This presentation was a session at the ISPS-US 2023 National Conference in Newark, DE. Thank you to our sponsors, Advocacy Unlimited (advocacyunlimi...) and CORAS Wellbeing and Behavioral Health (coraswellness.....
ISPS-US promotes psychological and social approaches to states of mind often called "psychosis" by providing education, training, advocacy, and opportunities for dialogue between service providers, people with lived experience, family members, activists, and researchers. Get involved by attending our educational events or joining us as a member to access our network of support, discussion and peer supervision groups, creative sharing spaces, our journal, and more.
Description:
Supporting loved ones and navigating familial and mental health systems after a first episode of “psychosis,” spiritual emergency, or other extreme or unusual experience is immensely challenging for everyone involved, and often fraught: Where does one turn? Whom does one believe? Whom does one trust? This year’s Family Panel includes members of two families: mother and daughter Tricia and Annie Stafford, and sister and brother Amber and Kenny Brown. Each will share their journey through loss, bewilderment, anger, and sometimes despair, as they struggled to make sense of what happened - to themselves and to their beloved family member. They will also share the paths they are taking to find healing and
growth by redefining their relationships with themselves and each other.
About the Presenters:
Amber Brown, MDiv, BS
A lifelong learner, Amber tries to educate herself as much as possible about everything that interests her or seems important. She has lived experience with psychosis and mental health recovery, is a trained spiritual director and yoga instructor, and holds a Master 's of Divinity degree (though she thinks noone can truly master such a heavy, diverse, and intriguing topic!). She is training to facilitate writing groups for women and other veterans, has delivered poetic pieces on Zoom and at the Brookyn Public Library, and writes a spirituality-focused e-newsletter entitled Mindfully, Amber Brown. She eschews the word "can't" unless it's really true, and enjoys hand papermaking, etymology research, research in general, writing and reading and performing poetry, time travel shows and hammock camping.
Kenny Brown
Amber's brother
Annie Stafford
Annie Stafford is a certified peer specialist and person with lived experience who has worked in various areas of the mental health field for over ten years. Currently, Annie facilitates continuing education
training for county mental health workers and, alongside her mother, co-directs their own nonprofit organization, Tend to Hope. Previously, Annie was employed in roles such as a consultant to the National Council on Mental Wellbeing , research assistant, and group facilitator of a young adult hearing voices group. Annie is committed to creating radical change within the mental health system and strives to utilize her lived experience to act as an advocate, educator and support to those experiencing mental healthchallenges.
Tricia Stafford, MA
Tricia Stafford was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, and currently resides in Montgomery County, PA. She has an MA in English Literature from the City University of NY and an MA in Liberal Studies from Villanova University in PA. She is the Executive Director of Tend to Hope, a nonprofit organization she created with her daughter Annie to inspire hope in individuals in mental health crisis facilities.
25 авг 2024
