Key Update, August 2020, Volume 17, Number 2

August 20, 2020 Susan Rogers

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.

We Must Address the Social Determinants of Mental Health, Experts Say

“We need to focus on prevention. This means identifying the factors that contribute to mental illness and tackling them. A good place to start is social psychiatry,” according to a recent article in TheConversation.com. Citing a 1939 book, “Mental Disorders in Urban Areas,” the author reports that the study covered in the book “showed that poverty, combined with stress, chaos and isolation, was likely to lead to poor mental health.” Another study, reported in a 2007 book, Social Class and Mental Illness, noted that people “in the lower classes were more likely to receive invasive, somatic therapies. These included drugs, electroshock treatment and lobotomy. [People] from higher classes were more likely to receive psychoanalysis.” The author suggests introducing a universal basic income, and adds that “other progressive policies, ranging from reducing the working week to ensuring we all have ample time to commune with nature, could also make a difference.” For WHO’s explanation of the social determinants of mental health, click here. For “Social psychiatry could stem the rising tide of mental illness” in TheConversation.com, click here.

“The ADA at 30: Beyond the Law’s Promise”

To coincide with the 30th anniversary of when the ADA was signed into law, on July 26, 1990, The New York Times published a special section exploring “how the Americans With Disabilities Act has shaped modern life for people with disabilities in the 30 years since it was passed.” In an editorial, The New York Times wrote: “The act does more than enlarge the independence of disabled Americans. It enlarges civil rights and humanity, for all Americans.” To read the articles included in the special section, such as “Nothing About Us Without Us”: 16 Moments in the Fight for Disability Rights,” click here.

Should People in Mental Health Treatment Be Able to See Therapists’ Notes?

While the vast majority of individuals in treatment for mental health issues believe that access to their notes is beneficial, mental health professionals are not as certain, reports Psyche, a digital publication. While a very small percentage of people have found reading their notes unhelpful, “[a] study at an outpatient psychiatry center in Boston found that, after 20 months of open notes, patients reported better understanding of their mental health condition, increased recall about their care plan, and more knowledge about the potential side-effects of their medications.” Other studies have found similar outcomes. At the same time, “when it comes to mental health care, psychiatrists and clinical psychologists remain cautious,” Psyche reports. “Perhaps the prudent response, while we await further evidence, is the call to reimagine clinical notes: not just as a record for clinicians, but as a communication tool with patients…For many patients, access to notes can be hugely helpful, reducing stigma and improving care. In the new era of transparency, clinicians must adapt. And by treating patients like care partners, health professionals might find themselves empowered too.” For the Psyche article, click here. (Courtesy of Marie Verna)

For a Tribute to George Ebert, Share Your Memories of George and Mental Patients Liberation Alliance!

On August 23 and August 30, at 6 p.m. ET, share your memories of George Ebert and his more than 40 years of advocacy with the Mental Patients Liberation Alliance! Join in a collective reading of the Declaration of Principles (1982)! Your contributions will be edited into a video honoring George Ebert and his work. These video conferences are courtesy of Surviving Race: The Intersection of Injustice, Disability, and Human Rights. For the Declaration of Principles, adopted at the Tenth Annual International Conference on Human Rights and Against Psychiatric Oppression (1982), click here. For the historical documents of The Alliance, click here. For more information, click here. For the Zoom link for August 23, click here or enter this link in your browser: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86757448910. For the Zoom link for August 30, click here or enter this link in your browser: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83983111125. George also would welcome emails; write to georgeebert@yahoo.com. (At this writing, the Facebook heading indicates that the August 30 call will be at 11:30 p.m. The correct time of 6 p.m. is noted later in the item.)

Free Webinar: “National Practice Guidelines for Peer Specialists and Supervisors”

As part of its monthly webinar series, on August 25, 2020, at 2 p.m. ET, Doors to Wellbeing will present a webinar on “National Practice Guidelines for Peer Specialists and Supervisors.” “The purpose of the Guidelines for Supervisors is to educate supervisors about the core peer support values as applied in supervisory relationships. This webinar will describe the supervisor’s role and offer practical tips about how supervisors can help peer support specialists remain true to the values outlined in the National Practice Guidelines for Peer Supporters.” For information about the learning objectives and the presenters, and to register, click here.

New Publication Highlights Urgency of Decreasing Police Role in Lives of People with Mental Health Conditions; Other Cities, e.g., Dallas, Are Already on Board

The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law has released a new publication, "Defunding the Police" and People with Mental Illness, documenting the urgency of reducing the role of the police in the lives of people with mental health conditions. “In far too many communities,” the Bazelon Center writes, “police take the lead in responding to people with mental [health conditions] who are in crisis or in need, with tragic consequences, especially for Black people with mental [health conditions]…We must invest in public mental health systems, expanding their capacity to deliver community-based mental health services, housing assistance, substance use treatment, and income support. As we build capacity, we must heed the voices of people with mental [health conditions], including those who represent the racial, ethnic, gender, linguistic and other important types of diversity in our communities.” To download the free 13-page document, click here. For “As mobile mental health teams work to de-escalate crises, some warn their models still rely on police partnerships,” published in STAT, click here. For “For Mental Health 911 Calls, Dallas Found Success In Social Workers: Dallas had a disastrous history of police violence during emergency mental health calls. The RIGHT Care program shifted the power to clinicians and found success,” click here.

Free Webinar: “The Living Room: A Welcoming Space for Those in Crisis”; and Research Proves Peer Respite’s Benefits

As part of its Compassionate Approaches to Crisis webinar series, on August 27, 2020, at 2 p.m. ET, the National Empowerment Center will host a free 90-minute webinar on “The Living Room: A Welcoming Space for Those in Crisis.” The Living Room, in Framingham, Massachusetts, is a “welcoming space where people experiencing emotional distress can walk in and connect with a peer specialist on the spot,” the NEC writes. “[It] provides a 24-hour crisis response. No referral is necessary to visit this comfortable, home-like location, staffed entirely by trained, certified peer specialists. The Living Room creates an experience that is entirely voluntary and focused on respect, mutuality, and trust.” To register for the webinar, click here. For “Self-reliance and Belonging: Guest Experiences of a Peer Respite,” by Bevin Croft, Anne Weaver, and Laysha Ostrow, published in the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, click here. For more evidence confirming the benefits of peer-run crisis respites, click here.

Mark Your Calendars! An Online Global 14-Hour Festival: A Disorder 4 Everyone (AD4E)!

On September 18, 2020, from 4 a.m. ET to 6 p.m. ET, “AD4E is going online to bring you 14 continuous hours of inspiring content that challenges the culture of diagnosis and disorder! 14 hours of talks-poetry-interviews-presentations-videos-drama-panel-music, etc., all challenging the pathologizing of emotional distress. Dip in and out at your leisure. Some of it will be recorded (with the contributors’ permission) and added to the AD4E Youtube channel at a later date. Pay what you want: This is a fundraising event with a minimum fee of £1 to maximize accessibility. Please make a donation based on what you can afford.” For more information and/or to buy a ticket, click here. (Note: PayPal automatically changes the minimum payment in British pounds to the payment in U.S. dollars of $1.41.)

Researchers Seek to Learn How to Advance Service-User-involved Studies; Can You Help?

University of South Florida (USF) researchers, with funding from PCORI, are conducting in-depth phone interviews with individuals from multiple stakeholder groups; the interviews will focus on participants’ experiences with, and perspectives on, participatory behavioral health services research. Eligible participants must have had some involvement in a “participatory—involving stakeholders not as subjects but as collaborators, partners, or advisors—or user-led research project,” the researchers write. “The interviewer will ask you a series of open-ended questions about your experiences with participatory research and perspective on barriers, facilitators, and priorities for improvement and expansion.” After their interview, participants will be emailed a $50 gift card. For more information, visit https://www.pathedcollab.org/; IRB protocol number 001380. Questions? Ask Principal Investigator Dr. Nev Jones (genevra@usf.edu) or co-lead Dr. Linda Callejas (callejas@usf.edu).

Norwegian Study Provides First-Person Perspectives on Medication-Free Mental Health Treatment

“In 2016, the Western Norway Regional Health Authority started to integrate more evidence-based psychosocial interventions into the existing mental health care, emphasizing the right for persons with psychosis to choose medication-free treatment,” according to an open-access study published by BMC Psychiatry. “This change emerged from the debate on the effectiveness and adverse effects of the use of antipsychotic medication.” The researchers interviewed 10 individuals diagnosed with psychosis who were eligible for medication-free services. They found that “[i]ntegrating more evidence-based psychosocial interventions into existing mental health services facilitated learning experiences regarding the choice of treatment, particularly the discontinuation of medication, and appeared to support participants’ increased self-agency and motivation in their personal recovery processes.” For the study, click here. (Courtesy of Elizabeth Stone) For a Mad in America article about medication-free psychiatric treatment in Norway, published in the March 2017 edition of the Key Update, click here.

“Disability Advocacy, Once an Afterthought in Presidential Races, Gains New Traction”

“Advocates gained new traction during the campaign, pushing the full slate of Democratic candidates to discuss and define their stances on disability policies like never before,” STAT reported on August 14, 2020. “Amid social media pressure from activists, former Vice President Joe Biden, now the presumptive Democratic nominee, put out a full disability platform in May. Advocates say the platform—while not as comprehensive as they had hoped—marks a moment of significant progress after years of disability policy being treated as a political afterthought.” For the article, click here. (Courtesy of Kevin Fitts) (Note: For a project initiated by Illinois-based mental health advocate AJ French in 2016, which was reported in the January 2016 edition of the Key Update, click here.)

Save the Dates! NYAPRS to Host Virtual Conference in September!

