In Their Shoes with Rich and Rokus Podcast: meeting Jonathan P. Edwards

December 8, 2022 (Reposting from the In Their Shoes Rich and Rokus Podcast site)

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We met Jonathan for the first time in 2011 when he was the Director of Peer Support Services, Division of Wellness, Recovery & Community Integration at Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn, New York.

His wisdom on Peer Support is profound and not surprisingly also comes from his own lived experience. What’s cool and special is the fact that he combines this with his academic and research interests; and recently in 2020 earned his Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.).

Jonathan’s amalgam of experience makes for a special episode of “In Their Shoes” with Rich and Rokus. It’s easy to add more facts and figures to his record of accolades and accomplishments in addition to being a great advocate, friend, and mentor. 

#intheirshoeswithrichandrokus #jonathanpedwards #peersupport #livedexperience #podcast #socialisseus

ABOUT IN THEIR SHOES WITH RICH AND ROKUS

Every month Rich and Rokus are recording an episode of the Podcast ‘In Their Shoes, talks across the Big Pond with Rich and Rokus’. All topics are related to social issues around the world. Guest speakers will be invited to join on a regular basis. 

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Coalition Files Emergency Request To Stop NYS Unconstitutional Mental Health Involuntary Removal Policy

December 8, 2022 Reposted from NYAPRS ENews

NYAPRS Note: NYAPRS greatly welcomes the action taken yesterday by our legal rights and mental health advocacy colleagues to legally challenge New York City’s new plan to take more homeless people with ‘perceived’ mental illnesses to hospitals against their will if they are deemed a danger to themselves. In collaboration with NY Lawyers for the Public Interest, NAMI-NYC, Community Access and Correct Crisis Intervention Today-NYC, a civil rights law firm argued that the new policy allows a police officer to commit a person to a hospital against his or her will, violating the constitutional right to due process and to protection from improper search and seizure. The motion calls for a temporary restraining order to block the policy from going into effect.

Police officers, the filing says, have “little to no expertise” in handling people with mental disabilities who could be “forcefully — often violently — detained.

The policy creates a “concrete risk” that people will be detained “for merely living with their illness while in a public place,” the motion says and that the new policy violates the Americans With Disabilities Act and the New York City Human Rights Law, as well as constitutional rights.

The group’s news release goes on to say “The plaintiffs include people who were arrested simply for having a mental health diagnosis – or even just being perceived of having a mental health diagnosis – and who were not a harm to themselves or others, but were nevertheless forcibly strapped to gurneys or otherwise restrained and taken against their will to a hospital.

Prior to the suit’s filing, NYPD was moving ahead with Eric Adams’ new mental illness policy, despite lack of training (see NY Post article below). “Big Apple cops have yet to receive training or detailed guidance on how to enforce Mayor Adams’ new mental health plan — but NYPD brass wants them to implement it anyway, according to a new order obtained by The Post.” NYPD officials initially said they were first made aware of the new plan when it was announced, but hours later, walked back that statement, denying leadership was blindsided and that it’s been in the works for “months.” Multiple high-placed sources confirmed to The Post, though, that police brass and NYPD lawyers rushed in the days after the announcement to get the policy on the books. One police source who has advised on NYPD Patrol Guide policy raised red flags over the vague wording that leaves the guidance open to wide interpretation.”

NYAPRS will continue to send out updates through the days ahead.

Advocates for Mentally Ill New Yorkers Ask Court to Halt Removal Plan

NY Times  December 8, 2022

A motion in federal court called for a temporary restraining order, saying Mayor Eric Adams’s plan would violate constitutional rights.

Mayor Eric Adams said the city has a “moral obligation” to help people with mental illness living in the streets and subways.

New York City’s new plan to take more mentally ill homeless people to hospitals against their will if they are deemed a danger to themselves met its first legal challenge on Thursday.

