Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance National Capital Area Chapter Weekly Update December 12, 2021 Hello and welcome to the weekly email! If you have a suggestion or news item to share please send to
[email protected] by 5:00 pm on Fridays. Be sure to check out the chapter website at www.dbsanca.org . DBSA NCA Peer Support Meetings Thursday evening groups (DC and Oxon Hill) have resumed in-person meetings. Other groups are delaying decisions for now. In person meetings (intended for the vaccinated) will follow all procedures and guidelines recommended or required by national health agencies, the relevant local government, and the host institutions. This week the chapter will offer Zoom and in-person peer support groups as shown below. Please note that peer groups are for people living with depression and bipolar disorder. The Friends and Family group is for friends and family members of those living with depression or bipolar disorder (or other mental illnesses) to share the challenges of that relationship. The group locations indicated below for virtual groups denote where these groups have met previously, and will probably return; however some groups will remain virtual indefinitely. Peers may opt to participate in any of the peer groups. The Zoom connection links for groups have changed for 2021. To join peer groups you use the same link to access any meeting at its scheduled time. The Friends and Family group (first and third Wednesday evenings) has a different link for its meetings. If the provided link is used online, a password should be unnecessary. Please let us know of any difficulties via
[email protected] . Sunday Evening Zoom Peer Support Group Meeting Sunday, December 12, 2021 at 6:00 PM Eastern Time Beltsville Zoom Peer Support Group Meeting Monday, December 13, 2021 at 7:00 PM Eastern Time LGBTQIA+ Zoom Peer Support Group Meeting No meeting this week Women’s Zoom Peer Support Group Meeting Tuesday, December 14, 2021 at 7:00 PM Eastern Time Mid-Day Zoom Peer Support Group Meeting Wednesday, December 15, 2021 at 12:00 PM Eastern Time Montgomery County Zoom Peer Support Group Meeting Wednesday, December 15, 2021 at 7:00 PM Eastern Time Southern PG Peer Support Group Meeting (In Person) Thursday, December 16, 2021 at 7:00 PM Eastern Time; Location: Oxon Hill United Methodist Church 6400 Livingston Road, Oxon Hill Thursday DC Peer Support Group Meeting (In Person) Thursday, December 16, 2021 at 7:00 PM Eastern Time (gather from 6:45); Location: Foundry United Methodist Church, 16th and P Streets, NW Thursday Zoom Peer Support Group Meeting Thursday, December 16, 2021 at 7:00 PM Eastern Time Sunday Evening Zoom Peer Support Group Meeting Sunday, December 19, 2021 at 6:00 PM Eastern Time See our Support Groups page for up-to-date information on in person and virtual groups. Invite link for all ZOOM PEER groups: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6625874960?pwd=TU5SZ3lkV3o4TDhDdi9lZU1jZDZMQT09 Meeting ID 662 587 4960 Passcode: dbsanca One tap mobile +13017158592,,6625874960#,,,,,,0#,,3858633# Dial in 301-715-8592 Meeting ID: 662-587-4960 Passcode: 3858633 DBSA NCA Family and Friends Meeting Family & Friends Meeting Wednesday, December 15, 2021 at 7:30 PM Eastern Time Invite link for the FAMILY & FRIENDS group: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82298544216?pwd=QVpkeVFIeTJvVGJwbmpXNHdWcnVlQT09 Meeting ID: 822 9854 4216 Passcode: dbsanca One tap mobile +13017158592,,82298544216#,,,,*6740529# Dial in 301-715-8592 Meeting ID: 822 9854 4216 Passcode: 6740529 Call for Web Volunteers & Feedback The Web Team is currently seeking administrative volunteers to help with putting out weekly newsletters and maintenance on the website. If you would like to help or provide feedback on these newsletters and the website , please reach out to
[email protected] . Your assistance is most welcome and appreciated. We Need Your Likes! Our chapter now has a Facebook Page - please go to https://www.facebook.com/DBSANCA and click to “Like” the page. We will be using this to push out information about the chapter and mood disorder resources that you will find helpful. You can also use this page to share with friends and family who are looking for support. Our goal is to get 100 new likes in the next month so check it out! DBSA January Facilitator Training In the meantime, please mark your calendars for the next Support Group Facilitator Training session which is on January 21st and 28th at the following time: 3pm – 7pm Eastern time 2pm – 6pm Central time 1pm – 5pm Mountain time 12pm – 4pm Pacific time Please note participants must attend both sessions in order to receive credit for participation. To register, have interested peers email
