Man Therapy™: Outreach and Impact on Men’s Mental Health Program 18 Months After Launch

A White Paper by: Sally Spencer-Thomas, Psy.D. CEO & Co-Founder, Carson J Spencer Foundation www.WorkingMinds.org www.CarsonJSpencer.org Jarrod Hindman, MS Director, Office of Suicide Prevention Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment www.coosp.org Joe Conrad CEO & Founder Cactus Marketing and Communications www.SharpIdeas.com www.ManTherapy.org February 25, 2014

Innovation in Men’s Mental Health: Man Therapy

Difficult problems require bold solutions. This stance is the guiding philosophy of the Man Therapy program. The project is the result of a unique public/private/nonprofit partnership established in 2007 between Cactus, a Denver-based advertising agency, the Office of Suicide Prevention at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Carson J Spencer Foundation, a Colorado-based suicide prevention nonprofit organization. Since its launch with an article in the New York Times on July 9th, 2012, the project has drawn national attention and international awards for its creative use of media in health literacy. Now 18 months later, the program continues grow and receive feedback about its effectiveness and provocative approach. This paper will review achievements and outcomes to date and outline a plan for future directions.

From the outset, the co-founders of the campaign made an intentional decision to unapologetically find a way to reach “double jeopardy” men – those most at risk for suicide and least likely to seek care on their own. Previous mental health campaigns targeting men have often been ineffective with this subpopulation of men, so an audacious new approach was needed. Thus, Dr. Rich Mahogany was born. Dr. Mahogany (a “fake therapist”) is the focal point of Man Therapy. He strategically uses maladaptive ideas of masculinity to bridge to new ideas that help men reshape the conversation of mental health, often using dark humor to cut through stigma and tackle issues like depression, divorce and suicidal thoughts head on. The creators’ decision on this approach was steadfast, despite some initial pushback from some in the mental health community who were concerned we were making light of a serious topic or those supporting the men’s movement who were discouraged that we chose to bring stereotypes of masculinity into the project. As you will see from the results outlined below, our target demographic told us that using humor and “manspeak” resonated with them and helped them think about their mental health in a different way.

History and Strategic Plan

The first five years of the project (2007-Spring 2011) were dedicated to research and development through multiple focus groups and in-depth interviews (read first White Paper Man Therapy™: An Innovative Approach to Suicide Prevention for Working Aged Men, July 17^th, 2012 for the results). In June of 2011, the Anschutz Foundation funded the initiative to develop and implement the concepts developed during the research and development phase.  Over the next year (June 2011-June 2012), the creative team created and tested campaign assets. On July 9^th, 2012, Man Therapy rolled out its initial version of the campaign with an article in the New York Times. 18 months later, the program continues to evolve and provide an even broader scope of resources for men’s mental health.

The purpose of Man Therapy is to provide men, and their loved ones, a place to learn more about men’s mental health, to examine their own wellness and to consider a wide array of actions designed to put them on the path to treatment and recovery. The message is that all men should be aware of their mental health, treat it like they would a broken leg, and strive to get better. Because of this “upstream” approach to suicide prevention, the program was quickly rebranded from a suicide prevention initiative to a broader and more robust men’s mental health campaign.

Overarching goals for Man Therapy include:

1. To improve social norms around mental health among men and the general population.
2. To increase help-seeking behavior among men for a variety of health and mental health issues, leading to an increase in men seeking available resources (including those provided on the site).
3. Long-term: to reduce rates of suicidal ideation and deaths among men. 

Within each of these overarching goals, the Man Therapy program works to change the following attitudes and behaviors.

Attitudes

1. Men’s attitudes toward mental health conditions like depression, anxiety/stress, substance abuse, anger and suicidal thoughts will become less stigmatized (e.g., they will endorse fewer myths).
2. Men will express a greater willingness to try self-help tools.
3. Men will express a greater willingness to seek professional help when needed.

Behaviors

1. Increased numbers of men will self-screen for mental health conditions.
2. Increased numbers of men will use on-line self-help tools.
3. Increased numbers of men will interact with peer, professional and crisis resources.
4. Increased numbers of men and women will reach out to distressed men in their lives, expressing concern and support.

