Positionality Project:
The Positionality Project at the South Southwest MHTTC was created to provide resources for the mental health workforce in Region 6 to understand positionality and how it shapes their work. For mental health providers, it is the hope that such understanding can translate to improved quality of care by identifying social positions impacting relationships, impacts of systems and culture, and providing culturally-responsive care. For researchers and advocates, positionality can help identify limitations of our work and expand representation and inclusion within it. Positionality statements may allow for improved community partnership and solidarity across social positions, as individuals build understanding of their biases, privileges, and insider or outsider status.
- Positionality Booklet: This brochure includes foundational information for mental health providers, researchers, and advocates to understand positionality. It provides a metaphor to understand positionality, explores how positionality can be used in mental health, provides a hypothetical example of applying positionality, and shares guiding questions for developing a positionality statement, which is one method for reflecting on positionality.
- Positionality Slide Deck: This slide deck is available for download to share education about positionality with your audience. Please feel free to use or remove slides as appropriate for your audience.
Bring on the Fear! Maximizing Exposure in the Treatment of Anxiety Disorders for Youth:
This workshop introduces the dominant theoretical model of anxiety disorders and the best-established treatment: exposure-based CBT. Strategies for making the most of exposures to achieve optimal outcomes for anxious youth will be illustrated, and practical application discussed. The training will include didactics, experiential activities, video modeling and behavioral rehearsal of exposure strategies.
Suicide Prevention: Suicide Assessment and Prevention in Early Psychosis
This presentation occurred during the 2022 South Southwest MHTTC First Episode Psychosis conference on June 2nd. Dr. Tara Niendam facilitated this keynote session.
Presentation Summary: Risk for self-harm behaviors is high in early psychosis populations; therefore, all clinical programs need a protocol for risk assessment and management that begins at first client contact and is maintained over time. This presentation provided an overview of suicide rates in the US, an approach to assessing risk and protective factors, and an introduction to the CSSRS – the gold-standard tool for suicide ideation and behavior. The presentation will also briefly covered methods for addressing suicide, including the Safety Plan Protocol.
- Video Recording | Slides
- ASQ NIH Screening Tool Worksheet
- C-SSRS Baseline Screening Tool Worksheet | C-SSRS Baseline Screening Tool Worksheet (Spanish)
- Patient Safety Plan Template
- SAFE-T Handout
- Suicide Behaviors Questionnaire – Revised (SBQ-R)
Suicide Prevention: Advancing State Efforts to Save Lives
Join suicide prevention leaders from Oklahoma, Texas, and Louisiana as they describe how their states are building state infrastructure to prevent suicides. Learn about the challenges they have faced when promoting awareness, implementing policy changes, disseminating training and best practices, as well as successful strategies for overcoming roadblocks. This webinar will highlight the Suicide Prevention Resource Center’s new State Suicide Prevention Infrastructure recommendations. Join in to learn how developing a strong state infrastructure to address suicide allows for sustained, evidenced-based programming.
Suicide Prevention Resource Booklet:
This resource booklet has many different resources for suicide prevention, including sections for crisis, learning about suicide and how to help yourself or a friend, finding a therapist, apps and interactive tools for keeping yourself safe, as well as resources for clinicians.
Structural Racism and Mental Health: Challenges and Opportunities
This video was recorded on March 25, 2021 as a part of the South Southwest Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Regional Advisory Board. Structural racism is the main driver of mental health inequities and poor mental health outcomes, and yet, few understand the outsized role that structural racism places in the identification, diagnosis, and management of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. This presentation will examine key concepts associated with structural racism, will provide clear examples of how structural racism manifests in our mental health care system, and will discuss strategies for dismantling structural racism in our communities and institutions.
