during my freshman year at Brown I was offered a leave of absence after
offered a leave of absence after
offered a leave of absence after disclosing to my professor that I was
disclosing to my professor that I was
disclosing to my professor that I was transitioning antidepressants and
transitioning antidepressants and
transitioning antidepressants and experiencing severe withdrawal somewhere
experiencing severe withdrawal somewhere
experiencing severe withdrawal somewhere between my senior year of high school
between my senior year of high school
between my senior year of high school and sophomore year of college I wound up
and sophomore year of college I wound up
and sophomore year of college I wound up taking 375 milligrams of effexor an SS
taking 375 milligrams of effexor an SS
taking 375 milligrams of effexor an SS NRI primarily to treat
NRI primarily to treat
NRI primarily to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder and mood
obsessive-compulsive disorder and mood
obsessive-compulsive disorder and mood disorders in addition to klonopin and
disorders in addition to klonopin and
disorders in addition to klonopin and anti-anxiety drug and abilify an
anti-anxiety drug and abilify an
anti-anxiety drug and abilify an anti-psychotic if I didn’t take what I
anti-psychotic if I didn’t take what I
anti-psychotic if I didn’t take what I can only refer to as my horse pills at
can only refer to as my horse pills at
can only refer to as my horse pills at the same time each day I would
the same time each day I would
the same time each day I would experience brain zaps nausea migraines
experience brain zaps nausea migraines
experience brain zaps nausea migraines and severe body aches when I was offered
and severe body aches when I was offered
and severe body aches when I was offered a leave of absence instead of being
a leave of absence instead of being
a leave of absence instead of being asked what support I needed or what the
asked what support I needed or what the
asked what support I needed or what the school could do to help I went into
school could do to help I went into
school could do to help I went into shutdown mode I thought they’re trying
shutdown mode I thought they’re trying
shutdown mode I thought they’re trying to get rid of me they flagged me one
to get rid of me they flagged me one
to get rid of me they flagged me one wrong move and I’m gone
wrong move and I’m gone
wrong move and I’m gone and at Brown you’ve been given an
and at Brown you’ve been given an
and at Brown you’ve been given an extreme privilege to attend an Ivy
extreme privilege to attend an Ivy
extreme privilege to attend an Ivy League university happiness is almost
League university happiness is almost
League university happiness is almost expected being social and grateful is
expected being social and grateful is
expected being social and grateful is expected you can’t exactly go home and
expected you can’t exactly go home and
expected you can’t exactly go home and tell your mom you haven’t read one
tell your mom you haven’t read one
tell your mom you haven’t read one article on the syllabus haven’t yet been
article on the syllabus haven’t yet been
article on the syllabus haven’t yet been to class in two weeks haven’t been able
to class in two weeks haven’t been able
to class in two weeks haven’t been able to eat more than one yogurt a day and
to eat more than one yogurt a day and
to eat more than one yogurt a day and your suicidal thoughts are at an
your suicidal thoughts are at an
your suicidal thoughts are at an all-time high and especially as a
all-time high and especially as a
all-time high and especially as a first-generation college student I can
first-generation college student I can
first-generation college student I can still remember the weight of getting my
still remember the weight of getting my
still remember the weight of getting my acceptance letter so the pressure was on
acceptance letter so the pressure was on
acceptance letter so the pressure was on and if I was going to be able to stay at
and if I was going to be able to stay at
and if I was going to be able to stay at Brown I needed to support myself outside
Brown I needed to support myself outside
Brown I needed to support myself outside of systems of university care that night
of systems of university care that night
of systems of university care that night I called my parents in a paranoid panic
I called my parents in a paranoid panic
I called my parents in a paranoid panic psychotic state digging through the
psychotic state digging through the
psychotic state digging through the internet researching university
internet researching university
internet researching university surveillance policies when it came to
surveillance policies when it came to
surveillance policies when it came to mental illness and vowing to never use
mental illness and vowing to never use
mental illness and vowing to never use them again if I ever needed help well
them again if I ever needed help well
them again if I ever needed help well later that semester I did need help I
later that semester I did need help I
later that semester I did need help I experienced a severe self-harm episode
experienced a severe self-harm episode
experienced a severe self-harm episode in my dorm room and I needed medical
in my dorm room and I needed medical
in my dorm room and I needed medical attention I knew all of my options
attention I knew all of my options
attention I knew all of my options health services caps after-hours line
health services caps after-hours line
health services caps after-hours line Butler Hospital the emergency room but
Butler Hospital the emergency room but
Butler Hospital the emergency room but what I didn’t know is what would happen
what I didn’t know is what would happen
