Unapologetically Black Unicorns

Dr. Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon, Ph.D. (she/hers) is the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Administrator of SAMHSA and an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Dr. Delphin-Rittmon reflects on her roles before joining SAMHSA and some of her mentors through the course of her career. They talk about mental health promotion and early intervention, the data behind the increase in use of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, equity focus work including the Black youth suicide summit and why SAMHSA offers hope with their funding of support and services.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Links:

SAMHSA Interim Strategic Plan: https://www.samhsa.gov/about-us/interim-strategic-plan

Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator: https://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/

DJ Chuang (he/ him) hosts the Erasing Shame podcast (erasingshame.com), the director of Christian Asian Mental health (camh.network), a moderator at Subtle Asian Mental Health and he is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. DJ talks about his personal experiences with the challenges around finding a safe space and the lack of communication around mental health in the Asian community. They talk about trying to get more than just spiritual wellness in the churches, leaning in on experience over expertise and why the church was the perfect place for DJ to reach other Asian Americans about mental health.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Links:

website + blog: https://djchuang.com

twitter: https://twitter.com/djchuang

instagram: https://instagram.com/djchuang

linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/djchuang

This is a special episode about giving thanks. Keris shares why she’s struggling this holiday season and where it all stems from. She explains how it is hard to be positive with everything we are going through in this country but how it is important to fight together. She finishes it up with what she is thankful for including all the guests she’s had on the podcast and what she’s wishing for us all.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Nicole Doña (she/her/ella) is the Founder and CEO of Hope + Equity Without Borders and she is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Nicole talks about being an artist and a creator to her core and how art helps with her mental health. They talk about spirituality, the therapeutic nature of working with clay, the Crypto for Couples Podcast and taking the road that requires the most faith.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

For more information:

Exhibition fundraiser: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pots-paz-exhibition-fundraiser-tickets-456543613237

Hope + Equity Without Borders: www.hopeandequity.org

Crypto for Couples Podcast: https://rss.com/podcasts/cryptoforcouples/

Pots & Paz:  www.potsandpaz.com

We're taking the week off so enjoy this re-airing of our episode with Lynnae .Lynnae Brown 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.

 

Dr. Ikwunga Wonodi (he/him) is a psychiatrist, an Afrobeat Poet and he is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Dr. Wonodi talked about what afrobeat poetry represents and his personal journey in becoming an afrobeat poet. They talk about pidgin, how afrobeat has been used as a vehicle for change, his poem and songwriting process and his message on homelessness and mental illness.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

To listen or purchase Dr. Woondi’s music check out:

"Calabash: Afrobeat Poems by Ikwunga Vol.1": https://music.apple.com/us/artist/ikwunga/30240928

“Deep Sleep”: https://music.apple.com/us/album/deep-sleep/270004179

Kana Enomoto (she/her) is the director of brain health for the McKinsey Health Institute and Reina Chiang (she/her) is a college student and a mental health advocate and they are Unapologetically Black Unicorns. Kana and Reina discuss their personal experiences when crisis showed up in their home and why the emergency room could do more to support mental health crisis. They talk about why mental health and medical conditions should be treated with the same care, Reina’s vision for her non-profit “u matter” and the importance for parents to seek support for their children in crisis as well as for themselves.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

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

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

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/