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.
You have to believe in yourself when no one else does.
- Serena Williams
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
Stanford Research Finds That "Therapist" Chatbots Are Encouraging Users' Schizophrenic Delusions and Suicidal Thoughts (opens new window)
Huge numbers of people are either already using chatbots like ChatGPT and Claude as therapists, or turning to commercial AI therapy platforms for help during dark moments.Read more (opens new window)
Electroconvulsive therapy reduces suicidality and all-cause mortality in refractory depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis of neurostimulation studies (opens new window)
Depressive disorders are among the most common psychiatric disorders worldwide and associated with half of all suicides. There is robust evidence indicating that both electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) effectively alleviate depressive symptoms in difficult-to-treat depression and enhance patient outcomes. Read more (opens new window)
Emmy Effect: Why Mental Health Stories Are Hollywood’s Best Investment (opens new window)
Hollywood is rewriting the script on mental health storytelling. According to studies, from 2021 to 2023, the number of mental health-related stories rose by a staggering 39%. We see this with shows like Ted Lasso, Shrinking, and many others. According to the “Shifting Minds” report, stigmatizing language such as “crazy” or “psycho” has also dropped by 15%. This indicates increased collaboration between the artistic and the professional worlds, which seek to bring relevant, entertaining, and accurate stories to the screen.Read more (opens new window)
‘Safeguarding the mental health of nurses and nursing students is essential’ (opens new window)
The nursing profession, a foundational pillar of healthcare delivery, is currently facing an unprecedented mental health crisis that threatens both workforce sustainability and patient care quality. Read more (opens new window) (opens new window)
Penn Medicine Princeton creates unique hybrid nurse residency (opens new window)
Penn Medicine’s Princeton House Behavioral Health and Princeton Medical Center created a unique Hybrid Nurse Residency Program that combines psychiatric and medical-surgical rotations. Read more (opens new window)
Beyond the Diagnosis: Dr. Valery Nkendong’s Vision for Global Mental Health Leadership (opens new window)
In the evolving terrain of modern psychiatry, a quiet but decisive shift is occurring—one that values infrastructure over influence, sustainability over scale, and human dignity over institutional prestige. At the center of this transformation is Dr. Valery Nkendong, a Doctor of Nursing Practice and board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner whose work spans clinical care, leadership development, and global mental health advocacy. Read more (opens new window)
Is Nursing a STEM Profession? (opens new window)
Nursing involves science, technology, and math every day—but is it officially considered a STEM career? While nursing clearly shares many traits with STEM fields, it’s still not always recognized as a “true” STEM degree by some government agencies. Let’s break it down. Read more (opens new window)
MFP/ANA ANNOUNCEMENTS & UPCOMING EVENTS
The MFP/ANA's 2025 Intensive Training Institute (ITI) is happening August 13–17.
This year's theme: Innovating Psychiatric Nursing – Advancing Mental Health and Substance Use Care for Children and Families Through Leadership.
🎉 Congratulations to the 2025 Class of AAN Fellows! 🎉
We’re thrilled to celebrate the induction of several outstanding members of our MFP family into the 2025 Class of Fellows of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN)!
👏 Special congratulations to:
Dr. Marife Aczon-Armstrong, MFP Alum
Dr. Shaquita Starks, MFP Alum
Dr. Katie Boston-Leary, MFP Family
Dr. Jennifer Shepherd, MFP Family
Your dedication, leadership, and advocacy for effective mental health and substance use care for all continue to inspire our community and elevate the nursing profession.
Let’s celebrate this incredible milestone together and keep championing the mission of the MFP and ANA!
📣 See the full announcement from AAN - Click Here (opens new window)
UVI CELL is seeking a Program Manager to join our team in St. Croix!
Full-time position
🎓 Bachelor’s in Education, Human Relations, Psychology, Business, or related field required
🎓 Master’s degree preferred
Apply Now - Click Here (opens new window)
We’re proud to support Kirby Williams, MSN, PMHNP‑BC, along with co-founders Letizia Baxter Smith and Anyi Atabong, DNP, PMHNP‑BC, FNP‑C, as they bring the first in-person event from the Society of Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners of Color to life!
🗓 Save the Date: Saturday, September 13, 2025
📍 Baltimore, MD
A full day of learning, connection, and actionable strategies for advancing culturally affirming care. Registration opens soon, stay tuned!
Congratulations to MFP/ANA Doctoral Fellow Kim Kim!
We’re thrilled to share that Kim has been selected as the Student Commencement Speaker for the upcoming DNPs of Color 2025 Virtual Commencement!
📅 Date: June 21, 2025
🕚 Time: 11:00 AM EST
📍 Location: Virtual
Register Here: Click Here (opens new window)
Join Kim in celebrating the incredible accomplishments of the newest class of Doctor of Nursing Practice graduates, and hear Kim Kim deliver an inspiring address to mark this milestone. Open to all Viewers and DNP graduates!
What happens when a toddler’s tantrum isn’t just a tantrum?
In this powerful real-life story, Dr. Vickye Hayter, PhD fellow of the MFP at the American Nurses Association, recalls a moment early in her career that foreshadowed today’s youth mental health crisis.
A two-year-old, inconsolable without a screen.
A mother, convinced her child was possessed.
And now? A whole generation overwhelmed by technology.
This short clip is a wake-up call for:
- Behavioral health specialists
- Nurses working in pediatric or psychiatric care
- Students pursuing careers in mental and behavioral health
- Parents and caregivers navigating the digital age
From the full episode: “Gen Z, Anxiety, and the Parenting Paradox” on
Mental Health Trailblazers: Psychiatric Nurses Speak Up
🎧 Listen to the full episode:
📌 https://emfp.org/news/mental-health-trailblazers-podcast/gen-z-anxiety-and-parenting-paradox-dr-vickye-hayter (opens new window)
📌 Or on YouTube: https://youtu.be/oO_StN3eLmI (opens new window)
📢 If this story resonates with you, share it with your network. Let’s spread awareness and spark conversation about how we support Gen Z.
Exciting News for Mental Health Trailblazers!
CNEs are now available for all episodes of Season 4 of the MFP at the American Nurses Association’s Mental Health Trailblazers: Psychiatric Nurses Speak Up podcast!
Season 4, titled “50 Years – Reflect and Project,” celebrated the 50th anniversary of the SAMHSA Minority Fellowship Program at the American Nurses Association. This milestone season spotlighted the powerful legacy of psychiatric mental health nurses and fellows who have transformed mental health and substance use care for underserved communities across the country. Through inspiring interviews and deep reflections, our guests honored the past while envisioning a future where effective behavioral health care is accessible to all.
Now, you can revisit all 12 episodes and earn FREE continuing nursing education (CNE) credits through the ANA Enterprise Continuing Education portal:
🎧 Start learning today:
👉 Episodes 1–6: nursingworld.org/continuing-education/MHTP-S4-E1-6 (opens new window)
👉 Episodes 7–12: nursingworld.org/continuing-education/MHTP-S4-E7-12 (opens new window)
📢 Don’t keep it to yourself — share this unique resource! Encourage your colleagues, networks, and anyone interested in behavioral health to tune in and take advantage of this free educational opportunity.
Subscribe and stay connected:
Season 5 is now streaming!
Catch the latest episodes of Mental Health Trailblazers and continue the journey with fresh voices and timely conversations. Information about CNE availability for Season 5 will be announced at the end of the season — so stay tuned!
Listen. Learn. Lead.
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
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.
