Unapologetically Black Unicorns

This is a special episode for the holiday season, Keris goes to their family home to sit down and have a brief conversation with her dad Howard A Myrick, PhD. They talk about where her father is living now and the politics of his current home state of Florida. Keris and her father have a conversation about critical race theory, they share stories about her mother and her dad shares his memories of the day Keris was born in a German hospital.

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 CA Alliance of Child and Family Services (CA Alliance) hosted a special broadcast on October 19, 2021 to put a spotlight on School Mental Health programming. This was a vital conversation with CA Alliance Members, special appearances by State Senator Connie Leyva, State Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva, and a student from Southwest High School Laura Avila. There is also a panel, facilitated by UBU Keris Myrick, with CA Alliance member agencies Jonathan Goldfinger (Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services), Josh Leonard (East Bay Agency for Children), Allison Becwar (Lincoln), and Jenna Nunes (Sierra Vista Child and Family Services).

Please also review the U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory: Protecting Youth Mental Health: https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-general-youth-mental-health-advisory.pdf

Haner Hernández (he/him) Ph.D., CPS, CADCII, LADCI has worked for 34 years in the health and human service field developing, implementing, and evaluating culturally and linguistically intelligent youth and adult health prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery support programs and he is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Haner shares when came over to the United States with his mother when he was 4 years old from Puerto Rico and what it means to him to be a person in long term recovery. They talk about the immigration experience coming into the U.S., the issue with the prison system, the progression of pharmaceutical advertising, racism and the multiple pathways to recovery.

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.

This is an introduction to a new series for Unapologetically Black Unicorns focusing on Black Mental Health. We’ll talk about lived experience as Black people with mental health conditions and family members supporting someone with a mental health condition. Keris will speak with psychiatrists and pharmacists among others all discussing Black Mental Health. #BlackMentalHealth will also provide resources and information about actions you can create for your Black mental health.

This episode is sponsored by Janssen Neuroscience and supported by The Painted Brain, a California based Peer Run Organization.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.