In a federal court motion filed in an existing lawsuit, a civil rights law firm argues that the new policy allows a police officer to commit a person to a hospital against his or her will, violating the constitutional right to due process and to protection from improper search and seizure. The motion calls for a temporary restraining order to block the policy from going into effect.

Police officers, the filing says, have “little to no expertise” in handling people with mental disabilities who could be “forcefully — often violently — detained.”

The request comes nine days after Mayor Eric Adams announced the plan. He said the city had a “moral obligation” to immediately help the hundreds of people whose mental illness prevents them from taking care of basic needs such as food, shelter and health care, even if they pose no threat to others.

New Yorkers in a mental health crisis frequently cycle through hospitals, jails and the streets. Mr. Adams said he would push for hospitals to keep patients until they are stable and a long-term plan for care is in place. But critics note that shortages in hospital beds, appropriate housing and outpatient care will make ending that cycle difficult.

New York’s Law Department said in an email that Mayor Adams’s plan complies with federal and state laws, and that it would make its case in court.

The new motion came in a case filed last year by the firm Beldock Levine & Hoffman, New York Lawyers for the Public Interest and other lawyers on behalf of several individuals and advocacy organizations. It challenges the way the Police Department handles what it calls an “emotionally disturbed person.” The city moved to dismiss that lawsuit in September, but the federal judge in the case, Paul A. Crotty, has not ruled yet on the city’s request.

Thursday’s motion argues that the new policy violates the Americans With Disabilities Act and the New York City Human Rights Law, as well as constitutional rights. Under the new policy, a police officer could remove someone involuntarily based on the perception of mental illness and “nothing more,” according to the motion. The policy creates a “concrete risk” that people will be detained “for merely living with their illness while in a public place,” the motion says.

The motion includes a statement from a plaintiff in the suit who has post-traumatic stress disorder and said he was violently detained and involuntarily taken to a hospital in 2020 after someone falsely reported to 911 that he was suicidal. The man, Steven Greene, 27, stated that since the mayor’s announcement, he has been afraid to leave his apartment for fear that he will be forcibly hospitalized “simply for being an individual with a mental disability.”

Under the mayor’s plan, both police officers and mental health workers will be instructed to have people taken to hospitals if their behavior endangers them. A hotline staffed by clinicians will be available to advise the police on whether a person meets that standard.

The state law on involuntary hospitalization empowers the police to have someone who appears mentally ill taken to the hospital only if the person’s conduct is “likely to result in serious harm to the person or others.”

Guidance issued by the state in February said that the standard includes people “who display an inability to meet basic living needs” and that applying it only to people who appear “imminently dangerous” leaves vulnerable people at risk. Mr. Adams’s directive, building on that more expansive wording, says that grounds for hospitalization could include “unawareness or delusional misapprehension of surroundings or unawareness or delusional misapprehension of physical condition or health.”

The motion seeking the restraining order disputes the hypothetical examples Mr. Adams offered of people who would be covered by the new policy. The mayor said the plan would target “the shadow boxer on the street corner in Midtown, mumbling to himself as he jabs at an invisible adversary,” among other examples.

That depiction, the motion says, “does not describe someone who is unable to care for their basic needs, let alone someone who meets the standard of serious danger.”

It added that the city’s plan “is bereft of details as to how an officer may in fact determine whether Mayor Adams’s shadow boxer is unable to take care of his basic needs or is merely exercising.”

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988 Newsletter – 3rd Edition

December 5, 2022

Greetings,

We are pleased to share the third edition of the OMH 988 Updates and Education Newsletter! This edition highlights information on some reasons to contact 988, an introduction of New York’s newest Crisis Contact Centers, and features interviews with three peers and peer allies about their outlook for 988.

The first and second editions of the newsletter, as well as other 988 resources, can be found on the New York 988 web page. 

A PDF version of the 3rd newsletter will be made available in English, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese. This resource can also be requested in any language that is not already available on New York’s 988 webpage by filling out the 988 Resource Translation Request Form. 

Thank you for your continued support of 988!