NYAPRS writes: “Our program is entitled ‘Rise Up! Community, Connection, Culture,’ in recognition of the isolating consequences of social distancing and quarantine required by COVID-19 as well as our long overdue need to confront the pervasive impact of racism in ourselves, our systems and our society. At the same time, this year’s NYAPRS Conference will offer a special time to reflect and connect and to restore and replenish our spirits…You can also count on us to feature that unique spirit of celebration and lineup of very special events and speakers that is our trademark.” The conference will be held via Zoom on September 22 (day), September 24 (day and evening), September 29 (day and evening), and October 1 (day). More information will be posted on the www.nyaprs.org website as it becomes available.

Do You Need a Stress-Reliever in These Difficult Times? Here Are Some Great Ideas!

During these uncertain times, it may help to have some ways to relieve stress and boost self-confidence! So here are some suggestions! For “Can Going Green Improve Your Mental Health?” click here. (Courtesy of Marie Desrosiers) For “One Pandemic Stress Reducer You Should Put to Use: This self-help measure impacts anxiety, mood, and sex drive,” click here. For “A Yale Study Found that Breathing Techniques Can Improve College Students’ Mental Health,” click here. For “Five-Minute Coronavirus Stress Resets: How to get unstuck from your anxiety,” click here. For “Blue spaces: Why time spent near water is the secret of happiness” click here. For “Spending More Time On Your Hobbies Can Boost Confidence At Work—If They Are Sufficiently Different From Your Job,” click here. For “The Therapeutic Power of Gardening: Can anxious minds find solace working with plants? A therapist and her husband, a garden designer, say yes,” click here. (For more ideas about how to cope with pandemic-related stress, see the From “Previous Editions of the Key Update but Still Fresh” department, below the monthly Criminal Justice Reform Digest!)

“If Not Now, When? COVID-19, Lived Experience, and a Moment for Real Change”

In a call to action published in The Lancet on August 18, 2020, researchers with lived experience on three continents—Nev Jones, Louise Byrne, and Sarah Carr—have denounced “the gap between rhetoric and reality” in support for service-user involvement in mental health research: “Involvement efforts are too often accompanied by empty promises, insufficient funding or commitment, and superficial gestures (e.g., membership on advisory boards), with no real power to set agendas, influence decision making, or bring about structural change.” They suggest a number of remedies, and conclude: “Rather than bold language, we call for bold action.” For the article, click here.

If You Were Prescribed Suboxone, You May Be Eligible for a Payment, FTC Says

“The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sued the makers of Suboxone®, a prescription drug to treat opioid addiction, alleging they were preventing patients from choosing lower-priced generic versions of the drug. The companies agreed to pay $60 million to consumers to settle the FTC charges. That means if you got a prescription for Suboxone® film in the U.S. between March 1, 2013, and February 28, 2019, you may be eligible for a payment. Learn more and apply for a payment at ftc.gov/suboxone. The application deadline is December 1, 2020.” (Courtesy of Elizabeth Stone)

Mental Health Advocates Mourn Pioneering Mental Health Professional Bill Anthony

Bill Anthony, who died on July 15, 2020, was the founder of Boston University’s Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, and received a Distinguished Service Award in 1992 from the U.S. president for his efforts “in promoting the dignity, equality, independence, and employment of people with disabilities.” “Mental Health Advocates Laud Contributions of MH Pioneer,” published in the July 27th edition of Mental Health Weekly, included remembrances from NYAPRS executive director Harvey Rosenthal and National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse founder and executive director Joseph Rogers. Rosenthal called Anthony “an essential transformative force” in the field; and Rogers recognized Anthony’s early support of the self-help, mutual support, and advocacy movement. For the Mental Health Weekly (MHW) article, click here. For more information about MHW and other Wiley publications, click on this link: https://www.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/ For the Reading Post obituary, click here.

Tabou Magazine Invites Articles Written by Students with Disabilities

Tabou, whose stated aim “is to increase the access and inclusion of disabled students in higher education through our narrative-changing magazine, campaigns and mentoring,” is accepting submissions from disabled students. [Note: Tabou uses IFL (Identity-First Language) rather than PFL (People-First Language).] “Here at TABOU we are always looking for new submissions relating to disability and student life. If you have a specific article or idea you want to put forward, for either the magazine or our online content, then email us at taboudisabilitymag@gmail.com with the heading PITCH.” For details, click here.

“New 3-Digit Suicide Prevention Hotline Coming Following Unanimous Support By FCC”

“The FCC [has] voted unanimously to officially designate 988 as the nation’s newest three-digit telephone number, designed as a direct access line for suicide prevention and mental health crisis counselors,” Forbes reports. “[N]ew rules will be enacted requiring every telecommunications carrier and voice over Internet protocol (VOIP) service provider to send calls made to 988 directly to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline…However, the carriers and service providers have until July 16, 2022, to make the transition.” For the article, click here.

“Welcome to the Covid-19 Mental Health Struggle,” by Artist Teresa Watson

Teresa Watson, an artist with a self-disclosed mental health condition, “shares her strategy for self-care” in a series of tongue-in-cheek drawings, which begins: “I’m schizoaffective and stuck at home with my cat.” Next, a cat, who appears to be seriously pissed off, says, “What the hell is going on?” To read more, click here.

The August 2020 Digest of Articles about the Criminal Justice System, in Which Many Individuals with Mental Health Conditions Are Incarcerated (and the Key Update continues after this Digest)

For “Psychiatrist: America’s ‘Extremely Punitive’ Prisons Make Mental Illness Worse,” click here. For “Inmates witnessed a suicide attempt. They received coloring pages instead of counseling,” click here. For “Man remains stuck in a forensic mental health system some say is biased against Black people: Spent 2 years in hospital after psychotic episode led to his 1st criminal charges,” click here. For “Ambitious Mental Health Training for Cops: Basic mental health first aid training is de rigueur in many police forces. Tucson, Arizona, takes its approach further,” click here. For “COVID, cash bail and ‘drive-by therapy’: a deadly combination,” click here. For “Why It’s Not So Simple to Arrest the Cops Who Shot Breonna Taylor,” click here. For “Everything You Know About Mass Incarceration Is Wrong,” click here. For “Police Should Not Respond to People in Emotional Distress/Crisis: The Urgent Need for Non-Coercive Supports and Services,” click here. For “Inside San Quentin prison, you sit and wait until covid-19 comes for you,” click here. For “Where the Sick Get Sicker and the Sane Are Driven Mad: Behind Bars,” click here. For “Criminal record will no longer bar people outright from seeking occupational licenses in R.I.,” click here. For “Support For Defunding The Police Department Is Growing. Here’s Why It’s Not A Silver Bullet. Past budget cuts have had unintended consequences. Now, proponents say it’s time to fundamentally reimagine the role of the police,” click here. For “Mayor London Breed Announces Roadmap for New Police Reforms. Additional reforms will focus on eliminating the need for police to be first responders for non-criminal situations and changing hiring, promotional, training, and disciplinary systems,” click here. For “They’ve been granted parole. So why can it take years for them to get out of prison? The Department of Corrections sometimes doesn’t release prisoners until long after they’re approved for parole. Many then are sent back for minor missteps,” click here. For “There’s already an alternative to calling the police: A 31-year-old program in Eugene, Oregon, is a model in de-escalating situations that could end with law enforcement violence,” click here. (Note: The July 2020 edition of the Key Update included a story about this program: “‘CAHOOTS': How Social Workers And Police Share Responsibilities In Eugene, Oregon.” For that story, click here.) For “Unarmed specialists, not LAPD, would handle mental health, substance abuse calls under proposal,” click here. For “ ‘It Was An Execution’: Nicolas Chavez Was On His Knees When Police Killed Him. His Father Wants Answers. The Houston shooting has sparked more questions about use of force and what many experts call the failed promise of police body cameras,” click here. For “Federal judge tosses excessive force suit against five Dallas officers in Tony Timpa case: Timpa's family alleges that the officers, four of whom remain on the force, killed him in 2016 by using an improper prone restraint. But the judge says the five are protected by the ‘qualified immunity’ doctrine,” click here. For “Alabama’s 13 state prisons are grotesque chambers of horror,” click here. For “Can Jurors Save the Justice System,” click here. For “The War on Drugs and Mass Incarceration,” click here. For “Your Local Jail May Be a House of Horrors,” click here. For “The Junk Science Cops Use to Decide You’re Lying: Leaked documents detail law enforcement trainings in lie detection techniques that have been discredited by scientists,” click here. For “We Should Still Defund the Police: Cuts to public services that might mitigate poverty and promote social mobility have become a perpetual excuse for more policing,” click here. For “In Prison, Learning Magic by Mail: A deck of cards cut from milk cartons. A wand made with medical tape. How a group of inmates learned ‘the magic of magic,’” click here. For “Feds demand sweeping change at Hampton Roads Regional Jail in rare court action,” click here. For “When the Disenfranchised Use Counter-Narratives for Justice: Allissa Richardson, a pioneer in mobile journalism, discusses the emergence of smartphones and social media as tools to fight back against the mistreatment of marginalized citizens by law enforcement,” click here.

FROM PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF THE KEY UPDATE BUT STILL FRESH!

For Your Safety in the COVID-19 Era, Register to Vote by Mail!

In these uncertain times, with predictions of a “second wave” of COVID-19 this fall, it makes sense to vote by mail! You still have time to register before the presidential election, on November 3! For a Brennan Center for Justice article about the importance of voting by mail, click here. For the U.S. government website providing voter registration deadlines in every state and territory, click here. Have you registered yet?

“How to Stay Mentally Healthy During the Coronavirus Pandemic”

“There’s a lot of advice being offered right now about how to keep yourself physically healthy during the coronavirus pandemic, such as washing your hands and practicing social distancing. But managing mental health during this time is just as vital to your overall well-being…Fortunately, there are steps you can take to improve your mental health right now even if you’re social distancing,” writes VeryWellMind.com. “Despite [the] ongoing uncertainty of the situation, take small steps every day to address your emotional needs.” For the article, which includes many links to additional information, click here. And for a related article, “10 Ways to Ease Your Coronavirus Anxiety,” click here.

