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Stigma is when someone views you in a negative way because you have a distinguishing characteristic or personal trait that's thought to be, or actually is, a disadvantage (a negative stereotype). Unfortunately, negative attitudes and beliefs toward people who have a mental health condition are common. In this session we will focus on ways to overcome the stigma and the resulting barriers to getting help, as well as steps to cope with stigma. This module along with the rest of its series (Behavioral Health and Substance Use Awareness in the Workplace) are available on HealtheKnowledge. Learn more about HealtheKnowledge & sign up for modules here: HealtheKnowledge Courses    

  This series is designed to educate employers and employees about mental health and substance use issues that may arise in the workplace and how to manage them. It is not designed for the mental health professional, and this series does not train the viewer to diagnose, only to recognize and respond.   Behavioral health and substance use are common occurrences. Everyone in the workplace can make an impact by learning more about these conditions, working to reduce stigma, and learning how to talk to a coworker who might be struggling and help them to access supportive resources.   Modules include:  Mental Health Awareness Overcoming Stigma The Recovery Model Mental Health Crisis and De-Escalation Substance Use Awareness Behavioral Health and Substance Use Prevention   All modules are available on HealtheKnowledge. Learn more about HealtheKnowledge & sign up for modules here: HealtheKnowledge Courses    

ABOUT THIS EPISODE In this extended interview, we talk with Faculty & Trainers at the SPIRIT Lab at the University of Washington.  SPIRIT stands for Supporting Psychosis Innovation through Research, Implementation, & Training and our Northwest MHTTC team works closely with SPIRIT Lab Faculty as they are core content experts and leaders in that arena. about key training topics for the workforce who support people living with serious mental health conditions.  Hear about a training approach backed by experience and research from a training team committed to helping the workforce feel skilled in serving this population.  They have worked in the field and are passionate about training others. You will hear how knowledge, attitude and skills to perform this important work and increase your effectiveness and perspective.  Come learn best practice strategies that can be implemented in your work with individuals experiencing SMI to support recovery!   Highlights from the discussion: How their background and clinical experience led them to their current positions Trends and themes from the mental health workforce, especially services in the publicly-funded sector  How training topics like these help new staff, seasoned clinicians, all types of teams and leadership provide more effective care, increasing satisfaction & retention Which topics they find are universally applicable to helping people living with serious mental illnesses Inspirations that keep them training in the field and driving their passion to support recovery for those we serve   GUESTS  SHANNON STEWART, LMHC Shannon Stewart graduated from Arizona State University with a dual major in Psychology and Communication and completed a Master’s Degree in Community Counseling at Seattle University. Prior to joining the UW SPIRIT Lab, she worked at Harborview Medical Center providing supported employment and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for psychosis (CBTp) to adults with persistent and medication-resistant psychosis as well as First Episode Psychosis. She also served as the CBTp Agency Lead for Harborview’s Mental Health and Addiction Services. Shannon’s interests involve understanding/addressing how stigma around serious mental illness creates barriers to access, engagement, therapeutic rapport-building, and recovery. Now as a CBTp trainer with the SPIRIT lab, she is committed to using her personal experience learning CBTp as a community mental health clinician to support other professionals in their learning journey.     JEFFERY ROSKELLEY, LICSW Jeffery Roskelley is a licensed independent clinical social worker training and consulting for the SPIRIT (which stands for Supporting Psychosis Innovation through Research, Implementation and Training) Lab at the University of Washington. Jeff graduated from the University of Utah with a Master of Social Work degree in 2008, and has worked in several different settings including hospice, as a co-occurring assessment specialist at the University of Utah and as a co-occurring specialist for the Lake Whatcom PACT team in Bellingham WA, where he currently resides. Jeff’s area of specialty is in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Psychosis and for Substance Use Disorder. Since 2013 he has been training Assertive Community Treatment Teams in WA state in co-occurring disorders treatment and cognitive behavioral techniques for severe mental illness. Jeff was trained and received consultation in CBTp with the original Washington state cohort in 2015, trained by Jennifer Gottlieb, PhD, from the Harvard Medical School and provided direct clinical CBTp counseling to clients at Sunrise Mental Health from 2015 to 2018, receiving supervision from Sarah Kopelovich, PhD, from the University of Washington. Currently, Jeff provides individual private counseling in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, addressing a wide range of clinical issues, ranging from anxiety and depression to obsessive compulsive disorder and psychosis. In addition, Jeff is a clinical supervisor for social workers. Finally, last but not least, Jeff is an ardent dog lover and a dabbler in chi gong.   MEL LABELLE III, MA, LMHC Mel LaBelle is currently providing training and consultation for the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for psychosis (CBTp) project with a focus on CBTp groups. He graduated from Argosy University, Seattle with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, and a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology. Prior to joining the UW Psychiatry Department, he has spent the past 10+ years working in non-profit public health and mental health agencies in the Greater Seattle Area. As a licensed mental health counselor Mel has provided CBTp and other evidence-based therapies to individual clients and groups with a focus on LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC. He has also trained and worked as a mHealth Support Specialist for the University of Washington FOCUS study. Mel’s interests involve using the gestalt of a person’s culture, biosocial history, social support system, and belief structure within group therapy to assist the individual, and other group members, in increased awareness, understanding, and personal efficacy.   SARAH KOPELOVICH, PHD Sarah Kopelovich, PhD is a forensically-trained licensed clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Washington School of Medicine. Dr. Kopelovich is an Associate Professor in the department and holds the Professorship in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for psychosis. Her current research is specifically oriented toward implementation and dissemination strategies for psychotherapeutic and psychosocial interventions for Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders. She regularly conducts workshops, seminars, and professional consultation across the country for an array of mental health professionals and trainees in CBT for psychosis; Recovery-Oriented Cognitive Therapy; Individual Resiliency Training for First Episode Psychosis; Assertive Community Treatment; and diagnostic, suicide, and violence risk assessment. Dr. Kopelovich completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Serious Mental Illness at Emory University School of Medicine in 2015. She received her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from City University of New York and a terminal Master’s in Forensic Psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice of the City University of New York.   The SPIRIT Lab has been providing workforce development to practitioners serving individuals with Serious Mental Illness for more than a decade. Driven by a dedication to advancing recovery for individuals and families affected by psychosis, SPIRIT lab faculty and staff provide training and consultation to an array of behavioral health and allied providers in research-based and culturally informed interventions.   HOST Christina N. Clayton, LICSW, SUDP, Northwest MHTTC Co-Director Christina Clayton has been working in the behavioral health field since 1993 working with people and programs addressing severe mental health issues, substance use, co-occurring issues, chronic homelessness, integrated care, outreach, physical health, trauma and diversity/equity/inclusion topics. Christina has education and licenses/credentials in clinical social work, mental health and substance use.  She is also a Clinical Assistant Professor and Field Instructor for the University of Washington School of Social Work (MSW ’97).  Learn more about MHTTC Staff & Faculty   LEARN MORE University of Washington SPIRIT Lab PODCAST SERIES Discover other episodes in the Putting It Together series here. Terms of use and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) disclosure statement

