Welcome to our iSPARC March 2020 Newsletter!
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This month we are rolling out a new video in our series, "When a Mental Health Crisis Hit My Family", and sharing several new research briefs. We also have a really helpful new blog post about using lighting in your home and work environment to support strong mental health. We hope you enjoy our updates.
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"When a Mental Health Crisis Hit My Family"
Mara's Story of Setting Boundaries
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When a mental health crisis hit Mara's family, it turned her life upside down. The stress of being the caretaker of someone with mental health condition was overwhelming and often debilitating, and Mara didn't like the feelings she was feeling. Mara tells her story of what happened, how she tried to handle it, and how a few changes around boundaries with her family member turned things around for her.
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Why Engage Frontline Staff When Implementing a New Practice? 5 Important Reasons
When an organization implements new practices, programs, or policies, it is a complex process of change that relies on many factors. One of the most important factors is making sure to include all relevant stakeholders in the design, development, and execution of an implementation plan β especially frontline providers. This tip sheet offers five critical reasons to integrate frontline providers throughout the process of implementing a new practice, program, or policy at your organization. Read our new tip sheet from iSPARC
HERE.
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This brief describes an analysis that set out to compare traditional versus non-traditional students in three areas:
1. Academic characteristics and mental health experiences
2. Accessing academic services and supports
3. Campus engagement, relationships on campus, and overall satisfaction
A better understanding of these differences can inform the design and delivery of effective academic supports and possibly lead to more academic success for college students with mental health conditions.Read
MORE.
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Ed Boudreaux is featured in a new Voices of UMassMed podcast called "Screening for Suicidal Risk in ER Patients"
According to the NIMH, suicide is a leading cause of death in America, and the second most common manner of death among people ages 10 to 34. In a new Voices of UMassMed podcast, Edwin Boudreaux, PhD, an iSPARC researcher, Professor of Emergency Medicine, Psychiatry and Quantitative Health Sciences, talks about this trend and the importance of implementing suicide screenings in the emergency room.
Listen to the UMASSMed Podcast
HERE
.
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FAMILLE+: A Multifamily Group Program for Families with Parental Depression
iSPARCβs Journal of Parent & Family Mental Health recently published a new brief called
FAMILLE+: A Multifamily Group Program for Families with Parental Depression
.
The FAMILLE+ program can be useful for families with a parent with a major depressive disorder. The program promotes knowledge about mental health, better family communication, general well-being and child mental health. It describes learning tools and activities tailored for children to help with understanding and discussing sensitive concepts and normalizes family experiences. The project adds to evidence of the importance of child-centered research. Read the brief
HERE.
See a full list of Parents & Families Issue Briefs & Tip Sheets
HERE.
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Young Adult Corner - In Her Words...
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"
I tried countless coping skills unsuccessfully
ο»Ώbefore learning about the creative use of lights.
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The days are getting longer and the sun is beginning to stay out longer, but while there was so much darkness, she noticed an increase in her own mental & physical health symptoms, including fatigue and a decrease in motivation.
"After multiple winters of suffering, I decided it was time to take action to reduce, or even eliminate, my symptoms. I tried countless coping skills unsuccessfully before learning about the creative use of lights. I was shocked to discover that lights can be a highly effective coping skill! Keep reading to learn how I use this quick and simple strategy throughout the day to manage my physical and emotional wellbeing."
Read more of our latest blog post
HERE.
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Upcoming Events - Save the Dates
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2020 DMH Research Centers of Excellence Conference
Friday, April 10, UMass Medical School main campus. Open to individuals and family members with lived experience of mental health challenges, DMH staff & providers. Details & Registration Coming Soon.
iSPARC
Webinar on
The Triangle Study
- Thursday, April 30th, 1-2pm EST online.
This research aims to identify potential factors that will improve inter-organizational collaborations among the triangle of service systems (vocational rehabilitation (VR), child mental health (CMH), and adult mental health (AMH), and their programs, in order to improve the transition to employment in youth and young adults with serious mental health conditions (SMHCs).
Registration Coming Soon.
SuccessFest
- Friday, March 20th @ Mt. Wachusett Community College, Gardner, MA
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Our iSPARC
Lifeline4Moms
Center and its Director, Nancy Byatt are in the news everywhere!
Dr. Nancy Byatt and Tiffany Moore Simas were just interviewed about MCPAP for Moms for the television story "Program Aims to Train OB-GYNs to Spot Signs of Depression in Moms". Watch the TV story
HERE
.
Nancy Byatt was also just featured in a new article by National Public Radio called " 'A Lifeline' For Doctors Helps Them Treat Postpartum Depression." Read it
HERE
.
And congratulations to Dr. Nancy Byatt, for being selected for the Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs (AMCHP) 2020 John C. MacQueen award. The award honors individuals who have made exemplary contributions to maternal and child health issues. The award includes the honor of delivering a lecture on a topic of Dr. Byatt's choosing at the opening general session of the AMCHP's Annual Conference. The conference will be held March 21 β 24, 2020 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia. Find out more
HERE
.
Read more about Dr. Byattβs work
HERE
.
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What is Transitions ACR Doing?
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The Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Manual for Transition Age Youth has just been released by r
esearchers at
Westat
in collaboration with
Transitions ACR
.
The
IPS Fidelity Scale for Young Adults
is recommended for use with IPS programs serving the age group from roughly 15 to 26 years of age. This adaptation of the IPS 25 item fidelity scale is designed to meet the needs of youth and young adults allowing organizations to make sure they are delivering to fidelity.
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Fidelity is the extent to which delivery of an intervention adheres to the protocol or program model originally developed.
This adapted scale has more age appropriate items being measured including family involvement, engagement and supported education.
View and download the newly updated IPS Fidelity Scale for Young Adults
HERE.
View and download the accompanying score sheet
HERE.
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iSPARC is a Massachusetts Department of Mental Health (DMH) Center of Excellence for Public Mental Health Services and Implementation Research that aims to improve the mental and behavioral health of all citizens of Massachusetts and beyond. iSPARC is committed to transferring knowledge and insights gained through rigorous research to improve the lives of people with lived mental health experience.
We conduct Participatory Action Research, an all-inclusive approach that ensures that every aspect of our research incorporates the voices of those with lived mental health experience.
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