CDC and BBC Offer Advice on Stress and Coping During the Coronavirus Pandemic

“Coronavirus has plunged the world into uncertainty and the constant news about the pandemic can feel relentless,” the BBC writes. “All of this is taking its toll on people's mental health, particularly those already living with conditions like anxiety and OCD. So how can we protect our mental health?” To read more, click here. The CDC writes: “The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be stressful for people. Fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children. Coping with stress will make you, the people you care about, and your community stronger.” For the CDC advice on managing stress and anxiety during this difficult time, click here.

A Service-User-Led Survey of “Experiences of the Intersections of Psychosis, Difficult Events, and Trauma” Seeks Participants with Firsthand Experience

A study developed by researchers at the University of South Florida “aims to better understand the relationships between prior experiences of trauma or adversity and experiences such as hearing voices, unusual beliefs and paranoia, as well as the ways in which these experiences themselves can contribute to trauma or distress.” The researchers, who themselves have lived experience, are seeking respondents “who self-identify as having current or prior experiences that would conventionally be labeled psychosis.” The anonymous survey takes approximately 15 minutes to complete; every 10th respondent will be compensated with a $50 gift card, up to five gift cards. Questions? Contact Dr. Nev Jones at genevra@usf.edu. For more information and/or to participate, click here.

“Mapping the Disability Experience: Share Your Stories”

“We invite you to draw a map of your neighborhood or environment to capture how the coronavirus pandemic has impacted (or not) your use and understanding of space,” researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago write. “This can include drawings/images of your home, your neighborhood, your city or beyond. Maps can come in many forms, styles, perspectives, and mediums. We are interested in collecting these maps to capture and better understand the experiences of disability and the environment during the coronavirus pandemic.” Submissions will be accepted through June 30, 2020. For more information or to participate, click here. Questions? Contact Yochai Eisenberg, PhD, yeisen2@uic.edu (Courtesy of Elizabeth Stone)

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. For the HVN’s recorded discussion on how to bring groups online, click here. (Courtesy of Jacek Haciak)

Have You Ever Smoked, Drunk, Vaped, or Used Other Drugs? Or Do You Now? New Zealand COVID-19 Study Is Now Open to US Residents

“We want to find out how people are coping [during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown],” writes the New Zealand-based Centre of Research Excellence: Indigenous Sovereignty & Smoking. “We are especially interested in adults aged 18 and over who, before lockdown, regularly drank alcohol, smoked or used other tobacco products, or other drugs. We also want to hear from people who have taken up smoking or drinking or other drugs during this frightening time.” The study has been approved by the US-based independent review board SolutionsIRB and is now open to US residents. “The study website includes helpful Coping in Lockdown tips, tips on Dealing with Cravings, and information on alternatives to smoking tobacco.” To participate or for more information, click here.

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

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

Courtesy of Oryx Cohen

TU Collaborative Hosts Free Storytelling Workshops

The Temple University (TU) Collaborative on Community Inclusion is hosting free storytelling workshops every Tuesday (2 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET) and Thursday (2 p.m. to 4 p.m. ET). For workshop information, email Kyra at kyra.baker@temple.edu. In a related initiative, the TU Collaborative wants to hear your story! For the link, click here.

Free Resources for Peer Worker Supervisors Are Posted on the iNAPS Website

The International Association of Peer Supporters (iNAPS) has posted an array of resources for supervisors of peer support staff. The sources of the 18 disparate resources include the Transformation Center, the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD), the Café TA Center, the Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services (DBHIDS), the Carter Center, the Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network, SAMHSA-HRSA and the Center for Integrated Health Solutions, and other organizations and individual experts. For the peer support supervision resources, click here.

If You Have Experienced Psychosis, “Psychosis Beyond the Box” Wants to Hear From You.

“Psychosis Beyond the Box” seeks to gather anonymous descriptions of “aspects of psychosis that are often neglected, such as felt presences, visual or quasi-visual experiences, and alterations of space, time or distance,” as well as strategies to help with any distressing or challenging aspects of the experiences. The narratives will be compiled and shared in early psychosis programs and other service settings across the U.S. A major aim of the project—which is not a research project—is “to validate the diverse range of things people with psychosis experience, and help people, especially young adults experiencing psychosis for the first time, feel less alone and isolated (in these experiences).” For more information about the project, based at the University of South Florida, or to share your story, click here. Questions? Write to Nev Jones (genevra@usf.edu) or ShannonPagdon@gmail.com.

“Experiences with Hospitalization” Survey Seeks Participants

“The purpose of this survey is to help us understand people's lived experience with voluntary and involuntary treatment because of suicidal thoughts. It was created by people with lived experience…We are planning to use this information to facilitate discussions with suicidologists and the suicide prevention community about the impact of the use of these interventions, particularly within marginalized populations. We feel the voice of people with lived experience with these interventions has not had adequate opportunity to be heard, and hope that by completing this survey anonymously, people who have been most impacted can find a safe way to share their experiences. Please note that this is not a research project.” For more information and/or to participate, click here. (Courtesy of Leah Harris)

International Survey on Antipsychotic Medication Withdrawal Seeks Respondents

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

NIMH Launches Study of How COVID-19 Stressors Affect Mental Health Over Time

“Researchers at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) are conducting an online research study to learn about how stressors related to the COVID-19 virus affect mental health over time,” NIMH writes. “We hope to better understand the experiences of participants during this difficult time. Participation involves completing online questionnaires every two weeks, for six months. The questionnaires take about 20 minutes to complete. You must be at least 18 years old to participate. Participation is voluntary, and you may withdraw at any time. Compensation is not provided.” Questions? Call 240.665.0697 or email NIMHResearchVolunteer@nihg.gov. For more information and/or to begin participating, click here. (Courtesy of Jacek Haciak)

Virtual Group Is Launched to Advance Peer Research Capacity, Leadership, and Involvement

Nev Jones, Ph.D., and Emily Cutler, a doctoral candidate, have launched a listserv dedicated to building research capacity, leadership, and involvement among peers, survivors, and service users. Dr. Jones, assistant professor, Department of Mental Health Law & Policy, University of South Florida, 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.

Do You Supervise Peer Support Workers? Then Researchers Have Some Questions for You

Researchers in the University of South Florida’s Department of Psychiatry and at Magellan Health are investigating the backgrounds, training, and experiences of individuals who currently supervise at least one peer support worker in a behavioral health setting or agency. “To the best of our knowledge, this will be the first comprehensive research study of the landscape of peer support supervision practices in the United States,” writes Dr. Nev Jones, the primary investigator of the study (Protocol Number 00040223). Participants must be at least 18 years old and work in the United States or U.S. territories. An online survey lasting approximately 10 minutes will ask about respondents’ backgrounds, training and preparation for supervision, perspectives and practices, and views on barriers and facilitators to high-quality supervision. There is no monetary compensation. Questions? Contact Dr. Nev Jones (genevra@health.usf.edu) or the co-primary investigator, Dana Foglesong (dfoglesong@magellanhealth.com). To access the survey, click here.

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

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

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 17, No. 2, August 2020. For content, reproduction or publication information, please contact Susan Rogers at selfhelpclearinghouse@gmail.com. Follow Susan on Twitter at @SusanRogersMH

Key Update, July 2020, Volume 17, Number 1

July 16, 2020 Susan Rogers

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

“Highest Attainable Standard of Physical and Mental Health” Is Everyone’s Right, Says New UN Report

“…[D]espite promising trends, there remains a global failure of the status quo to address human rights violations in mental health-care systems,” according to the United Nations’ Special Rapporteur for Health, Dainius Pūras. “This frozen status quo reinforces a vicious cycle of discrimination, disempowerment, coercion, social exclusion and injustice.” He urges moving “far beyond a biomedical understanding of mental health” and engaging in “[g]lobal, regional and national conversations…and actions [that] must be rights-based, holistic and rooted in the lived experience of those left furthest behind by harmful sociopolitical systems, institutions and practices. The Special Rapporteur makes a number of recommendations for States, for organizations representing the psychiatric profession and for the World Health Organization.” To download the free 20-page report, click here. (Courtesy of Janet Paleo)

Strategies for “Keeping Connected While Staying Apart” Are Suggested by TU Collaborative

“During this time of physical distancing, we will be sharing strategies”—both those that use technology and those that are low-tech or no-tech—“to connect with your community and with others,” writes the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion. “We hope that these will be helpful for you personally, for those of you who may still be supporting individuals in residential facilities, and for those of you who may be supporting individuals through telehealth.” The suggestions include “Resources for Remote Community Participation,” “Connect with a Virtual Spiritual Group,” “Enjoy a Virtual Theater Performance [via @theatrewithouttheater on Instagram],” “Discover a Massive Online Open Course,” “Learn About Astronomy,” “Play a Board Game,” “Join a Community of Readers,” “Learn a Language with Duolingo,” and others. To learn more, click here.

NYAPRS Offers Free July Webinar Series with CEUs

This month, NYAPRS is hosting three free 75-minute webinars, all of which offer CEUs—and all of which will be archived in case you miss them! The first—already past—is “Addressing Health Disparities for Latino and African Americans Living with Major Mental Health Conditions,” based on a project that linked the University of Illinois at Chicago and the National Association of Peer Supporters. The second webinar, on “The Long-Term Epidemic of Isolation and Loneliness in America,” presented by Patrick Hendry of Mental Health America, is on July 21 at 12 p.m. ET. And on July 30 at 12 p.m. ET, “Standing on the Shoulders: Stories of our Movement” will feature Joseph Rogers, founder and executive director, National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse; Sally Zinman, executive director, California Association of Mental Health Peer Run Organizations; and Celia Brown, regional advocacy specialist, New York State Office of Mental Health. For details of all three webinars and links to register for each, click here.

