Welcoming and Appreciating Diverse Mental Health Perspectives

1. Welcoming and Appreciating Diverse Mental Health Perspectives

2. Goals and Objectives of the Community Conversations About Mental Health • Get Americans talking about mental health to break down misperceptions and promote recovery and healthy communities • Find innovative community-based solutions to mental health needs • Develop clear action steps for communities to move forward in a way that complements existing local activities

3. Creating Community Solutions Website

4. Presenter Dan Berstein Founder, MH Mediate (Mental Health Mediation)

5. Agenda • What Are Mental Health Perspectives • The Medical Model of Mental Illness • Some Language of Mental Health • Lived Experiences in Mental Health • Ways to Welcome Diverse Perspectives

6. Today’s Goals • Appreciate that there are multiple perspectives in mental health • Become sensitive about some language and experiences related to mental health • Validate and empower all perspectives that come to a dialogue event

7. Reminders • This webinar is meant to open your mind to some different ways of appreciating mental health – it doesn’t offer answers • Be open-minded and neutral

8. MH Mediate’s Dialogue EventCo-Sponsored By the CUNY Dispute Resolution Center http://mhmediate.org/events/dialogue

9. Mental Health Perspectives • A mental health perspective is a point of view • There are many different perspectives in mental health because there are no clear answers • Mental illness is not well understood • Mental illness is hard to define and measure • There are many different approaches in addressing mental illness • There are people who see their sensitivities as a difference, not an illness

10. Mental Health Perspectives • Perspectives can be different based on: • Roles in the system (mental health professional, family member, person with lived experience) • Ideas about the nature of mental health problems (causes, diagnosis) • Views about rights (forced treatment) • Views about treatment (medical model, alternatives)

11. What is Mental Illness?The Medical Model • A problem thinking, feeling, or relating to others that persists and disrupts • “Diagnoses that are reliable but may not be valid” -Dr. Ken Duckworth, NAMI Medical Director • The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)

12. What is Mental Illness?The Medical Model Debates • Labeling Debates • DSM-5 rejected by NIMH • Overdiagnosis? • Treating children? • Cultural Issues • Homosexuality was a disorder until 1973 • Black patients are twice as likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia despite no higher incidence

13. Some Language Terms for lived experience • Patient • Consumer • Peer • Survivor • Person Using Mental Health Services

14. Some Language Person-First Language • I have bipolar disorder vs. I am bipolar

15. Some Language Language Describing Tough Times • Sick • Episodes • Symptoms • Overwhelmed • Sensitive

16. Some Language Language of Recovery • What is recovery? • Why the Recovery Movement? • How recovery become belittling?

17. Some Stakeholders in Mental Health • Peers / Consumers / Survivors / Mentally Ill / Etc • Family Members and Supporters • Treatment Professionals • Advocacy Organizations • Support Groups • The Media • Government • Society

18. Some Mental Health Professionals • Psychiatrist (including Psychopharmacologist) • Psychologist • Clinical Social Worker / Therapist / Counselor • Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner • Primary Care Physician • Peer Specialist

19. Lived Experience: Challenges • PainSymptoms, Forced Treatment, Hospitalizations, Side Effects, Life Interruptions, Lost Relationships • Treatment ChallengesShortage of Resources, Inability to Afford Care, Finding the Right Fit, Differing Medical Opinions, Treatment Doesn’t Always Work • Determining LimitsSelf vs. Disorder, When to Seek Support, Insecurity Re: Capability • New Position in SocietyChanging Expectations, Dismissed as Ill, Treated Paternalistically

20. Supporters and Professionals: Challenges • SupportersDirect Trauma of Mental Illness, Limited Information, Shortage of Resources, Confusion Regarding Expectations, Feeling Responsible • ProfessionalsMany Simultaneous Cases, See People At Worst, Expectations Affected By Past Clients, Fidelity to Professional Lens, Limited Resources

21. Welcoming Diverse Perspectives Locating different perspectives • Contact a variety of groups • Professional Associations • NAMI State and Local Affiliates • DBSA State Organizations and Support Groups • National Empowerment Center List of Consumer-Run Statewide Organizations • MindFreedom International Directory of Mental Health Alternatives • Clubhouses, Support Groups • State or Local Office of Mental Health • Ask for referrals to other groups

22. Welcoming Diverse Perspectives Be Appealing to All Perspectives • Emphasize neutrality and diversity in your written materials and in your opening remarks • Stress this is not a support group, but a place for people to brainstorm and share ideas • Validate every perspective you hear

23. Welcoming Diverse Perspectives Day Of Event Tips • Train facilitators to be neutral and validating • Make neutrality and diversity a common goal • Ask participants to set an example of diverse perspectives collaborating • Ask participants to assume best intentions • Ask participants to speak from own experience • Use time-keeping as a fair way to move forward

24. Upcoming Webinars • More webinars may be scheduled as needed • To register, and to view additional training webinars, visit www.creatingcommunity solutions.org/resources

25. Questions?

26. Thank You! Dan Berstein Founder, MH Mediate www.mhmediate.org dan@mhmediate.org