Continuum of suicide prevention[SS1] 

Since the initial launch, several changes were made to expand the scope of the program:

1. A mobile version of the website makes it accessible on many more devices and improved downloading challenges facing users with limited bandwidth.
2. A suicide prevention therapist finder now helps men find qualified care locally.
3. Rich’s List compiles vetted mental health and other support resources for men.
4. The Mind Master offers men time-limited, skills mastery programs to help relieve stress and conquer many other behavioral and health challenges.
5. Support Group Central provides on-line support groups for men.
6. Man Therapy eCards (a partnership with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline) offer words of compassion in the tone of Dr. Rich Mahogany (e.g., “everyone needs a pork shoulder to cry on.”) and are sent to men who are having a hard time from someone who is worried about them.

Knowing that we are reaching men (and the people who are “worried about a man in their life”) at various points on the continuum from prevention to intervention to crisis response, the project team is very intentional of developing strategies to address needs across the continuum. For example, on the “upstream” end of the continuum Man Therapy enhances connectedness by giving participants opportunities to send caring eCards to others who are struggling. In addition, Man Therapy augments intervention by linking results from the 18-point head inspection to qualified referral resources. Finally, Man Therapy assists with crisis response by connecting those in need to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

When a man engages with Man Therapy, the intent is that the program first changes his attitude toward mental health concerns and suicidal behavior and then his behavior changes in ways that decrease these problems. While “raising awareness” is an important goal, it is a necessary but not sufficient condition for preventing suicide and promoting mental health. We must also see behavioral changes. Thus, as the program evolved over the 18 months, additional mental health tools were added to the website including a suicide prevention therapist finder and access to an online support group.

Outcomes

The Man Therapy program is evaluated by three different strategies: 1) Website analytics (where do users go, how long do they stay, how many return), 2) Pop-up survey questions (when users complete a significant experience on the website, a pop-up question asks them about their opinion about it), and 3) In-Depth survey (a longer survey asks participants demographic data and more questions about their experiences)

Website Analytics as of January 10, 2014

• Visits: 356,090 (95,807 are mobile)
• Unique Visits: 285,960
• Return Visits: 20%
• Average Time on Site: 6 minutes
• 18-point head inspection completions: 59,894
• Number of people who accessed crisis information: 19,586
• Number of people who accessed “Worried About Someone” link: 19,747

Pop-up Survey Questions (n=7,933)

A four key junctures of the website experience, pop-up questions are presented to participants to get their initial impression of the Man Therapy program. Participant satisfaction ratings for these experiences are high:

• 83% would recommend to a friend in need
• 51% agreed or strongly agreed they were more likely to seek help after visiting the site
• 73% said the 18-pt Head Inspection helped direct them to the appropriate resources on the web
• 78% satisfied or very satisfied with the quality of the Man Therapies
• 67% were satisfied or very satisfied with the quality of Tales of Triumph

In-Depth Survey (n=508)

In addition to the pop-up questions mentioned above a more in-depth survey asks participants demographic information and allows for qualitative responses (e.g., “What was one thing you liked?” “What didn’t you like?” Here are some results from this survey:

Who is coming to the site?

• 79% male
• 79% between the ages of 25-64
• 10% are Military (1% Active Duty, 9% Veterans)
• 39% there “because of me”; 8% “for a friend or family member”; 49% “just curious”

Voices of Support and Concern

The qualitative responses were analyzed for patterns and then the frequency of the major themes was tallied.

Most frequent responses to the question “What is one thing that you liked about the website?”

• 43% Humor (light-hearted, fun, hilarious)
• 37%: Quality of Website and its features (fresh, creative, accessible, helpful, honest, trustworthy, testimonials, interactive, branding, design, authentic, engaging, illuminating)
• 17%: Manly (not too touchy feeling, blunt, not feel like a wus)
• 10% Identification with Character
• 2% Reassuring/relieving During Experience

Most frequent responses to the question “Was there anything you didn't like about the website?”