NDI Launches Text Campaign for People with Disabilities and Chronic Health Conditions

The National Disability Institute (NDI) has launched #ResilientPwD—a text campaign for people with disabilities & chronic health conditions. Subscribers will get texts to help manage anxiety, build new behaviors and promote financial wellness during the COVID-19 pandemic. To learn more, click here. (Courtesy of Mark Karmatz)

TU Collaborative to Host Next Story Slam on July 23 at 3 p.m. ET

The Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion will host its next virtual Story Slam on July 23 at 3 p.m. ET. The theme is “Raincheck!” The TU Collaborative writes: “Our virtual StorySlams are focused on how we are finding ways to connect with each other and participate in our communities while taking care of each other by practicing physical distancing…” Questions? Contact kyra.baker@temple.edu. For more information and/or to register as a listener or Storyteller, click here.

July Is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month; MHA Calls It BIPOC Mental Health Month and Offers a Free Toolkit

“Despite advances in health equity, disparities in mental health care persist,” according to the Office of Minority Health of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) reports that racial and ethnic minority groups in the U.S. are less likely to have access to mental health services, less likely to use community mental health services, more likely to use emergency departments, and more likely to receive lower quality care.” For more information, click here. At the same time, Mental Health America writes: “People and language evolve, and Mental Health America (MHA) has chosen to remove the word ‘minority’ from our toolkit and will be phasing it out on our materials. Instead, we are using a different designation—BIPOC—that we believe more fairly honors and distinguishes the experiences of Blacks, Indigenous People, and People of Color.” To download the free toolkit, click here.

Free BRSS TACS Event: “Supporting Families of Adults Who Experience SMI and/or SUD”

On July 23, 2020, at 2 p.m. ET, SAMHSA’s BRSS TACS (Bringing Recovery Supports to Scale Technical Assistance Center Strategy) will host a one-hour free virtual event on “Supporting Families of Adults Who Experience SMI and/or SUD.” BRSS TACS writes: “…Many family members provide emotional, social, and instrumental supports [to their loved ones with mental health conditions and/or substance use disorders], including help with money, housing, child care, and transportation. Family members often help their loved ones to access and navigate services, and face unique challenges as they do so. Increasingly, organizations are recognizing that supporting families is an important part of supporting individuals in or seeking recovery.” For more information and to register, click here.

iNAPS Launches a Peer Worker Supervision Learning Collaborative

The National Association of Peer Supporters (iNAPS), in partnership with Optum, is launching a series of webinars and smaller group collaborative sessions to improve the supervision of peer workers. “This Learning Collaborative is open to supervisors of peer workers who want to learn, strengthen, and apply core competencies related to peer support and to their position as a supervisor,” iNAPS writes. “Participants will learn from plenary sessions led by national leaders in the field of peer support services and participate in online smaller group discussions with supervisors from across the country.” The Learning Collaborative will meet virtually (via Zoom) October 2020 through March 2021. The 90-minute webinars are scheduled for 1 p.m. ET on October 5, November 9, and December 7, 2020, and February 1 and March 1, 2021. All webinars will be recorded and available for later viewing. The Learning Collaborative team will host the virtual smaller group discussion sessions, between the webinars. To apply, click here to complete the online application by 8 p.m. ET on August 14, 2020. Successful applicants will learn of their acceptance no later than August 28, 2020. Questions? Please email info@inaops.org. (Note: Free resources for peer supervisors are posted on the iNAPS website. For the peer support supervision resources, click here.

NY Times Invites Readers to Share Their Stories of Disability; and “Noonday Demon” Author Asks, “What Happens When You’re Disabled but Nobody Can Tell”

“Help Shape Our Reporting on Disability and Accessibility in America: Our journalists want to hear your questions about and experiences with disability and accessibility in the U.S.” This is the headline on a July 10, 2020, article in The New York Times. “This is your opportunity to help shape and inform our reporting by sharing your questions and experiences. We are especially interested in hearing from other people with disabilities or individuals with chronic illnesses. How do you share your story with friends, colleagues or strangers? What words do you use to describe your disability and what words would you educate others to stop using?” For the article—timed to coincide with the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act—which includes a survey form at the bottom, click here. For “What Happens When You’re Disabled but Nobody Can Tell: The author and clinical psychologist Andrew Solomon examines the disabilities that ramps and reserved parking spots don’t address,” click here.

Free Course Offered by MIA: “A Rights-Based Approach to Global Mental Health”

Mad In America Continuing Education is offering “A Rights-Based Approach to Global Mental Health: Time for a Paradigm Change” for free. “At the conclusion…participants will be able to critique current global approaches to mental health; describe a ‘rights-based’ approach to global mental health; identify steps for moving toward rights-based mental health care; explain efforts to expand the conversation around definitions of mental health that include viewpoints of non-physician clinicians and patients; analyze the role of community, culture, and social determinants of mental health; and list key protections for people with psychosocial disabilities embodied in the ‘Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities.’” The presenter is Lisa Cosgrove, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist and professor at the University of Massachusetts Boston, where she teaches courses on psychiatric diagnosis and psychopharmacology. To enroll for free, click here. Questions? Contact Shira Collings: scollings@madinamerica.com. (Courtesy of Jacek Haciak)

New Survey of Behavioral Health Crisis Service Providers During COVID-19 Is Available for Free

A new survey of behavioral health crisis service providers during the pandemic has just been released and is available for free download. “2020 COVID-19 Impact Survey: Behavioral Health Crisis [Service] Providers” is the second such survey from TBD Solutions, which partnered with the American Association of Suicidology (AAS), the Crisis Residential Association (CRA), and the National Association of Crisis Organization Directors (NASCOD) in distributing the survey. “While the initial survey revealed the greatest concerns around health care and a lack of critical supplies, this survey found issues with care coordination and supervisor concerns about the health and safety of their staff as the most pressing matters,” according to the press release. Results are summarized by provider type (i.e., Mobile Crisis, Crisis Residential Programs, Crisis Call Centers) and by geographic region of the United States. The first report was based on a survey administered April 1-6; the new report covers a survey administered June 1-11. For the press release, click here. To download both free documents, click here, then click on the cover of the surveys (at the top left), and provide your name, email address and ZIP code. (Note: The documents may not arrive in your “In” box; if you don’t receive them, check “Promotions” or another folder.)

“Structural Racism Is Why I’m Leaving Organized Psychiatry,” Writes Ruth S. Shim, MD, MPH

“The killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and so many others are leading many Americans to reflect on structural racism in society and resolve to do things differently,” writes Dr. Ruth Shim in STAT. “They have led me to make the difficult decision to end my membership with organized psychiatry, specifically the American Psychiatric Association. After years of committing myself to the APA and believing that organized psychiatry was an effective vehicle by which progress could be made, racism is driving me and other Black physician leaders out of organized psychiatry, just as it has pushed Black physician leaders out of academic medicine.” For the article, in STAT, click here. For an article on the social determinants of mental health—“How committed are we to improving our nation’s mental health?”—by Dr. Shim in The Philadelphia Inquirer in 2016, click here.

Combining Online and Offline Peer Support Groups Is a “Promising Concept for Facilitating Recovery-Oriented Care,” Researchers Say

A study published in the open-access International Journal of Mental Health Systems—“Combining online and offline peer support groups in community mental health care settings: a qualitative study of service users’ experiences”— “suggests that online and offline peer support groups complement each other, and that combining them is mainly described as beneficial by service users…Moderation by a trained service user consultant appeared essential for both formats…” The researchers conclude that the practice “warrants continued research.” For the study, click here. (Courtesy of Elizabeth Stone)

“Vogue Sparks Fury with Cover of 'Madness Issue,'” the Daily Mail Reports.

The cover of Vogue Portugal’s July/August 2020 “Madness Issue”—which showed a naked woman having water poured over her by nurses in a “stereotypical” image of a psychiatric institution—has sparked outrage, the Daily Mail reports. The magazine is accused of contributing to the prejudice and discrimination associated with mental health conditions. For the story, click here. (Note: For a story about the evildoings that may take place in psychiatric institutions, see below.)

Psychiatric Treatments Amounted to Assault and Battery, Judges Rule

“The Ontario Superior Court of Justice has found two psychiatrists had committed assault and battery and caused long-term harm to mental health patients for experimental treatments, which included solitary confinement, forced nudity and hallucinogenic drugs,” the Law Times reports. In one program, people were put in restraints and given high doses of mind-altering drugs. In another, groups of people “were placed nude in a windowless isolation cell with one shared toilet and no access to showers and subjected to a strictly liquid diet and hallucinogenic drug encounters.” And in the third, people were put into solitary confinement and forced to sit motionless for hours at a time. The decision called the treatments “unethical, medically meritless, flagrant and outrageous.” And an “expert witness for the defendants even conceded that the programs may be considered inhumane and degrading.” For the story, click here.

Do You Want to Be Happy? Here’s One Easy Way, Neuroscientists Say

“Neuroscience Says Doing This 1 Thing Makes You Just as Happy as Eating 2,000 Chocolate Bars. It also gives you the same neurological boost as receiving $25,000.” This is the (over-the-top?) headline on a story about something that scientists have said can make you “feel good even if you're not feeling good in the moment,” help you live longer, and even help you have a more fulfilling marriage. It’s smiling! According to an article in Pocket, “If you're down, smiling actually prompts your brain to produce feel-good hormones…” Also, a study involving Major League Baseball cards from 1952 found that players with big smiles lived seven years longer than unsmiling players. And a 30-year study that checked out the smiles of students in an old UC Berkeley yearbook found that the students with the biggest smiles ended up with the happiest lives, including the best marriages! For the article, click here. (Courtesy of Surviving Spirit Newsletter, via Michael Skinner)

“Mindful Minute Videos” May Help Increase Mindfulness

Open Minded Online writes: “We are creating a series of one-minute films showing a range of ways you can be mindful. The aim is also to show how there are things you can do in spare moments throughout the day. Although they are called mindful minutes, if you enjoy the exercises you can do them for a longer period of time… For people who find focusing on the breath difficult, mindful movement exercises might be worth trying first.” For the article, which includes links to two free mindfulness websites as well as links to the videos, click here.

