MSU Mental Health Research Connect, in collaboration with NAMI Lansing, the local affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, will host a special event during Mental Illness Awareness Week on Oct. 2.

The event will feature Nev Jones, associate professor of social work at the University of Pittsburgh, who will deliver a keynote address titled “Transforming Crisis Care for Serious Mental Illness: Focusing on Lived Experience”. Jones is a community-engaged mental health services researcher with extensive experience in public mental health policy and advocacy. Her work emphasizes disability justice and the importance of lived experience.  

“We’re thrilled to have Dr. Jones share her expertise on transforming crisis care,” Katharine Thakkar, associate professor of psychology and director of MSU’s Mental Health Research Connect. “Dr. Jones uniquely centers the voices and perspectives of people living with psychiatric disabilities in her work on crisis response systems. These individuals are typically left out of conversations, to the detriment of developing effective and empathic care systems. Her work is truly transformative.” 

MSU Mental Health Research Connect aims to bridge the gap between researchers and individuals whose lives are impacted by mental illness. They welcome any adult over the age of 18 to join their program, whether they have experienced mental health challenges themselves, have loved ones who struggle with mental health, or just want to get involved. NAMI Lansing provides advocacy, education, support and public awareness so that all individuals and families affected by mental health conditions can live healthy and fulfilling lives. 

"We welcome the collaboration between researchers and the community. It allows for a better in-depth understanding for all impacted by mental health," said Katreva N. Bisbee, NAMI Lansing president. "Dr. Jones and the panelists will illustrate the value of multiple perspectives in improving crisis care." 

This story originally appeared on the Department of Psychology website.