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We Need to Normalize Mental Health Care in the Black Community

I am a PhD, a book author, a professor at USC. I work with organizations to create healthier and happier workplaces by reducing stress and building emotional resilience. And yet, until very recently, I have been reluctant to share my own story. It is a story of mental illness, recovery and resilience, a story of bipolar disorder. And I have been hesitant to share it because I did not want to experience the stigma associated with mental illness. I used to joke that I didn’t want to be the embodiment of “the nutty professor,” but the joke stopped being funny when the stigma against mental illness -- particularly in the black community -- negatively impacted my professional and personal life. In previous roles, I learned that it wasn’t acceptable for me to have a mental illness in my professional setting, and that it definitely was not okay to talk about it. My competence was questioned, even though I no longer had symptoms and was given a clean bill of health from my psychiatrist, and I was asked to not ‘out’ myself as having bipolar disorder to my students. That is why I’m sharing my story publicly: I hope to inspire my students to fight their way through their own mental health challenges. Even with all my degrees, even with my understanding of the healthcare system, finding affordable and accessible mental health services has often been a challenge for me. Even though I know what it’s like to have supportive family, friends and colleagues, and a fantastic healthcare team, I have struggled. These experiences have inspired my activism and advocacy for a world where using mental health services is no different than getting care for any other illness. Let me start with a little-known statistic: African Americans are 20 percent more likely to experience serious mental health problems than the general population, according to the Office of Minority Health. And yet: only about 25 percent of African Americans seek mental health care as compared to 40 percent of whites, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. The reasons for this discrepancy are plentiful: lack of health insurance, distrust of mental health care system, misdiagnosis of symptoms, lack of cultural competence, and stigma. Addressing these challenges for African Americans entails three parts: taking care of our mental health should be acceptable, accessible and affordable. Allow me to explain. Click the news article to read more. Source:

Disaster Psychologist Available to Discuss Thai Boys' Recovery from Trauma

The world watched with relief as 12 soccer players and their coach were rescued from a flooded cave in northern Thailand after an 18-day ordeal. Amid the relief at the players' safe rescue, Dr. Jamie Aten, a Wheaton College psychologist, says it’s important that they receive care for mental health needs in addition to the physical care they are receiving. Aten, the founder and Executive Director of the Humanitarian Disaster Institute at Wheaton College, is an internationally known expert who helps others navigate mass, humanitarian, and personal disasters with scientific and spiritual insights. Aten recommends the boys’ mental health be monitored closely following their rescue. “They may show extremes in behaviors ... they [may] sleep too much, or have difficulty sleeping,” he says. “They may develop triggers that weren’t there previously.” “Some may withdraw, while others need more attention. Over time these symptoms may lessen, but for some it could be a lifelong struggle.” To request an interview with Dr. Aten, contact Wheaton College Director of Media Relations LaTonya Taylor, latonya.taylor@wheaton.edu. Source:

Make America Safe Again

Dear President Trump, In response to the numerous school shootings, Please re-consider your agenda and work to make the educational system safe for our children. Consider allocating funding to allow for the following: *The placement of police sub-stations in middle and high schools that are in at-risk neighborhoods and studying the effect of police presence on the culture of safety. *The creation of school-based mental health clinics run by nurse practitioners and social workers. This will allow at risk and troubled youth to have immediate access to interventions and services. *The ability for community-based researchers to work pro-actively with schools to creatively solve the issue at the local level. Pass federal legislation addressing the minor consent to treat laws for mental health issues. In Washington State, where I live and practice, minors over the age of 13 can consent to mental health treatment without parental consent. The goal isn’t to take the healthcare decision making authority away from parents, the goal is to get youth the help they need before something tragic happens. Appoint a special task force or committee consisting of educators, healthcare providers, lawyers, social workers, and anyone else who directly works with at risk youth. I believe that the solutions will come from these committees. Submitted to POTUS May 19, 2018 Source:

Gun Violence Hits Close to Home

On March 9, 2018, three mental health professionals lost their lives from gun violence by a former resident under treatment at Pathway Home. One of the victims, Executive Director of the Pathway Home program at the Veterans Home of California, Christine Loeber, was a master’s prepared Social Worker. Veterans Home of California and the Pathway Home program, has been a partner with the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work VAC since 2012 and have hosted over 16 of our MSW students in field practicum. NASW-CA paid tribute to the incredible work Christine Loeber provided to the Social Work profession and her commitment to our Veteran and Military members. In continued support of our partnership with Veterans Home of California, we reached out in support and condolences of the tragic loss experienced that day. Source:

7 ways to help prevent school shootings (CNN Op-Ed)

Professor Ron Astor shares 7 ways to help prevent school shootings, including "disentangle discussions about mental health from cases of individuals who threaten harm, have a method and access to weapons." Source:

Seeing the light. What is photobiomodulation and how is it changing the way we treat the brain?

As prospects for pharmaceutical solutions to Alzheimer's decline with no solution in sight over the next five years - could this daunting challenge be a catalyst for acceleration of alternative therapies? Vielight, partnering with leading health research institutions in North America has now attracted worldwide attention for its unique light therapy (photobiomodulation) technology which is showing promise for a number neurological conditions. Photobiomodulation uses visible red and near infrared light energy stimulates cells to generate more energy and undergo self-repair. The concept is not new, but advanced technologies and applications have allowed this form of therapy to emerge as a new leader in treating brain trauma and afflictions and diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s. The first large scale human clinical trial kicks off this year in Toronto - but patients and families have already seen astounding results. Health research institutions are making serious investments in light therapy research related to variety of neurological conditions and treatments such as Alzheimer's, dementia and Parkinson's. Researchers at institutions such as Harvard, UCSF and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto are discovering profound neurological effects of Vielight technology to support treatment options for Alzheimer’s and Dementia, PTSD and Traumatic brain Injury. There are a lot of questions and there is still a lot to learn about this emerging technology as well as the advancements that are taking place as we learn more about the brain and how to treat it. That’s where the experts from Vielight can help. Simply click on the icons of one of the many experts from Vielight to arrange an interview or learn more about photobiomodulation and how light therapy is being used to treat patients around the world. Source:

School shootings traumatize more than those directly affected

David Schonfeld, Director, National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement at the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work: "Even students that have no direct connections with any of the communities where these shootings occurred may nonetheless be impacted by the media coverage. Just knowing that it could happen in another school in the country may make them feel vulnerable. The National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement has guidelines on how to talk to children about school shootings in the media at https://www.schoolcrisiscenter.org/resources/talking-kids-about-tragedies/." Marleen Wong, Stein/Goldberg Sachs Endowed Professor of Mental Health at the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work: "There are now thousands of student and teacher survivors of school shootings across the country. Social workers should be aware that these survivors could have strong reactions, including serious distress, because the present shootings are reopening old wounds." Source: