Beyond Stigma: Strengthening Safety and Choice within Mental Health and Substance Use Support

Domestic violence advocates bring significant skill, experience, and compassion to their work with survivors. This 90-minute interactive training builds on those strengths to increase confidence and capacity for supporting survivors who are navigating mental health or substance use concerns. Together, we will explore the intersections of domestic violence, trauma, mental health, substance use, and coercive control, with an emphasis on reducing stigma and strengthening survivor-centered advocacy within a voluntary services framework. We will examine how unsafe partners may use mental health and substance use coercion as tactics of control and discuss practical ways advocates can respond with safety, respect, curiosity, and without judgment. Using the Mental Health and Substance Use Coercion Palm Cards, we will identify strategies for 2 opening supportive conversations, incorporating mental health and substance use into safety planning, and connecting survivors with desired mental health, substance use, and community resources.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this training series, advocates will be able to:

● Recognize examples of mental health and substance use coercion and their potential impacts on survivor safety and well-being.

● Apply trauma-informed strategies for discussing mental health and substance use within a voluntary services framework.

● Use the Mental Health and Substance Use Coercion Palm Cards to support conversation, safety planning, and connection to survivor-chosen resources.

Presenter Bio:

Amanda Lyon, LCSW, brings more than 20 years of experience supporting survivors, advocates, healthcare providers, coalitions, and multidisciplinary partners through training, technical assistance, education, and systems change efforts. As the Training and Technical Assistance Manager, Amanda provides strategic leadership for NCDVTMH’s national TTA initiatives, including capacity-building, curriculum development, and cross-systems collaboration at the intersections of domestic violence, trauma, mental health, and substance use. She is recognized for translating complex issues into practical, accessible guidance that strengthens organizational capacity and expands survivor access to healing-centered services, particularly in rural and underserved communities. Prior to joining NCDVTMH, Amanda provided technical assistance to domestic and sexual violence programs across Alaska and spent many years developing and leading educational programs in community and wellness settings.