Mad in America

Events in March 2025

Laura Delano on Her New Book, Unshrunk

Dory Previn: On My Way to Where | Screening and Panel

Free Webinar: Embracing A New Hope & Healing: Peer Designed and Directed Crisis Response

Virtual Global Launch of the WHO Guidance on Mental Health Policy and Strategic Action Plans

Laura Delano on Her New Book, Unshrunk

Dory Previn: On My Way to Where | Screening and Panel

Free Webinar: Embracing A New Hope & Healing: Peer Designed and Directed Crisis Response

Virtual Global Launch of the WHO Guidance on Mental Health Policy and Strategic Action Plans

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Laura Delano on Her New Book, Unshrunk

Dory Previn: On My Way to Where | Screening and Panel

Free Webinar: Embracing A New Hope & Healing: Peer Designed and Directed Crisis Response

Virtual Global Launch of the WHO Guidance on Mental Health Policy and Strategic Action Plans

5:00 pm – 6:30 pm
March 18, 2025

Laura Delano talks about her newly published book, Unshrunk: A Story of Psychiatric Treatment Resistance. While this is a ticketed event, write [email protected] for a scholarship ticket.

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7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
March 19, 2025

Documentary screening and panel online and at the Clairidge Theater in Montclair, NJ

Link for in-person tickets here. To sign up for the virtual screening of the film and panel, click here.

Writing and singing the unvarnished truth about one’s buried secret life experiences is more common today than when Dory Previn wrote brilliant, disturbing, and darkly funny songs in the 1970s. Previn began as an Academy Award nominated lyricist for Hollywood musicals with songs for Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland & Dionne Warwick before a tabloid scandal and public breakdown led to her re-emergence as a cult artist in the Laurel Canyon scene. The film taps archives for a story in Previn’s voice. J. Smith-Cameron (SUCCESSION) reads the voices in Dory’s head from her journals.

Panel Description:

A panel discussion with Co-Director Julia Greenberg and Animator Emily Hubley and IDHA NYC Director Jessie Roth follows the screening, moderated by Karin Jervert (artist and Mad Pride activist). The panel will discuss how artists can respectfully approach the representations of people with lived experience of voices and visions in ways that encourage empowerment over discrimination. Done with curiosity and compassion for the diversity of the human mind, these works of art can serve to increase understanding and healing as well as community engagement and social justice in health.

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3:30 pm – 5:00 pm
March 20, 2025

Presenters: Sera Davidow, Lauren Spiro, Laura Rose Misaras, and Kristina "KK" Kapp

Please join us for Part 4 in our ongoing series where we showcase progressive and innovative systems, as holistic alternatives to 988, co-designing solutions to some of the most complex problems we face in our world today. This is the long awaited first of the two primary portions of our webinar conclusion sequence, we have called “Placing the Keystone,” referring to intellectual architecture designs.

Webinar Description:

We are at a pivotal time in human history. We invite you to collaborate with us on how we can unite in therapeutic community engagement as a Wellness Initiative Network (WIN) – Reconnecting with the Earth for Personal and Global Healing – for the hope of a sustainable existence, for the future of our species, and for the love of our home.

Click here to register.

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7:00 am – 8:30 am
March 25, 2025

Tuesday, 25 March 2025 (13:00 to 14:30 CET)

Register now for the virtual launch event here: https://who.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_1ML12R9hT-ehZvH3J3DuvA

Join Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO, policy makers and experts for this landmark event presenting the latest WHO guidance, designed to transform mental health policy and systems globally.

This updated guidance marks a critical step in supporting countries to develop their mental health policies and strategic action plans that meet today’s challenges. Incorporating lessons learned over the past 20 years, it offers practical guidance and tools to strengthen governance, enhance service delivery, and build a skilled mental health workforce.

Recognizing that mental health is shaped by social and structural factors—such as poverty, housing, education, and employment—the guidance outlines actionable approaches to address these determinants, eliminate barriers like stigma and discrimination, and improve access to holistic rights-based care. It champions the participation of people with lived experience at all levels of mental health reform, acknowledging their vital role in shaping systems that are inclusive, empowering, and responsive to their needs. The guidance also emphasizes collaboration across sectors to deliver holistic support, integrating physical, psychological, social, and economic interventions, alongside efforts to prevent mental health conditions and promote well-being for all.

The 90-minute virtual event will include:

An introduction to the guidance and its key components;
Reflections from Ministers of Health and other stakeholders;
Discussions on advancing effective, equitable, and sustainable mental health reform.

Register now to join us: https://who.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_1ML12R9hT-ehZvH3J3DuvA

Live captioning will be available, along with automated translation captions in multiple languages. To access these features, please ensure you have the latest version of Zoom installed (at least version 6.3.6).