Saludos,

Estamos contentos de compartir la tercera edición del Boletín de Información Actualizada y Educación sobre el 988. Esta edición destaca información sobre las razones para qué ponerse en contacto con el 988, una presentación de los centros de contactos para crisis más nuevos en Nueva York, e incluye entrevistas con tres especialistas en apoyo y aliados de ellos que hablan sobre sus esperanzas para el 988.

Se puede encontrar la primera y segunda ediciones del boletín informativo, y otros recursos sobre el 988, en la página web del 988 de Nueva York. Una versión en PDF del tercer boletín informativo estará disponible en inglés, español, chino simplificado, y chino tradicional. Además, se puede pedir este recurso en cualquier otro idioma que no esté ya disponible en la página web del 988 en Nueva York por rellenar el formulario de pedir traducción de recursos sobre el 988.

¡Gracias por su apoyo continuo del 988!

Katerina Gaylord, LMSW

Deputy Director

Bureau of Crisis, Emergency, and Stabilization Initiatives

Division of Adult Community Care

Office of Mental Health

44 Holland Avenue, Albany, NY 12229

(518) 408-0336 | katerina.gaylord@omh.ny.gov

www.omh.ny.gov

Wellness Institute Monthly Calendar – December

December 1, 2022 (Submitted by Peggy Swarbrick, Co-Editor)

This is the final edition of the CSPNJ Wellness Institute Calendar/Winter Wellness Planner!  We are pleased we were able to share the Words of Wellness Newsletters/Calendars since 2008! Wishing you Wellness in 8D in 2023!

We are pleased to announce that one of our most popular resources has been updated and is now available. The Winter Wellness Planner 2002 can be downloaded for free from our website.

Click here to download the Planner

Many people find the winter months to be extra stressful, but they find that planning ahead can make a positive difference. Using the new 8-page planner, you can reflect on past experiences that contributed to your wellness, including your favorite parts of the winter. You also have a chance to reflect on challenges you may experience, as well as challenging issues that are common for a lot of people. Once you have a sense of what might get in the way of your wellness over this coming winter, you can identify what you can do to stay well.

You can create a list of activities to remember to do as part of a month-by-month plan for the winter, that can help you strengthen your wellness in the eight dimensions: emotional, financial, social, spiritual, occupational, physical, intellectual, and environmental.

Click here to download the December Wellness Institute Calendar

Call to Action to Address Workforce Shortage, Advance Integrated Care

November 17, 2022 (Reprinted from NYAPRS ENews)

NYAPRS Note: See below for details and a copy of recommendations that were released today by members of the College for Behavioral Health Leadership (CBHL) that are intended to bolster current proposals by the Biden administration and congressional subcommittees to address America’s behavioral health crisis, especially as regards our workforce crisis and the advancement of integrated care.  These transformational strategies were developed under the leadership of Ron Manderscheid and should be grounded in equity and based on the lived experience of people receiving and delivering mental health and addiction related services and supports.

CBHL members reflect a diversity of experience, expertise, and perspective from organizations representing service users, service providers, community-based organizations, advocates, government, associations, and more. NYAPRS has been a long and strong supporter. I serve on their Board and am joined now by NYAPRS’ new Policy Director Luke Sikinyi in supporting this campaign.