• 22%: No (“nope” “nada” “absolutely not!”)
• 21%: Technology problems (bandwidth buffering, navigation, inability to print handouts, captioning needed, typos). Many of these problems were fixed over the 18-month period.
• 9%: More material needed (“Women Therapy”, more resources than Colorado, more topics covered: PTSD, spousal abuse, sexuality, prescription drug abuse, grief, chronic illness)
• 7%: Offensive, Too many stereotypes, Not funny
• 1%: Lack of Diversity
• 1% Too spiritual

Through the online survey and emails we have received, we have captured some of the qualitative experiences users are having with Man Therapy.

What did you like about the website?

Humor

At first I thought the site was nothing more than a joke due to the light and humorous nature. I was almost expecting it to be an Old Spice ad. However I am glad I decided to look around anyway, since the information inside is relevant, useful, and put forth in a way that is comfortable to read and easy to understand. I think it may have been that very feeling of humor and lightness which relaxed me and made me more open to the information.

The use of humor with this topic is incredibly important. The last place that a person struggling wants to go to is a 'sterile' site that sucks out that last bit of dignity.

Accessible and Engaging

Many men suffer from attention deficits which can create the need for the visual stimulation provided by the video on the homepage. This really helps to get the message across without requiring someone who may not have the patience to read, the opportunity to learn.

The relaxed, non-confrontational nature of the site, like a friend saying hey, c'mon over, we'll shoot some pool and chill out, the sense of acceptance and camaraderie

Related to Character of Dr. Rich Mahogany

The gentleman talking me through the site was a very welcoming addition. After the survey, his calm yet concerned voice was very reassuring, even if it was a prerecorded speech. In a sense, it helped me calm down long enough to think straight.

The only thing greater than Dr. Rich Mahogany's dry wit and wonderful sense of humor was his response to my Head Inspection results. I received a pretty awful 'score,' and the warm, comforting, and concerned response I got was perfect.

Weirdly, I feel as though the "virtual" counselor actually cares about me and that makes me much more comfortable addressing my mental health issues.

The way it is like sitting with a person in a real room. It's not like a list of rows and columns. Very nicely done!

Reassuring/Relieving

You took the guilt away from asking for help.

Your site is the first one I've found that helped with the loneliness of depression. Sure, the jokes were a cheesy and the stereotypes abundant, but tonight, I needed to talk to someone more than anything. Dr. Mahogany helped in that regard, even if I was already too educated for my own good going into it. It made me feel better seeing an empathetic face, even if it was pre-generated.

Manly.  Was upset about recent stressful problems, got a laugh out of this and helped gain perspective.

What didn’t you like?

Reinforcing Stereotypes

There's a lot of reinforcing stereotypes in the tips and the verbal segments, and I think we're sidestepping some important problems by not acknowledging that a man can be French, or like spandex and still be a man with problems... But I DO understand why these stereotypes are drawn up. It's a quick way to let men know that this kinda stuff is socially acceptable, and does NOT conflict with being a man.

At first I thought the use of stereotypes may be harmful, but that it is meant to be ironic and to appeal to the men who are most likely to avoid treatment. Keep up the good work!

Conclusion and Next Steps

Eighteen months after the launch of the Man Therapy program, Dr. Rich Mahogany has reached people all over the world, has made many laugh and has made mental health accessible for many men. Many of the technological issues have been fixed and the feedback received gives the developers plenty of room to grow. Immediate next steps include efforts to expand program outcome evaluation, to further expand the on-line mental health tools (e.g., on-line cognitive behavioral therapy) and to enhance our reach by licensing the campaign to organizations, counties, states and countries. With additional funding, the Man Therapy program hopes to continue to improve the website, testimonial library and media assets and exposure.

About the Man Therapy Partners

CactusCactus is a full-service brand communications agency providing business solutions for companies and causes through brand strategy, advertising, design, interactive and media services. Cactus has been nationally recognized for its breakthrough creative executions by The One Show, Communication Arts, The Webby Awards, South by Southwest, Favourite Website Awards, Advertising Age, Creativity and Print’s Regional Design Annual. To learn more about Cactus, visit cactusdenver.com.

