People with Mental Illness More Likely to Use E-Cigarettes

New research from the University of California San Diego indicates that people with mental health conditions are twice as likely to have tried e-cigarettes and three times as likely to be current users of the devices, as people without mental health disorders. The frequently debated and highly controversial devices have not been approved by the FDA as smoking cessation aids and have not been demonstrated as effective harm reduction tools. The FDA has released proposed regulations for e-cigarettes, but critical loopholes still exist. Visit the Tobacco Control Legal Consortium’s FDA Action Center to learn more about these issues.

Diverse Leaders Scholarship Program for Executive Directors of Family-Run Organizations

The Family-Run Executive Director Leadership Association (FREDLA) has announced a new Diverse Leaders Scholarship Program for Executive Directors of family-run organizations and authorized leaders of American Indian and Alaskan Native communities. Family leaders from four eligible racial/ethnic communities are invited to apply: American Indian or Alaskan Native, Asian and Pacific Islander, African American/Black, and Hispanic/Latino.

The family-run organizations must be focused on the well-being of children and youth with mental health, emotional or behavioral challenges and their families. One $2,000 scholarship will be awarded to an applicant who belongs to one or more of the four racial/ethnic communities. Deadline to apply is Friday, May 16, 2014.

The FREDLA Diverse Leaders Scholarship Program is a racial/ethnic minority scholarship program to promote diverse leadership within family-run organizations focused on the well-being of children and youth with mental health, emotional or behavioral challenges and their families. The Program seeks to lower financial barriers to training and to highlight the accomplishments of a diverse group of family run leaders. The Diverse Leaders Scholarship Program advances FREDLA's commitment to diversity and cultural competence.

Read more about the program. Read instructions for applying (pdf).

Café TA Center Releases the Second Video in Its Recovery Series

The Café TA Center has announced release of the second video in its ongoing series, Recovery Stories. This series of videos, all of which were assembled from interviews of people with lived experience of mental health challenges at Alternatives 2013, provides a platform for people to share their individual experience of mental health recovery. 

This installment, The Road to Recovery, features individuals sharing their stories of how they first encountered mental health issues, and the fears, hopes and assumptions with which they began their recovery journeys. For Episode 2, click here, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQD6V1wPHQ0&feature=youtu.be.

 For more information and for Episode 1, click here, http://cafetacenter.net/recovery-stories/

“I’m Good” Campaign Celebrates Those Who Have Overcome and Those Who Are Trying!

In celebration of Mental Health Month, PeersNet has launched the “I’m Good” blog campaign, which “encourages people to take care of their emotional and mental health, as well as their wellness. It’s also a celebration of those who are working to, or have, overcome obstacles to wellness through support from family, friends, peers, loved ones and the community.” 

Combatting the stigma that can be associated with a mental health condition, the campaign says, “There is nothing to be ashamed of. Know why? Well, because no matter where you’re at, you’re good…” For more information, click here, http://www.peersnet.org/blog/2014-04/im-good-blog-campaign-and-kickoff-event

Twitter Chat to Explore Support for Suicide Survivors, Invited to Share Their Stories in Book

Josh Rivedal, an activist and author, will host a one-hour Twitter chat for WEGO Health on May 6 at 3 p.m. ET about how society can best support suicide attempt survivors/persons with lived experience. The hashtag to participate is #hachat. The topics will include what helps and what hurts when someone is feeling suicidal, what kinds of resources exist for attempt survivors, and what kinds of resources they would like to see. In addition, Rivedal is inviting individuals who have survived suicide attempts to share their stories for his book project, on #suicide attempt survivors. For more information, click here, http://attemptsurvivors.com/2014/04/28/a-way-for-us-to-share-our-stories/

This will be the second volume of Rivedal’s “The Good News Project”; the first volume will be published in October. “The concept [of the first book] is similar to ‘Chicken Soup for the Soul’ but grittier, covering topics that aren’t typically brought to light in the mainstream,” writes Rivedal. The second volume, to be released in February 2015, will include only the stories of suicide attempt survivors. “It’s a way for us to share our stories, create a community, help other people and show the world that we don’t just struggle — we can survive and thrive as well,” he writes. For more information, contact him at joshuarivedal@gmail.com.

Through May 8, SAMHSA Invites Young Adults to Share Stories of Peer Support

To celebrate National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day 2014, SAMHSA is highlighting the importance of peer support, “which is critical in making the transition to adulthood easier for young adults with mental health and substance use challenges.” Through May 8, SAMHSA is hosting a “hashtag showcase,” during which the federal mental health authority is inviting “young adults across the country who have faced mental and/or substance use disorders to share their personal stories of resilience and peer support. Using the hashtag #IGetSupportFrom, please share photos, videos, tweets, and status updates showing how peer support has helped you tackle challenges related to: housing, education, employment, and health care. You can post messages on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or Tumblr.” To learn more about how to participate,  http://www.samhsa.gov/children/hashtag_showcase.asp