what I didn’t know is what would happen if I use those services with the
if I use those services with the
if I use those services with the university find out what I’d be forced
university find out what I’d be forced
university find out what I’d be forced into treatment or kept on suicide watch
into treatment or kept on suicide watch
into treatment or kept on suicide watch I remembered my fear earlier in the
I remembered my fear earlier in the
I remembered my fear earlier in the semester and decided to scotch tape part
semester and decided to scotch tape part
semester and decided to scotch tape part of my leg
of my leg
of my leg back together and hide in my room for
back together and hide in my room for
back together and hide in my room for three days I developed this is a severe
three days I developed this is a severe
three days I developed this is a severe infection with raised and purple scars
infection with raised and purple scars
infection with raised and purple scars but at least I was still a brown student
but at least I was still a brown student
but at least I was still a brown student now not everyone would react this way
now not everyone would react this way
now not everyone would react this way with such initial mistrust but I had
with such initial mistrust but I had
with such initial mistrust but I had already experienced four years of
already experienced four years of
already experienced four years of educational bureaucracy in high school
educational bureaucracy in high school
educational bureaucracy in high school and politics when it came to mental
and politics when it came to mental
and politics when it came to mental illness as well as my own gaslighting by
illness as well as my own gaslighting by
illness as well as my own gaslighting by the medical establishment and I knew how
the medical establishment and I knew how
the medical establishment and I knew how far those in power were willing to go to
far those in power were willing to go to
far those in power were willing to go to silence a potential threat in 2009 while
silence a potential threat in 2009 while
silence a potential threat in 2009 while a freshman in high school
a freshman in high school
a freshman in high school brittany marie petropia lost her life to
brittany marie petropia lost her life to
brittany marie petropia lost her life to suicide we attended different schools
suicide we attended different schools
suicide we attended different schools within the same district and our circle
within the same district and our circle
within the same district and our circle of friends overlap significantly at 14
of friends overlap significantly at 14
of friends overlap significantly at 14 years old our world were shook we didn’t
years old our world were shook we didn’t
years old our world were shook we didn’t have the language structure or support
have the language structure or support
have the language structure or support systems to be able to support ourselves
systems to be able to support ourselves
systems to be able to support ourselves or each other when students were denied
or each other when students were denied
or each other when students were denied a memorial service denied the ability to
a memorial service denied the ability to
a memorial service denied the ability to wear t-shirts with her face and name on
wear t-shirts with her face and name on
wear t-shirts with her face and name on them and denied the opportunity to bring
them and denied the opportunity to bring
them and denied the opportunity to bring in suicide prevention professionals I
in suicide prevention professionals I
in suicide prevention professionals I wondered who we were really trying to
wondered who we were really trying to
wondered who we were really trying to protect if at 14 I were old enough to
protect if at 14 I were old enough to
protect if at 14 I were old enough to see the body of my friend at her week
see the body of my friend at her week
see the body of my friend at her week then I was old enough to learn about
then I was old enough to learn about
then I was old enough to learn about suicide and have a conversation and
suicide and have a conversation and
suicide and have a conversation and these conversations were happening
these conversations were happening
these conversations were happening anyway behind closed doors unmediated by
anyway behind closed doors unmediated by
anyway behind closed doors unmediated by friends on the Internet and awkwardly
friends on the Internet and awkwardly
friends on the Internet and awkwardly with family with good intentions or
with family with good intentions or
with family with good intentions or worst of all alone by ourselves during
worst of all alone by ourselves during
worst of all alone by ourselves during high school angered by the response to
high school angered by the response to
high school angered by the response to my friend’s death I began advocate is
my friend’s death I began advocate is
my friend’s death I began advocate is advocating for policy reform surrounding
advocating for policy reform surrounding
advocating for policy reform surrounding how of seven to 12th grade educators
how of seven to 12th grade educators
how of seven to 12th grade educators handled mental illness and suicide after
handled mental illness and suicide after
handled mental illness and suicide after attending endless meetings at the
attending endless meetings at the
attending endless meetings at the district I was told I could continue
district I was told I could continue
district I was told I could continue doing my work but needed to keep my
doing my work but needed to keep my
doing my work but needed to keep my personal politics out of it something I
personal politics out of it something I
personal politics out of it something I was never willing or able to do if they
was never willing or able to do if they