Carson J Spencer Foundation - Sustaining a Passion for Living

The Carson J Spencer Foundation (www.CarsonJSpencer.org) is a Colorado nonprofit, established in 2005.  We envision a world where leaders and communities are committed to sustaining a passion for living. We sustain a passion for living by:

• Delivering innovative and effective suicide prevention programs for working-aged people
•  Coaching young leaders to develop social enterprises for mental health promotion and suicide prevention
• Supporting people bereaved by suicide

Colorado’s Office of Suicide Prevention –– Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

The Office of Suicide Prevention, a legislatively mandated entity of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, serves as the lead entity for statewide suicide prevention and intervention efforts, collaborating with Colorado communities to reduce the number of suicide deaths and attempts in the state. To learn more about the Office, visit www.coosp.org.

APPENDIX A:

Man Therapy Components, Outcomes and Accomplishments July 2012-January 2013

Man Therapy Components Established

• Website
• Interactive website gives users:
• Information about substance abuse, depression, anxiety and anger
• An 18-point head inspection (self-screening tool)
• A blueprint for how to “fix” the problems
• Guidelines on how to help someone they are worried about
• Access to crisis services
• Access to the Suicide Prevention Therapist Finder
• Access to online support groups for men
• Rich’s List of mental health and support resources
• Mobile Version allows website to be used on mobile devices and in areas that have low bandwidth
• Out of Home Campaign
• During August and September 2012, billboards and bus shelters displayed Man Therapy promotions
• Posters/Coasters/Business Cards/T-shirts – this collateral material was distributed to bars and restaurants that men tend to frequent
• 7 different posters
• 3 coaster versions
• 1 business card version
• 3 t-shirt designs
• Videos – housed on website and on YouTube
• 9 testimonial videos depicting diverse stories of men who had struggled with a suicide crisis and were not thriving
• Three “viral” videos (content is mostly compelling and less educational with the goal to drive people to the website)
• 30 second PSA
• Case study videos
• Social Media (Twitter/Facebook/YouTube)
• Twitter Followers - 286
• Facebook Likes – 868 “Likes” for Man Therapy page
• YouTube Views – 28 videos with a total of 52,410 views
• eCards – in partnership with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline these eCards allow people to send supportive messages to men they are worried about

·      Town Hall Meetings – Twelve Man Therapy town hall meetings were held throughout Colorado between July 2012 and June 2013 attended by approximately 300 local elected officials, business leaders, community members and media.

·      Conference Presentations -- The Man Therapy partners presented on the program at over a dozen Colorado, national and international conferences on behavioral health, public health and suicide prevention, including several keynote addresses impacting over 2,000 people.

APPENDIX B:  Media, Awards and Expansion Earned

 Major Media

New York Times - Launch (print and online)

National Council for Behavioral Health (magazine)

9News Interview (TV and online)

Colorado Public Radio Interview (radio)

American Public Health Association

Psychology Today (blog)

Huffington Post (Online / Email)

Globe and Mail (Canada print and online)

Partial List of Awards Won

          Colorado Healthcare Communicators Gold Leaf Award

• Grand Gold Leaf Award 
• Gold within Advertising for Multimedia campaign 

Suicide Prevention Coalition of Colorado Media Award

Safe States Alliance Innovative Initiative of the Year Award

Expansion Achieved: Australia and Wisconsin

• On June 5^th, 2013, the Australian mental health organization beyondblue launched their own version of Man Therapy with a new character called Dr. Brian Ironwood. www.ManTherapy.org.au
• Wisconsin became the first state to license Man Therapy and launched the program roll out in the Fall of 2013.

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 [SS1]When formatting this for the final publication, would the geniuses at Cactus please make this continuum graphic more attractive?