The July 2020 Digest of Articles about the Criminal Justice System, in Which Many Individuals with Mental Health Conditions Are Incarcerated (and the Key Update continues after this Digest)

For “‘She’s breaking down’: Inmates at Bucks County jail decry treatment of suicidal woman with severe mental illness: Kim Stringer went to jail in April. Her parents haven't heard from her since,” click here. For “There’s overwhelming evidence that the criminal justice system is racist. Here’s the proof,” click here. For “Radical Reckoning: The US needs a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, a New Constitution & More,” click here. For “ ‘You’re almost in this place that doesn’t exist’: The Impact of College in Prison as Understood by Formerly Incarcerated Students from the Northeastern United States,” click here. For “Keeping Released Prisoners Safe and Sane,” click here. For “You Can Get Kicked Out of a Jury Pool for Supporting Black Lives Matter: But is it legal? A California appeals court is going to decide,” click here. For “Behind Bars, but Still Posting on TikTok: The lives of incarcerated people are usually hidden from society. On prison TikTok, they’re going viral,” click here. For “As debates over police reform rage, it’s time to end solitary confinement: Opinion,” click here. For “The Coronavirus Crisis Inside Prisons Won’t Stay Behind Bars: Federal officials recognized the danger of the spread of coronavirus in prisons early, but have dragged their feet releasing at-risk inmates,” click here. For “New York City Plans to End Solitary Confinement in Jails,” click here. For “To Save Black Lives, and the Soul of Our Nation, Congress Must Act Boldly: We cannot settle on an inadequate middle ground that will simply nibble around the edges instead of making real change,” click here. For “How to Make Defunding the Police a Reality: For the past half-century, American cities have spent more on policing each year. All of a sudden, nationwide protests have put divestment on the table,” click here. For “Together We Lift the Sky—If You’re New to Abolition: Study Group Guide,” click here. For “What Are Cops Really Thinking When Routine Arrests Turn Violent? ‘You have to use a lot of force, or you are going to die,’” click here. For “The Hidden Constitutional Costs of the Carceral System: America’s courts have placed little value on the rights of black people,” click here. For “6 reasons why it’s time to defund the police,” click here. For “A Growing Number of State Courts Are Confronting Unconscious Racism In Jury Selection: ‘A judge who deals with prosecutors every day is not going to say, “You intentionally discriminated on the basis of race, and you lied about it with pretextual reasons,”’ click here. For “Youth Are Flipping an Abandoned North Carolina Prison into a Sustainable Farm: By transforming a decaying prison into a flourishing farm, these young men are avoiding the criminal justice system—and creating a model to share,” click here. For “‘Defund the police’ is a call to imagine a safer America. We should answer it,” click here.

FROM PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF THE KEY UPDATE BUT STILL FRESH!

For Your Safety in the COVID-19 Era, Register to Vote by Mail!

“How to Stay Mentally Healthy During the Coronavirus Pandemic”

“There’s a lot of advice being offered right now about how to keep yourself physically healthy during the coronavirus pandemic, such as washing your hands and practicing social distancing. But managing mental health during this time is just as vital to your overall well-being…Fortunately, there are steps you can take to improve your mental health right now even if you’re social distancing,” writes VeryWellMind.com. “Despite [the] ongoing uncertainty of the situation, take small steps every day to address your emotional needs.” For the article, published on March 20, 2020, which includes many links to additional information, click here. And for a related article, “10 Ways to Ease Your Coronavirus Anxiety,” click here.

CDC and BBC Offer Advice on Stress and Coping During the Coronavirus Pandemic

A Service-User-Led Survey of “Experiences of the Intersections of Psychosis, Difficult Events, and Trauma” Seeks Participants with Firsthand Experience

“Mapping the Disability Experience: Share Your Stories”

Hearing Voices Network Is Now Hosting Online Groups

Have You Ever Smoked, Drunk, Vaped, or Used Other Drugs? Or Do You Now? New Zealand COVID-19 Study Is Now Open to US Residents

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

TU Collaborative Hosts Free Storytelling Workshops

Free Resources for Peer Worker Supervisors Are Posted on the iNAPS Website

If You Have Experienced Psychosis, “Psychosis Beyond the Box” Wants to Hear From You.

“Experiences with Hospitalization” Survey Seeks Participants

International Survey on Antipsychotic Medication Withdrawal Seeks Respondents

NIMH Launches Study of How COVID-19 Stressors Affect Mental Health Over Time

Virtual Group Is Launched to Advance Peer Research Capacity, Leadership, and Involvement

Nev Jones, Ph.D., and Emily Cutler, a doctoral candidate, have launched a new listserv dedicated to building research capacity, leadership, and involvement among peers, survivors, and service users. Dr. Jones, assistant professor, Department of Mental Health Law & Policy, University of South Florida, 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.

Do You Supervise Peer Support Workers? Then Researchers Have Some Questions for You

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

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

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 17, No. 11, July 2020. For content, reproduction or publication information, please contact Susan Rogers at selfhelpclearinghouse@gmail.com. Follow Susan on Twitter at @SusanRogersMH

Key Update, June 2020, Volume 16, Number 12

June 13, 2020 Susan Rogers

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

TO CONTACT SUSAN ROGERS: SUSAN.ROGERS.ADVOCACY@GMAIL.COM

TO CONTACT JOSEPH ROGERS: JROGERS08034@GMAIL.COM

For Your Safety in the COVID-19 Era, Register to Vote by Mail!

In these uncertain times, with predictions of a “second wave” of COVID-19 this fall, it makes sense to vote by mail! Even if your state has already held its primary, you still have time to register before the presidential election, on November 3! For a Brennan Center for Justice article about the importance of voting by mail, click here. For the U.S. government website providing voter registration deadlines in every state and territory, click here. Have you registered yet?

New Research Shows “No Evidence That ECT Works for Depression”

“In a new review of the research…we suggest that there is no robust evidence that ECT works as a treatment for depression and the negative impact on patients set against any potential benefits is so appalling that ECT cannot be scientifically or ethically justified (emphasis added),” writes John Read, professor of clinical psychology, University of East London, in an article published by Yahoo! News on June 3, 2020. “Firstly, we can reasonably conclude that there is no rigorous evidence whatsoever that ECT has any benefit for the three conditions for which it is primarily recommended today: (a) severely depressed people, (b) acutely suicidal people, and (c) people for whom antidepressants and/or psychological therapies do not work,” Dr. Read and his co-authors write in Ethical Human Psychology and Psychiatry. For the Yahoo! News story, click here. For the journal article, click here. For information about “Doctors of Deception: What They Don’t Want You to Know About Shock Treatment,” by Linda Andre, click here.

TU Collaborative to Host Next Story Slam on June 18 at 3 p.m. ET

The Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion will host its next virtual Story Slam on June 18 at 3 p.m. ET. The theme is “Small World.” The TU Collaborative writes: “Our virtual StorySlams are focused on how we are finding ways to connect with each other and participate in our communities while taking care of each other by practicing physical distancing…” Questions? Contact kyra.baker@temple.edu. For more information and/or to register as a listener or Storyteller, and to read the rest of the newsletter, click here.

It’s Not Too Late to Register for Virtual Peerpocalypse!

Peerpocalypse is going virtual for the first time ever! The conference will be held July 20-23, 2020. Virtual registration is $200 and includes a mailed T-shirt—registration must be received no later than June 19 to receive a T-shirt!—a program, and a badge as well as CEU credits for workshops. (The workshop schedule is at a link below!) Virtual registration will also include access to keynote speeches and evening events. “If you have already paid for an in-person registration, we will refund the difference,” they write. “Please email peerpocalypse@mhaoforegon.org to request a partial or full refund; attendees do have the option of donating the difference if they would like.” For the Peerpocalypse website, click here. For the workshop schedule, click here. To register for virtual participation, click here.

Free Webinar on “Peer-run Approaches to Suicide Prevention” on June 18 at 2 p.m.

On June 18 at 2 p.m., the National Empowerment Center will host a 90-minute webinar on “Peer-run Approaches to Suicide Prevention” as part of its “Compassionate Approaches to Crisis” webinar series. The presenter, Sarah Felman— a certified peer specialist and facilitator of Hearing Voices and Alternatives to Suicide Peer-to-Peer Support Groups—will recount her experience as a suicide attempt survivor and explore the implications of experiences like hers in regard to suicide prevention. The webinar will feature a discussion of “logotherapy,” a philosophy developed by psychiatrist and neurologist Viktor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor, which is focused on helping people find meaning in their lives. For more information and to register, click here.

Free Bazelon Center Webinar on “Developing and Implementing State Olmstead Plans”

On June 22, 2020, at 2 p.m. ET, the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law will host a free, 90-minute, SAMHSA-sponsored webinar on “Developing and Implementing State Olmstead Plans to Increase Access to Community-based services for Adults with Serious Mental Illnesses or Children with Serious Emotional Disturbances.” The presenters will be “Kevin Martone, who has helped states with Olmstead planning and implementation and, as New Jersey's mental health commissioner, developed an Olmstead plan and resolved statewide Olmstead litigation,” and Harvey Rosenthal, executive director of NYAPRS, “who has been an active participant in New York's Olmstead planning processes.” For more information and to register, click here.

A Service-User-Led Survey of “Experiences of the Intersections of Psychosis, Difficult Events, and Trauma” Seeks Participants with Firsthand Experience

“We Can No Longer Ignore the Potential of Psychedelic Drugs to Treat Depression,” Researcher Says

“In London, we have spearheaded work showing how psilocybin (or ‘magic mushrooms’) can be used to assist psychotherapy for difficult-to-treat depression, making a significant difference when conventional antidepressants and talking therapy have not,” writes Robin Carhart-Harris, who heads the Centre for Psychedelic Research at Imperial College London, in The Guardian. “Right now, we are crunching data from a much larger depression trial that compares psilocybin-assisted therapy with a six-week course of a conventional antidepressant drug, a ‘Prozac-like’ selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). Preliminary analyses indicate game-changing results.” For the article, click here (Courtesy of Elizabeth Stone). See also “My Adventures with the Trip Doctors,” by Michael Pollan, in The New York Times (click here).