was never willing or able to do if they didn’t want to support us we would have
didn’t want to support us we would have
didn’t want to support us we would have to support ourselves when I founded
to support ourselves when I founded
to support ourselves when I founded Project Lots in 2013 we focused
Project Lots in 2013 we focused
Project Lots in 2013 we focused primarily on erasing the stigma as our
primarily on erasing the stigma as our
primarily on erasing the stigma as our name very much indicates but as I later
name very much indicates but as I later
name very much indicates but as I later realized that we’d like to imagine a
realized that we’d like to imagine a
realized that we’d like to imagine a world without stigma it’s still very
world without stigma it’s still very
world without stigma it’s still very real for many folks especially the most
real for many folks especially the most
real for many folks especially the most marginalized of us we can tell people
marginalized of us we can tell people
marginalized of us we can tell people all we’d like to seek help what does
all we’d like to seek help what does
all we’d like to seek help what does that do to address the traumas they may
that do to address the traumas they may
that do to address the traumas they may face once they seek that how
face once they seek that how
face once they seek that how or what if an individual can’t afford
or what if an individual can’t afford
or what if an individual can’t afford their copay what if we encourage someone
their copay what if we encourage someone
their copay what if we encourage someone to come out as mentally ill and they
to come out as mentally ill and they
to come out as mentally ill and they lose their job or their place in their
lose their job or their place in their
lose their job or their place in their family most Mental Health Organization’s
family most Mental Health Organization’s
family most Mental Health Organization’s focus on raising awareness and at first
focus on raising awareness and at first
focus on raising awareness and at first that’s what we did to you
that’s what we did to you
that’s what we did to you we believe like many still do today
we believe like many still do today
we believe like many still do today that’s stigma and access to care with
that’s stigma and access to care with
that’s stigma and access to care with the primary problems my education at
the primary problems my education at
the primary problems my education at Brown and continued life experiences
Brown and continued life experiences
Brown and continued life experiences have taught me otherwise this data from
have taught me otherwise this data from
have taught me otherwise this data from a report on the nature of suicidal
a report on the nature of suicidal
a report on the nature of suicidal crises and college students shows that a
crises and college students shows that a
crises and college students shows that a mental health professional was least
mental health professional was least
mental health professional was least influential in preventing a suicide
influential in preventing a suicide
influential in preventing a suicide attempt far below friends family and
attempt far below friends family and
attempt far below friends family and other social factors like pets
other social factors like pets
other social factors like pets so this told us that we needed a space
so this told us that we needed a space
so this told us that we needed a space unmediated by professionals were folks
unmediated by professionals were folks
unmediated by professionals were folks with mental illness trauma experience
with mental illness trauma experience
with mental illness trauma experience and disability could find support for
and disability could find support for
and disability could find support for themselves and support for others and
themselves and support for others and
themselves and support for others and beyond that we also realized that we
beyond that we also realized that we
beyond that we also realized that we were the best people equipped to
were the best people equipped to
were the best people equipped to advocate for policy reform nobody knew
advocate for policy reform nobody knew
advocate for policy reform nobody knew the intricacies of the system than we
the intricacies of the system than we
the intricacies of the system than we did better than we did and nobody else
did better than we did and nobody else
did better than we did and nobody else could provide first-hand narratives to
could provide first-hand narratives to
could provide first-hand narratives to counteract what we were being told by
counteract what we were being told by
counteract what we were being told by administrators I was like colleague
administrators I was like colleague
administrators I was like colleague Molly likes to say universities see
Molly likes to say universities see
Molly likes to say universities see mentally ill and disabled students as
mentally ill and disabled students as
mentally ill and disabled students as the baby or the grenade as the baby
the baby or the grenade as the baby
the baby or the grenade as the baby you’re asking for too much and being too
you’re asking for too much and being too
you’re asking for too much and being too needy too many accommodations
needy too many accommodations
needy too many accommodations exaggerating symptoms who can be this
exaggerating symptoms who can be this
exaggerating symptoms who can be this sick all of the time right and if you’re
sick all of the time right and if you’re
sick all of the time right and if you’re the grenade you’re a liability a risk
the grenade you’re a liability a risk
the grenade you’re a liability a risk and a ticking time bomb and the grenade
and a ticking time bomb and the grenade