To view the slide deck that was used during this event, please click DOWNLOAD above Recording coming soon! This was an all-day event on July 27th, 2022 that went from 9:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. MT/10:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. CT.  Event Description This all-day workshop offers a trauma-informed lens that can help parents and caregivers or providers respond to the emotional needs of children, youth, and adults in their care, and foster meaningful relationships that contribute to resilience for trauma-impacted individuals. The workshop will build strategies for well-being and emotion-focused communications skills for those caring for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across a variety of settings.    The following topics will be covered during this workshop:    Trauma (what is it, prevalence, impact)  Signs of post-traumatic stress or other trauma-related reactions that might signal a need for intervention    Evidence-based mental health supports that can help families and individuals with I/DD dealing with post-traumatic stress (what are they, questions to ask when seeking services or making referrals).    Resilience (what is it, how can we cultivate it); Emphasis on the protective power of safe, stable, and nurturing relationships.    Overview of specific strategies for caregivers/adults who care for individuals with I/DD to build: Skills for self-care, emotional self-awareness, and regulation(parents/caregivers/providers) Skills for understanding and responding to child/youth/adult emotional needs:  Communicating about challenging topics (e.g. trauma, stressful events or family transition)  Addressing behavioral challenges  This training was limited to 30 participants. Trainer Marcela Torres Pauletic, Ph.D.   Dr. Marcela Torres Pauletic is a clinical psychologist and Senior Research Associate from the Institute of Behavioral Science, Prevention Science Program, Center for Resilience and Wellbeing at CU Boulder. She has expertise in child social-emotional development, childhood trauma and resilience, and the protective role of relationships throughout the lifespan. Dr. Torres Pauletic regularly provides training and consultation to mental health professionals in evidence-based treatments for families experiencing trauma, and to educators, parents, and other children- and family-serving professionals in relationship-based strategies for building resilience.  