We look forward to welcoming you to this event! Please share this invitation widely to help spread the word. Promoting the new guidance is essential to driving sustainable change in mental health.

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18 Laura Delano on Her New Book, Unshrunk Laura Delano on Her New Book, Unshrunk 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm March 18, 2025 Laura Delano talks about her newly published book, Unshrunk: A Story of Psychiatric Treatment Resistance. While this is a ticketed event, write [email protected] for a scholarship ticket. {description} {title}

19 Dory Previn: On My Way to Where | Screening and Panel Dory Previn: On My Way to Where | Screening and Panel 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm March 19, 2025 Documentary screening and panel online and at the Clairidge Theater in Montclair, NJ Link for in-person tickets here. To sign up for the virtual screening of the film and panel, click here. Writing and singing the unvarnished truth about one’s buried secret life experiences is more common today than when Dory Previn wrote brilliant, disturbing, and darkly funny songs in the 1970s. Previn began as an Academy Award nominated lyricist for Hollywood musicals with songs for Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland & Dionne Warwick before a tabloid scandal and public breakdown led to her re-emergence as a cult artist in the Laurel Canyon scene. The film taps archives for a story in Previn’s voice. J. Smith-Cameron (SUCCESSION) reads the voices in Dory’s head from her journals. Panel Description: A panel discussion with Co-Director Julia Greenberg and Animator Emily Hubley and IDHA NYC Director Jessie Roth follows the screening, moderated by Karin Jervert (artist and Mad Pride activist). The panel will discuss how artists can respectfully approach the representations of people with lived experience of voices and visions in ways that encourage empowerment over discrimination. Done with curiosity and compassion for the diversity of the human mind, these works of art can serve to increase understanding and healing as well as community engagement and social justice in health. {description} {title}

20 Free Webinar: Embracing A New Hope & Healing: Peer Designed and Directed Crisis Response Free Webinar: Embracing A New Hope & Healing: Peer Designed and Directed Crisis Response 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm March 20, 2025 Presenters: Sera Davidow, Lauren Spiro, Laura Rose Misaras, and Kristina "KK" Kapp Please join us for Part 4 in our ongoing series where we showcase progressive and innovative systems, as holistic alternatives to 988, co-designing solutions to some of the most complex problems we face in our world today. This is the long awaited first of the two primary portions of our webinar conclusion sequence, we have called “Placing the Keystone,” referring to intellectual architecture designs. Webinar Description: We are at a pivotal time in human history. We invite you to collaborate with us on how we can unite in therapeutic community engagement as a Wellness Initiative Network (WIN) – Reconnecting with the Earth for Personal and Global Healing – for the hope of a sustainable existence, for the future of our species, and for the love of our home. Click here to register. {description} {title}

25 Virtual Global Launch of the WHO Guidance on Mental Health Policy and Strategic Action Plans Virtual Global Launch of the WHO Guidance on Mental Health Policy and Strategic Action Plans 7:00 am – 8:30 am March 25, 2025 Tuesday, 25 March 2025 (13:00 to 14:30 CET) Register now for the virtual launch event here: https://who.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_1ML12R9hT-ehZvH3J3DuvA Join Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO, policy makers and experts for this landmark event presenting the latest WHO guidance, designed to transform mental health policy and systems globally. This updated guidance marks a critical step in supporting countries to develop their mental health policies and strategic action plans that meet today’s challenges. Incorporating lessons learned over the past 20 years, it offers practical guidance and tools to strengthen governance, enhance service delivery, and build a skilled mental health workforce. Recognizing that mental health is shaped by social and structural factors—such as poverty, housing, education, and employment—the guidance outlines actionable approaches to address these determinants, eliminate barriers like stigma and discrimination, and improve access to holistic rights-based care. It champions the participation of people with lived experience at all levels of mental health reform, acknowledging their vital role in shaping systems that are inclusive, empowering, and responsive to their needs. The guidance also emphasizes collaboration across sectors to deliver holistic support, integrating physical, psychological, social, and economic interventions, alongside efforts to prevent mental health conditions and promote well-being for all. The 90-minute virtual event will include: An introduction to the guidance and its key components; Reflections from Ministers of Health and other stakeholders; Discussions on advancing effective, equitable, and sustainable mental health reform. Register now to join us: https://who.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_1ML12R9hT-ehZvH3J3DuvA Live captioning will be available, along with automated translation captions in multiple languages. To access these features, please ensure you have the latest version of Zoom installed (at least version 6.3.6). We look forward to welcoming you to this event! Please share this invitation widely to help spread the word. Promoting the new guidance is essential to driving sustainable change in mental health. {description} {title}