and a ticking time bomb and the grenade metaphor is what most administrators
metaphor is what most administrators
metaphor is what most administrators view us as when they are designing
view us as when they are designing
view us as when they are designing policies over time students came to us
policies over time students came to us
policies over time students came to us for help
for help
for help and we started uncovering alarming
and we started uncovering alarming
and we started uncovering alarming consistencies across schools across the
consistencies across schools across the
consistencies across schools across the nation suggesting a much more intensive
nation suggesting a much more intensive
nation suggesting a much more intensive surveillance and risk management culture
surveillance and risk management culture
surveillance and risk management culture than we had anticipated which can be in
than we had anticipated which can be in
than we had anticipated which can be in part attributed to responses in higher
part attributed to responses in higher
part attributed to responses in higher education following the Virginia Tech
education following the Virginia Tech
education following the Virginia Tech crisis we became aware of patterns of
crisis we became aware of patterns of
crisis we became aware of patterns of who is being disproportionately impacted
who is being disproportionately impacted
who is being disproportionately impacted by these policies such as lower income
by these policies such as lower income
by these policies such as lower income international trans and queer students
international trans and queer students
international trans and queer students of color in addition we also identified
of color in addition we also identified
of color in addition we also identified pervasive flaws with the mental
pervasive flaws with the mental
pervasive flaws with the mental healthcare infrastructure in general
healthcare infrastructure in general
healthcare infrastructure in general most prominently a short term
most prominently a short term
most prominently a short term therapeutic model that reverse
therapeutic model that reverse
therapeutic model that reverse refers high rates of students off campus
refers high rates of students off campus
refers high rates of students off campus a lack of availability and a lack of
a lack of availability and a lack of
a lack of availability and a lack of diverse representation of providers and
diverse representation of providers and
diverse representation of providers and outside of seeking help a primary issue
outside of seeking help a primary issue
outside of seeking help a primary issue for me became not seeing myself
for me became not seeing myself
for me became not seeing myself represented in the brown student body
represented in the brown student body
represented in the brown student body and in my peers around me I knew what to
and in my peers around me I knew what to
and in my peers around me I knew what to Google for an overly simplistic
Google for an overly simplistic
Google for an overly simplistic monk-like explanation of what OCD was
monk-like explanation of what OCD was
monk-like explanation of what OCD was and how it’s all about germs but I
and how it’s all about germs but I
and how it’s all about germs but I didn’t know how other brown students
didn’t know how other brown students
didn’t know how other brown students managed to share their freshman year
managed to share their freshman year
managed to share their freshman year dorm bathrooms allow their friends to
dorm bathrooms allow their friends to
dorm bathrooms allow their friends to sit on their bed or make it through a
sit on their bed or make it through a
sit on their bed or make it through a 200-page novel without needing to read
200-page novel without needing to read
200-page novel without needing to read every fourth page four times through
every fourth page four times through
every fourth page four times through which takes hours I needed to see for
which takes hours I needed to see for
which takes hours I needed to see for myself how other Brown students were
myself how other Brown students were
myself how other Brown students were surviving with their lived experience
surviving with their lived experience
surviving with their lived experience but something else we realized was that
but something else we realized was that
but something else we realized was that nobody truly believed students with
nobody truly believed students with
nobody truly believed students with severe mental illness can exist at Brown
severe mental illness can exist at Brown
severe mental illness can exist at Brown we’re becoming more comfortable talking
we’re becoming more comfortable talking
we’re becoming more comfortable talking about depression and anxiety but there
about depression and anxiety but there
about depression and anxiety but there couldn’t be any bipolar or schizophrenic
couldn’t be any bipolar or schizophrenic
couldn’t be any bipolar or schizophrenic students here right in my anthropology
students here right in my anthropology
students here right in my anthropology of mental health class we read Emily
of mental health class we read Emily
of mental health class we read Emily Martin’s bipolar expeditions
Martin’s bipolar expeditions
Martin’s bipolar expeditions Martin lived with bipolar disorder and
Martin lived with bipolar disorder and
Martin lived with bipolar disorder and while teaching at Princeton approached
while teaching at Princeton approached
while teaching at Princeton approached the head of psychiatric services wanting
the head of psychiatric services wanting
the head of psychiatric services wanting to start a support group for bipolar
to start a support group for bipolar
to start a support group for bipolar students the psychiatrists responded