  Series Description Technology is a tool that we all use to navigate our schedules, and homes and allows us access to information- this is not innovative – it is a way of life that many people take for granted. For others, such as people living with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities it can be a vehicle that can provide greater independence and increased choice. This series of micro- trainings will focus on how to use existing technology to create solutions for people living with IDD. This is a hands-on training that will demonstrate how to teach individuals living with IDD how to use mainstream technology to support individualized needs. Participants are encouraged to bring real-life examples of current needs (including their current technology).  This micro-series of trainings was held bi-weekly, Thursday afternoons from 1:00 pm MST - 1:30 pm MST.  Session 1 - July 14th  No slide deck available. CLICK HERE to view the recording Session 2 - July 28th  No slide deck available.  CLICK HERE to view the recording Session 3 - August 2nd Access resources by clicking DOWNLOAD above CLICK HERE to view the recording Trainer Laurie Dale, Consultant, Senior Leader for Assistive Technology, Ability Beyond    Ms. Dale is a nationally recognized speaker on how-to-use technology to support and empower persons with disabilities.  She has worked for over 20 years with people living with IDD.  In addition to consulting, she works as Senior Leader for Assistive Technology at Ability Beyond. 

ABOUT THIS RESOURCE In July, the Northwest MHTTC observes Minority Mental Health Awareness Month to acknowledge the struggles faced by BIPOC individuals with mental health concerns due to racism within and beyond the mental healthcare system. We also share events happening across our network and resources on equity, peer support services in crisis care, and combating stigma.

  Series Description Over 7 million people in the United States live with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD). To ensure that these individuals receive quality mental health care, providers and caretakers must receive education and training about the unique mental health needs of people living with an IDD.   Please review our resources for our 3-part series on IDD and Mental Health as we taught about the unique mental health needs of individuals living with IDD. The training series consisted of three one-hour workshops that provided attendees with an up-to-date understanding of mental health practices for the IDD community, including trauma/post-traumatic stress strategies.  Session Resources Session 1 A Public Health Perspective Access resources by clicking DOWNLOAD above CLICK HERE to view the recording   Session 2  Thru the Lens of Trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Access resources by clicking DOWNLOAD above CLICK HERE to view the recording   Session 3  Perspectives from the Field: A Panel Discussion Access resources by clicking DOWNLOAD above CLICK HERE to view the recording  

View Session Recording This session explores the intersectionality and cultural diversities within the Hispanic and Latinx community and how it impacts mental health services with a focus on cultural considerations and trauma histories.   Presenter: Dr. Azara Santiago Rivera serves as the Coordinator of the Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology at Felician University, Lodi, New Jersey. Also, she earned the status of Emeritus Professor and was the Director of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program in the Department of Psychology at Merrimack College. Before joining the Merrimack community, she held academic appointments at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (TCSPP) as the chair of the Counseling Department in August 2011 and became dean of academic affairs in August 2013 until 2015.  Dr. Santiago-Rivera served as the associate dean of the School of Education, University at Albany (NY) from 2001―2004. Among outcomes of her work were initiatives to advance early career faculty with a focus on publishing, teaching strategies and tenure and promotion processes.   In addition, she also held faculty positions as a professor, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (2004―2011) and assistant and associate professor, University at Albany [NY] (1992―2004). Her publications and research interests include multicultural competencies in the counseling profession, bilingual therapy, Latinx adults and depression, and the impact of environmental contamination on the biopsychosocial well-being of Native Americans.  Her current work involves assessing depression in Latinx adults and the challenges associated with the use of translated measures from English to Spanish. She is a coauthor of 3 books, over 50 peer reviewed articles and book chapters, and has given over 120 presentations/workshops at local, national and international conferences, universities, and organizations. She has held leadership positions in professional organizations such as the Vice-President of the Latino Interest Network of the Association of Multicultural Counseling and Development (AMCD), and the President of Counselors for Social Justice (CSJ) within the American Counseling Association. She is a past- President of the National Latino/a Psychological Association. She is the Founding Editor of the Journal of Latinx Psychology (APA journal) and is a Fellow of Divisions 45 and 17 of APA. In 2014, Dr. Santiago-Rivera received the APA Presidential Citation for outstanding contribution to the profession. Currently, Dr. Santiago Rivera is the President of the Latino Mental Health Association of New Jersey and the Treasurer-Elect of the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education.

View Slide Deck This session explores the intersectionality and cultural diversities within the Hispanic and Latinx community and how it impacts mental health services with a focus on cultural considerations and trauma histories.   Presenter: Dr. Azara Santiago Rivera serves as the Coordinator of the Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology at Felician University, Lodi, New Jersey. Also, she earned the status of Emeritus Professor and was the Director of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program in the Department of Psychology at Merrimack College. Before joining the Merrimack community, she held academic appointments at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (TCSPP) as the chair of the Counseling Department in August 2011 and became dean of academic affairs in August 2013 until 2015.  Dr. Santiago-Rivera served as the associate dean of the School of Education, University at Albany (NY) from 2001―2004. Among outcomes of her work were initiatives to advance early career faculty with a focus on publishing, teaching strategies and tenure and promotion processes.   In addition, she also held faculty positions as a professor, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (2004―2011) and assistant and associate professor, University at Albany [NY] (1992―2004). Her publications and research interests include multicultural competencies in the counseling profession, bilingual therapy, Latinx adults and depression, and the impact of environmental contamination on the biopsychosocial well-being of Native Americans.  Her current work involves assessing depression in Latinx adults and the challenges associated with the use of translated measures from English to Spanish. She is a coauthor of 3 books, over 50 peer reviewed articles and book chapters, and has given over 120 presentations/workshops at local, national and international conferences, universities, and organizations. She has held leadership positions in professional organizations such as the Vice-President of the Latino Interest Network of the Association of Multicultural Counseling and Development (AMCD), and the President of Counselors for Social Justice (CSJ) within the American Counseling Association. She is a past- President of the National Latino/a Psychological Association. She is the Founding Editor of the Journal of Latinx Psychology (APA journal) and is a Fellow of Divisions 45 and 17 of APA. In 2014, Dr. Santiago-Rivera received the APA Presidential Citation for outstanding contribution to the profession. Currently, Dr. Santiago Rivera is the President of the Latino Mental Health Association of New Jersey and the Treasurer-Elect of the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education.

/*-->*/ /*--> There is limited research addressing the needs of gender-expansive individuals in the context of psychosis-spectrum illnesses and treatment. As first episode and clinical high-risk for psychosis (CHR-p) assessment and treatment become more accessible to increasingly diverse populations, there is a need for clinicians to demonstrate greater clinical competency working with individuals across diverse social backgrounds and identities. This talk (a) reviews the diagnostic profile of gender-expansive individuals seeking assessment at the CEDAR Clinic between 2017 and 2020, (b) outlines gender-expansive practices implemented by this clinic to support clinician competency and improve care for gender-expansive patients, and (c) discusses areas for future research on psychosis risk in gender-expansive populations.   To watch the recording, please go: https://youtu.be/o5noKFh2dh0

