Each week a quote is shared for your consideration. Some quotes might offer comfort, hope, a challenge, a chuckle, or inspiration. You may or may not agree with the quote, but it is offered simply to help you reflect and ponder.
Every burden is a blessing.
- Walt Kelly
The MFP is an initiative staffed by ANA with funding from SAMHSA, making fellowships available to ethnic and racial psychiatric nursing students who are enrolled full time in an accredited master’s/doctoral nursing program.
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
This week’s recommended Health and Wellness Activity
MENTAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE USE, AND NURSING ARTICLES
As the VA plans more cuts, mental health care workers already feeling the impacts (opens new window)
The Department of Veterans Affairs says it plans to cut 80,000 more jobs out of a workforce of several hundred thousand. That's one of many administration moves against the workforce that was hired to look after veterans. In speeches before the election, President Trump's budget director said his goal was to put federal employees, quote, "in trauma." NPR's Katia Riddle reports on the new rules, small and large, that affect one VA employee as she tries to provide mental health care. Read more (opens new window)
Nearly 17 million children affected by parental substance use disorders in the U.S (opens new window)
Nearly 17 million children and adolescents in the United States are estimated to live with a parent who has a substance use disorder, according to a study led by Texas State University, University of Michigan and Wayne State University. The study found that alcohol use disorder was the leading contributor, affecting 12.8 million children. Cannabis use disorder was the second most prevalent, affecting 5 million children, while prescription opioid use disorder affects more than 1 million children. Read more (opens new window)
There is a Global Lack of Effective Treatment for Mental and Substance Use Disorders (opens new window)
A significant gap exists in mental health care, as only a small percentage of individuals with mental health and substance use disorders receive treatment that meets clinical guidelines, according to findings published in JAMA Psychiatry. Mental and substance use disorders are leading causes of disability worldwide, yet many affected individuals do not receive adequate treatment. Read more (opens new window)
Assessing and alleviating state anxiety in large language models (opens new window)
The use of Large Language Models (LLMs) in mental health highlights the need to understand their responses to emotional content. Previous research shows that emotion-inducing prompts can elevate “anxiety” in LLMs, affecting behavior and amplifying biases. Here, we found that traumatic narratives increased Chat-GPT-4’s reported anxiety while mindfulness-based exercises reduced it, though not to baseline. These findings suggest managing LLMs’ “emotional states” can foster safer and more ethical human-AI interactions. Read more (opens new window)
MFP/ANA ANNOUNCEMENTS & UPCOMING EVENTS
Greetings MFP Mentors!
We’re thrilled to announce the launch of the newly updated MFP/ANA Online Mentorship System—designed to strengthen connections and enhance the mentorship experience for both mentors and mentees. As we roll out these improvements, we kindly ask you to update your mentorship profile, particularly the experience section, by March 14th at 5 PM (EDT).
Your insights and expertise are invaluable, and this update will ensure mentees can find the best match based on their needs. To make this quick and easy, we’ve streamlined the process into just five brief questions—and we’ve created a step-by-step tutorial to guide you along the way:
CLICK HERE (opens new window)Your commitment to fostering the next generation of diverse nursing leaders is what makes this program so impactful. By taking just a few minutes to refresh your profile, you’ll help shape a more effective and dynamic mentorship experience. Click the link below to get started, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions. Thank you for your time and dedication—we appreciate you!
Best Regards, MFP Team
Congratulations to Dr. Eugenia Flores Millender, PI on the grant and MFP alum, and Dr. Umeika Stephens, NAC member
Congratulations to MFP Alumni Marcus D. Henderson, MSN, RN
Save the date! The 2025 Intensive Training Institute is happening August 14-16 in Baltimore, MD.
This year’s theme focuses on Empowering Psychiatric Nurses to Transform Care from Acute to Chronic Mental Health and Substance Use Conditions in Children and Families. Don’t miss it!
Exciting news! The MFP Chatbot has landed on our website
Exciting news! The MFP Chatbot has landed on our website, ready to answer your questions about the Fellowship application and program—anytime, anywhere! Just click the chat icon in the lower right corner and start the conversation.
50 Years: Reflect & Project!
In the season 4 finale of Mental Health Trailblazers, Psychiatric Nurses Speak Up! host Indrias Kassaye sits down with two pivotal figures behind the Minority Fellowship Program (MFP) at the American Nurses Association: Janet Jackson, Project Director, and Samuel Suraphel, Digital Program Manager. Often working behind the scenes, Janet and Samuel are the program's driving force, tirelessly steering its mission to support psychiatric mental health nurses from underrepresented backgrounds and advance psychiatric mental health care for diverse communities.
Throughout this engaging and heartfelt conversation, Janet reflects on the personal stories that connected her to MFP’s mission and shares how she helped transform the program from a state of disarray to a thriving support system for behavioral health nurses. Samuel offers his unique insights into the program’s evolution, highlighting the growing interest among young nurses in psychiatric mental health and the shift in perceptions within the field. Together, they celebrate MFP’s achievements and lay out an ambitious vision for the future, including expanding outreach to high schools, building career pathways, and enhancing digital engagement to reach broader audiences.
Join us for this inspiring episode that not only honors the MFP’s remarkable 50-year legacy but also looks ahead with optimism to the next generation of mental health care providers. As Janet, Samuel, and Indrias celebrate this milestone, they leave us with a powerful reminder: mental health care is essential, and the mission continues.
Listen now to the entire podcast episode.
Nurses earn FREE continuing Nursing Education Credits! Visit here (opens new window)
Visit emfp.org to learn more about the Minority Fellowship Program at the American Nurses Association.
Introducing the MFP/ANA Mobile App: Connect, Collaborate, Thrive!
We are thrilled to welcome you to the MFP/ANA Mobile App, a platform designed to connect Alumni like yourself in a mobile network of support and collaboration. Whether you are looking to share experiences, seek advice, or simply connect with like-minded individuals, this app is here to facilitate meaningful interactions within our community.
As an Alumni, your unique perspective and expertise are valuable assets that contribute to the richness of our network. We encourage you to explore the various features of the app, participate in discussions, and engage with fellow members to make the most of your experience. Together, we can create a supportive and empowering environment where ideas thrive and connections flourish.
To Connect:
- Use this link (opens new window) to access the community and create an account.
- Complete the 4 brief items to get the most out of the mobile app community including:
- Fill out your profile
- Introduce yourself
- Adjust your notifications so you know when things are happening
- Download the mobile app!
Thank you for joining us on this exciting journey. We look forward to seeing the positive impact you will make within the MFP/ANA Mobile App community.
Download the MFP/ANA Mobile App
Or Scan the QR Code below
Upcoming Events
- Save the Date and Join us for the NCEMNA Policy Summit March 27 -28, 2024 at the California Endowment Center in Los Angeles.
What is Historical Trauma? Listen to the full episode here for more insights into this amazing program, and earn FREE CNEs!
HOTLINE RESOURCES
The National CLAS Standards
The National CLAS Standards are a set of 15 action steps intended to advance health equity, improve quality, and help eliminate health care disparities by providing a blueprint for individuals and health and health care organizations to implement culturally and linguistically appropriate services. View the standards here (opens new window)
About MFP
Funding for the MFP e-Newsletter was made possible (in part) by Grant Number 1H79SM090074-01 from SAMHSA. The views expressed in written training materials or publications and by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the department of Health and Human Services; nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