[email protected] with their full name, chapter name and email address. News From National DBSA Hangout on Christmas Day afternoon - National DBSA has informed us that all are invited to the Christmas Hangout of the Greater Hartford Chapter, available December 25 from 1:00 - 9:00 PM EST, particularly those bored, alone, or down at that time, See calendar at: DBSA Greater Hartford DBSA recently released its 2020 Annual Report - learn all about the incredible work of DBSA over the past year. DBSA News I’m Living Proof: A Letter to My Younger Self National DBSA Wellness Wheel DBSA Wellness Toolbox Mental Health Screening Center 8 Tips on Setting Boundaries for Your Mental Health - DBSA Ten Grounding Strategies To Help You Redirect Your Thoughts Suicide Prevention Information Events Outside of DBSA iNDIEFLIX virtually presents the movie LIKE - EveryMind - Tuesday December 14 - 6:30-8:00 PM EST - http://www.every-mind.org/LIKE2021/ OCD: Using Genome Data to Predict Risk, Symptoms and Treatment Response - Meet the Scientist Webinar - Tuesday, December 14 at 2:00 PM EST https://www.bbrfoundation.org/event/ocd-using-genome-data-predict-risk-symptoms-and-treatment-response Talk Saves Lives: An Introduction to Suicide Prevention (presented by AFSP-NCAC) - Wednesday December 15 - 7:00-8:00 PM EST - https://ncactsl12152021.attendease.com/ Mind Your Mind Mondays - MHAMD - Mondays at 6:30 - 7:30 PM https://www.mhamd.org/news/event/mind-your-mind-mondays-3/ The Mental Health Association of Maryland’s Vibrant Aging Peers Program is a weekly opportunity for older Marylanders to learn about brain health and engage with others around mental wellness, with a different topic every week. https://www.mhamd.org/news/event/mind-your-mind-mondays-3/ Events page for MHAMD: https://www.mhamd.org/what-we-do/outreach-and-education/vibrant-minds/events/ Studies & Opportunities Healthy mothers aged 18-50 who experienced PPD are invited to participate in a 7-month study at NIH with appointments every two weeks. Call 301-496-9576 NIMH » Adults: Postpartum Depression Emotional, social, cognitive and behavioral impact of the COVID-19 pandemic - Clinical Trials Survey System | Home NIMH online study (approximately 2 hours) Depression: Repeated Doses of Ketamine, and Neuroimaging - NIMH Call 1-877-MIND-NIH to find out if you qualify. ClinicalTrials.gov is a database of privately and publicly funded clinical studies conducted around the world. You can search for studies involving a specific disease or condition, such as “bipolar disorder,” and for ones recruiting or soon to be recruiting participants. Further Resources Childhood Onset of Bipolar Disorders: An Excess in the US and What To Do About It - International BiPolar Foundation Liam Gildea’s High Life Low Life - International BiPolar Foundation OCD: Using Genome Data to Predict Risk, Symptoms and Treatment Response | Brain & Behavior Research Foundation - Brain and Behavior Research Foundation From Thanksgiving to New Year’s: Protecting Your Mental Health During the Holidays - American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Why is the CDC missing in action on severe mental illnesses? - STAT News Mayors' top concern: mental health - AXIOS Heads Up Guys - Online resource helping men fight depression Recent articles from BP Magazine (BP Hope) Too Many Holiday Expectations? Mania & Financial Stress During the Holidays How I Recognized & Recovered from Gaslighting A Soothing “Staycation” to Usher in the New Year Contributions to DBSA Donations to the National DBSA may be made through the website. https://www.dbsalliance.org/ The DBSA NCA homepage has a donation link which may be used for online contributions via PayPal or major credit card. Others may prefer to mail a check, payable to DBSA NCA, to our chapter's address on the website. Our chapter is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. If you have any questions or comments, please don't hesitate to contact us via email or our dedicated voicemail line, 240-780-8706. In Health, The DBSA NCA Web Team
