Have you ever chatted with an Unapologetically Black Unicorn? Someone who symbolizes freedom, power, strength and is a true force of nature and thought, ‘WOW people need to hear this’? Now you can and learn how to be a U.B.U. too! Join the weekly conversation with host Keris Jän Myrick, an unapologetically black unicorn in their own right, and nationally recognized mental health advocate chatting with amazing U.B.U. folk who are advancing all things mental health, racial justice, and anything cool to enhance human existence.
Episodes
Tuesday Oct 18, 2022
Tuesday Oct 18, 2022
Tiffany Russell (she/hers) is the Chief Officer of Crisis and Justice Partnerships with the SAMHSA 988 and Crisis Behavioral Health Coordinating Office and she is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Tiffany gives an overview of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and what to expect when people contact 988. They talk about the data and call volume, information about funding, getting feedback from the community and how 988 is trying to infuse more equity and diversity.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
For more information:
988 Frequently Asked Questions: https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/988/faqs
For 988 positions: https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/988/jobs
For 988 performance data: https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/988/performance-metrics
For grants and notifications: https://www.samhsa.gov/grants
Tuesday Oct 11, 2022
Tuesday Oct 11, 2022
Keris goes solo to reflect on some personal meaning behind another Tarot card. She shares why the Lovers card resonates with her and she draws the parallels between the card and her personal experiences. She talks about why she first struggled with the Lovers card even though it is her birth card, she shares an event from her childhood that’s made it hard for her to love herself and honoring you for you – U.B.U.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Tuesday Oct 04, 2022
Tuesday Oct 04, 2022
Dr. Shairi Turner (she/her) is the Current Chief Health Officer at Crisis Text Line and she is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Dr. Turner shares how juvenile justice helped her understanding of trauma blossom and how the Crisis Text Line helped bring everything together for her. They talk about the purpose of the Crisis Text Line, recognizing that we are in a youth mental health crisis and the differences in need for BIPoC young people who text 741741.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
For more information:
The United Empathy Report 2021: https://www.crisistextline.org/united-in-empathy-2021-report/
Mental Health School Supplies: https://www.crisistextline.org/school/
Mental Health Resources Page: https://www.crisistextline.org/resources/
Become A Volunteer with Crisis Text Line: https://www.crisistextline.org/become-a-volunteer/
Tuesday Sep 27, 2022
Tuesday Sep 27, 2022
Dr. Felecia Pullen (she/her) is the founder of The PILLARS & S.A.F.E. in Harlem and she is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Dr. Pullen focuses on language surrounding the political determinates of health and racial disparities in policy. They talk about Dr. Pullen’s substance use recovery, mental health and suicide attempt survivor journey, her passion for the work she is doing and how money and insurance shouldn’t be a barrier.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Tuesday Sep 20, 2022
Tuesday Sep 20, 2022
Dr. Nzinga Harrison (she/her) is a physician, educator, the Chief Medical Officer and Co-Founder of Eleanor Health and an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Dr. Harrison shares the “r’s” of trauma-informed care and how racism is a predictor for health disparities. They talk about Eleanor Health’s mission, how substance use disorders are mental health issues and how there are an infinite number of paths to addiction which means there are also an infinite number of paths to recovery.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Tuesday Sep 13, 2022
Tuesday Sep 13, 2022
Vesper Moore (they/elle) is a mad liberation and disability justice activist, and they are an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Vesper defines mad liberation and neurodiversity and how they got involved in the field. They talk about opening Respites and the complications with funding, using advocacy in their peer training and learning lessons in everything and everyone.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
For more information visit:
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@vespermoore
Book Drop The Disorder: Second Edition - https://adisorder4everyone.com/
Website: www.vespermoore.com
Kiva Centers: www.kivacenters.org
Madness Network News: www.madnessnetworknews.com
Tuesday Sep 06, 2022
Tuesday Sep 06, 2022
Dr. John Draper (he/him) was the Chief Officer of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Dr. Draper helps us understand the genesis of the new 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and what he hopes gets accomplished through the new lifeline. They talk about geolocation, how to serve people where they are and building trust and making others feel empowered.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
For more info:
Tuesday Aug 30, 2022
Tuesday Aug 30, 2022
Dr. Ruby Mendenhall (she/her) is an Associate Professor at the University of Illinois and she is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Ruby talks about her family and where she came from. They talk about Ruby teaching at a predominately white institution, creating a wellness store, youth community health workers, youth citizen/community scientists and racial microaggressions.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Tuesday Aug 23, 2022
Tuesday Aug 23, 2022
Shonique Williams (she/her) is the Founder of the Ezekiel’s Project and No CARE Court Coalition, Asantewaa Boykin (she/her) R.N MICN, is an Emergency RN and the co-founder of APTP (Anti Police - Terror Project), Andreya Garcia-Ponce De Leon (she/her) is the Executive Director of San Bernardino Free Them All and Project Amiga and they are all Unapologetically Black Unicorns. They discuss Senate Bill 1338 - CARE Court and all of its shortcomings. They talk about how they all got involved in the No CARE Court Coalition, their experiences speaking during the hearings and reactions from some assembly members and holding our elected officials accountable.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Tuesday Aug 16, 2022
Tuesday Aug 16, 2022
Keris goes solo to reflect on some personal meaning behind the artwork of a few Tarot cards. There was one card in particular that resonated with her, the Tower card, and she draws the parallels between the card and her personal experiences. She talks about the old LA county general hospital, being involuntarily hospitalized and she ties it all together by sharing when she had her Tower Card moment.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline