New Beginnings: Reimagining Psychosis Services & Systems in the US

ISPS-US 23rd Annual Conference | November 1-3, 2024 | University of Pittsburgh & Duquesne University | Pittsburgh, PA & Hybrid Online | Preliminary Schedule

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8:15am EST

Keynote: Psychosis is Not What You “Think” - How Reality Testing Can Save America from Social Crisis (Hybrid)

Sunday November 3, 2024 8:15am - 9:30am EST

Union Ballroom

Systemic unethical and illegal practices have played an undeniable role in the development of (my) psychosis. Conventional establishments may reject social and environmental explanations of psychosis because to accept them would implicate their own role in contributive causation while forcing them to acknowledge that they are currently ill-equipped to remediate the problem. The objective of this presentation is to engage in a social exercise of reality testing by describing my personal journey through academia as an African-American woman challenging existing paradigms in (A) Sociological Theory (B) Physical Theory. I will describe a sometimes tragic but ultimately resilient story that centers on a repeated peculiar pattern of discrimination including unprecedented violent psychological backlash resulting in a psychotic break. However, there’s a twist—the psychotic break is not what you think. By examining scholars with histories of mental health challenges upon facing innovation in academia, this presentation will explore how environmental stressors, pressures, and social traumas can lead to psychosis. How should we define psychosis? Why are paradigm shifts and scholarly innovations associated with madness in the academy? What was the primary factor in my resilience? These questions will be addressed in this presentation for a discussion on how to reimagine psychosis and why reality testing has the capacity to save America from social crisis. This presentation is dedicated to the legacy of Sidney Baer.

Speakers

Becky Brasfield, MA

Human Services Research Institute

Becky Brasfield is an award-winning Recovery Leader, Policy Researcher and Certified Peer Support Specialist based in Chicago, Illinois. Ms. Brasfield is a staunch advocate for mental health recovery, disability rights, and justice reform. She currently works as a Policy Researcher... Read More →

Sunday November 3, 2024 8:15am - 9:30am EST
Union Ballroom

Keynote, Hybrid

3:30pm EST

Final Plenary Session (Details TBA) (Hybrid)

Sunday November 3, 2024 3:30pm - 4:30pm EST

Union Ballroom

Details coming soon

Sunday November 3, 2024 3:30pm - 4:30pm EST
Union Ballroom

Keynote, Hybrid

New Beginnings: Reimagining Psychosis Services & Systems in the US

From $41.75