Efforts currently are underway to address the behavioral health crises that have long existed, and which were made much worse by COVID-19. The urgency of these problems now is clearly in focus. The Administration, the federal agencies, and other organizations from around the country have prioritized mental health and are working to fix the broken system. The Ad Council estimates that about half the population report a mental health condition, and less than half are seeking help[1]. Suicide is at its highest level and still rising[2]. Drug death rates have risen dramatically[3]. And children are experiencing many behavioral health problems. The American Rescue Plan expanded community mental health services and suicide prevention programs[4]. Now, the Biden Administration is proposing a ten-year $100 billion plan to expand the behavioral health workforce and connect people to a continuum of care[5]. Fiscal Year 2023 appropriations are being considered now. But history tells us that mental health services are vulnerable to the winds of politics. Whim, belt-tightening, elections, oversight — any one of these can interrupt the best of intentions. To prevent delays implementing the quality behavioral health programs needed by all Americans – friends, neighbors, family members — The College for Behavioral Health Leadership (CBHL) is enlisting all who care about behavioral health reform in its call to action.Since 1979, CBHL has made mental health reform a priority. Today, they are releasing recommendations you care about that our federal and state elected officials need to hear. Legislators, office holders, need to learn what you want, what your family seeks, what your neighbors need.
“Today, only one in four persons with behavioral health conditions actually receive needed care. This tragic situation affects families, communities, and our entire country. We can and must take action today to build our national behavioral health capacity. Please help.” Ron Manderscheid, PhD, nationally recognized behavioral health leader, CBHL member. These recommendations were developed by CBHL members, who reflect a diversity of experience, expertise, and perspective from organizations representing service users, service providers, community-based organizations, advocates, government, associations, and more. They are intended to bolster current proposals by the Biden administration and congressional subcommittees to address America’s behavioral health crisis.   “People who come to the Behavioral Health field come to help others. Our challenge as leaders is to ensure these caring people can deliver services in healing community environments.” Christopher Zubiate, DHA, MSW, President & CEO, Ever Well Health Systems. The current spotlight on behavioral health reform is an opportunity to think differently about wellness. Despite broad support from the White House and Congress, success requires actual legislation and funding. Transformational strategies should be grounded in equity and based on the lived experience of those receiving and delivering behavioral health care. “Our government must act now to position peer workers to play key roles in the successful engagement and support of people in crisis in ways that will prevent avoidable admissions, incarcerations, homelessness, overdoses and suicide.” Harvey Rosenthal, CEO of the New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services (NYAPRS), Board member of the College for Behavioral Health Leadership. “Tell your legislators the most effective and appropriate way to achieve those aims is to fund more programs with trained peer supporters and other workers who look, live and speak like the people they serve.” NYAPRS Public Policy Director Luke Sikinyi CBHL implores all people passionate about behavioral health reform to call and write their national and state representatives to ensure legislation and funding appropriations consider these critical factors as major, transformational investments are made in the behavioral health system.  

The white paper, letter templates, and other resources can be downloaded here
Access the White Paper and Other Resources
If you have questions or would like more information, please reach out to Holly Salazar, CEO of the College for Behavioral Health Leadership, at hsalazar@leaders4health.org or call 888-304-8455.
[1] The Advertising Council. (2022). The state of mental health from the voice of Americahttps://talk.crisisnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/86-Ad-Council.pdf
[2]Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2022). Preventing suicidehttps://www.samhsa.gov/suicide#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20latest%20research,level%20and%20is%20still%20rising
[3] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Drug overdose deaths in the U.S. top 100,000 annually.https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/nchs_press_releases/2021/20211117.htm
[4] Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (2022). HHS announces nearly $35 million To strengthen mental health support for children and young adultshttps://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/press-announcements/20220309/hhs-announces-35-million-strengthen-mental-health
[5] The White House. (2022). Biden-⁠Harris administration highlights strategy to address the national mental health crisis. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/05/31/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-highlights-strategy-to-address-the-national-mental-health-crisis/
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Language Guidance When Serving LGBTQ+ Populations!

November 12 from the Center of Excellence on LBGTQ+ Behavioral Health Equity –

The Center of Excellence on LGBTQ+ Behavioral Health Equity (CoE LGBTQ+ BHE) has created this language guidance related to sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression (SOGIE), as a resource for behavioral health practitioners to understand better the most recent language used in LGBTQ+ communities. This list is not exhaustive, and they encourage professionals to gain a broader foundation on this knowledge by watching their foundational webinars – Sexual Orientation & Behavioral Health 101 and Gender Identity, Expression & Behavioral Health 101, available at: https://lgbtqequity.org/learn/. It should be noted that people use language in different ways, the best practice is always to honor language an individual uses to identify themselves.

