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The Center’s  Community Psychiatrists’ Leadership Video Conference Series program will feature Carrie L. Brown, MD, MPH, chief medical officer for Behavioral Health & IDD, at  NC Department of Health and Human Services. The October 8 event, specifically designed for community psychiatrists, is the first in a series to update community psychiatrists...

    The Center’s John Gilmore, MD, Eure Professor, vice chair, Research and Scientific Affairs, is a co-PI for a NIH  research project to improve outcomes for children exposed to opioids. Weili Lin, PhD,, director of the Biomedical Research Imaging Center, Dixie Lee Boney Soo Distinguished Professor, Neurological Medicine, is PI....

Samantha Meltzer-Brody, MD, MPH, Ray M. Hayworth and Family Distinguished Professor of Mood and Anxiety Disorders, has been appointed Assad Meymandi Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Psychiatry, effective October 1. Read more in UNC Health Care’s Vital Signs

Here in the U.S., we are once again reeling from a series of mass shootings and the unavoidable aftermath of debates and inaction. Harvey Rosenthal—the CEO of the New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services and a staunch advocate for people with mental illness—wrote this opinion piece, published in USA Today...

The Individual Placement and Support (IPS) 101 training formerly called SE Foundations is required by all IPS team members (Team Lead, Employment Specialist, and Employment Peer Mentor) and Assertive Community Treatment team members (Vocational Specialists and Team Leaders). The two-day training will be an introduction to the evidence-based practice, incorporating...

Peer Specialists are particularly underpaid and have a limited career growth trajectory within the “peer specialist” position. We’ve seen peers continue to invest in their own career development, furthering their education and training, and eventually moving into other ACT team positions or out of ACT all together. When they do...

If you were not aware, “Virginia is for Lovers” — the travel slogan for this great state, which we’ve had the pleasure of working with the past couple of years. An apt slogan for a topic raised in training this week — how to support individuals around their desires to have sex and...

The Farm at Penny Lane’s innovative programs help mental health clients become more self-sufficient.

Hospitals Nursing homes Rest homes Group homes Family care homes Jails In creating any policy and funding in support of ACT intersecting with any institution, it’s best to consider the “spirit” of the program and how to support that best practice, and also consider the many ways it can be...

It was a busy and exciting spring. Both our STEP and Community Psychiatrists’ Leadership symposiums were great successes. We were pleased to host our inaugural donors’ appreciation lunch in May. Congratulations to Thava Mahadevan, our operations director, who recently received Wake County NAMI’s inaugural Ann & Gerry Akland Person of...

Matt Ballard, MSW, MDiv, joined the Center in April as program manager at the Farm at Penny Lane, which houses the Center’s innovative mental health recovery programs such as Horticulture Therapy, Brushes with Life Arts program, UNC PAWS and wellness programs. The Farm typically serves individuals with serious mental illness. He...

Claudia Driver, MA, LMFT, clinical director and family therapist at Wake Encompass, was named clinical director for the UNC STEP (Schizophrenia Treatment and Evaluation Program) Clinic at Carr Mill in May. She continues to manage both clinics as she transitions to the Carr Mill Clinic. “Claudia brings a wealth of...