BU Study of COVID-19 Impact Invites Peer Specialists to Participate

The Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation at Boston University, in collaboration with the International Association of Peer Supporters, has launched a study “to better understand how the COVID-19/Coronavirus pandemic has impacted the work and volunteer lives of peer specialists in the U.S.” The anonymous survey will take approximately 15-30 minutes. There will be a second survey, about three months later, but participation in the first survey does not require participation in the second survey. Those who provide an email address can enter a random drawing where 10 people will win a $50 Amazon gift certificate. To participate, click here. Questions? weadams@bu.edu.

“Online Self-Help Tied to Less Suicidal Ideation,” Study Suggests

“Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) seemed effective for preventing suicidal thoughts, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis,” MedPage Today reports. “What was surprising was that the majority of the web-based therapies were self-guided, but still effective.” This was surprising because, a key researcher said, "Although self-guided interventions offer the highest degree of anonymity and scalability…many clinicians consider unguided interventions as unsafe and not an appropriate treatment for high-risk groups like suicidal patients." She noted that “interpersonal connection” is often considered a critical element of psychotherapy, and that it has also been shown to increase the effectiveness of “internet-based interventions.” However, she added that the analysis had limitations. For the article, click here.

Do You Want to Help Boost Stakeholder Involvement in Mental Health Services Research? Here’s Your Chance!

University of South Florida (USF) researchers, with funding from PCORI, are developing “a multi-stakeholder survey aimed at mapping out barriers and facilitators to stakeholder involvement in mental health services research across the U.S.,” Dr. Nev Jones writes. The goal is to increase diverse stakeholder participation in such research. The researchers are seeking a broadly diverse group of participants/collaborators for a series of design workshops, likely 1.5 hours each. Compensation is $60/hour. “And if a workshop is not your thing but you might be interested in the survey we conduct or associated interviews, let us know and we will add you to a list for future emails,” Dr. Jones writes, adding that all participants in any aspect of the project will be financially compensated. If you are interested or have questions, write to Dr. Jones at genevra@usf.edu.

“‘Free Our People!’ Ex-Psychiatric Patients Demand COVID-19 Accountability in State-Run Facilities”

“A multi-generational coalition of ex-psychiatric patients and allies ranging in age from 27 to 72 launched a campaign last month to hold the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health [DMH] accountable for its mismanagement of COVID-19 response in publicly funded psychiatric institutions and other settings.” So begins the third in a series of compelling articles about life inside psychiatric institutions during the COVID-19 pandemic, written by Leah Harris and published by Mad in America. “Mobilizing as Massachusetts Advocating for Change Together (Mass ACT), advocates say DMH is not being transparent about measures it is taking to mitigate the transmission of the novel coronavirus in its congregate facilities, a familiar refrain echoed across the U.S. since the start of the pandemic.” For the article, click here. (The first and second articles in the series were included in the May 2020 Key Update. For the first article, click here. For the second article, click here.) And for “COVID-19 spreading quickly through psychiatric hospitals: Reduction of population a must,” by Ira Burnim, legal director at the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, click here.

New Literature Review Adds to Body of Evidence Confirming Value of Peer Support; Boston University Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation Offers Additional Information

A new literature review of mental health peer support, published by JMIR Publications, adds to the growing body of literature that supports the value of peer support. “There is an internationally growing trend to adopt PSSs within addiction and mental health services,” the review concludes, “and despite the ongoing challenges, large sections of the current literature support the inclusion of peer support workers in the mental health care workforce.” For the literature review, click here (Courtesy of Kevin Fitts). For “Systematic Review of Peer Delivered Services Literature 1989-2009,” by the Boston University Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation Disability Research Right to Know, click here.

Free Recovery LIVE! Event on “Supporting the Resilience of Black Men” on June 25
“BRSS TACS is holding our next monthly one-hour Recovery LIVE! event on June 25 at 2 p.m. ET on ‘Supporting the Resilience of Black Men: Culturally Affirming and Responsive Approaches to Engagement, Treatment, and Recovery.’ The experiences of Black men with mental [health conditions], substance use disorder, and recovery are unique in ways that have crucial implications for service delivery. Presenters will highlight current research and describe best practices and promising strategies for supporting the recovery of Black men.” For more information and to register, click here.

“Study Finds that Working as a Peer-Support Specialist is Beneficial to Individuals with Criminal and Psychiatric Histories”

“Serving as a trained peer support specialist in a mental health treatment setting can be beneficial to individuals who have lived experience with psychiatric and criminal histories, helping them with their own recovery and leading more empowered, meaningful, and productive lives,” according to a recent study by New York University researchers. The study, “Mental Health Recovery: Peer Specialists with Mental Health and Incarceration Experiences,” published in the American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, is based on 45 in-depth interviews with 15 peer specialists. “With their psychiatric and criminal histories, many participants anticipated limited opportunities for work, but becoming a peer support specialist offered a possibility for employment despite their past histories and offered a new identity different from their current identities as patients or criminals,” they write. The study participants reported becoming “more hopeful about their futures, their capacity to change, and ability to remain in the community.” For the NYU press release, click here.

Free Webinar on “Physical Wellness for Work” on June 30

The next free one-hour webinar in Doors to Wellbeing’s series, on June 30, 2020, at 2 p.m. ET, will cover “Physical Wellness for Work: A Guide for Peer Specialists.” Doors to Wellbeing writes: “Physical Wellness for Work is a manual of activities and information for increasing workplace health and well-being; it was developed for people in recovery who are living with a mental health condition. Peer specialists can use this as a self-guided tool or as a tool to help others think about how their wellness affects their ability to get and keep a job. Join Dr. Judith Cook and Dr. Peggy Swarbrick for this webinar to learn more about this free resource along with how to access training and technical assistance for using it.” For more information and to register, click here.

Recognize & Rise, a Campaign to Counter Trauma, Is Launched in Tarrant County, TX

“The Mental Health Connection of Tarrant County [Texas] is launching a campaign designed to increase awareness about trauma, toxic stress and adversity and examine the benefits of building community resilience,” according to an article in the Fort Worth Business Press. “Recognize & Rise is a multi-year community awareness initiative supported by the broad coalition of more than 100 local mental health agencies, education and health systems, government, and individuals working to address the mental health and substance use needs of the community.” “With resilience-based support and resources, we can prevail when we face adversity and tragedy,” Virginia Hoft, executive director of the Mental Health Connection, told the Fort Worth newspaper. “Our goal is to increase awareness about trauma and resilience and provide hope that healing is possible to those who are struggling.” For more information, go to www.RecognizeandRise.org. For the article, click here.

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

“10 Comics That Told Inspiring Mental Health Stories”

“Comics are a wonderful medium for mental health positivity,” according to whatculture.com. “They show readers that even the mightiest of superheroes like Thor and Captain Marvel can be vulnerable. It’s humbling to see such powerful characters be brought down to earth and made to deal with the same problems that humans face on a regular basis. Seeing a superhero overcome their mental health struggles is inspiring. Readers witness their own journey reflected back at them and it might encourage them to make a positive change in their life.” For more, click here.

“ ‘CAHOOTS': How Social Workers And Police Share Responsibilities In Eugene, Oregon”

CAHOOTS—Crisis Assistance Helping Out On The Streets—is a collaboration between local police and a community service in Eugene, Oregon, that, for 30 years, has been a successful alternative to police intervention in situations involving someone with a mental health condition, according to a recent NPR podcast. “The calls that come in to the police non-emergency number and/or through the 911 system, if they have a strong behavioral health component, if there are calls that do not seem to require law enforcement because they don't involve a legal issue or some kind of extreme threat of violence or risk to the person…then they will route those to our team—comprised of a medic and a crisis worker—that can go out and respond to the call, assess the situation, assist the individual if possible, and then help get that individual to a higher level of care or necessary service if that's what's really needed,” the White Bird Clinic coordinator told NPR. For the brief podcast and transcript, click here. (Note: For more about law enforcement and criminal justice, see the digest directly below.)

The June 2020 Digest of Articles about the Criminal Justice System, in Which Many Individuals with Mental Health Conditions Are Incarcerated (and the Key Update continues after this Digest)

Here is the June 2020 wrap-up of stories about the criminal justice system. (Note: Some of the titles and other language are not politically correct but are reproduced as written.)