students the psychiatrists responded
students the psychiatrists responded that it would not be necessary
that it would not be necessary
that it would not be necessary considering students with those kinds of
considering students with those kinds of
considering students with those kinds of severe problems would simply not be able
severe problems would simply not be able
severe problems would simply not be able to function in the intellectually
to function in the intellectually
to function in the intellectually demanding environment at Princeton this
demanding environment at Princeton this
demanding environment at Princeton this was in the 80s but what does it mean for
was in the 80s but what does it mean for
was in the 80s but what does it mean for students to function beyond performing
students to function beyond performing
students to function beyond performing academically is it simply just
academically is it simply just
academically is it simply just medication and a good therapist for
medication and a good therapist for
medication and a good therapist for years the disability community has also
years the disability community has also
years the disability community has also been championing a model framework
been championing a model framework
been championing a model framework called the social model of disability it
called the social model of disability it
called the social model of disability it wasn’t truly until I experienced my
wasn’t truly until I experienced my
wasn’t truly until I experienced my third sexual assault at Brown that I
third sexual assault at Brown that I
third sexual assault at Brown that I understood the implications and power of
understood the implications and power of
understood the implications and power of this model with a social model of
this model with a social model of
this model with a social model of disability we could actually make a
disability we could actually make a
disability we could actually make a difference in my own experience in my
difference in my own experience in my
difference in my own experience in my conversations with students and peers
conversations with students and peers
conversations with students and peers most felt more impacted by stigma
most felt more impacted by stigma
most felt more impacted by stigma discrimination and social barriers like
discrimination and social barriers like
discrimination and social barriers like a lack of accommodations and acceptance
a lack of accommodations and acceptance
a lack of accommodations and acceptance than by their own symptoms and following
than by their own symptoms and following
than by their own symptoms and following this logic working to remove those
this logic working to remove those
this logic working to remove those barriers could potentially increase our
barriers could potentially increase our
barriers could potentially increase our quality of life since most of us are
quality of life since most of us are
quality of life since most of us are entrenched in
entrenched in
entrenched in medical model of disability which tells
medical model of disability which tells
medical model of disability which tells us that the problem is located inside of
us that the problem is located inside of
us that the problem is located inside of our bodies we often ignore very
our bodies we often ignore very
our bodies we often ignore very important information and contesting
important information and contesting
important information and contesting narratives such as for example sexual
narratives such as for example sexual
narratives such as for example sexual assault survivors who don’t feel like a
assault survivors who don’t feel like a
assault survivors who don’t feel like a PTSD diagnosis accurately represents
PTSD diagnosis accurately represents
PTSD diagnosis accurately represents them is there really something wrong
them is there really something wrong
them is there really something wrong with me when something wrong has
with me when something wrong has
with me when something wrong has happened to me
happened to me
happened to me additionally we know that trans folks
additionally we know that trans folks
additionally we know that trans folks with supportive families are far less
with supportive families are far less
with supportive families are far less likely to attempt suicide so how can we
likely to attempt suicide so how can we
likely to attempt suicide so how can we say there’s something wrong with them
say there’s something wrong with them
say there’s something wrong with them this framework allowed us to create peer
this framework allowed us to create peer
this framework allowed us to create peer led interventions that we believe work
led interventions that we believe work
led interventions that we believe work perhaps we can’t take away your
perhaps we can’t take away your
perhaps we can’t take away your psychosis but we can advocate on your
psychosis but we can advocate on your
psychosis but we can advocate on your behalf to ensure you’re receiving the
behalf to ensure you’re receiving the
behalf to ensure you’re receiving the resources and support you’re legally
resources and support you’re legally
resources and support you’re legally entitled to and maybe for our most
entitled to and maybe for our most
entitled to and maybe for our most vulnerable students we could help tip
vulnerable students we could help tip
vulnerable students we could help tip the balance in their favor which is
the balance in their favor which is
the balance in their favor which is exactly what we’ve been achieving for
exactly what we’ve been achieving for
exactly what we’ve been achieving for the peer mental health advocate model at
the peer mental health advocate model at
the peer mental health advocate model at Brown p.m. AJ is put simply our students
Brown p.m. AJ is put simply our students