View Slide Deck Intersecting Realities and the Diversity within the Hispanic/Latinx Community: Implications for Research and Practice in Mental Health Explore the intersectionality and cultural diversities within the Hispanic and Latinx community and how it impacts mental health services with a focus on cultural considerations and trauma histories. Presenter: Dr. Azara Santiago Rivera serves as the Coordinator of the Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology at Felician University, Lodi, New Jersey. Also, she earned the status of Emeritus Professor and was the Director of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program in the Department of Psychology at Merrimack College. Before joining the Merrimack community, she held academic appointments at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (TCSPP) as the chair of the Counseling Department in August 2011 and became dean of academic affairs in August 2013 until 2015. Dr. Santiago-Rivera served as the associate dean of the School of Education, University at Albany (NY) from 2001―2004. Among outcomes of her work were initiatives to advance early career faculty with a focus on publishing, teaching strategies and tenure and promotion processes. In addition, she also held faculty positions as a professor, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (2004―2011) and assistant and associate professor, University at Albany [NY] (1992―2004). Her publications and research interests include multicultural competencies in the counseling profession, bilingual therapy, Latinx adults and depression, and the impact of environmental contamination on the biopsychosocial well-being of Native Americans. Her current work involves assessing depression in Latinx adults and the challenges associated with the use of translated measures from English to Spanish. She is a coauthor of 3 books, over 50 peer reviewed articles and book chapters, and has given over 120 presentations/workshops at local, national and international conferences, universities, and organizations. She has held leadership positions in professional organizations such as the Vice-President of the Latino Interest Network of the Association of Multicultural Counseling and Development (AMCD), and the President of Counselors for Social Justice (CSJ) within the American Counseling Association. She is a past- President of the National Latino/a Psychological Association. She is the Founding Editor of the Journal of Latinx Psychology (APA journal) and is a Fellow of Divisions 45 and 17 of APA. In 2014, Dr. Santiago-Rivera received the APA Presidential Citation for outstanding contribution to the profession. Currently, Dr. Santiago Rivera is the President of the Latino Mental Health Association of New Jersey and the Treasurer-Elect of the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education.

View Session Recording Intersecting Realities and the Diversity within the Hispanic/Latinx Community: Implications for Research and Practice in Mental Health Explore the intersectionality and cultural diversities within the Hispanic and Latinx community and how it impacts mental health services with a focus on cultural considerations and trauma histories. Presenter: Dr. Azara Santiago Rivera serves as the Coordinator of the Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology at Felician University, Lodi, New Jersey. Also, she earned the status of Emeritus Professor and was the Director of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program in the Department of Psychology at Merrimack College. Before joining the Merrimack community, she held academic appointments at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (TCSPP) as the chair of the Counseling Department in August 2011 and became dean of academic affairs in August 2013 until 2015. Dr. Santiago-Rivera served as the associate dean of the School of Education, University at Albany (NY) from 2001―2004. Among outcomes of her work were initiatives to advance early career faculty with a focus on publishing, teaching strategies and tenure and promotion processes. In addition, she also held faculty positions as a professor, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (2004―2011) and assistant and associate professor, University at Albany [NY] (1992―2004). Her publications and research interests include multicultural competencies in the counseling profession, bilingual therapy, Latinx adults and depression, and the impact of environmental contamination on the biopsychosocial well-being of Native Americans. Her current work involves assessing depression in Latinx adults and the challenges associated with the use of translated measures from English to Spanish. She is a coauthor of 3 books, over 50 peer reviewed articles and book chapters, and has given over 120 presentations/workshops at local, national and international conferences, universities, and organizations. She has held leadership positions in professional organizations such as the Vice-President of the Latino Interest Network of the Association of Multicultural Counseling and Development (AMCD), and the President of Counselors for Social Justice (CSJ) within the American Counseling Association. She is a past- President of the National Latino/a Psychological Association. She is the Founding Editor of the Journal of Latinx Psychology (APA journal) and is a Fellow of Divisions 45 and 17 of APA. In 2014, Dr. Santiago-Rivera received the APA Presidential Citation for outstanding contribution to the profession. Currently, Dr. Santiago Rivera is the President of the Latino Mental Health Association of New Jersey and the Treasurer-Elect of the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education.

Recording of the event titled Youth Mental Health Stigma, originally held on April 6, 2022.   Slide presentation

April 5, 2022 To watch the recording, please go to: https://youtu.be/aSMdXmDRzus   Presenter:  Miraj U. Desai, PhD - Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Yale. 

