Learning 11

Good luck with the start of another academic year: you are not alone. Mental health is often falsely presented as irrelevant to people of colour. Dr. Samara Linton and Dr. Rianna Walcott's brilliant The Colour of Madness explores mental health for and by people of colour across art, essays, poetry, and stories. Together with PhDiva Xine they discuss bridging the STEM/humanities divide through their collaboration and the uses of the book to communities, teaching, and health care professionals.

The Colour of Madness
https://linktr.ee/TheColourofMadness
https://www.instagram.com/colourofmadness/?hl=en
https://twitter.com/madnesscolourof?lang=en

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Dr Samara Linton (she/her) is an award-winning writer, researcher, and multidisciplinary content producer. Her work includes The Colour of Madness: Mental Health and Race in Technicolour (2022) and Diane Abbott: The Authorised Biography (2020).  
Samara writes for various publications, including gal-dem, Huffington Post UK, The Metro, New Economics Foundation, Fawcett Society, and the Royal College of Psychiatrists. 
Her published research includes an influential report on Ebola-affected communities for the Africa All-Party Parliamentary Group (2016). She also sat on the editorial board for the British Medical Journal’s award-winning Racism in Medicine special issue (2020).
Samara worked as a junior doctor in east London before joining the BBC, where she worked in production. A University of Cambridge (BA Hons.) and University College London (MBBS) graduate, she is currently completing an MA in Health Humanities at University College London.
You can find out more about Samara's work at www.samaralinton.com, and she tweets at @samara_linton.

Rianna Walcott (she/her) is an LAHP alumna and PhD candidate at Kings College London researching Black British identity formation in digital spaces. Rianna combines digital work, decolonial studies, arts and culture, and mental health advocacy in her work, with a deep commitment to outreach work and public engagement. She co-founded projectmyopia.com, a website that promotes inclusivity in academia and a decolonized curriculum, and is the UCL writing lab's Scholar-in-Residence for 21-22. Rianna frequently writes about race, feminism, mental health, and arts and culture for publications including The Wellcome Collection, The Metro, The Guardian, The BBC, Vice, and Dazed. Rianna is co-editor of an anthology about BAME mental health - The Colour of Madness (2022), and in the time left over, she moonlights as a professional jazz singer.
Rianna will be based at The Black Communication and Technology (BCaT) Lab at the University of Maryland-College Park. Research at this new lab will focus on race and technology, as well as the development of a pipeline program to introduce undergraduates and those in the wider community to the field of Black digital studies with the aim of working toward a more equitable digital future.
You can find out more about Rianna’s work at www.riannawalcott.com, and she tweets at @rianna_walcott.

S7E1 | You Are Not Alone: Race + Mental Health w Dr Samara Linton & Rianna Walcott

As US and European officials press Israeli and Palestinian leaders for what's next, many in the West Bank aren't looking to the future at all. Even while they've long derided the current old guard, young Palestinians say there's no future to be had as long as the killing in Gaza goes on. Rebecca Collard reports from Ramallah.

New Palestinian leadership struggles to see beyond tomorrow during war

In a series of raids in eight Turkish provinces, police detained more than 30 people that Turkey has accused of working for Mossad, Israeli intelligence. Officials claim the suspects were planning to kidnap Palestinians living in Turkey. The World's Durrie Bouscaren reports from Istanbul. 

Turkey arrests dozens it accuses of spying for Israel

In early January 2022, violent protests erupted in Kazakhstan over discontent with the country's authoritarian government. The military stamped out the protests, and more than 200 people died. Kazakhstan's president later announced ambitious reforms aimed at increasing democracy and the rule of law. But two years later, Levi Bridges reports from Almaty, Kazakhstan's largest city, that many of those initiatives have crumbled, with authorities now arresting prominent democracy activists.

Kazakhstan commemorates Bloody January protests of 2022

Discover a new path to self-discovery and healing with this timely exploration of the therapeutic benefits of psilocybin mushrooms. InPsilocybin Therapy, Dr. JJ Pursell explores the next frontier in mental health: the therapeutic use of psilocybin mushrooms and related psychedelics. Readers will learn about the chemical makeup of mushrooms and what makes them powerful, the history of the fungi, the thought leaders in the movement, and the impact of psilocybin on the brain. Additional chapters explore how to use psilocybin with a facilitator, how psychedelics can help users work through deep psychological issues, what microdosing means, and how to assess potential risks. Pursell weaves her personal experience with psilocybin as both a user and a facilitator throughout the text. The result is a relatable, accessible, and helpful guide for those seeking a new form of self-discovery and healing.

Psilocybin Therapy By Dr. JJ Pursell Read by Alyssa Bresnahan - Audiobook Excerpt

In this In Conversation podcast, Dr. Seonaid Anderson is joined by Dr. Maddie Groom to discuss a current research project focusing on Tics and Tourette Syndrome called INTEND. INTEND stands for ImproviNg Tic Services in EnglaND.

Discussion points include: 

The ideas behind the project and how the project is funded.
Insight into what Tics are, and their impact.
How health care professionals are involved with the INTEND project and how they can get involved.
The importance of a recommended service model and the impact of there being no NICE guidelines in the UK for Tic Disorders and Tourette Syndrome.

This episode is part of The Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health’s series on Tourette Syndrome and Tic Disorders. The series explores the evidence-based research on Tourette Syndrome, and other Tic Disorders, as well as the education, treatments, and the influences of the pandemic and social media.

#ListenLearnLike
DOI: 10.13056/acamh.26823

Tic Disorders And Tourette Syndrome Exploring The INTEND Project

These podcasts are an invaluable resource for anyone interested in child and adolescent mental health. They bridge the gap between rigorous research and practical application, featuring expert discussions on mental health. 

Each episode highlights cutting-edge studies offering insights into findings, and implications for practice. The series caters to clinicians, researchers, and those interested in mental health. 

Available on major platforms like Spotify and Apple Podcasts, it’s an accessible way to stay informed about advancements in the field.
Visit our website (www.acamh.org) for a host of free evidence-based mental health resources.