Brown p.m. AJ is put simply our students with lived experience of mental illness
with lived experience of mental illness
with lived experience of mental illness trauma and disability trained to work as
trauma and disability trained to work as
trauma and disability trained to work as peer counsellors and advocates for their
peer counsellors and advocates for their
peer counsellors and advocates for their fellow students at Brown we currently
fellow students at Brown we currently
fellow students at Brown we currently have over 85 students consistently using
have over 85 students consistently using
have over 85 students consistently using the program and approximately 80 trained
the program and approximately 80 trained
the program and approximately 80 trained p.m. EJ is our six-week curriculum
p.m. EJ is our six-week curriculum
p.m. EJ is our six-week curriculum covers everything from relationship
covers everything from relationship
covers everything from relationship building and listening skills to coping
building and listening skills to coping
building and listening skills to coping mechanisms crisis response and
mechanisms crisis response and
mechanisms crisis response and trauma-informed care now when you’re
trauma-informed care now when you’re
trauma-informed care now when you’re trying to innovate in the healthcare
trying to innovate in the healthcare
trying to innovate in the healthcare field or anything marginally related to
field or anything marginally related to
field or anything marginally related to science you need evidence
science you need evidence
science you need evidence I don’t just expect you to believe me
I don’t just expect you to believe me
I don’t just expect you to believe me because I’m mentally ill PHAs have their
because I’m mentally ill PHAs have their
because I’m mentally ill PHAs have their own defined role we’re not therapists
own defined role we’re not therapists
own defined role we’re not therapists we’re advocates supporters change agents
we’re advocates supporters change agents
we’re advocates supporters change agents and more we draw on our life experiences
and more we draw on our life experiences
and more we draw on our life experiences in an intentional way to inform our
in an intentional way to inform our
in an intentional way to inform our actions in each of these roles primarily
actions in each of these roles primarily
actions in each of these roles primarily we want the folks we work with to find
we want the folks we work with to find
we want the folks we work with to find ways to heal and move forward on their
ways to heal and move forward on their
ways to heal and move forward on their own terms
own terms
own terms research from Mental Health America also
research from Mental Health America also
research from Mental Health America also shows that peer support benefits
shows that peer support benefits
shows that peer support benefits providers as well as patients decreased
providers as well as patients decreased
providers as well as patients decreased hospitalizations and shortened stays in
hospitalizations and shortened stays in
hospitalizations and shortened stays in inpatient care translates into financial
inpatient care translates into financial
inpatient care translates into financial savings which doctors really like to
savings which doctors really like to
savings which doctors really like to hear
hear
hear and in addition embedding peers within
and in addition embedding peers within
and in addition embedding peers within the system allows providers to
the system allows providers to
the system allows providers to appreciate alternative views of
appreciate alternative views of
appreciate alternative views of folks with mental illness functioning in
folks with mental illness functioning in
folks with mental illness functioning in social ROS roles as opposed to always
social ROS roles as opposed to always
social ROS roles as opposed to always just being the ill patient there are
just being the ill patient there are
just being the ill patient there are specifics like the social processes that
specifics like the social processes that
specifics like the social processes that have been identified in terms of peer
have been identified in terms of peer
have been identified in terms of peer support and helped us to understand how
support and helped us to understand how
support and helped us to understand how it’s working in terms of social support
it’s working in terms of social support
it’s working in terms of social support we provide peers with an available
we provide peers with an available
we provide peers with an available person they can rely on who’s willing to
person they can rely on who’s willing to
person they can rely on who’s willing to assist and meet their needs while
assist and meet their needs while
assist and meet their needs while combating isolation experiential
combating isolation experiential
combating isolation experiential knowledge refers to a specialized
knowledge refers to a specialized
knowledge refers to a specialized information and perspective that folks
information and perspective that folks
information and perspective that folks can only gain by having that lived
can only gain by having that lived
can only gain by having that lived experience social comparison theory at
experience social comparison theory at
experience social comparison theory at its core means representation we need to
its core means representation we need to
its core means representation we need to see ourselves like others to know that
see ourselves like others to know that
see ourselves like others to know that we can survive and most importantly for
we can survive and most importantly for
we can survive and most importantly for us is help our therapy principle but
us is help our therapy principle but