View Presentation Slides Session Description: Identify and discuss the barriers that prevent members of the Hispanic and Latinx community from seeking and accessing mental health services.  Presenter: Dr. Jesselly De La Cruz, BA in Political Science (Rider University), MSW (Rutgers University), and DSW (Rutgers University), is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in NJ. She completed a Post-Graduate Certificate in Family Therapy at The Multicultural Family Institute, Inc. in Highland Park, NJ. Having originated from an underprivileged background and being a child of an immigrant family herself, Dr. De La Cruz’s education and work has been motivated by her desire to support traditionally underserved populations. Towards that overarching goal, she has worked with Latino advocacy nonprofit agencies. She currently serves as Executive Director for the Latino Action Network Foundation. Her clinical experience includes providing emergency screening of persons in mental health crisis at an inner-city hospital, outpatient and in-home child and family therapy, and clinical consultation for nursing homes with primarily Spanish-speaking residents. In addition, she has extensive experience working in the prevention of child sexual abuse by conducting forensic evaluations, individual, group and family therapy at an intensive outpatient program for court mandated youth who have been sexually abused and/or have fire setting behaviors. Currently, Dr. De La Cruz coordinates the psychological treatment of child sexual abuse survivors and their non-offending families in Hudson County, NJ. As a Practitioner Scholar, her research interests focus on systemic approaches to the prevention and treatment of sexual abuse, and the healing of intergenerational trauma in families through the use of mindfulness-based psychotherapies, play therapy, multi-systemic family therapy, as well as the political empowerment of Latinos in NJ. 

View Session Recording Session Description: Identify and discuss the barriers that prevent members of the Hispanic and Latinx community from seeking and accessing mental health services.  Presenter: Dr. Jesselly De La Cruz, BA in Political Science (Rider University), MSW (Rutgers University), and DSW (Rutgers University), is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in NJ. She completed a Post-Graduate Certificate in Family Therapy at The Multicultural Family Institute, Inc. in Highland Park, NJ. Having originated from an underprivileged background and being a child of an immigrant family herself, Dr. De La Cruz’s education and work has been motivated by her desire to support traditionally underserved populations. Towards that overarching goal, she has worked with Latino advocacy nonprofit agencies. She currently serves as Executive Director for the Latino Action Network Foundation. Her clinical experience includes providing emergency screening of persons in mental health crisis at an inner-city hospital, outpatient and in-home child and family therapy, and clinical consultation for nursing homes with primarily Spanish-speaking residents. In addition, she has extensive experience working in the prevention of child sexual abuse by conducting forensic evaluations, individual, group and family therapy at an intensive outpatient program for court mandated youth who have been sexually abused and/or have fire setting behaviors. Currently, Dr. De La Cruz coordinates the psychological treatment of child sexual abuse survivors and their non-offending families in Hudson County, NJ. As a Practitioner Scholar, her research interests focus on systemic approaches to the prevention and treatment of sexual abuse, and the healing of intergenerational trauma in families through the use of mindfulness-based psychotherapies, play therapy, multi-systemic family therapy, as well as the political empowerment of Latinos in NJ. 

This event was held on February 23, 2022. Access slide deck and other resources by clicking DOWNLOAD above Recording coming soon! Event Description According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people living in rural communities are at higher risk of suicide than their urban counterparts. The combination of greater access to firearms, high rates of drug and alcohol abuse, and limited access to psychologists and other mental health professionals form a lethal triad that contributes to the significantly higher numbers of suicide in rural communities.   In addition to these factors, many people living in rural community’s struggle with the stigma associated with mental health and seeking help.    For rural communities, confronting the reality of higher suicide numbers and the lingering impact on their communities while identifying and understanding how to address the relationships between these factors is key to addressing the problem.  This 4-hour seminar gave providers and anyone providing mental health support to individuals a working knowledge, resources, and community-based solutions for addressing suicide in rural communities. Participants learned about the signs and symptoms of suicide, the impact of stigma on seeking and maintaining treatment, the role of harm reduction, and suicide postvention for providers and families.        The seminar explored the following topics:  Stigma  Signs & Symptoms  Risk Factors vs. Protective Factors  How to Approach the Conversation as an individual and community.  Post-suicide - survivorship of the family "Nothing goes away in rural communities."    Content for this seminar was drawn from multiple sources including Mental Health First Aid, the Suicide Prevention Toolkit for Primary Care Practices, and the American Indian Addendum to the Suicide Prevention Toolkit for Primary Care Practices.     Due to the intensive and interactive nature of the seminar, registration was limited to 25 participants.    For more information, please contact:  [email protected]    Trainer Debra Brownlee, PhD