Together We’re Better: Suicide Attempt Survivors and Suicide Loss Survivors – Different Groups and Collaborative Partners

Reposted with permission from the American Association of Suicidology        
     When I first entered the field of suicide prevention as a person bereaved by suicide back in 2007, one of the first things I noticed was the lack of “voice” given to suicide attempt survivors. It seemed to me that the experiences of suicide attempt survivors provided the critical “black box” from which the whole field could learn. When I became part of the Healing After Suicide Conference and asked why there weren’t sessions for suicide attempt survivors and their families, I was told that suicide attempt survivors and suicide loss survivors would not work well together because the bereaved would have grief support needs that might be negatively affected by attempt survivors stories of recovery (e.g., “why wasn’t my loved one able to recover?”) and that the two groups would work better separately. While this argument had some face validity, I was always troubled as to why suicide attempt survivors and those who love and support them were not given a proper home within our field. Sometimes the myth that the two survivor groups wouldn’t work well together seemed to perpetuate itself and continued the stigma and misunderstandings.

     This year marks a decade since my brother’s death by suicide, and I am so grateful to both the suicide bereaved and the suicide attempt survivors who have provided me with such inspiration and education on my journey into the Suicidology field. Over the past five years in particular, I have come to the conclusion that not only can the bereaved and those with lived experience have a lot to learn from each other, but also, when we band together we create powerful testimony that can fuel future efforts.

     For example, when we were developing the Man Therapy campaign, we looked closely at the National Violent Death reporting data provided to us by Colorado’s Office of Suicide Prevention. This rich dataset gave us important insights about the life circumstances of the men who died, but it gave us very little information on what might be needed to help prevent this outcome from happening in the future. To augment this data, our in-depth-interviews with men who had survived a suicide crisis and were now thriving, gave us many ideas on what helped them and what they wished they had during their darkest days.

     I felt very honored to be witness to the “coming out” stories, and they helped me understand the thoughts and emotional experiences my brother possibly experienced in his final days. In my heart I believe if Carson had heard role models like these men, he may have held on to hope through the unbelievable psychological pain he was experiencing.

I remember talking with suicide attempt survivors who attended the Healing After Suicide conference, and asking them if there was enough content they found relevant, given that the conference agenda was so heavily focused on bereavement. More than one attempt survivor told me they often attend these types of bereavement-oriented events (e.g., conferences and healing ceremonies), because witnessing the pain of the bereaved helps fuel their reasons for living.

     We are currently in an exciting time of transition as the lived expertise of suicide attempt survivors is becoming increasingly organized and powerful. The Suicide Attempt Survivors Task Force of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention is preparing to release a groundbreaking document, “The Way Forward” which provides key directions for communities, agencies and all suicide prevention stakeholders to augment support for people who experience suicidal thoughts and feelings, and to engage people with that lived experience as collaborators and messengers of hope. Eduardo Vega, Action Alliance Executive Committee Member and Co-lead of the Task-force points out that, “this is a pivotal moment for changing the world of suicide prevention by including the knowledge of those of us who have been there. People who’ve survived the despair and impacts of suicide attempts need to be at every table in which communities are considering what needs to be done to reduce isolation, stigma and destructive practices that push people away from help and towards suicidal behavior.”

     In March the Mental Health Association of San Francisco, in partnership with the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, will host a landmark event and dialogue among the nation’s foremost thinkers and advocates who are disclosed as suicide attempt survivors.  Along with national mental health and suicide prevention leadership and suicide loss survivors summit attendees will engage crucial questions around what really makes a difference when people struggle with suicide personally and in the aftermath of a suicide attempt.

When I asked the American Association of Suicidology’s Attempt Survivor Task Force’s Chair, Cara Anna to share her perspective on the bridge between the two groups, she said, “At the moment, attempt survivors are on the path that loss survivors know well -- emerging and having their voices heard, respected and included. I think we all can agree on this, and there's certainly room to work together.”

     Craig Miller, a suicide attempt survivor, author and public speakers, emphatically states the common ground between the groups in his video posted on the Attempt Survivors’ blog, “All of us have come together with one common intention, to do all we can to prevent future suicides, but all of us come with different stories.”