us is help our therapy principle but simply helping others helps us and we
simply helping others helps us and we
simply helping others helps us and we have witnessed this time and time again
have witnessed this time and time again
have witnessed this time and time again those who may be consistently poor
those who may be consistently poor
those who may be consistently poor supports for themselves are the most
supports for themselves are the most
supports for themselves are the most skilled advocates we have a few weeks
skilled advocates we have a few weeks
skilled advocates we have a few weeks ago I had a severe self-harm episode in
ago I had a severe self-harm episode in
ago I had a severe self-harm episode in my apartment much like freshman year
my apartment much like freshman year
my apartment much like freshman year except this time I wasn’t alone this
except this time I wasn’t alone this
except this time I wasn’t alone this time even as someone chronically
time even as someone chronically
time even as someone chronically resistant to treatment and allergic to
resistant to treatment and allergic to
resistant to treatment and allergic to asking for help I reached out to one of
asking for help I reached out to one of
asking for help I reached out to one of my own peer mental health advocates and
my own peer mental health advocates and
my own peer mental health advocates and was supported like I never have been by
was supported like I never have been by
was supported like I never have been by one of my professional therapists I was
one of my professional therapists I was
one of my professional therapists I was treated with dignity autonomy kindness
treated with dignity autonomy kindness
treated with dignity autonomy kindness and compassion I was asked what I wanted
and compassion I was asked what I wanted
and compassion I was asked what I wanted and was assumed to be able to make my
and was assumed to be able to make my
and was assumed to be able to make my own decisions these are the lessons that
own decisions these are the lessons that
own decisions these are the lessons that peers with lived experience can teach
peers with lived experience can teach
peers with lived experience can teach the professionals I want to challenge us
the professionals I want to challenge us
the professionals I want to challenge us to think of what a world would look like
to think of what a world would look like
to think of what a world would look like or we don’t call nine-one-one on
or we don’t call nine-one-one on
or we don’t call nine-one-one on suicidal people or lock them up for
suicidal people or lock them up for
suicidal people or lock them up for disobeying commands they may be unable
disobeying commands they may be unable
disobeying commands they may be unable to follow in the first place what would
to follow in the first place what would
to follow in the first place what would a world look like where we took
a world look like where we took
a world look like where we took accountability for our loved ones and
accountability for our loved ones and
accountability for our loved ones and our community members and trained
our community members and trained
our community members and trained ourselves in crisis intervention and
ourselves in crisis intervention and
ourselves in crisis intervention and de-escalation skills where we were able
de-escalation skills where we were able
de-escalation skills where we were able to create inclusive spaces and
to create inclusive spaces and
to create inclusive spaces and institution institutions that allowed
institution institutions that allowed
institution institutions that allowed all types of folks and all types of
all types of folks and all types of
all types of folks and all types of neurodivergent minds to thrive where we
neurodivergent minds to thrive where we
neurodivergent minds to thrive where we were able to look at our mentally ill
were able to look at our mentally ill
were able to look at our mentally ill and disabled friends who reach out in a
and disabled friends who reach out in a
and disabled friends who reach out in a time of support and say
time of support and say
time of support and say thank you for telling me what does this
thank you for telling me what does this
thank you for telling me what does this mean for you right now how can I help
mean for you right now how can I help
mean for you right now how can I help you feel safe where we recognize that
you feel safe where we recognize that
you feel safe where we recognize that even though I do not have a pH pH D I am
even though I do not have a pH pH D I am
even though I do not have a pH pH D I am the expert of my own mind and body a
the expert of my own mind and body a
the expert of my own mind and body a world who revalue the knowledge produced
world who revalue the knowledge produced
world who revalue the knowledge produced by folks with lived-experience Center
by folks with lived-experience Center
by folks with lived-experience Center our voices and integrate our solutions
our voices and integrate our solutions
our voices and integrate our solutions and systems of support into the larger
and systems of support into the larger
and systems of support into the larger mental health care system so no college
mental health care system so no college
mental health care system so no college student ever responds to a self-harm
student ever responds to a self-harm
student ever responds to a self-harm episode alone in their dorm room again
episode alone in their dorm room again
episode alone in their dorm room again and so we can get to college in the
and so we can get to college in the
and so we can get to college in the first place thank you
first place thank you
first place thank you [Applause]
”
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