For “How to Support the Fight for Justice, Against Police Violence: From protesting to donating to reading, there are many ways to show your support,” click here. For “Blueprint for Police Accountability and Reform: A New Vision for Policing and the Justice System,” click here. For “Defunding the Police Isn’t Radical. It’s Logical,” click here. For “How to turn filming the police into the end of police brutality: It isn’t the first time bystander videos have galvanized a movement. But this time they can be used to change policing for good,” click here. For “COVID-19 Is Delaying Reforms To Colorado’s Mental Health System,” click here. For “Texas to require all police officers receive implicit bias training, in first George Floyd-inspired reform,” click here. For “This Philly group is giving people free smartphones when they get out of jail: With no strings attached, advocates say the devices are a lifeline,” click here. For “Prison by Any Other Name: A report on South Florida detention facilities,” click here. For “Decarceration Nation (with Josh and Joel): A podcast asking the radical question ‘How Can We Decarcerate America?’" click here. For “Joint Statement from Elected Prosecutors on the Murder of George Floyd and Police Violence,” click here. For “The Police Are Rioting. We Need to Talk About It,” click here. For “Court denounces use of deadly force by police and says, ‘This has to stop,’” click here. For “Failure to protect: How an Oklahoma child abuse law treats women differently than men: An Oklahoma law stipulates that any parent or guardian who knows a child is being abused and does nothing to stop it can be charged with a felony. But a 60 Minutes investigation found that 15 women who were never found to have abused their children have received harsher punishments than the man who did,” click here. For “What Does It Mean to Be a ‘Good Cop’? Reforms that target ‘bad apples’ are missing the point,” click here. For “Prosecutorial Discretion: The Prosecutor’s Role in Curbing Infections in Prisons,” click here. For “Measures for Justice—Incarceration Weakens a Community’s Immune System: Mass Incarceration and COVID-19 Cases in Milwaukee (Preliminary Results),” click here. For “Not just George Floyd: Police departments have a 400-year history of racism,” click here. For “The First Step Is Figuring Out What Police Are For: For reform to succeed, American communities need to have a conversation about what the purpose of police is, and think hard about what jobs could be better handled by other institutions,” click here. For “Defund the police? Here’s what that really means,” click here. For “In violent protest incidents, a theme emerges: Videos contradict police accounts,” click here. For “Bail Reformers Aren’t Waiting for Bail Reform: They’re using charity to set poor defendants free,” click here. For “Measuring What Matters: Addressing Police Reform Must Start with Accurate Data—The absence of accessible government data stymies candid discussion about how to drive and measure change,” click here. (Courtesy of Marie Verna) [Note: Underlining this point is the fact that the 2018 figures in the preceding article—614—do not agree with the figures in some other articles, such as “Here’s How Many People Police Killed in 2018” (1,165) (click here) and “Fatal Force” (991) (click here). Fact-checking website Snopes.com cites www.FatalEncounters.org—whose tagline is “a step toward creating an impartial, comprehensive, and searchable national database of people killed during interactions with law enforcement"—as a reliable source.]

FROM PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF THE KEY UPDATE BUT STILL FRESH!

“How to Stay Mentally Healthy During the Coronavirus Pandemic”

“There’s a lot of advice being offered right now about how to keep yourself physically healthy during the coronavirus pandemic, such as washing your hands and practicing social distancing. But managing mental health during this time is just as vital to your overall well-being…Fortunately, there are steps you can take to improve your mental health right now even if you’re social distancing,” writes VeryWellMind.com. “Despite [the] ongoing uncertainty of the situation, take small steps every day to address your emotional needs.” For the article, published on March 20, 2020, which includes many links to additional information, click here. And for a related article, “10 Ways to Ease Your Coronavirus Anxiety,” click here.

CDC and BBC Offer Advice on Stress and Coping During the Coronavirus Pandemic

How Are You Doing During the Pandemic? Researchers Want to Know.

“We”—fellow peers at the Collaborative Support Programs of New Jersey (CSPNJ)—“want to know how you are doing in these difficult times. For example, what has happened to your life and what kinds of help do you need? How have you helped others and how have they helped you? Thank you for answering these questions to help us understand your life right now!” The survey was designed by Peggy Swarbrick, PhD, OT, CPRP, who coordinates activities for the CSPNJ Wellness Institute. For more about Dr. Swarbrick, click here. To take the survey, click here.

“Mapping the Disability Experience: Share Your Stories”

Hearing Voices Network Is Now Hosting Online Groups

Have You Ever Smoked, Drunk, Vaped, or Used Other Drugs? Or Do You Now? New Zealand COVID-19 Study Is Now Open to US Residents

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

TU Collaborative Hosts Free Storytelling Workshops

Free Resources for Peer Worker Supervisors Are Posted on the iNAPS Website

If You Have Experienced Psychosis, “Psychosis Beyond the Box” Wants to Hear From You.

“Experiences with Hospitalization” Survey Seeks Participants

International Survey on Antipsychotic Medication Withdrawal Seeks Respondents

NIMH Launches Study of How COVID-19 Stressors Affect Mental Health Over Time

Virtual Group Is Launched to Advance Peer Research Capacity, Leadership, and Involvement

Do You Supervise Peer Support Workers? Then Researchers Have Some Questions for You

What Happens to People after Discharge from First Episode Psychosis/Early Intervention Programs? New Study Seeks Answers—and Participants

A study led by Dr. Nev Jones at the University of South Florida seeks current and former clients as well as family members of clients previously enrolled in early intervention in psychosis (EIP)/coordinated specialty care (CSC) services. The study aims to better understand what happens after discharge from EIP/CSC programs, including in the areas of school or work and access to/use of other mental health services. Eligible participants must be at least 18 years old and must be “current clients within one month of discharge from an EIP/CSC program, former clients discharged at least six months (at the time of the scheduled interview), and the family members of former clients.” In exchange for a phone interview of approximately 1.5 hours, each participant in the study (Protocol Number 00035193) will receive a $75 money order. Questions? Contact Dr. Jones at 813.415.5532 or by email at genevra@health.usf.edu. (Note: This study will stop accepting participants after June 30, 2020.)

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

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 16, No. 12, June 2020. For content, reproduction or publication information, please contact Susan Rogers at selfhelpclearinghouse@gmail.com. Follow Susan on Twitter at @SusanRogersMH

Key Update, May 2020, Volume 16, Number 11

May 21, 2020 Susan Rogers

The National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse is now 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

Peerpocalypose Is Going Virtual!

Peerpocalypse is going virtual for the first time ever! This decision, by the Mental Health & Addiction Association of Oregon, follows a mandate by Oregon’s governor prohibiting gatherings of more than 25 people until a COVID-19 vaccine is developed. The conference will be held July 20-23, 2020, with pre-conference events on July 19. Virtual registration is $200 and includes a mailed T-shirt, program, and badge as well as CEU credits for pre-conference events and workshops. Virtual registration will also include access to keynote speeches and evening events. An update of the Peerpocalypse conference schedule will be released soon, the organizers say. “If you have already paid for an in-person registration, we will refund the difference,” they write. “Please look out for emails from our staff to ask if you would like to cancel or convert your registration to virtual. We thank you for your patience and grace during this unprecedented time in history.” To register for virtual participation, click here.

TU Collaborative Invites You to Participate in Two Studies

Are you a peer support specialist who uses spirituality in your practice? If so, the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion invites you to sign up for their study looking at psychological factors among peers who use spirituality and religion. “This study is completely remote, so contact us at tucollab@temple.edu if you’re interested.” The second study, on social connections, invites “adults aged 18 to 65 who have a diagnosis of schizophrenia, major depression, or major affective disorder to participate.” This would involve one online survey now and another in a few months. Questions? Contact Shinichi.nagata@temple.edu or 215.204.9664. To sign up and take the survey, click here.

“Heroes and Villains Populate the Pages of ‘The Zyprexa Papers’”

“Reading ‘The Zyprexa Papers’—Jim Gottstein’s riveting, heartbreaking, and ultimately inspiring new book—is like having a ringside seat at a boxing match where the challenger is on the ropes, taking a merciless beating from the reigning champion: It’s brutal and bloody, but you can’t look away.” So begins my review of Jim’s harrowing account of what happened when a New York Times reporter—who knew of Jim’s previous work to expose the depredations of the Big Pharma conglomerate and Zyprexa manufacturer Eli Lilly—asked Jim to provide him with Lilly’s “secret documents” about the drug. Jim, founder of the Law Project for Psychiatric Rights and a longtime human rights activist, found a way to do this. His book, “The Zyprexa Papers,” is a deep dive into the Bizarro World of psychiatry, Big Pharma, and the judicial system. For my review, click here. For more about the book, click here.

Free Worldwide Breathwork Session, May 24, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET and/or Whenever You Can Participate

Neurodynamic Breathwork Online—described as a way to “quiet the thinking mind and access your amazing inner intelligence”—is offering a free workshop on May 24; but if that is inconvenient, you can choose a time that works for you! Founder Michael Stone writes: “We will be dedicating this workshop to the healing of the planet and all of its inhabitants in this time of stress and anxiety. In our last free event, we had over 700 participants from 40 different countries. It was one of the most powerful sessions I have ever facilitated!” To register, click here; the free May 24 workshop is in the top row. But if you can’t make it on Sunday or prefer to participate in a smaller group, Stone adds, “due to the pandemic we are currently offering everybody a free session at the time of their choice right now. Click here and then click on ‘Try A Free Breathwork Session’ and follow the instructions. We host four to five live sessions every week.” Important: For more about how Breathwork Online works and how to participate, click here. (Courtesy of Kevin Fitts)

How Are You Doing During the Pandemic? Inquiring Researchers Want to Know.

Four-Session Lunchtime Learning Series on Action Planning and Implementation Is Free

The New York City Peer and Community Health Worker Workforce Consortium is offering a free, four-session “Peer Workforce Integration” learning series to help organizations drive change toward practices that support the integration of the peer workforce. The series guides the transition from assessing organizational strengths and needs to the process of collaboratively developing and implementing a measurable, action-oriented plan. Each 90-minute session will begin at noon ET on four successive Wednesdays: May 20, May 27, June 3, and June 10. (The May 20 session—"Getting the Conversation Started”—will be archived.) The May 27 session is on “Building a Plan”; for details and to register, click here. The June 3 session is on “Keeping the Action Active”; for details and to register, click here. And the June 10 session will cover “How did it go? Evaluation of your implementation”; for details and to register, click here. Questions? Contact Rita Cronise, Coordinator: academy.virtual.community@gmail.com.

USA Today Reports on Suicide Attempt Survivors and Their Life-Saving Lessons

A recent, in-depth story in USA Today includes interviews with mental health activists and suicide attempt survivors Jess Stohlmann-Rainey, director of program development at Rocky Mountain Crisis Partners in Denver; Dese’Rae L. Stage, who founded the website Live Through This; and Leah Harris, a frequent reporter at Mad In America. It also includes numerous links to additional information, such as “Suicide prevention: Self-care tips, true stories on how survivors cope” (click here) and “Suicide prevention experts: What you say (and don't say) could save a person's life: Mental health experts say it's time to normalize conversations about suicide” (click here); as well as “What Actually Happens When You Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline” (click here). To read the current article—“The life-saving lesson suicidal people can teach a world in pandemic”—click here.

World Psychiatry Offers Its Current and Back Issues for Free

World Psychiatry, the official journal of the World Psychiatric Association, is offering its current and back issues for free. The latest issue (June 2020) includes “Addressing mental health needs: an integral part of COVID-19 response,” “Psychiatry in the age of COVID-19,” “What is resilience: an affiliative neuroscience approach,” “Intergenerational psychiatry: a new look at a powerful perspective,” and nine separate cannabis “Commentaries.” Among the articles in the last issue (February 2020) are “Euthymia: why it really does matter,” “Economics and mental health: the current scenario,” “Gender competence and mental health promotion,” “Constructing a liberated and modern mind: six pathways from pathology to euthymia,” “Why the field of moral philosophy must guide any discussion on well-being,” and many others. For the link to the archive, click here.

Two New Websites Are Launched to Address Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The Pandemic Crisis Response Services Coalition and the City of Philadelphia, respectively, recently launched campaigns to address mental health concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic. “While there is suffering as a result of COVID-19 that is unavoidable, mental health suffering can be prevented or minimized with the right interventions. The Pandemic Crisis Response Services Coalition is committed to doing all that we can to prevent deaths of despair due to the consequences of the pandemic,” the Coalition writes. For the Coalition website, click here. At the same time, Philadelphia has launched a new public awareness campaign, #mindPHL (pronounced “mindful”) Together, which aims to improve the community’s understanding of mental health and well-being, reduce the prejudice associated with needing mental health support, encourage Philadelphians to seek help for themselves and others, and offer such support to those who need it. “Amid the heightened uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, mental well-being is more important than ever,” said Philadelphia’s mayor, Jim Kenney. The campaign includes a new website, MindPHLtogether.com, to make mental health resources more readily available. For the Philadelphia press release, click here.

“Mapping the Disability Experience: Share Your Stories”

Have You Ever Smoked, Drunk, Vaped, or Used Other Drugs? Or Do You Now? New Zealand COVID-19 Study Is Now Open to US Residents

Free Webinar on “Trauma and Mental Health Peer Support” on May 26

The next free one-hour webinar in Doors to Wellbeing’s series, on May 26, 2020, at 2 p.m. ET, covering “Trauma and Mental Health Peer Support,” will “describe basic information about the characteristics and prevalence of trauma, relevant to the work of mental health peer specialists. Risk factors and protective factors will be reviewed so that peer supporters are better grounded in providing trauma-informed care in supporting recovery and resilience. The presentation will review the importance of language and perspective in working with someone who has or is experiencing trauma. It will also highlight how mental health peer specialists can benefit by shifting the focus to emotional understanding and strengths-based interactions that support successful recovery.” For more information and to register, click here.

Free Webinar on “Providing Employment Services in a Virtual World”

On May 27, at 1 p.m. ET, NYAPRS will host a one-hour webinar on “Providing Employment Services in a Virtual World.” NYAPRS writes: “The COVID-19 pandemic radically altered our economic and social norms. This webinar will prepare employment professionals to work remotely to help people with psychiatric disabilities to navigate employment services. It will also help us to better understand the current economic challenges that people face while promoting strong relationships in a virtual world.” The presenters are Robert Statham, BA CESP, and Len Statham, MS, CBP, CPRP. To register, click here.

The New Yorker & Mad In America Cover the Added Dangers in U.S. Psychiatric Facilities During the Pandemic

In “America’s Psychiatric Facilities Are ‘Incubators’ for COVID-19,” published by Mad In America, and “Why Psychiatric Wards Are Uniquely Vulnerable to the Coronavirus,” in The New Yorker, journalists Leah Harris and Masha Gessen, respectively, report on the increased dangers of life in an inpatient psychiatric facility during the COVID-19 era. In the best of times, there are risks inherent in inpatient psychiatric treatment, such as forced or coerced drugging, as well as the heightened risk of suicide after release from involuntary hospitalization (click here). But now, Harris writes that “whistleblowers at American psychiatric facilities paint a picture of mismanaged COVID-19 responses and lax safety protocols, putting patients, workers, and the surrounding communities in harm’s way. Some allege coverups of deaths.” And Gessen writes, “The coronavirus, and the public-health measures undertaken to slow its spread, [are] uniquely hostile to psychiatric care.” For the New Yorker article, click here. For the Mad In America article, click here. For Harris’s follow-up, “Life Inside America’s Psychiatric Facilities During the Pandemic: Eyewitness Accounts—Insiders paint a picture of chaos and fear in public and private psychiatric hospitals across the country,” click here.

Two Free SAMHSA-sponsored Webinars Are Coming Up, on May 27 and May 28

Two free 90-minute SAMHSA-sponsored webinars—one aimed at families, the other aimed at peers—will be presented by the National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health and the National Coalition for Mental Health Recovery, respectively. The first is on May 27 at 2 p.m. ET, on “Improving Access to Care by Using Creative Support to Address Families Waiting for Services.” For more information and to register, click here. The second—“Ways That Peers and Supervisors Use Principles of Recovery to Improve Engagement of Adults in Crisis”—on May 28 at 2 p.m. ET, will cover the range of crisis services employing peers, ways that peers are uniquely suited to engaging persons in acute distress in services, how supervisors help peers balance their peer role with the clinical expectations of the system, how peers and supervisors facilitate self-care and supports enabling peers to build resilience and avoid burnout, and unique recruitment and training needs for peers working in crisis services. For more information and to register, click here. For questions, contact Kelle Masten: kelle.masten@nasmhpd.org or 703.682.5187.

“Humorist Lightens Depression’s Darkness by Talking (and Laughing) About It”

“For much of his life, humorist John Moe has dealt with clinical depression that's triggered by stress. Now, faced with the COVID-19 crisis, he says, ‘my depression wants to flare up.’ On his podcast, ‘The Hilarious World of Depression’—[which Mother Jones called ‘one part stand-up comedy and one part therapy session’]—Moe interviews people who have depression—mostly comics. His new book, also called ‘The Hilarious World of Depression,’ details his own experiences, his brother’s suicide and his family's history of mental illness.” Moe was recently interviewed on NPR’s “Fresh Air.” For the podcast and transcript, click here. For Moe’s podcast, “The Hilarious World of Depression,” click here.

The May 2020 Digest of Articles about the Criminal Justice System, in Which Many Individuals with Mental Health Conditions Are Incarcerated (and the Key Update continues after this Digest)

Here is the May 2020 wrap-up of stories about the criminal justice system. (Note: Some of the titles and other language are not politically correct but are reproduced as written.) For “For Mentally Ill Defendants, Coronavirus Means Few Safe Options: While their mental health deteriorates, some are stuck in jail as hospitals are decreasing admissions to prevent the spread of infections,” click here. For “The Urgency of Reducing the Jail Population During the COVID-19 Crisis,” click here. For “Lessons From Juvenile Justice Reform Could Help Reduce Pandemic’s Impact on Confined Youth: Research and state experiences show population reductions can be done safely,” click here. For “Quarantine Could Change How Americans Think of Incarceration: Nationwide forced isolation, along with media coverage of the pandemic’s toll in U.S. jails and prisons, could shift public perceptions of carceral punishment,” click here. For “How Can We Protect The Health of Justice-Involved Populations During the COVID-19 Pandemic? Decarceration and Timely Access to Medicaid Are Essential,” click here. For “Covid-19 Exposes the Death Penalty’s Selfishness,” click here. For “Death Penalty States Won’t Turn Over Scarce COVID-19 Drugs,” click here. For “‘Prisons Are Microcosms of the Broader Society’: An Interview with Heather Ann Thompson,” click here. For “New Study Finds 1% Recidivism Rate Among Released Philly Juvenile Lifers,” click here. For “Resentencing of Juvenile Lifers: The Philadelphia Experience,” click here. For “Can College Programs in Prison Survive COVID-19? Many educators found workarounds now that they can no longer enter the prisons. But they fear the coronavirus could undermine a critical component: teaching in person,” click here. For “Incarcerated Lives Matter: Issue 4 of ‘News Inside’ features a prison-specific coronavirus survival guide and results from our groundbreaking political survey of incarcerated people,” click here. For “Lockdown diaries: Pennsylvania prisoners are spending the pandemic locked in ‘bathroom-like’ cells 23 hours a day. It’s the longest statewide lockdown ever, and some say it’s pushing them to the brink,” click here. For “Bureau of Prisons to Expand Rapid Testing Capabilities,” click here. For “Mass Incarceration Poses a Uniquely American Risk in the Coronavirus Pandemic,” click here. For “Voting in Jails: While the COVID-19 pandemic presents challenges for voters during the 2020 election cycle, voting access for the 700,000 people held in local jails around the country has long been critically compromised. This report highlights jurisdictions around the country that actively support ballot access for people detained in jails,” click here. For “D.C.’s Restorative Justice Program Sheds New Light On Prosecutions With A Focus On Conflict Resolution,” click here. For “COVID-19 should steer us away from jails and towards restorative justice,” click here. For “Restorative Justice, COVID-19 and ‘Virtual Circles,’” click here. For “Incarceration and the Law,” click here. FOR “Locked Up During Lockdown: Professor Dan Berger Says Incarcerated People Must Be Freed to Prevent Virus Spread,” click here. For “NY prisons see sharp rise in deaths since coronavirus outbreak, blacks hit hardest behind bars,” click here. For “Oregon to close death row, reassign inmates to general population, other housing,” click here. For “Justice Briefing” from the Council of State Governments Justice Center: “Data reveals reentry service provider needs during COVID-19; why criminal records shouldn’t block federal aid; a new grant program in Oregon; & more,” April 22, 2020, click here. For “Bail Reform: 6 Myths And Misconceptions About Cash Bail, Busted: Eliminating the cash bail system does not mean that communities will become less safe,” click here.