     So, today we stand in solidarity. Suicide attempt survivors and suicide loss survivors are shoulder to shoulder looking forward. For instance, suicide loss survivors are supporting suicide attempt survivors in their effort to move from a task force to a Division of the American        Association of Suicidology. This year when you submit or renew your membership with AAS, consider identifying yourself in the “lived experience” category as your primary affiliation to help the group reach the critical mass needed to achieve Division status. One important way to show together we are better.

Renew your membership today and consider registering as “Attempt Survivors/Lived Experience” for your primary affiliation to help this critical division materialize: http://www.suicidology.org/join .

Healing From School Violence

Written and Reposted with permission by Guest Blogger: Jess Stohlmann Rainey

“In every community, there is work to be done. In every nation, there are wounds to heal. In every heart, there is the power to do it.” – Marianne Williamson

Today the staff at the Carson J Spencer Foundation grieves with the faculty, staff, families, and students affected by the tragic events at Arapahoe High School. With the rest of the country, our hearts and minds are turned toward Littleton. Tragedy can make communities and schools feel fractured, as if something has broken and can’t quite be made whole again. By pulling together, offering hope, and focusing on healing, we can begin to collectively mend the injuries tragic events like this cause.

When hope is hard to find, we rely on the strength of the community to hold onto hope for us. As compassionate citizens, we can lend strength to people when they falter, be a shoulder for tears, and look forward to see a light in the darkness. Hope and comfort are most important when they are most elusive. As we begin to heal, lean on each other. Open your arms and your hearts. If you are concerned for someone or concerned for yourself, seek help.

As we cope with this act of violence, there are a few things we can do right now to help us heal (adapted from the Suicide Prevention Lifeline):

1. Talk about the tragedy. Even if you weren’t directly affected, you may feel anxiety, fear, anger, or deep sadness. If you don’t have someone to confide in, you can call 1-800-273-TALK(8255) any time.
2. Don’t watch (too much) news. Being immersed in the media’s portrayal of the most difficult parts of this tragedy can be overwhelming.
3. Take care of yourself. Using positive coping methods will help your body and your mind deal with stress.
4. Help Others. Promote lifesaving services like the Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255) and the Disaster Distress Hotline (1-800-985-5990). Participate in vigils or volunteer in your community.

“Hope” is the thing with feathers -

That perches in the soul -

And sings the tune without the words -

And never stops – at all -

-Emily Dickenson

Coping With Violence and Traumatic Events (SAMSHA)

In the Aftermath of School Violence (APA)

Talk to Your Children About School Shootings (APA)

Putting Dignity First in Mental Health

Written and Reposted with permission by Guest Blogger: EDUARDO VEGA

Putting Dignity First

dignityandrecoverycenter.org

Many variables affect people in their ability to recover from mental illness and manage mental health conditions.  There is not one program, service, support or medication that will work for all, or that will work for many for an extended period of time. Intuitively we know this to be true, although many are still driven by the dream of a ‘silver bullet’, a perfect medication or treatment, or even an ideal array of services that could perfectly match all our communities needs.

We do not know if science will progress to the level of a ‘cure’ or prevention for mental illness— if it is even possible to so radically alter the biogenetic vulnerability factors that predispose some to mental illness as to significantly reduce its prevalence in the world.

We do not know if we can ever be free of the impacts of trauma, stigma, abuse, discrimination, poverty, and violence and all that they contribute to the manifestation of psychiatric symptoms in our communities, and the barriers they represent to recovery.

We do know a few things. We know that some things almost always make a difference to people living with mental health challenges. We know that hope is the greatest fuel for recovery, that without it the best services and supports in the world are futile. We know that people can accomplish almost anything with enough hope, and can achieve almost nothing without it.

But we have not talked enough about dignity in mental health. About its role in connection to recovery and resilience, about its centrality in the nexus of relationships that links every one of us to each other. About dignity as a human right that should be foremost in all our interactions with all people. Or about the many myriad of ways in which systems, public media and individual attitudes work to diminish the dignity of people affected by mental illnesses every day.

Some people grow up with a sense of purpose, with agency and confidence—perhaps because it was inculcated in them by great parents or their culture or faith. Some seem to gain dignity by association with status, position, class or wealth, which perhaps is false in some ways.

