Elise Prezant

Peer support is becoming a fundamental part of mental health services in states like Massachusetts. Young adult peer mentors or certified peer specialists provide young patients a chance to build connections with someone who has shared a similar experience. Whether people are struggling with depression, anxiety, or BPD, it's overwhelming to feel alone. Despite the benefits of clinical work, mental health care settings realize that there is a real benefit to allowing patients to experience non-traditional methods of care. Dr. Ken Duckworth of the National Alliance on Mental Health comments: "There’s no big effort to create more psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers. So the opportunity is for peer support to become a material part of the equation for what helps people get better.” #MentalHealth #MentalHealthServices #PeerMentors #BehavioralHealth

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Mental health care access is a growing concern across the U.S., and Massachusetts—despite its strong healthcare system—faces its own set of challenges. In NESCA's recent blog, my colleague Dr. Rebecca Dautoff explores the current landscape of mental health services in Massachusetts, addressing key barriers like stigma, workforce shortages, and financial obstacles. Dr. Dautoff highlights: - Stigma still preventing many from seeking help - Insurance limiting access - Workforce shortages in rural areas - Prohibitive costs Despite these obstacles, initiatives like telehealth, legislative efforts, and community-based programs may help to bridge the gap. For families and professionals navigating mental health care, resources like the Massachusetts Behavioral Health Help Line (MBHHL), NAMI Massachusetts Compass Helpline, and the William James College INTERFACE Referral Service provide critical support. Read more about the future of mental health care in Massachusetts and how advocacy and innovation are shaping access: https://lnkd.in/euA58uxu #MentalHealthAwareness #HealthcareAccess #MentalHealthServices #NESCA #MentalHealth #SpecialEducation #IEP

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USTR Fellowship: Transforming the Mental Health Landscape In late 2022, Fathers UpLift launched the United States Therapist Recruitment (USTR) Fellowship, funded by Massachusetts’ Home and Community Based Services and Human Service Workforce Development Grant Program. This transformative initiative aims to increase the number of BIPOC therapists in the mental health field. Fellowship Launch and Developments: The USTR Fellowship provides master’s and doctoral-level BIPOC individuals with a $15,000 stipend, mentorship, licensure preparation, and clinical supervision. Led by Cori Williams, LICSW, the fellowship began by interviewing 24 candidates and selecting a final cohort of 12 fellows from states including Indiana and California. Impact and Achievements: 150 hours of clinical supervision and 75 hours of mentorship from 11 licensed therapists across eight states. Educational Enhancements: Weekly activities featuring speakers and panelists to enrich the fellows’ learning experience. Successful Completion: All 12 fellows completed the program, supported by robust mentorship and community engagement. Challenges and Adaptations: The fellowship faced challenges like delays in paperwork and multi-state coordination. Strategic adaptations, such as enhanced communication and flexibility, ensured smooth program execution. Community and Professional Development: Partner Sites and Training: Collaborations with organizations like Bridges Homeward and Free Spirit Evangelistic Outreach. Licensure Preparation: A full semester of licensure prep to help BIPOC therapists bridge the gap in exam pass rates. In-Person Retreat: Fellows participated in a retreat to Montgomery, Alabama, immersing in African American history and culture. The USTR Fellowship underscores our commitment to increasing the representation of minority therapists and equipping them with the tools necessary for effective practice. This initiative is a crucial step in fostering diversity, enhancing professional development, and enriching the therapeutic landscape. 🌐 Learn More: Visit our website to read more about the USTR Fellowship and discover how you can support our mission. #FathersUpLift #USTRFellowship #MentalHealth #BIPOCTherapists #CommunitySupport #PositiveChange

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From the ASAN: "The Judge Rotenberg Center (JRC) is an institution in Massachusetts. People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), mental health disabilities, and learning disabilities live there. Both kids and adults live at the JRC. Many autistic people live there. Some people at the JRC are forced to wear an electric shock device. This device is used to punish the person wearing it. The device punishes people by giving them electric shocks. These electric shocks are very painful. The JRC shocks people for small things like refusing to take off their jackets or stimming. People with disabilities and our allies have been fighting to stop the JRC. We want to stop people at the JRC from getting shocked. We’ve been working together to try to stop the JRC for more than 10 years." Join our campaign. The ASAN created a series of short videos on their Instagram page about submitting public comments to the Food and Drug Administration on their proposed rule to ban the use of electric skin shock devices. Please do whatever you can (share, vote, protest) to #StopTheShock --- https://buff.ly/3K5nvEk #NothingAboutUsWithoutUs 💪🏻 #Autistic #Autism #Autist #AuDHD #AdultAutism #AdultAutistic #adultDx #AutismAwareness #AutismAcceptance #AutisticRightsAreHumanRights #ADHD #AdultADHD #LateDiagnosed #Neurodiversity #Neurodivergent #Neurodivergence #psychNP #pmhnp #aprn #therapy #MentalHealth #BreakTheStigma #MentalHealthAwareness #MentalHealthAdvocate #EndTheStigma #MentalHealthMatters #ItsOkayToNotBeOkay #MentalHealthcare #may2024 #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth #MentalHealthMonth

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Register to Attend Our Webinar: Understanding Stigma and Discrimination as Drivers of Mental Health Disparities for Diverse, Rural, LGBTQ Communities

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We have seen some distressing steps to undermine gender affirming care in the headlines and in our communities recently, especially in New Hampshire with the recent legislation signed by Gov. Sununu. From the ASAN: A Self-Advocate’s Guide to Gender Affirming Health Care This resource answers questions like... - What do the words “transgender,” “nonbinary,” and “intersex” mean? - What kinds of gender affirming health care can people get? - What are the steps to getting gender affirming health care? - How can you be a good ally and friend to transgender and nonbinary people?

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