As we strive to improve conversations about race, racism, racial equity, and the importance of advancing cultural humility in this country, the environment in which we’re speaking seems to be constantly shifting. Perhaps this is an indication that these conversations are more important now than ever. But talking about race is complex and multi-layered, and despite significant progress, explicit and implicit racism still exist. Nothing bridges the divide of race and culture like informed dialogue that’s grounded in shared understanding. Get tips on how to structure conversations—with clearly framed goals, space for sharing various perspectives, and an acceptance of discomfort—for thoughtful discussion about racial equity and ways to advance and extend cultural humility.   To watch the recording, go to: https://youtu.be/p0kSiuYNkeM    Presenters:  /*-->*/ /*-->*/ /*-->*/ /*-->*/ /*--> Dietra Hawkins, PsyD and Maria E. Restrepo-Toro, BSN, MS

January 12, 2022   This lecture placed this study in the context of the knowns of stigma research. Specifically, this study’s findings indicate that CHR services should address stigma associated with symptoms quickly at first identification, given their negative impacts on outcomes. Dr. Yang will lead a discussion on how we might integrate best evidence into designing services for young people who may develop psychosis.   To watch the recording, go to: https://youtu.be/VurWStgVkgU      Presenter:  Dr. Lawrence Yang is Vice Chair and Associate Professor of the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences at NYU- School of Global Public Health. Dr. Yang also is Founding Director of the Global Mental Health and Stigma Program where he administers a generous donor gift from the Li Ka Shing Foundation, and is Associate Director for the University-Wide Global Center for Implementation Science at NYU. He is also an Adjunct Associate Professor of Epidemiology at Columbia University. Dr. Yang received his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Boston University and completed his clinical training at Harvard Medical School/Massachusetts Mental Health Center. He received a T32 NIMH-sponsored post-doctoral fellowship at Columbia University in psychiatric epidemiology. Dr. Yang’s research focuses on two main areas: 1) Global Mental Health, Implementation Science and Stigma; and 2) Cognition of Untreated Psychosis. Dr. Yang is currently PI of two separate R01’s and a 3-year Supplement in China, which seek to examine the cognition in the ‘natural state’ of psychosis in a large untreated, community sample of individuals with psychosis (n=400), who have not yet received any antipsychotic medications, compared with a treated sample (n=400) and healthy controls (n=400) in China. He also is PI of a third R01 implementing task sharing measures for global mental health which seeks to validate a newly-developed multi-dimensional measure that enables rapid assessment of modifiable critical factors that affect the implementation of task sharing mental health strategies. In his presentation, Dr. Yang (PI) will describe results from a recently-completed 5-year NIMH R01 grant examining the stigma associated with the "clinical high risk state for psychosis" designation, a potentially transformative new syndrome to detect psychotic signs before symptoms develop into a full psychotic disorder. Dr. Yang has over 125 peer-reviewed publications, including publications in the JAMA Psychiatry, British Journal of Psychiatry and The Lancet. Dr. Yang has received seven national awards, most recently the 2021 Maltz Prize for Innovative and Promising Schizophrenia Research from the Brain and Behavioral Research Foundation, for his work.

  Mental Health Stigma Reduction in Rural Schools; HHS Region 8 Access slide deck with the green download button above Click here to watch the recording   Session Description   The stigma surrounding mental health has emerged as one of the leading barriers to accessing mental health services in rural communities and schools. According to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, between 2009 and 2019, an increasing percentage of American youth reported feeling sad or hopeless for at least two weeks “to the degree that they could not engage in their usual activities.” A survey conducted by the Pew Research Center in 2018 reported that 70 percent of teenagers said anxiety and depression were major problems among their peers. Additionally, the percentage of students who seriously considered suicide or made a suicide plan has also risen in the last decade. Suicide has become the second leading cause of death among adolescents.    As the need to thoughtfully address mental health issues in school continues to increase, educators and staff must normalize the conversation about mental health and seeking help. The first step towards normalizing the conversation about mental health is to dispel the misunderstandings and stigma about mental health, mental illness, and the people who experience mental health symptoms. This training will examine ways to identify and address mental health stigma in rural school settings.   After attending this session, participants will be able to:   Define mental health stigma. Identify common factors that influence mental health stigma. Describe the consequences and impacts of stigma related to accessing mental health treatment. Explore techniques to overcome various forms of stigma, particularly in the school setting.    Trainer Debra Brownlee, PhD

