Products and Resources Catalog

Recording of the event Shame and Stigma: Re-imagining Masculinity and Strength for Black Boys, originally held on April 4, 2023.   Presentation slides

Recording of the event Mental Health & Obesity in the Black Community, originally held on March 16, 2023.   Presentation slides

Recording of the event Social Influencers of Health and Suicide in Black Youth, originally held on March 1, 2023.   Slide presentation

  The Great Lakes Current is the e-newsletter of the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC.   The March 2023 issue honors National Women's History Month by sharing resources from the Mental Health Technology Transfer (MHTTC) Network that focus on an array of behavioral health issues affecting women and girls. This issue also features an exciting, new intensive technical assistance training series sponsored by the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC.  As always, The Great Lakes Current provides links to all the upcoming events and trainings for the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC.   

Learn more about innovative approaches to supporting better outcomes for those who provide care as well as those seeking and receiving behavioral health care in communities of color in New England!   Presenters--including clinicians, researchers, faith and community leaders, and people with lived expertise--will explore strategies for: Delivering culturally competent care Creating recovery-ready workplaces Integrating peer support in the workforce Building career ladders for existing staff and retaining early career staff Day two's theme was "Building Community and Developing Pathways in Prevention." View a recording of this 2/14/23 session here. 

Recording of the event Management of Psychotic Disorders in the Black Community, originally held on February 23, 2023.   Presentation slides

About this Resource: According to the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), Black Americans have substantially lower access to mental health and substance-use treatment services despite rates of behavioral health disorders not significantly different from the general population. There are multiple barriers to accessing mental health care within the Black community. While stigma surrounding mental health remains high, access to Black mental health professionals remains a challenge as well (Ward et al., 2013). Only 4% of therapists in the US identify as Black; and among Black therapists, only 4% are Black men. (Lin et al., 2018). Identifying strategies that increase access to quality care and decrease stigma among Black or African Americans remains a priority. The Confess Project of America, which trains community leaders such as barbers and beauticians to offer support and bridge the gap between unmet mental health needs in African American communities, is one emerging practice that may hold promise. 

Recording of the event Rites and Rituals: Bringing a Cultural Lens to Positive Youth Development for Black Girls, originally held on February 14, 2023.   Presentation slides

  The Great Lakes Current is the e-newsletter of the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC.   The February 2023 issue honors National Black History Month by sharing resources and content from the African American Behavioral Health Center of Excellence and SAMHSA that focus on how social determinants of health have affected the health and well-being of African Americans, as well as the importance of providing culturally responsive behavioral health services. This issue also features exciting, new training opportunities sponsored by the Great Lakes PTTC, the ATTC Network's Pearls of Wisdom blog series, and the final article of the Power of Music series by Mark Sanders and Kisha Freed.  As always, The Great Lakes Current provides links to all the upcoming events and trainings for the Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC.   

About this Resource: Black History Month commemorates a celebration of leaders past, present, and future who have sought to combat structural oppression of Black communities. Anti-Black racism is a major social determinant of health that contributes to disparities in the field of mental health and substance use. This report highlights the work of several pioneers who were activists for mental health and wellness including mental health providers, artists, writers, and community leaders. Their remarkable efforts in expanding the fields of psychology, psychiatry, social work, and radical self care have impacted today and are influencing the leaders of tomorrow.

The January issue of Northwest News includes a holiday message from our team as well as announcements of upcoming SAMHSA and partner events, our latest podcast episodes, free e-courses, and other training opportunities.

Recording of the event Mental Health in the Black Family During the Holidays, originally held on December 15, 2022.   Presentation slides

The December issue of Northwest News provides information on support during the holidays, World AIDS Day, International Day of Persons with Disabilities and National Impaired Driving Prevention Month. We also include information on our upcoming webinar: 988 in Washington State: Sharing the Journey, our most recent podcast on Intersectionality of the Transitioning Veteran, free resources, and other training opportunities.

Recording of the event Race-Based Stress & Psychosis, originally held on December 13, 2022.   Presentation slides

Recording of the event Diabetes and Depression Comorbidity in the Black Community, originally held on November 17, 2022.   Presentation slides

About this Resource:  According to SAMHSA's 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), approximately 26% of African American adults experienced a mental health and/or substance misuse concern1. While these rates may be similar to those of the general population, disparities exist in regard to their access to high quality and culturally competent mental health care services. It is estimated that only one-in-three African Americans who need mental health care receives it.2  An important step in reducing disparities and expanding access to care is to train educators and mental health professionals to understand the cultural and racial support that men of color need. Another is by leveraging relationships in the community, in particular barbers, to help de-stigmatize the conversation about mental health in a setting men may feel more comfortable talking. In this on-demand recording, Lorenzo Lewis shares about the important work of The Confess Project and their efforts to teach barbers how to be active listeners, how to validate clients' responses, and how to eliminate mental health stigma by using positive language.   1Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: African Americans. 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: African Americans | CBHSQ Data (samhsa.gov) 2Dalencour M, et al. “The Role of Faith-Based Organizations in the Depression Care of African Americans and Hispanics in Los Angeles.” Psychiatric Services. 2017. 68(4):368-374

Recording of the event, ADHD in the Black Community: Unmet Needs from Childhood through Adulthood, originally held on October 27, 2022.   Slide Presentation

Saving Young Black Lives: Reversing Suicide Trends is an 8-part limited-series podcast produced in partnership with the New York University McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research. Survivors, family members, researchers, and behavioral health professionals discuss what it will take to stop a growing crisis of Black youth suicide.

Reimagining Wellness: Preventing Suicide Among Black Boys is a four-part vignette series that addresses this alarming trend. These short films, produced in partnership with Never Whisper Justice, feature interviews with experts who share their insights on improving well-being and reducing mental health disparities among this population.

July 28, 2022 During Minority Mental Health Month, join our efforts to amplify the work of community-based organizations (CBOs) in Connecticut and New Hampshire supporting mental health and advancing substance use prevention, treatment, and recovery! In a "Round-Robin-style" of presentation, CBOs and local nonprofits in Connecticut and New Hampshire will showcase their goals, growth, outcomes, and visions for the future in their efforts to support the behavioral health needs of underserved populations.   Presenter(s): Taylor Bryan Turner, Assistant Regional Administrator, SAMHSA Region 1 Maria Restrepo-Toro, Co-Director, New England MHTTC Susan Stearns, Executive Director, NAMI NH Liz Taylor, Executive Director, NAMI CT  

Recording of the event Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy in the Black Community, originally held on July 21, 2022.     Slide Presentation

July 6, 2022 Better Together: A Proactive Journey Toward Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion The New England Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (New England MHTTC) is committed to ensuring equitable outcomes for all. In 2020, amid ongoing racial injustice and grave civic and political unrest, the New England MHTTC launched a strategic process to guide the organization's intentional efforts to expand its racial equity lens—in terms of its policies, structure, activities, and engagements with racially diverse audiences. Learn more about the organization's "Better Together" journey and the internal and external tactics they employed to better serve and engage communities of color, in a consistent and practical way, from members of the New England MHTTC Team.   To view the slide deck that pairs with this presentation, click here. 

Recording of the event Geriatric Mental Health in the Black Community, originally held on June 30, 2022.     Slide Presentation

Recording of the event Exploring Racial Stress and Intergenerational Trauma, originally held on June 23, 2022.   Slide presentation