Navigating Mental Health In Information Spaces

Registration opens soon--check back later this week.

Mental health is a critical component of an individual's health and well-being. Historically, seeking mental health help has been fraught with challenges, including forced institutionalization, misunderstanding of symptoms, and stigmatization so profound that many chose to suffer in silence rather than reach out. In 1997, Jorm et al. coined the term 'mental health literacy,' defined as knowledge and beliefs about mental disorders that aid in their recognition, management, or prevention. A core component of mental health literacy includes knowing how to seek mental health information. To support public exploration and understanding, librarians and library workers play a crucial role in addressing the need for accessible, equitable, and inclusive mental health resources.

Drawing upon current LIS research and professional practice, this webinar will delve into the intricacies, limitations, and possibilities for change in fostering meaningful and compassionate mental health support within information spaces. Furthermore, these resources must effectively meet the diverse needs of various vulnerable and/or marginalized communities. This webinar will evaluate the current mental health information landscape through the lens of two library and information science educators and former librarians who conduct research with and advocate for marginalized groups.

In this webinar, we will cover the challenges associated with traditional and novel information landscapes. Furthermore, we will discuss historical and contemporary complexities and challenges in mental health information practices. By implementing strategies highlighted in this webinar, libraries can play a vital role in supporting community mental health, particularly for underserved, marginalized, and overlooked populations. Ultimately, our webinar aims to foster a meaningful discussion among presenters and attendees. This discussion, complemented by resources and additional supportive materials, is designed to extend into attendees' workplaces and inform their professional practice.

Learning Outcomes: 

By the end of this webinar, attendees will be able to:

• Expand the role of their library as a community mental health hub through partnerships with community health organizations, supportive and trauma-informed staff training, and develop representative and meaningful programming, collections, and outreach services;
• Foster and assess innovative and localized approaches to help address health equity needs and reduce mental health disparities in their communities; and
• Develop strategies to improve collaboration and organization between libraries, library workers, mental health professionals, and relevant community organizations/programs/initiatives.

Who Should Attend: Information professionals in all kinds of libraries; marginalized groups seeking information in-person or virtual.

 

Presenters:

Dr. Abigail L. Phillips (she/her) is an Associate Professor in the School of Information Studies at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. She holds Master’s and Specialist degrees in Library and Information Science, with a focus on leadership and management, from Florida State University. Her research interests include neurodiversity, mental health, disability, accessibility, and support for marginalized, underserved, and invisible communities, as well as cyberbullying and bullying. She also explores librarianship as a practice and libraries as both institutions and community spaces. Abigail received her PhD in Information Science from the School of Information at Florida State University in Spring 2016. Before entering the PhD program, she worked as a public librarian in a small, rural public library system in South Georgia. Per the norm in public libraries, she wore many hats, from creating and presenting story times to grant writing to developing a monthly lunchtime "brown bag" book clubs in the local middle and high schools' libraries.

Twanna Hodge (she/her) is a PhD candidate in the College of Information at the University of Maryland, College Park. She holds a BA in Humanities from the University of the Virgin Islands and a Master’s in Library and Information Science from the University of Washington. Her PhD research focuses on the mental health literacy and mental health information behavior of English-speaking Black Caribbean communities and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) employees in Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums (GLAM). She was an academic librarian for over seven years. She is one of the co-creators of the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) in Library and Information Science (LIS) Mental Health Summit, which was created during the pandemic as a space for collective care in an authentic and care-centered manner; to increase awareness of best practices for self-preservation and wellness tools.

Tech Requirements