    The Great Lakes A/MH/PTTC is offering this training for individuals working in HHS Region 5: IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI. This training is being provided in response to a need identified by Region 5 stakeholders.   Register to join us on the first Tuesday of each month from 10:00 AM – 10:30 AM Central (11:00 AM – 11:30 AM Eastern). Each session will feature a new expert presenter.    DESCRIPTION  Alcohol is STILL a drug.  The opioid crisis, increase in stimulant misuse, and marijuana legalization dominate the news— yet alcohol remains the number one substance causing health, social, legal and financial problems throughout the US.  While this series will focus on the hopefulness of recovery from alcohol use disorder, we’ll also take a deep dive into what we know about the full impact of alcohol overuse and the ways it affects every person in the US.   PRESENTER Ruby Warrington Ruby Warrington is creator of the term Sober Curious. Author of the 2018 book of the same title, her work has spearheaded a global movement to reevaluate our relationship to alcohol. Other works include Material Girl, Mystical World (2017), The Numinous Astro Deck (June 2019), and The Sober Curious Reset (Dec 2020). With 20+ years’ experience as a lifestyle journalist and editor, Ruby is also the founder of self-publishing imprint Numinous Books, and is known as a true thought leader in the “Now Age” wellness space.  

  The Great Lakes A/MH/PTTC is offering this training for individuals working in HHS Region 5: IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI. This training is being provided in response to a need identified by Region 5 stakeholders.   Register to join us on the first Tuesday of each month from 10:00 AM – 10:30 AM Central (11:00 AM – 11:30 AM Eastern). Each session will feature a new expert presenter.    DESCRIPTION  Alcohol is STILL a drug.  The opioid crisis, increase in stimulant misuse, and marijuana legalization dominate the news— yet alcohol remains the number one substance causing health, social, legal and financial problems throughout the US.  While this series will focus on the hopefulness of recovery from alcohol use disorder, we’ll also take a deep dive into what we know about the full impact of alcohol overuse and the ways it affects every person in the US. Kris Kelly, a peer recovery expert, will launch the series by highlighting September as National Recovery Month and specific resources related to recovery from alcohol use disorder.   PRESENTER Kris Kelly, BS Kris Kelly is a project manager for the Great Lakes Addiction, Mental Health, and Prevention Technology Transfer Centers, a woman in long-term recovery, and subject matter expert on peer-based recovery support services. Kris is also leads the Recovery Community Organization Capacity Building core area for the Peer Recovery Center of Excellence. She has worked with state and local government, recovery community organizations, treatment courts, withdrawal management/detoxification, and clinical treatment developing best practices for integrating recovery supports into systems and services. As a former executive director and director of programs of a Minnesota-based recovery community organization, Kelly is a leader in the peer support movement in Minnesota. Kelly has presented at state and national conferences on topics ranging from supervision in peer-based recovery support services and integrating peer support services into behavioral health organizations to recovery-oriented systems of care.

  Addressing the Role Stigma Plays in Death by Suicide - Workshop Wednesday Session Access slide deck with the green download button above Recording coming soon   Session Description   September is National Suicide Prevention Month. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention states that death by suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the US. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) reports that death by suicide is often the result of an untreated mental health condition. Addressing the role stigma plays in preventing people from seeking mental health support and treatment is a critical step in helping to reduce death by suicide in our communities. Join our trainer Debra Brownlee, as she examines the nature of stigma, how to talk about it in your community, and strategies for addressing and overcoming it when seeking mental health support and treatment.   After attending this session, participants can expect to:   Increase their understanding of the role that stigma plays in the access of mental health services. Provide skills related to communication when helping those struggling with mental health symptoms. Provide the opportunity for dialog regarding effective approaches and intervention strategies when assisting people who are struggling with mental health symptoms.    Trainer Debra Brownlee, PhD

September 14, 2021   It can be challenging to differentiate what is pathology and what is culture. In this talk clinical recommendations will be presented on how to accurately assess different symptom constellations with patients from different cultural backgrounds. Emphasis is given to specific applications of the Cultural Formulation Interview and these are illustrated with concrete examples.