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 Nov 16, 2021
Tuesday Nov 16, 2021
Kat McIntosh (They/Them) is the Manager of Global Peer Support at Mental Health America and they are an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Kat shares their personal journey with their mental health while living in the Caribbean Island of Tobago and why they wanted to become an advocate for themselves. They talk about the Global Mental Health Peer Network, some of the issues with universal health care, how to support people within organizations, being a voice for our own experience, and how their psychosis saved them.
If you or someone you know is in a mental or substance use disorder crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255.
Tuesday Nov 09, 2021
Tuesday Nov 09, 2021
Dr. John Torous (He/his), MD is a Psychiatrist, Director: digitalpsych.org at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, an expert in “mobile mental health technologies” and an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Dr. Torous shares the concept behind MindApps.org and the connection between technology and mental health. They talk his tech background, how to navigate the privacy settings through your apps, the oversight of the digital mental health space and he the need for digital literacy.
If you or someone you know is in a mental or substance use disorder crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255.
Tuesday Nov 02, 2021
Tuesday Nov 02, 2021
Pat Deegan (she/her) Ph.D. has a doctorate in clinical psychology, is the founder of Pat Deegan & Associates and she is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Pat shares when she got her “Prognosis of Doom” and how she eventually turned it around. They talk about Certified Personal Medicine Coaches, medication empowerment and a column she co-edits entitled “Personal Accounts. She also speaks about the importance of representation and intention in her work to ensure people ‘see’ themselves in her work and the rage that comes with oppression.
If you or someone you know is in a mental or substance use disorder crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255.
Tuesday Oct 26, 2021
Tuesday Oct 26, 2021
Dr. Ruth Shim (she/her) M.D., M.P.H., is an Associate Dean of Diverse and Inclusive Education, the Director of Cultural Psychiatry, an Author and an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Dr. Shim shares how she got interested in psychiatry and the stigma of psychiatrists within the profession of medicine. They talk about social determinants of mental health and race equity, creating inclusive spaces, cultural competency, and the concept for her new published book “Social (In)Justice and Mental Health.”
If you or someone you know is in a mental or substance use disorder crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255.
Tuesday Oct 19, 2021
Tuesday Oct 19, 2021
UBU was recorded live on September 21, 2021, during the Annual Conference for the New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services (NYAPRS). In this workshop leading mental health leaders from diverse backgrounds featured on the Unapologetically Black Unicorns podcast join in a lively discussion about lived experiences, leadership, showing up as our authentic selves and addressing equity in behavioral health plus much more. The panelists include:
Khatera Aslami Tamplen (she/her), BS, Certified Advanced WRAP Facilitator
Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services
Office of Peer Support Services Manager
Jei Africa, (he/him) PsyD, MA
Director, Behavioral Health and Recovery Services
County of Marin
Chyrell Bellamy, (She/her/they) PhD, MSW
Associate Professor, Yale School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry
Joint Director, Yale Program for Recovery and Community Health (PRCH)
Rayshell Chambers, (she/her) MPA
Chief Operating Officer/Co- Founder
Painted Brain
To access the NYAPRS conference click here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4hkeDHDyYXdlZBhXu3zIMJ1kKAGCmZ3h
If you or someone you know is in a mental or substance use disorder crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255.
Tuesday Oct 12, 2021
Tuesday Oct 12, 2021
Lynnae Brown (she/her/hers) is a storycoach and the director of Howie the Harp Advocacy Center at Community Access and she is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Lynnae shares her journey on how she became the director at Howie the Harp and how they have extensive training programs to teach people in mental health recovery to become peer support workers. They talk about the stories we tell ourselves that make a difference in our lives, the backstory and influence of Howie the Harp and getting people in mental health recovery prepared for a workplace environment.
If you or someone you know is in a mental or substance use disorder crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255.
Tuesday Oct 05, 2021
Tuesday Oct 05, 2021
Brandon J. Johnson (he/him) is a Suicide Prevention Specialist, the host of The Black Mental Wellness Lounge and an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Brandon shares the inspiration for creating the YouTube page "The Black Mental Wellness Lounge" and how he’s trying to use it as a healing space. They talk about taking care of your metal wellness while trying to dismantle systemic issues, understanding the importance of resting for the cause and how the metrics for suicide in the Black community have been overlooked.
If you or someone you know is in a mental or substance use disorder crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255.
Tuesday Sep 28, 2021
Tuesday Sep 28, 2021
Dr. Jonathan P. Edwards (he/him) has worked as a public health professional for more than 25 years, serves as adjunct faculty at Columbia School of Social Work, is an emerging researcher, plays a major role nationally in peer support workforce development and as a Board Member of National Association of Peer Supporters and he is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Dr. Edwards shares his personal story including his upbringing and his recovery journey. They talk about Dr. Edwards working in both social work and peer support, advancing leadership for people of color, and the impact of the self-help tools and resources on his personal growth.
If you or someone you know is in a mental or substance use disorder crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255.
Tuesday Sep 21, 2021
Tuesday Sep 21, 2021
Philip Rutherford (he/him) is the Chief Operating Officer at Faces and Voices of Recovery and he is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Phil shares what his organization is doing for Recovery Month and his story of navigating his pathway to recovery. They talk about how the “War on Drugs” was racially motivated, the experience of Black folks in the recovery community through a new initiative Black Faces and Black Voices and why it is hard for the Black communities to publicly grieve.
If you or someone you know is in a mental or substance use disorder crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255.
To contact Faces & Voices of Recovery go to: https://facesandvoicesofrecovery.org/about/who-we-are/staff/
Tuesday Sep 14, 2021
Tuesday Sep 14, 2021
Ana Florence, PhD (she/her) is a Clinical Psychologist, a postdoctoral associate at the Yale Program for Recovery and Community and an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. It’s the second week of recovery month and we hear Ana’s perspective on how psychology differs in Brazil compared to the United States and how the Psychiatric Reform Movement brought everyone together. They talk about the “Wisdom Project” and how Keris also got involved, how Brazilians have been hesitant with the term “recovery” because it’s coming from U.S., the disparities and inequities that occurred during the pandemic and the impact of Dainius Pūras, former UN Special Rapporteur on Rights to Health.
If you or someone you know is in a mental or substance use disorder crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255.
The “Mad In America” article Ana Florence did with Dainius Pūras: https://www.madinamerica.com/2020/05/bringing-human-rights-mental-health-care-interview-dainius-puras/
The UN Handover Dialogues 2021: https://www.handover-dialogues.org/