In this edition of our News and Notes email, we would like to share a series of videos of presentations given at The 18th Annual Family Café this past June. The Annual Family Café is the nation’s largest statewide cross-disability event. It attracts thousands of attendees from throughout Florida and beyond, and they are exposed to a wealth of information, including a complete track of mental health sessions. The 18th Annual Family Café also included a mental health keynote this year, with suicide prevention advocate Kevin Hines.
Here’s some of what we recorded:
Cracked Not Broken with Kevin Hines – In this keynote address delivered at The 18th Annual Family Cafe this past June in Orlando, suicide prevention and mental health advocate Kevin Hines shares his message of hope and resilience. – https://youtu.be/Ldd5dZoAZRk
Working Roles in Recovery – This workshop informs participants about employment roles, competencies, and the Florida Certification process for Certified Recovery Peer Specialists. – https://youtu.be/QeH6Z_XviF0
Recovery Rocks! The Self-Directed Care Way – A self-directed care program participant talks about how she went from being on life support to starting her recovery journey with help from the FL Self-Directed Care Program (FL SDC). This innovative service delivery program places individuals with mental illness at the center of their own decision-making, by allowing participants to work with a recovery coach to manage a budget that allows for purchases that enhance their recovery and help them reach their recovery goals. – https://youtu.be/O9poZjDhcrQ
The Power of Shared Decision Making and Peer Support in Recovery – This session explores the role shared decision making can play in mental health recovery. It includes information on tools for shared decision making in treatment. It also explores the benefits of peer support and ways individuals can be linked to a peer supporter in the community. – https://youtu.be/ml1Hm09uTSU
Trauma and Individuals with Disabilities – This presentation explores what trauma is and some possible causes of trauma; the importance of taking trauma into consideration in all aspects of life and care; the potential effects of trauma; potential causes and the impact of trauma, especially on individuals with disabilities; available therapies for trauma; and an introduction to trauma-informed care. – https://youtu.be/3QdefysDuhs
We hope you enjoy this taste of The 18th Annual Family Café’s mental health content!
As usual, we have even more for you collected below, including information on September’s Recovery Month activities, as well as information about the upcoming Alternatives conference. We hope to see you there!
September is Recovery Month
Every September SAMHSA promotes National Recovery Month to bring national attention to behavioral health and let people know that recovery is possible! This year’s theme is “Join the Voices for Recovery: Our Families, Our Stories, Our Recovery!” SAMHSA has many materials and resources to help mental health consumer organizations participate in Recovery Month, as well as a National Recovery Month Facebook page, a Recovery Month Youtube channel, a Recovery Month Twitter feed, and a National Recovery Month Toolkit in English or Spanish.
See what’s available at https://www.recoverymonth.gov/.
Hillary Clinton Releases Mental Health Policy Plan
Hillary Clinton has put out an extensive plan to address the nation’s mental health challenges. You can read the plan in full at https://www.hillaryclinton.com/briefing/factsheets/2016/08/29/hillary-clintons-comprehensive-agenda-on-mental-health/
This article provides a brief overview: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/hillary-clinton-mental-health-policy-plan
And this article tries to imagine what results Clinton’s plan might bring, while also looking at what direction a Donald Trump administration might take in tackling the issue: http://www.healthline.com/health-news/what-clintons-mental-health-reform-would-accomplish#1
Alternatives is Coming
The 30th Annual Alternatives conference is coming to San Diego on September 19-23. We hope to see you there!
You can find everything you need to know about Alternatives at http://www.alternatives2016peerlinktac.org/.
The 34th Annual NYAPRS Conference
The New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services (NYAPRS) hosts their Annual Conference on September 14-16 at the Hudson Valley Resort & Spa in Kerhonkson, NY. It will include 58 workshops and four keynote addresses.
To learn more, visit http://www.nyaprs.org/documents/NYAPRS2016Program_proof3.pdf.
Webinar: Parenting in Recovery: Challenges and Opportunities
Thursday, September 15
1:00-2:30pm ET
This SAMHSA webinar will provide insight into the experience of parenting in recovery, offer examples of recovery-oriented approaches to supporting people their roles as parents, and suggest strategies for increasing parenting supports for people in recovery. Webinar participants will be able to identify challenges specific to parenting while in recovery, name three ways to support people as parents in recovery, and identify one next step on how to increase or improve supports for parents in recovery (either individually or as an agency).
Most Depressed Adults in the U.S. Remain Untreated
The gap between the number of people with mental health needs and the number getting help is significant. A new study described in this Scientific American article find that “Only 28.7% of those who screened positive for depression received any depression treatment during the survey year, although 78.5% of those with screen-positive depression who received no depression treatment made at least one medical visit during that time.”
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/most-depressed-adults-in-the-u-s-remain-untreated/
When Police Deal with People Who Have Mental Health Issues
Among the many issues brought to light by the recent DOJ report on Baltimore’s Police Department is the disproportionate use of force in police encounters with people with mental health needs. This article notes some policies that could help bring the transformative change to police approaches to mental health that is desperately needed.
Addressing Sexuality and Intimacy
A new resource from The Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion of Individuals with Psychiatric Disabilities has issued a new monograph designed to help providers engage people with mental health diagnoses in conversations about intimacy and sexuality in the context of their recovery.
Download it at http://tucollaborative.org/sdm_downloads/1936/.
Mental Health In Schools: A Hidden Crisis Affecting Millions Of Students
Here’s the first part in an NPR Education series on student mental health. In this report, one young woman with a mental health condition shares what she wishes the family, teachers, and school personnel that surrounded her had asked when she was a struggling student.
The Troubled Teen Industry
This Huffington Post expose brings attention to the “troubled teen industry,” which seeks out youth with behavioral health needs for inpatient treatment. It details a disturbing history of abuse and coercion at a residential treatment facility called Island View.
Read it at http://testkitchen.huffingtonpost.com/island-view/troubled-teen-industry.
Why College Is a Risky Time for Students’ Mental Health
This Time article notes that the college years are prime for the onset of mental health issues, but families tend not to learn about the widely varying services and approaches to mental health on campuses across the country before choosing a school. A new guidebook created by NAMI and The Jed Foundation is designed to help start that conversation.
http://time.com/4473575/college-mental-health-guidebook/
The Importance of Proper Mental Health Accomodation for College Students
This opinion piece from Loyola University’s student paper reminds students that they should find out about resources and set up accommodations as the fall semester begins.
http://www.loyolaphoenix.com/2016/08/importance-proper-mental-health-accomodation-college-students/
New Concerns Arise About Mental Health Of College Students
By one measure, as many as 50% to 60% of college students have a psychiatric disorder, including use of substances, anxiety, depression, problems with relationships, break-ups, academic problems, learning disabilities, and attentional problems.
http://boston.cbslocal.com/2016/08/25/new-concerns-mental-health-college-students-suicide/
New Think Cultural Health Website
Cultural health is all about providing culturally and linguistically appropriate services to care recipients. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services has recently revamped its online resources intended to help everyone do a better job of creating culturally appropriate environments and resources.
Check out their new website at https://www.thinkculturalhealth.hhs.gov/.
Voices: Perspectives of Peer Specialists Working in Crisis Intervention Services
A new video from the Pennsylvania Peer Support Coalition (PaPSC), the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion features peer support specialists discussing their work in crisis intervention programs, with an eye to helping additional peers and stakeholders to understand their role.
See the video at https://youtu.be/3eGKFjQ20ZY.
Lessons Learned by Statewide Consumer-Run Organizations
A recording of this webinar, which was held on August 18, is now available. Visit https://nasmhpd.adobeconnect.com/p4ugoxgw26d?launcher=false&fcsContent=true&pbMode=normal to view it.
Restraint Use: No One Is Watching
A new report reveals major issues with how the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) measures how medical facilities are using seclusion and restraint.
http://www.medpagetoday.com/HospitalBasedMedicine/GeneralHospitalPractice/59097 (via http://www.mhselfhelp.org/the-key-update-latest/)
Researchers Seek Peer Providers for Study on Job Satisfaction
Are you a peer provider working in a mental health setting? Researchers from the Department of Disability & Addiction Rehabilitation at the University of North Texas are conducting a confidential half-hour Internet survey to better understand your job satisfaction. You must be over age 18, living in the community, and employed either part time or full time as a peer provider. Participants will receive a $10 gift card. “Your participation may help to improve training programs and other services for peer providers,” the researchers say.
Contact Jessica Brooks, Ph.D., 940.565.4938, jessica.brooks@unt.edu with questions. To participate, visit https://unt.az1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_9AharlQTJ6jDiC1 (via http://www.mhselfhelp.org/the-key-update-latest/)
Webinar: Outcomes from the Clackamas County Peer Support Service System
September 13
11a.m.-12 p.m. PT / 2-3 p.m. ET
Over the last 6 years Clackamas County has integrated peer support services with mental health and addiction treatment services, corrections, child welfare, and other systems providing services to individuals, youth and young adults, and families. We have collected outcome data all along the way. In 2015 we served more than 5000 individuals in Peer Support Services, nearly a 1000 more individuals than were served in mental health and addiction treatment services. Our data includes the numbers and experience of services for adults, youth/young adults, and families with children involved in systems.
Register at http://www.peerlinktac.org/webinars-and-publications/.