 and share their efforts using the hashtags #DisabilityJustice and #PoetryCoalition. For some additional resources to assist with programming, particularly in creating accessible programming, click here.

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 Allen Frances, M.D., author of Saving Normal; Sandra Steingard, M.D., and G. Scott Waterman, M.D., on "Integrating Academic Inquiry and Reformist Activism in Psychiatry"; Susannah Cahalan, author of Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness, on "50 Shades of Misdiagnosis"; Kathy Flaherty, J.D., executive director of the Connecticut Legal Rights Project, Inc., on "Reconsidering Care and Coercion in Psychiatry"; Nev Jones, Ph.D., on "Phenomenology, Power, Polarization, and the Discourse on Psychosis"; Dainius Puras, M.D., on "Global Psychiatry's Crisis of Values"; and many others. For the archived interviews, click here.

CNN Offers “A Guide to Helping and Getting Help During the Coronavirus Crisis”

CNN writes: “The coronavirus pandemic is overwhelming, and one of the most excruciating parts for many people is the feeling of utter helplessness in the face of widespread suffering and hardship. CNN’s Impact Your World has compiled a list of donation opportunities and tips to help those affected by the crisis. Click on a category or scroll down to browse a list of organizations, resources and ideas. Need help? Most categories also include resources for financial, emotional or social support.” For the free guide, click here.

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.

PsychAlive Offers a Variety of Webinars on Mental Health Topics, Many Free, Others $15

PsychAlive is a free, nonprofit resource created by the Glendon Association, whose mission is “to save lives and enhance mental health by addressing the social problems of suicide, violence, child abuse and troubled interpersonal relationships.” Psychalive.org offers a variety of upcoming and archived webinars, many of which are free, while others are available for $15. Among the myriad topics are “From Anxiety to Action: How to Stay Sane While Fighting Climate Change,” “How to Overcome Insecurity,” “Powerful Tools to Fight Depression,” and “Understanding and Overcoming Adverse Childhood Experiences.” To check out the webinars, click here.

Learning Collaborative Webinar Series Offers Several Archived Presentations 

The Doors to Wellbeing website offers a number of webinars that you may find of interest: “The Importance of Policies and Procedures in Peer-run Organizations”; “Building Partnerships to Enhance the Peer Workforce,” by Kyneta Lee, Tim Saubers, and Todd Noack; “Handing Over the Keys: Leadership Succession Planning in Non-Profit Organizations,” by Elise Padilla and Maxine Henry; “How to Embed Strategic Planning into the Culture of Your Organization,” by Oryx Cohen; “Fundraising and Sustainability: Building your Organization by Telling the Right Story to the Right Audience”; “Developing a Board of Directors for Mental Health Organizations,” by Amey Dettmer and Matthew Federici; and “Conflict Management in Peer-Run Organizations: Tools for Effective Conversations.” Certificates of attendance are not available for any of these presentations. For more information and to register for any or all of them, click here. 

National Safety Council Offers a Free Webinar Series Focusing on Mental Health in the Workplace

"The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic will affect employees well beyond the initial crisis," the National Safety Council writes. "Employers have a unique ability and responsibility to address the mental health and wellbeing of their workers, which is a true organization-wide effort. This free Mental Health Webinar Series led by the National Safety Council, and first presented in August 2020, speaks to a variety of positions within an organization and how each one can address stress and mental health." Four of the five webinars are titled: "Supporting Employee Mental Health" and respectively subtitled "Resources for Employees," "Actions for Leadership," "Actions for Supervisors," and "Actions for HR Professionals." To view the free, archived webinars, click here.

Seven Ways to Keep a Digital Copy of Your Vaccination Card on Your Smartphone

“You'll need proof of vaccination to go back to work or enter many restaurants, gyms and event venues, so keep your COVID-19 card handy.” This is the advice of CNET.com, a tech support website. Besides the obvious—taking a photo of the card to store on your phone—there are six other suggestions. For details, click here. (Courtesy of Yvonne Smith)

ISPS-US Offers an Array of Archived Webinars--Free but Donations Are Welcomed

The ISPS-US (The International Society for Psychological and Social Approaches to Psychosis-US Chapter) is offering a whole raft of archived webinars, which are free (although donations are welcomed). Among the webinars are "Cognitive Behavioral & Related Therapies for Psychosis: Diverse Approaches to Supporting Recovery," "How Can the Uncontainable Be Contained? Paradoxes of Madness & Philosophy," "Robert Whitaker: The Rising Non-Pharmaceutical Paradigm for 'Psychosis,'" "Life with Voices: A Guide for Harmony," "COPE Project: Non-Pharmaceutical Research on Influencing Voices and Visions," "What Hurts and What Helps In Treatment For 'Psychosis': Insider Perspectives," and many others. For more information and to access the webinars, click here.

“Where DNA and Medications Meet”

Not all drugs are effective for all people; therapeutic response rates for many drugs are only 50%-75%. “OneOme, co-founded by [the] Mayo Clinic, provides evidence-based pharmacogenomic solutions that help improve patient outcomes and reduce costs through more personalized medication decisions.” OneOme’s RightMed Test is “a doctor-ordered pharmacogenomic (PGx) test that analyzes your DNA and provides your doctors with genetic information to help them determine how you may respond to certain medications. The results may help your doctors reduce medication trial and error, minimize risk of side effects, save you time and money, and make more informed prescribing decisions. Because your DNA doesn’t change over time, your doctors can use your test results to make more personalized medication decisions for you over the course of your lifetime.” For more information, click here. (Courtesy of Robin Osborne)

Lived Experience Leadership Features 12 Years of Research Studies...

"Lived Experience Leadership features 12 years of research studies focused on this workforce in a range of settings, to foster a better of understanding and respect for Lived Experience as a distinct discipline and build clarity on what makes this work unique and valuable. Importantly, this body of research was led by Lived Experience researchers. Lived Experience Leadership provides clear and simple to read research summaries to allow community members and people employed within various industries the opportunity to easily understand and apply strategies within their own workplace. This website also includes easy to download definitions, audio/visual resources, and key work by other Australian and International sources. The website will continue to grow to include larger collections of our research as well as other key work. For the Lived Experience Leadership website, click here. (Courtesy of Jacek Haciak)

Doors to Wellbeing Offers “State Selfies: A Picture of Peer Services Reported by Peers”

Doors to Wellbeing’s “Peer Album” is a directory of nearly 600 peer-run organizations throughout the U.S. They invite updates and offer instructions for providing them and add, “If your entry has not made this first draft, we encourage you to re-submit.” For the 158-page directory, click here.

Disclaimer: The Clearinghouse does not necessarily endorse the opinions and opportunities included in the Key Update.

About The Key Update

The National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse is now affiliated with the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion.

The Key Update is the free monthly e-newsletter of the National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse. Volume 19, No. 3, September 2022. For content, reproduction or publication information, please contact Susan Rogers at selfhelpclearinghouse@gmail.com. Follow Susan on Twitter at @SusanRogersMH