Some of us had to learn about dignity from others. Seeing it in their eyes or their actions when faced with insult and adversity.

I learned about dignity from friends struggling to put a few months of sobriety together, from hundreds of people who were homeless, from more than a few newly released convicts, and from the many I’ve known who continue to face down the pain, shame and stigma of mental illness to retain regain whole and meaningful lives.

I also learned about how people seek out dignity, and how they avoid its opposite at a profound and almost reflexive level. How the indignity that went along with things I was ‘giving’ to people ‘in need’ could more detrimental than I anything I could positively ‘provide.’ I learned from people who were in more desperate circumstances than I could ever imagine that honoring their personal dignity was much more important than ‘providing’ them a service.

You don’t have to spend time in a inpatient psychiatric ward to have a sense of how often one’s dignity can be undermined in services. But a few snapshots can help—

·                    You called for help because you were desperate and felt like dying and couldn’t be safe. When help came they pointed guns at you, put you in handcuffs, took you away in the back of the police car while all your neighbors watched.

·                   Perhaps you came in voluntarily, feeling completely anguished or out of control, then a few days later you find your status had been ‘switched’ to involuntary and that the papers you signed meant you had given up your rights to refuse medications you didn’t like.

·                   You’re in your room where there in no privacy from your roommate—multiple times of day staff, nurses, sometimes even students come in unannounced, begin asking you questions, often the same questions you’d already answered several times. 

·                    You go to “art group” in which the art activity consists of large nubby crayons and children’s coloring books even though its is an adult/geriatric ward and the average age is over fifty.

·                    You ask for a pen or pencil so you can write in your journal and are told you can only use them while someone watches you at the nurse’s station— and that they are too busy to do so.

·                    You find that your privileges for phone calls or cigarette breaks were removed because you failed to attend enough ‘groups’

·                    You ask where the policy for restoring privileges is and are informed that this is a ‘staff decision made at rounds’.

·                   You tell your prescriber about the debilitating side effects of the medications your taking. In response she rolls her eyes, saying ‘you’ll get used it’ or ‘nobody has all of those’.

Stigma? -yes. Discrimination? yes— but to most people these things that happen every day are just plain insults to a dignity they may be already struggling to maintain.

If we put Dignity First all these things things that drive people into despair, that magnify the fear shame and self-doubt that so often accompany mental illness, all these can be wiped away.

So people won’t seek death by suicide or painful isolation as more dignified than supports for their recovery.

When we put Dignity First we approach people as deserving and seeking more from us than ‘care’ or services. We recognize people are challenging us to respect them first and then to bolster their opportunities to respect themselves. By listening and engaging with the intention to understand what that would require, we challenge our assumptions and the power relationships inherent in health care that work against people’s dignity. And that, as a result, drive many people away. Putting Dignity First we understand that recovery needs to include recovering from the indignities that they’ve suffered as a result of their symptoms, their situations and the messages they’ve received from others and their society about what it means to have a mental health condition.

In putting Dignity First we know that honesty, hope and sincerity are our best resources for engaging people who so often have lost their dignity. We help by offering resources, skills and services that people want to use, rather than ‘providing’ them with the services we have and rejecting them if those do not fit.

Putting Dignity First is not just a crucial step towards systems in which recovery is realized, it is the mind-set, the approach we must take in relating to individuals with mental health conditions, and in reforming our world into one in which all people live in communities that truly support recovery and mental health for all.

Innovation Challenge 2013!

Innovation Challenge Brings Bold Ideas to Youth Mental Health

Students across Colorado Join Together in Support of Entrepreneurial Approaches to Suicide Prevention

Littleton, Colorado. December 4, 2013 Over 150 students, teachers, and community business leaders joined together to participate in the 4^th Annual Innovation Challenge facilitated by the Carson J Spencer Foundation and hosted at Columbine High School. The Innovation Challenge is one of several events associated with the Carson J Spencer Foundation’s FIRE Within Program; a year-long program where students learn how to use entrepreneurial skills to benefit suicide prevention efforts in their communities.

