JULY 2022 - As of July 16, 2022, the new 3-digit number for the National Suicide Prevention Hotline, 988, is officially live across the United States. The Sozosei Foundation applauds the tireless efforts of our grantee partners and others who made the transition to 988 possible. While this will help ensure this vital resource is even more accessible to individuals and families nationwide, the Foundation also recognizes that for 988 to fulfill its promise of one day serving as the nation’s mental health hotline, quite a bit of work remains to be done.
JUNE 2022 - The agenda for the 3rd Annual Sozosei Summit to Decriminalize Mental Illness, December 5 - 7, 2022, is nearly complete, and we hope you are saving the date for this year’s Summit. Registration will open in early September. The theme of this year’s Summit is building access to mental health care in communities with a special focus on 988, which goes live in just a few weeks.
MAY 2022 - A quick reminder that Statements of Interest are due to the Foundation by May 18, 2022 at 11:59 pm ET in response to our open call for applications from evidence-based programs and innovative (untested) approaches to decriminalize mental illness by increasing access to community-based mental health care. Read the full Request for Statements of Interest and how to apply here.
The Foundation recently kicked off a series of Global Solution Labs to surface more knowledge and perspectives about how to create a future where mental illness is not treated as a crime. Over 50 multidisciplinary “Solutionists” gathered on May 7, 2021, to take on the ambitious task of identifying the top solutions to move the needle on the decriminalization of mental illness.
In the spirit of collaboration, we recently hosted a Virtual Book Club featuring authors and renowned psychiatrist Dr. James Knoll and renowned psychologist Dr. Joel Dvoskin. Led by Sozosei Board Member, Mary Chi Michael, Dr. Knoll and Dr. Dvoskin discussed their contribution to the recently released book, “Decriminalizing Mental Illness” with more than 100 attendees.