Matthew Canuteson Pronouns: He, Him, HisDiversity and Inclusion Officer,
Office of Diversity and Inclusion New York State Office of Mental Health
44 Holland Ave 2nd Floor, Albany, NY 12229
518-473-4548
matthew.canuteson@omh.ny.gov
www.omh.ny.gov

OMH Celebrates and Honors The Critical Sacrifices Made By Our Veterans!

November 11, 2022 (by Matthew Canuteson, Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Office of Diversity and Inclusion New York State Office of Mental Health)

This Veterans Day, as we honor and recognize all of the individuals who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, OMH wishes to reaffirm its commitment to ensuring all individuals who are in need of mental health services and supports are able to receive them.

Over 714,000 veterans and their families call New York State their home and it’s vital that there is focused attention on ensuring they are all receiving needed benefits and services. OMH recognizes that veterans and their families can face unique mental health challenges and has engaged in specific activities aimed at promoting information sharing and increased access to services.

Click to view the full Spotlight

Additionally, OMH continues to create and disseminate educational resources and tip-sheets through its various platforms. These materials bring attention to the unique challenges faced by specific populations and allow for needed resources and supports to be shared with the community at large. We encourage you to explore the attached tip-sheet, Spotlight on Veterans, and learn more about this community and the resources that are available to veterans and their families who may need them.

OMH remains focused on soliciting feedback and involvement from members of special population groups, including veterans, to further promote a more inclusive and equitable behavioral health system for all. In alignment with these focused attentions, is OMH’s current efforts to gain increased involvement from veterans in the agency’s advisory bodies and stakeholder groups. OMH greatly values the input and guidance that members of its advisory bodies and stakeholder groups provide, and their decisions directly drive policy change, program advancements and overall improved service delivery. OMH will continue to ensure veterans are actively involved in the agency’s advisory bodies and stakeholder groups in order to best meet the behavioral health needs of veterans and their families across the state.

This Veterans Day, may you all join OMH in thanking all of the veterans and their families for their service and the sacrifices they have made for our country.

Matthew Canuteson
Pronouns: He, Him, His
Diversity and Inclusion Officer
Office of Diversity and Inclusion New York State Office of Mental Health
44 Holland Ave 2nd Floor, Albany, NY 12229
518-473-4548
matthew.canuteson@omh.ny.gov
www.omh.ny.gov

SAMHSA Releases Interim Strategic Plan

November 10, 2022

SAMHSA Releases Interim Strategic Plan

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is pleased to announce the release of the agency’s Interim Strategic Plan (ISP). The ISP presents a new mission and vision that emphasize a more person-centered approach and briefly describes our priorities and guiding principles. This ISP not only represents SAMHSA’s thinking as an agency, but also reflects the insightful feedback we have received from our many partners over the past months. However, this is only a first step as we are also developing a full four-year Strategic Plan (2023-2026). Later this winter, we will post a draft of the new Plan on our website; the intent of this posting is to solicit public feedback to ensure the Plan is as responsive and inclusive as possible.

Learn More

Native American Heritage Month

November 10 (Matthew Canuteson, Diversity and Inclusion Officer, OMH Office of Diversity and Inclusion)

Greetings,

As we celebrate Native American Heritage Month this year, OMH wishes to reaffirm its commitment to reducing disparities in access, quality and treatment outcomes for marginalized and underserved populations.

Native American Heritage Month, also commonly referred to as American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month, is a time to celebrate the rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories of Native communities. Additionally, it provides an opportunity to educate individuals about the unique challenges faced by these communities historically and presently.

Click to view full Spotlight

OMH recognizes that Indigenous communities have faced longstanding oppression, discrimination and violence throughout much of U.S. history. These experiences include forced resettlement, residential boarding schools and cultural deterioration and have led to multigenerational trauma and inequities. OMH continues to have focused attention on ensuring there is increased education around the impact that these experiences and multigenerational trauma has had on Indigenous communities.

In alignment with these efforts, OMH has collaborated with subject matter experts, discipline leads and members of the Indigenous community to create the attached resource, Spotlight on Indigenous Communities. This resource provides additional information about the culture and strengths of Indigenous communities as well as the unique experiences they have faced. Additionally, OMH continues to foster relationships with organizations focused on providing guidance, support and best practice approaches to serving Indigenous individuals.

The Spotlight on Indigenous Communities provides direct links and contact information for many of these organizations. You are encouraged to explore this resource and share with others.

Additionally, OMH continues to enhance its efforts to ensuring mental health services are provided in a manner that is culturally and linguistically appropriate to all individuals. These efforts include the addition of equity language to all agency RFPs and licensing tools. The equity language is grounded in the National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services and includes how mental health service providers can actively work towards mental health equity.

This Native American Heritage Month, we invite you to join OMH in promoting an inclusive and respectful environment for all New Yorkers!

Matthew Canuteson
Pronouns: He, Him, His
Diversity and Inclusion Officer
Office of Diversity and Inclusion
New York State Office of Mental Health
44 Holland Ave 2nd Floor
Albany, NY 12229
518-473-4548
matthew.canuteson@omh.ny.gov
www.omh.ny.gov

Kathy Hochul Becomes 1st Woman Elected NY Governor

November 9, 2022 (Reposted from NYAPRS ENews)

NYAPRS Note: Kathy Hochul achieved great national recognition last night when she was elected New York State’s first woman Governor. See below for details, as well as links to the outcomes of other statewide, NYS Senate and Assembly and US House races. US Senator Chuck Schumer was re-elected as well.

NYAPRS congratulates and greatly looks forward to continuing to work very closely with the Governor and her Administration.

Statewide races: 2022 New York Election Results | USA TODAY

US Congress: https://www.usatoday.com/elections/results/2022-11-08/us-house/new-york/

NYS Assembly: https://www.usatoday.com/elections/results/2022-11-08/state/new-york/lower/

NYS Senate: https://www.usatoday.com/elections/results/2022-11-08/state/new-york/upper/

Democrat Kathy Hochul Becomes 1st Woman Elected NY Governor

By MICHELLE L. PRICE, Associated Press – November 9, 2022

Democrat Kathy Hochul has become the first woman elected New York governor, winning the office outright that she took over in 2021 when former Gov. Andrew Cuomo resigned…

“Tonight you made your voices heard loud and clear. And, and you made me the first woman ever elected to be the governor of the state of New York. But I’m not here to make history, I’m here to make a difference,” Hochul told supporters Tuesday night.

“I have felt a weight on my shoulders to make sure that every little girl and all the women of the state who’ve had to bang up against glass ceilings everywhere they turn, to know that a woman could be elected in her own right and successfully govern a state as rough and tumble as New York.”

Hochul, a Buffalo native, had been expected to win in a state where there are more than twice as many registered Democrats as Republicans. New Yorkers haven’t elected a Republican as governor since Gov. George Pataki won a third term in 2002. But Zeldin made the race competitive, closing in on Hochul in the final weeks and appearing to spur her to speak more about public safety.

“It’s been a battle where we’ve been focused on ideals. We’ve been bringing our message without apology or regret,” Zeldin said at his election night party Tuesday. He took the stage before The Associated Press had called the race.

….As a nod to the history Hochul hoped to make as the first woman to be elected governor, she appeared at a rally days before the election with Vice President Kamala Harris, the first woman to be elected to the country’s second-highest office, and Hillary Clinton, the first woman to be a major party’s presidential nominee and New York’s first female senator.

Hochul is among eight women who have won statewide elections in New York, a group she initially joined when she was elected lieutenant governor in 2014. She became the first woman to serve as governor when she took over for Cuomo.