Unapologetically Black Unicorns

"Reverence"

Keris shares a poem about the complexity of our nation’s history surrounding race in this country.

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

Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info

#BlackMentalHealth with Ellis Gordon Jr.

Ellis Gordon Jr. (he/him) is treasurer of NAMI Urban Los Angeles and he is the former husband of Bebe Moore Campbell. Ellis shares the story of how he met Bebe Moore Campbell and why it was so important to name the month of July after Bebe. They talk about the inception of NAMI Urban Los Angeles, how NAMI is community-centric and community-centered and continuing the goal of erasing the stigma.

 

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

https://paintedbrain.org/ubu-black-mental-health/

 

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

Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info

“Mindfuling” with Nandini Nema

Nandini Nema (she/her) is a gap year student who is making an impact in mental health and she is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Nandini shares the work she’s done as a youth representative with UNICEF by help building child friendly cities. They talk about how mindfulness is a process, working in tech as a Google summer scholar, what they would do encourage people to get into the field of mental health and they share some of their healthy coping mechanisms.

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

For more information visit:

• Child friendly city initiative: https://childfriendlycities.org/
• Boulder, Colorado’s child friendly initiative: https://www.growingupboulder.org/

“The Family Royal”

Keris tells a story about a typewriter that’s been passed down through the family and the memories it holds. She talks about the significance of the typewriter to her family, how it brings her joy whenever she looks at it and she discusses the positive impact memories can have on your mental health.

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

Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info

“Providing Humane and Compassionate Care” with Dr. Rupi Legha

Dr. Rupi Legha (she/hers) is a psychiatrist focused on anti-racism and providing humane and compassionate care and she is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Dr. Legha walks us through her path to becoming a psychiatrist and how she was not convinced by the biomedical approach. They talk about safety concerns in mental health, community-oriented care and working to not problematize a child and their mental health.

For more information on Dr. Rupi Legha visit: www.rupileghamd.com

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

Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info

“Conquering the Mickey”

Keris talks about how her birthday’s used to be a time where she isolated but describes how she was able to break out of it. Keris lists some alarming statistics about the life expectancy of those with serious mental health conditions and why she’s now wild about wellness.

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

Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info

“Caring Responses instead of Scaring Responses” with Dr. John Draper

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.

Inseparable’s Better Response Report: https://www.inseparable.us/abetterresponse/

Unapologetically Black Unicorns 988 & Crisis Systems Reform Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUdw451JL3w&list=PLxolYqklWoEND-6LQRnqJXi4mG5k_8HLx

 

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

Contact the show: UBU@UnapologeticallyBlackUnicorns.info

“Value The Connection to Community” with Dr. Jorge Partida del Toro

Dr. Jorge Partida del Toro is a Curandero, a Psychologist with international experience working with child soldiers and building intentional communities and he’s an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Dr. Partida Del Toro gives the backstory for how he got into psychology and how his grandmother played a significant role. They talk about institutional and structural racism, mixing Curanderismo Healing and Western Psychology and valuing the connection to our communities.

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

 

“Changing the Institutional Mindset” with Michelle Kotval

Michelle Kotval (she/her) is the Senior Attorney at Disability Rights California (DRC) and she is an Unapologetically Black Unicorn. Michele gives some background on DRC, their “Stuck“ report and the work being done to shine the light on investing in the community. They talk the neglect of people who are forced into locked mental health facilities, the racial disparities of this population of folks and she explains some key difference between acute hospitals, subacute facilities, board and care and community-based services They also discuss concerns around new changes for people who can be conserved.

Disability Rights California - “STUCK: Los Angeles County’s Abuse and Neglect of People on Mental Health Conservatorships in Jail and Locked Psychiatric Facilities.”:  https://www.disabilityrightsca.org/report/stuck-los-angeles-countys-abuse-and-neglect-of-people-on-mental-health-conservatorships

 

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

 

A transcript for this episode is available: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XQ9RgRdcT9r_JOwiBqStn6mDJF-HyTWA/view

 

“What They Never Tell You”

Keris spent the last couple of weeks with her father. During their visit, Keris had to help navigate her father’s health benefits as a veteran so for Memorial Day there was some reflection on her father’s service. Keris reads an emotional story she wrote about that time when her father went off to Vietnam and the effects it had on her as a little girl.