Mental Health Trailblazers Podcast - CNE for S4 E1-6

Overview

This online course provides you with access to the first six episodes from Season 4 of the Mental Health Trailblazers: Psychiatric Nurses Speak Up! This season, titled "50 Years - Reflect and Project," celebrates the 50th anniversary of the SAMHSA Minority Fellowship Program at the American Nurses Association in 2024. 

Join us as we pay homage to five decades of groundbreaking contributions by visionary psychiatric nurses. We’ll delve into their remarkable legacy, reflecting on the strides we've made in mental health and substance use disorder care, particularly within underserved communities across America. 

• Breaking Barriers in Mental Health Nursing: Insights from Dr. Linda Washington Brown: Dr. Brown reflects on her inspiring journey from the segregated South to becoming a national health policy leader. Dr. Brown reflects on the transformative impact of the MFP, which has trained over a thousand behavioral health professionals, including herself. She shares heartfelt stories of overcoming adversity, the importance of mentorship, and the need for continued support and funding to address mental health and substance use disorders in underserved communities.
• Healing Soul Wounds with Dr. Gary Lawrence: Dr. Lawrence, Director of Nursing at Choctaw Nation Health Services Authority, discusses his journey from LPN in rural Oklahoma to a leading mental health advocate for Native American communities. He reflects on 50 years of the SAMHSA Minority Fellowship Program, highlighting challenges like historical trauma and the lack of preventative care. Dr. Lawrence emphasizes cultural practices as healing tools and shares his vision for bridging gaps in behavioral health through culturally relevant interventions.
• From Migrant Head Start to Space: Transforming Mental Health Nursing: Dr. Mary Lou de Leon Siantz, a distinguished alumna of the Minority Fellowship Program at the American Nurses Association, offers a compelling historical perspective on mental health and substance use disorder care for Latino communities. She provides an in-depth look at the unique challenges faced by Hispanic populations, emphasizing the critical need for culturally tailored mental health services. She discusses the evolution of community-based care models and the importance of interdisciplinary partnerships in improving mental health outcomes.
• Nursing's Next Frontier: Space, Equity, Inclusion, and the MFP Legacy: Dr. Katie Boston-Leary delves into the transformative journey of the MFP, discussing its pivotal role in addressing disparities in underserved communities and its evolution as a model for inclusive care. She also explores the broader context of nursing history, the ongoing challenges of equity and inclusion within the profession, and the vital importance of sustaining and expanding programs like the MFP to foster a diverse and culturally competent workforce.
• From Scorpion Stings to Social Justice: Transforming Mental Health Nursing: Dr. Tanya Sorrell dives into how the program is shaping the future of psychiatric nursing.  Dr. Sorrell shares her incredible journey from being the only Black student in a Baton Rouge Gifted and Talented program to becoming a trailblazer in her field. She reveals how a life-changing encounter with a scorpion sting in Arizona led her to explore Mexican traditional medicine, ultimately transforming her approach to mental health care.
• Healing Generations: Mental Health, Maternal Struggles, and the Power of Nursing Advocacy: Dr. Willa Doswell reflects on 50 years of the MFP and discusses the evolving landscape of mental health care for communities of color, highlighting the persistent challenges and the program's significant impact in preparing nurses to address these issues. She also delves into her personal and professional experiences, offering insights into the importance of mentorship, the ongoing need for diversity in nursing, and the crucial role nurses can play in policy discussions to advocate for underrepresented communities.