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
Season Six Trailer
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Welcome to Season Six of Heart Forward Conversations from the Heart. After dedicating all of Season Five to voices from Trieste, for the next 10 episodes we’ve returned home. I am excited to share with you some amazing people and their work from which I know you will draw inspiration and hope.
We will explore this simple question:
What if the way we treat people is just as important as the services we provide? Or, perhaps, more important?
As you know, if you’ve been on this journey with us so far, we characterize this culture of coming alongside fellow human beings as Radical Hospitality.
It is fundamentally simple:
We see you. We hear you. You are safe here. Your voice matters.
This season we'll explore what happens when those values move beyond philosophy and become everyday practice. We'll talk with researchers, practitioners, advocates, and people with lived experience who are challenging the way we think about recovery, belonging, addiction, community, and what it means to truly matter.
You'll hear conversations with Father Greg Boyle of Homeboy Industries, psychologist Dr. Gordon Flett, experts in diversion and recovery, and others who press for system change and ask us to reimagine how we care for one another.
If you believe there is a more humane way to approach mental health care, you’re in the right place.
If you are interested to partner with Heart Forward as one of our sponsors, which helps us to avoid monetization and the pop up of annoying ads mid-sentence, please explore our sponsorship package HERE. A direct link to our Donor Portal is provided HERE.
Subscribe now, and join us for Season Six of Conversations from the Heart. New episodes begin in August.
With appreciation always to our technical producer, Aaron Stern of Capstone Audio.