For many social workers and counselors, working in the mental health field is unsustainable and rife with ethical violations. Many of us feel complicit in a system that can often do more harm than good. Here you'll hear my personal experience working in mental health crisis, why I decided to quit, and what I did to contribute to communities and build capacity outside the field.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Links

Institute for the Development of Human Arts - https://www.idha-nyc.org/

Get bonus episodes on substack! ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://depthwork.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Research

Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

Research showing that the chemical imbalance theory of mental health is a myth has just hit news cycles again, but this is not the first time this theory has been debunked. Many working in the field have known there is little evidence to support this theory, so why is it only recently the public has been informed? How did this myth originate and where do we go from here?

In this episode you’ll learn

Links:

Institute for the Development of Human Arts - http://www.idha-nyc.org/

Get bonus episodes on substack! ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://depthwork.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Research

Books describing history of chemical imbalance theory and over-reliance on pharmaceuticals for mental health treatment

Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

The biomedical model of mental health, which posits mental health issues are purely biological and only treatable with medication, has dominated the field for the last 40 + years without much evidence to justify it. Many concerned psychiatrists and psychologists argue that this model is outdated and ignores the complex interplay of social, cultural, institutional, and other factors that contribute to mental health issues. Recent research shows that the roots of mental health concerns are much more complex. Despite this, many myths about mental health concerns persist, even in the face of mounting evidence against them. It's time to put aside what we thought we knew about the DSM, diagnoses, psychotropic medication, and the chemical imbalance theory and take a more holistic approach to mental health. This includes prioritizing community mental health over just individual treatment and medication.

In this episode you’ll learn:

Links: 

Institute for The Development of Human Arts - https://www.idha-nyc.org

Get bonus episodes on substack! ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://depthwork.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Research: 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7418603/

Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

When we think of a severe mental health crisis, we may think of experiences that get labeled as psychosis, schizophrenia, or other extreme states that require intensive support. But what if these experiences also held rich meaning and opportunity for healing when we can care for them without pathologizing or stripping away autonomy? In this episode you'll hear my personal story of surviving a mental health crisis outside the system, having an intense spiritual awakening, and learning vital lessons about the root causes of mental health concerns.

In this episode you’ll learn:

Links: 

Research:

Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

The field of Mental Health is in need of drastic change, but we need a vision to get us there. What would it look like in practice to build a system that truly transformed those it seeks to serve? What does mental health that is rooted in rights based, peer-centered, and holistic care look like?

In this episode you’ll learn:

Links:

Research:

Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

Welcome! Here's what we'll be diving into.

Get bonus episodes on substack! ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://depthwork.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.