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In 2015, I was approached by Lisa Klein, a documentarian, who lost both her father and brother to suicide. Her previous documentary, Of Two Minds, explored living with bipolar and she was looking for stories from suicide attempt survivors and loss survivors for a new film, The S Word (which is open for interpretation-"suicide", "silence","stigma", "struggle" and "survive"). She said she started the film because she was looking for answers about her family. At the time, I had just called off my engagement and was navigating my own despair... How could I share my story as a suicide attempt survivor during deep grief? I was so worried about having the "right" recovery story--especially since I felt a sense of deep responsibility to represent the "black community". I also grappled wi...

Yale Mental Health Symposium https://www.theyalementalhealthsymposium.com/ Update: Next week on September 15th, I'll be joining the Yale Mental Health Symposium on their Hospital Panel. Register to all the events kicking off this week for free! https://www.theyalementalhealthsymposium.com/ This week is Suicide Prevention Week- a time to reflect and heavily outreach around suicide prevention, awareness, and interrupting silence and stigma. This week is usually pretty busy for me and it also feels vey different because of the kind of conversations I'm having. People want to talk more about race and mental health, more communities of color are reaching out to have dialogue and I am grateful and overwhelmed at the experience. I found this incredible graphic by The Depression Proje...

As someone with lived experience of mental health issues, this is an important time to consider our collective experiences and diverse needs and talk about some things that might be helpful for us to consider while we are home. I've found isolation helpful and harmful, and the thought of required isolation an entirely new experience. Many of us might be feeling an array of emotions. From fear, to numbness, to anger, exhaustion, calmness, and peace- there are an array of things that might be activated. When there are a lot of unknowns, there may be an urgency to fix or plan or figure things out.  I want to say that your feelings are valid and sometimes, (through possible good intentions) people may try to censor or change your feelings. Many of us have questions about the future, safety,...

L.D. and I got a chance to speak with Cassandra Dallett- Author and Host of Badass Bookworm Podcast about Mental Health for the Holidays. We talk about chosen family, talking about loved ones we've lost, boundaries during the holidays with bio family and self-care meaning more than a bubble bath. Check the Podcast out Here. If you are feeling lonely and would love to chat- (and you live in California) reach out to the Peer Chat Warmline at 1-855-845-7415.  And I also want to give love to the Translifeline, run by amazing transfolx at 1-877-565-8860.    

We've Been Too Patient Updates: LD and I spent the summer and fall talking about the book across various venues like Upfront with Cat Brooks on KPFA, CSPAN 2,  and Letters and Politics on KPFA with Mitch Jeserich. Our amazing contributors read at Books Inc. in Berkeley, the Bindery in San Francisco, and at Oakland Public Library. Our publisher shared that Boston University is using WBTP in their curriculum, and we are heading to the Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP) to present in San Antonio, Texas in March of 2020.  [Come see us!] Overwhelmed and inspired by the movement that continues... Peer Certification Updates: Sadly, California did not pass Peer Certification due to budget concerns and questions from the Governor. Advocates continue to work and h...

What is Peer Certification?  This month I spoke in support of Peer Certification- something that 48 other states have- Peer Certification refers to a certification process where people who have lived experience of mental health issues and/or substance use issues receive training in that experience and use it to support others  through treatment and recovery. Their time is billed (though the rates could use some help), but their support is seen as services in the mental health system. As progressive as California is- we don't have this here. What did I say in support of the SB10 Peer Certification Bill?  Thank you, Senator Bell, the OAC, and the Steinburg Institute for Sponsoring this bill. Thank you to all of the mental health advocates and grassroots organizations who have been working...

Last Tuesday (July 9th), I gathered with fellow mental health advocates and my brilliant co-editor, L.D. Green, for the launch of our first book, "We've Been Too Patient: Stories and Research Challenging the Bio-medical Model." Published by North Atlantic Books and distributed by Penguin Random House- we were so excited to have an official launch at McNally Bookstores in Brooklyn with coverage by CSPAN! Our families and friends joined and listened to a reading of the contributors along with a panel discussion about mental health and stigma. Things got REAL- quickly. Our contributors have stories of force holds, electroconvulsive  therapy, involuntary treatment, stigma, oppression, and isolation. Trying to reframe what the world has been told and sold about mental "illness" is not an ea...

My story of surviving a suicide attempt and living will be shared in the 2019 January Edition of O Magazine. From high schools to large auditoriums, I've told my story in many places, and sometimes people ask my why. Why share the most vulnerable parts of yourself? I want other black women and women of color to know.... that our stories matter and we have these experiences too. Of being isolated and alone. Of not wanting to be here anymore.  My story is for anyone who can connect to it, but especially from those of us who have been erased from the conversation entirely. The response has been incredible, but it is risky for a suicide attempt survivor to go public and share intimate details. There is a backlash of course ( you can't believe what trolls say)- but being vulnerable IS being b...

Last week, I joined a suicide attempt survivor panel discussion facilitated by Gayle King [reaction blog coming] on The CBS This Morning Show. The conversation touched on myths of suicide, hope and recovery, and informs how friends and family can be supportive to someone struggling with suicidal thoughts. Here is the segment that aired:-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWVcfj9xVOk At Gayle King's encouragement, CBS took the painstaking time to edit the full hour-long conversation and put it online. It’s right here: https://www.cbsnews.com/video/suicide-attempt-survivors-offer-insight-and-a-message-of-hope/