In this Issue...

• iSPARC Symposium at UMass Chan Psychiatry Research Day
• Recordings Available: MA DMH Research Centers of Excellence Conference
• Lifeline for Moms Researchers Release New Toolkits for Practitioners
• Just Released! Toolkit for Hiring Clinicians & Best Practices Resource Guide
• 5 Tips for Culturally Competent Mental Health Care to LGBTQIA+ Youth & Young Adult
• Language Matters When It Comes to Mental Health
• New Tip Sheet for Youth: Applying for a Job - The Young Adult's Guide
• New STAY Tuned Podcast Ep. 9: Trauma is a Thief. Reclaiming Your Power
• In Case You Missed It

UMass Chan Psychiatry's Research Day

After a 5 year hiatus, the UMass Chan Dept. of Psychiatry held its Research Day in April, featuring presentations and posters from several faculty and researchers. iSPARC held a symposium called "Innovations to Reduce Alcohol and Drug Use in Marginalized Populations", featuring presentations from our researchers in our Law & Psychiatry program, DeafYES Center, and Transitions to Adulthood Center for Research.

Recordings Available from the MA DMH

Research Centers of Excellence Conference

The 2023 Annual Massachusetts Department of Mental Health Research Centers of Excellence Conference "Stories of Hope: Real World Change Through Mental Health Research" was held in May.

Presentations included:

• Introduction to the New Community Behavioral Health Centers w/Brooke Doyle, Commissioner of MA DMH
• Expanding the Reach of BRYT, an Innovative Model to Support Students Who Have Experienced a Mental Health Disruption
• Homelessness Across the Lifespan: Clinical Approaches, Prediction, and Prevention
• Lived Experience Experts: The Value of Qualified Research Advisors

Lifeline for Moms Releases New Toolkits

Lifeline for Moms is about helping communities optimize perinatal mental health as perinatal mental health conditions are the leading cause of maternal mortality or pregnancy-related death in the United States. Two Lifeline for Moms researchers at UMass Chan Medical School have developed new resources to help obstetric care clinicians identify and care for patients with mental health conditions.

Technical Assistance Program Updates

We now have two toolkits available as part of our Technical Assistance program. They are available for download by MA DMH members and contracted providers, as well as others benefiting from the information.

The ACCS Foundational Training Curriculum - Ten modules provide standardized, foundational training for onboarding and orienting new staff hired to work with the persons served by Adult Clinical Community Services (ACCS).

A Guide for Interviewing, Selecting and Hiring ACCS Clinicians - This guide describes a process for interviewing and hiring Adult Community Clinical Services (ACCS) clinical staff using best practices.

The iSPARC Technical Assistance Program is responsible for providing basic and intensive technical assistance (TA) services to the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health and its contracted providers.

5 Tips to Provide Culturally Competent

Mental Health Care to LGBTQIA Youth & Young Adults

In the face of stigma, violence, adverse life events, and worsened mental health, having supportive, affirming adults in their lives can have a significantly positive effect on LGBTQIA+ youth and young adults. According to the Trevor Project, “LGBTQ youth who report having at least one accepting adult were 40% less likely to report a suicide attempt in the past year.” Our Resource Guide offers 5 tips to help mental health professionals provide affirming and accepting culturally competent care to LGBTQIA+ youth and young adults.

Language Matters When It Comes to Mental Health

We know the intent of "lived expertise" is to recognize that what we've learned from our own lives is valid and valuable; as valid and valuable as academic or professional experts. But...how does that fit into a community, a movement, built on validating and empowering all of us who are used to being dismissed? What are some pieces of that longer history of trying to name ourselves as a community, as a movement? What's the impact of using the term "lived expertise"?

During May is Mental Health Month, the members of weSPARC Insight, one of our Stakeholder Engagement Advisory Boards, explored the terms "Lived Experience" & "Lived Expertise" in their own voices through various mediums. Let's keep the conversation going.

New Products for Young Adults

Applying for a Job: The Young Adult's Guide is a good starting point for your young adult in their job search journey. From considering pay, thinking about growth opportunities, and what type of job you might like (in person versus remote), the tip sheet gives a great overview to help get started. There are short topics like creating a professional online presence and securing references and we've included a helpful list of resources, including ones on how to develop networking skills.

Episode 9: Trauma is a Thief. Reclaiming Your Power

Joan was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), in part from the tangled web family relations can weave. Like many youth transitioning to adulthood, she was left alone to overcome the traumas dealt to her growing up, leaving her confused and powerless. In this episode, Joan shares her story about how she was able to find her power again, including her experience with EMDR therapy.

In Case You Missed It

• From Lifeline for Moms: Dr. Nancy Byatt Discusses the Importance of Maternal Mental Health
• From CeKTER: Electronic Job Coaches Improve Employment Outcomes for People with Disabilities
• From Transitions to Adulthood Center for Research: STAY Tuned Podcast Episode 8: Prioritizing YOU. Taking a Leave of Absence
• Young Adult Tip Sheet: My "Must Have" Papers - Managing the Paperwork of Adulting

Subscribe & Share

Please share our newsletter with your network.

To subscribe, click here.

Have a question? Contact Us or Visit us online!