The FIRE Within program has expanded this year from 20 schools to 50 schools across the state. The Innovation Challenge is first opportunity in the program to bring students from many of these schools together in one place.  The kick-off of the event involved  FIRE Within alumni, now in college, giving advice and useful tips on how they capitalized their own FIRE Within experience to help pursue opportunities in college.  The main focus of the event was to challenge students to think boldly about how they might create something that would make a significant upstream impact on youth suicide and distress; the rules were simple, there were no rules.  Students were encouraged to come up with the most unique, out-of-the-box idea geared toward ending suicide and promoting mental health.  They then were asked to create a brief presentation promoting their idea to be presented to a panel of judges, made up of business leaders coming anywhere from the mental health industry to banking and construction. 

“I was very impressed by the students.  Great creativity and thoughtful engagement all around,” said Dave Thorpe, Vice President Shaw Construction.

In total, 20 students walked away with gifts and prizes for their innovative thinking and thoughtful presentations.  All students participating in the Innovation Challenge will head back to their respective schools to start preparing their business plans for the Business Plan Competition in February.  Each FIRE Within class submits a full business plan and video to the Carson J Spencer Foundation to be judged for seed funding ranging from $100 - $500. 

For more information about the FIRE Within program, please contact Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas at 720-244-6535 or Sally@CarsonJSpencer.org.

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About the Carson J Spencer Foundation - Sustaining a Passion for Living

The Carson J Spencer Foundation (www.CarsonJSpencer.org) is a Colorado nonprofit, established in 2005.  We envision a world where leaders and communities are committed to sustaining a passion for living. We sustain a passion for living by:

• Delivering innovative and effective suicide prevention programs for working-aged people
• Coaching young leaders to develop social enterprises for mental health promotion and suicide prevention
• Supporting people bereaved by suicide

Men and Suicide Bereavement Survey to Inform New Grief Support Needs

Men and Suicide Bereavement Survey to Inform New Grief Support Needs

Denver, Colorado. October 14, 2013.  The Carson J Spencer Foundation and Unified Community Solutions are conducting an exploratory survey to get a better sense of the experience of men who are bereaved by suicide and the needs they may have in their grief.

To take survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/MenBereavement

Men who have been bereaved by suicide are invited to participate in a survey to share about their experiences subsequent to their loss. If you are a man 19 or older and have lost someone close to you to suicide (e.g., family member, close friend, co-worker, etc.), your participation in the study is needed. The purpose of this survey is to better understand the experiences men have after suicide loss and the types of support they have found helpful or would like to have available.  All responses will be anonymous and confidential. The study should take no more than 10 to 15 minutes to complete, and you can opt out of the survey at any time. There is no compensation available for the completion of the survey, but we appreciate men bereaved by suicide taking the time to tell us about their experiences.

In addition, if you are connected to other men who have been bereaved by suicide, we ask for your support in passing along this request to them.

For more information about this survey, please contact Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas at 720-244-6535 or Sally@CarsonJSpencer.org. Thank you in advance for your time and consideration.

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About the Carson J Spencer Foundation - Sustaining a Passion for Living

The Carson J Spencer Foundation (www.CarsonJSpencer.org) is a Colorado nonprofit, established in 2005.  We envision a world where leaders and communities are committed to sustaining a passion for living. We sustain a passion for living by:

• Delivering innovative and effective suicide prevention programs for working-aged people
• Coaching young leaders to develop social enterprises for mental health promotion and suicide      prevention
• Supporting people bereaved by suicide

About Unified Community Solutions

Unified Community Solutions (www.unifiedcommunities.com) is a private consultancy based in Massachusetts, specializing in training and advocacy for peer-based suicide grief support and in planning, development, and leadership of community-based suicide grief support programs. UCS owner Franklin Cook is also the creator of Personal Grief Coaching, a telephone support service he administers to help bereaved people.

Contact:          

Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas                                                                  

CEO & Co-Founder

Carson J Spencer Foundation

720-244-6535

Sally@CarsonJSpencer.org

Franklin Cook

Owner

Unified Community Solutions

617-398-0243

Franklin@UnifiedCommunities.com