Welcoming and Appreciating Diverse Mental Health Perspectives

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

Creating Community Solutions Website

Presenter

Dan BersteinFounder, MH Mediate (Mental Health Mediation)

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

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

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

MH Mediate’s Dialogue EventCo-Sponsored By the CUNY Dispute Resolution Center

http://mhmediate.org/events/dialogue

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

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)

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)

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

Some LanguageTerms for lived experience

• Patient

• Consumer

• Peer

• Survivor

• Person Using Mental Health Services

Some LanguagePerson-First Language

• I have bipolar disorder vs. I am bipolar

Some LanguageLanguage Describing Tough Times

• Sick

• Episodes

• Symptoms

• Overwhelmed

• Sensitive

Some LanguageLanguage of Recovery

• What is recovery?

• Why the Recovery Movement?

• How recovery become belittling?

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

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

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

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

Welcoming Diverse PerspectivesLocating 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 Organiz

ations – MindFreedom International Directory of Mental Health Alternatives– Clubhouses, Support Groups– State or Local Office of Mental Health

• Ask for referrals to other groups

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

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

Upcoming Webinars• More webinars may be

scheduled as needed• To register, and to view

additional training webinars, visit www.creatingcommunity solutions.org/resources

Questions?

Thank You!Dan BersteinFounder,MH Mediatewww.mhmediate.orgdan@mhmediate.org