Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance National Capital Area Chapter Weekly Update May 30, 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 Friday. Be sure to check out the chapter website at www.dbsanca.org . DBSA NCA Peer Support Meetings This week the chapter will offer Zoom peer support groups: Sunday evening, Wednesday at noon, Thursday evening, and Sunday evening. 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 denote where these groups have met previously, and will probably return. 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 . Southern PG County Peer Support Group Meeting Time: Sunday, May 30, 2021 at 6:00 PM Eastern Time Beltsville Peer Support Group Meeting No meeting this week. Women’s Peer Support Group Meeting No meeting this week. Mid-Day Peer Support Group Meeting Time: Wednesday, June 2, 2021 at 12:00 Noon Eastern Time Montgomery County Peer Support Group Meeting No meeting this week. DC Peer Support Group Meeting Time: Thursday, June 3, 2021 at 7:00 PM Eastern Time Southern PG Peer Support Group Meeting Time: Sunday, June 6, 2021 at 6:00 PM Eastern Time Invite link for all 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 Time: Wednesday, June 2, 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 A Note About Returning to Meetings In Person With the recent developments with regard to lifting of various public health requirements for public group meetings the Board has begun to engage in discussions about when we will begin to return to in-person meetings for our various support groups. It has been agreed that it will be a combination of when our meeting hosts are able to welcome us back to their facilities and the comfort level expressed by meeting participants that will largely drive this decision process. Additionally, it is expected that we will continue to offer some meetings virtually through Zoom while others will meet solely in-person. The Board will be meeting in June to develop a “restart” plan; your input on this is always appreciated. More details will be forthcoming as they are developed. DBSA Speaker Series Event Announced COVID Sense & Sensibilities: The Tsunami of Depression/Anxiety, Sleep & Public Stress Meet Research Advances & the Goal of Health Maintenance Presented by Chapter Medical Advisor, Frederick Jacobsen, MD, MPH Thursday June 17 at 6:00 PM EDT DBSA NCA’s Medical Advisor will present his annual review of the latest research on mood disorder research with a particular focus on the impact of COVID. His talk is always highly informative and packed with new information focused on achieving wellness through a range of treatment options. Register in advance for this program. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting. Note that this program will be recorded. https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUlf-yspzgoGNVq2h5cFBCtMyfTG104SCMF DBSA Chapter Outreach Project The task group working on the development of a community outreach campaign, with a particular focus on communities of color, has been continuing its work. They are endeavoring to develop a marketing campaign and create new support group meetings targeted to a variety of communities. The next meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday, June 1st at 7:00 PM . DBSA NCA Chapter members are invited to participate in this effort and are encouraged to reach out to Gregory Billings
[email protected] if you would like to participate in this discussion. Online Events Outside of DBSA Webinar: Gender Differences in Bipolar Disorder Across the Life Span Through an Intersectional Lens NIMH - Thursday June 10, 1:00-2:30 PM EDT https://www.nimh.nih.gov/news/events/announcements/gender-differences-in-bipolar-disorder-across-the-life-span-through-an-intersectional-lens Webinar: Getting on the Path to Wellness as a Family Families for Depression Awareness - Tuesday June 29, 7:00 PM EDT https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_JaVFLrC8SK2o16wM1gTeMw University of Reading free online course: Understanding Anxiety, Depression and CBT - Online Cour Going Digital: Behavioral Health Tech Discuss virtual behavioral health access and innovation June 3: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/going-digital-behavioral-health-tech-summit-2021-tickets-150314810645 MHA: From Resilience to Recovery - June 10-12 Virtual registration is now free - tickets are limited https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mhas-2021-annual-conference-from-resiliency-to-recovery-registration-147134999745 Agenda: https://mhanational.org/2021/annual-conference/agenda NIMH new online study (~2 hours): “Emotional, social, cognitive and behavioral impact of the COVID-19 pandemic” https://covidcoping.ctss.nih.gov/ Would you like to keep your own personal journal? - New virtual monthly group offered by Montgomery County Public Library - Fourth Thursday of each month starting Thursday May 27 - 6:30-7:30 PM ET https://mcpl.libnet.info/event/5018689 May is National Mental Health Awareness Month A Proclamation on National Mental Health Awareness Month, 2021 News From National DBSA New Series: “I’m Living Proof: A Letter to My Younger Self” debuted May 1. This program is organized by the DBSA Young Adults Council of which one of our very own chapter members is a leader and will be featured in an upcoming episode. I'm Living Proof: A Letter to My Younger Self I'm Living Proof Submissions and Guidelines May DBSA E-Update https://www.dbsalliance.org/education/newsletters/may-2021-eupdate/ New Links Added Weekly National DBSA Covid-19 Resources National Institute of Mental Health Covid-19 Resources Managing Grief During a Pandemic (Facebook) Handling Bipolar Symptoms While Isolating National DBSA Wellness Wheel 5 Ways You Can Promote Mental Health Every Day Meetup A blood test may help the diagnosis and treatment of depression - Economist Using Rapid-Acting Brain Stimulation for Treatment-Resistant Depression | Brain & Behavior Research Foundation - BBRF Medicine to Treat Premenstrual Mood Disorder is Tested - BBRF Suicide Deaths Declined in 2020: Experts Cautiously Optimistic - ASFP The Rise of Big Data Psychiatry - Wall Street Journal Black and African American Mental Health Resources - EveryMind Largest Genome Study to Date of Anxiety Reveals New Risk Variants and Suggests Possible Biological Mechanisms New report from BBRF and JAMA: A Close Look at How COVID-19 Infection Can Damage the Brain ASFP: Will Suicide Rates Go Up Because of the Pandemic? ‘Nobody Has Openings’ - Recent New York Times article: Mental Health Providers Struggle to Meet Pandemic Demand Article on Accelerated rTMS - Brain & Behavior Research Foundation: In Major Depression, Accelerated rTMS Brain Stimulation Shows Promise Study Links PTSD Stress To Cortical Thinning and Shorter Expected Lifespan From Healthy Place: How to Forgive for Your Emotional Health New York Times Article on TMS and Deep-Brain Stimulation: A Better Way to Zap Our Brains Depression Disconnect - Resources Videos Major Depressive Disorder: https://www.neurocarelive.com/app/mdd-2020 Insomnia: https://www.medlive.com/app/insomnia/ Recent articles from BP Magazine (BP Hope) 6 Basic Steps to Manage Stress with Bipolar Struggling with Self-Defeating Thoughts 19 Inspiring Quotes to Jump-Start Your Day Understanding Bipolar Anger & Rage Gone Missing—Losing My Dad and Losing My Mind How to Mend Relationships Damaged by Bipolar Supporting a Grieving Loved One Who Also Has Bipolar Teaching Caregivers How to Help You Through Mood Episodes Accepting Bipolar Disorder as an Invisible Illness & “Disability” Taking Charge of Your Bipolar Mood Swing “Train” Ask the Doctor: Setting Personal Boundaries My Mantras (Past & Present) for Managing Bipolar 8 Famous Funny People with Bipolar Contributions to DBSA Donations to the National DBSA may be made through the website: Donate to DBSA National . 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
