Heart Forward Conversations from the Heart
The American mental health system is broken beyond repair. Rather than trying to tweak a system which fails everyone, it is time to commit to a bold vision for a better way forward. This podcast explores the American system against the plumb line of an international best practice, recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO), in Trieste, Italy. The 40-year old Trieste model demonstrates how a community-based treatment system upholds the human rights of the people served. The Trieste story is anti-institutional and models the therapeutic value of social connection. Topics will address contemporary challenges in the American failed mental health system as contrasted with the Italian approach toward accoglienza – or radical hospitality – as the underpinning of their remarkable culture of caring for people. Interviews will touch upon how the guiding principles of the Italian system – social recovery, whole person care, system accountability, and the human right to a purposeful life – are non-negotiable aspects if we are to have any hope of forging a new way forward in our American mental health system. This podcast is curated and hosted by Kerry Morrison, founder and project director of Heart Forward LA (https://www.heartforwardla.org/). Heart Forward is collaborating with Aaron Stern at Verdugo Sound as the technical partner in producing this podcast (https://www.verdugosound.com). Kerry Morrison is also the author of the blog www.accoglienza.us.
Heart Forward Conversations from the Heart
Trailer for Season Five
Season Five is a special treat: made in Italy!
This past year, with generous support from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, Heart Forward was afforded the opportunity to curate a study group to learn about a system in Trieste, Italy that the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a global best practice for community-based mental health care.
As the Équipe met regularly via Zoom to prepare for their October 2024 study visit, they fashioned a mission statement define their purpose:
The Équipe is an intentionally curated and diverse learning community that is committed to advancing a more humane and holistic mental healthcare system. Rejecting the institutional status quo, which contributes to suffering, homelessness and incarceration in the US, we look abroad for bright spots that could inform sustainable change.
So about these conversations. During our week in Trieste, I snuck away to do interviews in the city. Who will you meet?
Claudia Battiston. Claudia is a Psychiatric Rehabilitation Technician – which is a role unique to Italy, but seems to complement what we know as occupational therapy.
Dr. Tomasso Bonavigo, interviewed alongside his colleague, Dr. Alessandra Oretti. Bonavigo works in a community mental health center and Dr. Oretti is the director of the psychiatric unit in the central hospital and is as the interim director of the mental health department.
Elena Cerkvenic. She is a service user in Trieste and just published a book this year called Sono Schizofrenica e amo la mia follia.
Dr. Mario Colucci. A psychiatrist and philosopher, who has worked in the community system for most of his career and has written extensively about the Basaglian vision.
Dr. Giovanna Del Guidice. Here’s a female psychiatrist who managed to work alongside Franco Basaglia and now is dedicated to keeping the flame alive as she travels to other countries to provide training.
Stefania Grimaldi. One of the cornerstones of the model in Trieste is the network of social cooperatives. We’ll learn about one such social cooperative, La Collina, and how this system works.
Michele Sipala. Michele, in a peer support role, is involved with a very innovative six-month residential program for young service users in the city’s mental health system, Recovery House.
Beatrice Stanig. She speaks about how the association – L’Una e L’Altra – has provided a place of purpose for her. She is now a peer support specialist and has written a book called, Sei Innocente.
Caterina Vicentini. Caterina is a service user who provides a glimpse into how valuable the services in Trieste have been to her recovery and her ability to continue her career as a teacher.
The episodes will be ready for release mid-January 2025. Subscribe so you will be alerted when the first episode is available.
This is a non-sponsored podcast with no ads and entirely supported through donors. To support this podcast, please consider a donation HERE.
And thank you to my technical producer, Aaron Stern of Verdugo Sound for editing and production support.