University of Washington SPIRIT Center

UW’s Project STAC is recruiting families for a 6-week virtual group to build skills for connecting with a loved one who uses cannabis and is currently in early psychosis treatment.

Families will join weekly 90-minute sessions, complete two surveys and one interview, and receive $75. Details below!

NAMI Walks WA 2025 was a huge success! We are so grateful for our team, the new connections we made, & the chance to spread psychosis awareness. 💙 Learn more about our center's initiatives on our website at uwspiritcenter.org #MentalHealthAwareness

This was such an amazing project to be a part of with @uwspiritlab.bsky.social! A huge shoutout and heartfelt thanks to all of the amazing interviewees for sharing your experiences with us all. #mentalhealthawareness

And a huge shoutout to Michelle Hammer of @schizophrenicnyc.bsky.social for your stunning artwork! Thank you for lending your creativity to this effort.
Let’s keep working together to uplift voices, challenge stigma, and spread hope. 💙 #MentalHealthAwareness Read: shorturl.at/haL8f

This project features powerful stories of resilience and recovery. Deepest thanks to our team, especially Chantal Murthy, Victoria Shepard, and Rachel Brian, and to the seven courageous interviewees whose voices made this possible.

For #WorldSchizophreniaDay on May 24th, we’re proud to share a special newsletter featuring powerful interviews with individuals with lived experience of psychosis and caregivers who support their loved ones experiencing symptoms. 💙 Check it out here: shorturl.at/haL8f

Applying the Project ECHO Model to Support Implementation and Sustainment of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Psychosis Project Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) is a teleconsultation model that leverages technology to sustain specialized interventions in underresourced settings. We present the applica...

You can access the peer-reviewed article here: pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC... and listen to the podcast by tuning in at: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a...

The episode highlights how this model supports community behavioral health providers in learning to deliver cognitive behavioral therapy for psychosis (CBTp).

Dr. Sarah Kopelovich recently lead-authored a paper on our CBTp ECHO Clinic outcomes and explained the findings on a recent episode of the journal’s podcast.

The SPIRIT Center was the first team in the world to apply the ECHO model to psychosocial interventions for psychotic disorders, beginning with CBTp and expanding to Assertive Community Treatment and First Episode Psychosis ECHO Clinics.

Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) is an evidence-based continuing education model that uses technology to deliver specialized training in under-resourced settings.

Myth: Mental illness is a white people problem.
Reality: We ALL have mental health and deserve proper care.
Learn more about BIPOC mental health at mhanational.org/bipoc

Stigma feeds on silence. In honor of Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness
Month, Mental Health America has tools to help you break down stigma around #mentalhealth in BIPOC
communities. Learn more at mhanational.org/july

There are roughly 22 CBTp-trained therapists in the US and Canada to treat every 10,000 individuals experiencing a psychotic disorder (Kopelovich, 2022). This is an inequity that stifles everyone's opportunity for recovery. We can and MUST do better. #WhyITrainSMI

Poster talking about the BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month with the text: "It's always

The first step in navigating your wellness journey is to check in on yourself. Take a free #mentalhealth test
at mhascreening.org. #BIPOCMentalHealth

BIPOC Mental Health Month July was designated as Minority Mental Health Awareness Month in 2008 to bring awareness to the unique struggles that underrepresented groups face in regard to mental illness in the United States (US).

July is Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. Learn more about BIPOC
mental health at mhanational.org/july

#FastFactFriday People with schizophrenia are around 14 times more likely to be the victim of violence than the perpetrator.

Graphic of a black man in a yellow sweater with shapes around his head, promoting World Schizophrenia Day. The text at the bottom reads "Celebrate the strength and resilience of those living with schizophrenia. Learn more at www.uwspiritlab.org"

Today, May 24th, is World Schizophrenia Day. We join organizations across the world in celebrating the resilience of individuals with schizophrenia, and working to destigmatize this condition.
Learn more on our website: uwspiritlab.org/world-schizo...
#WorldSchisophreniaDay #WSD

Flyer for psychosis training.6/7/2024 Pittsburgh, PA at The Westin, Pittsburgh, Westmoreland Room, 1000 Penn Avenue Pittsburg

Pittsburgh's early psychosis organization, HeadsUp, is offering a free hybrid full-day training for community health providers on June 7th. Join them for a comprehensive introduction and training on psychosis!
Register: https://headsup-pa.org/for-clinicians/education-and-training/headsup-trainings/

Join us on Thursday, May 16th from 1-2PM PST for the webinar: "Bringing Best and Innovative Practices in Early Detection of Psychosis to Washington: Featuring International Expert Dr. Vinod Srihari"
Learn about the MindMap mental health campaign!
Register here: https://tinyurl.com/PsycWebinar

Decorative image of a group of people holding hands in a circle advertising APS's next Science for Society webinar on May 15: Projecting a Future with an Aging Population

What is the impact of #aging on cognitive decline and mental health? How will the growing aging population affect #mentalhealth for caregivers? What factors influence caregiver turnover?

Don't miss our next Science for Society on May 15 bit.ly/3UHV707

<em>Perspectives on Psychological Science</em> Call for Editorial Proposals When Perspectives on Psychological Science was founded in 2006, the goal of the journal was to “publish an eclectic mix of articles that are enjoyable to read and thought-provoking, and at the same ti...

Rather than the traditional call for editor nominations, we are inviting scholars to submit their vision for a new editorial approach to Perspectives on Psychological Science.

The deadline for proposal submissions is June 1, 2024.

#FastFactFriday: Read more about early warning signs for psychosis here: https://t.co/4EiU2zOLXB

#FastFactFriday: Hearing voices is a common experience, not something limited to people diagnosed with schizophrenia.

#FastFactFriday Approximately 75% of mental disorders begin before the age of 25. Early intervention programs focus primarily on this age group, because the earlier an individual is treated the better their long-term outcomes are.

#FastFactFriday Psychosis is a condition of the mind described as involving a "loss of contact with reality." It's usually associated with hallucinations or delusions, but can also cause symptoms such as cognitive impairment, odd speech, and disorganization.

#WhyITrainSMI - I train SMI to increase the effectiveness and impact of clinicians who are overworked and and undervalued. I train to help them feel confident and secure in their role.

A graph of disease burden as % of mental illness burden, comparing the 2013 estimates to the authors'. Schizophrenia is 3rd

#FastFactFriday Schizophrenia is the 11th leading cause of global disability, and the third greatest cause of mental illness burden.

Today is Husky Giving Day! Make your donation before 11:50 PDT tonight to directly help the Psychosis Reach program and those involved.

SPIRIT Lab's Psychosis REACH Psychosis REACH, led by the UW SPIRIT Lab, is a transformative training program designed to equip relatives and friends of individuals with psychotic disorders with concrete, evidence-based skills to support their loved one’s recovery.

SPIRIT Lab has been chosen for UW's Husky Giving Day! All donations will be for the p-REACH program, dedicated to providing evidence-based skills, resources, and a supportive community for people caring for individuals with psychosis. Donate now through April 4th! https://tinyurl.com/HuskyDay