Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance National Capital Area Chapter Weekly Update April 4, 2021 Hello and welcome to the new weekly email! We are very excited to show you all the work we’ve done to bring you a new experience online. 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 new 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, April 4, 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, April 7, 2021 at 12:00 Noon Eastern Time Montgomery County Peer Support Group Meeting No meeting this week. DC Peer Support Group Meeting Time: Thursday, April 8, 2021 at 7:00 PM Eastern Time Southern PG Peer Support Group Meeting Time: Sunday, April 11, 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, April 7, 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 Mood Disorders and the Uses of Adversity Kay Redfield Jamison, Ph.D. We are very grateful to Dr. Kay Redfield Jamison for joining us this past week for our ongoing Speaker Series Program. Over 150 people participated in this talk and discussion with her from around the country. If you missed it you can view on our website at https://www.dbsanca.org/updates.html Next Speaker Series Program to feature Roy Richard Grinker DBSA NCA is excited to announce that our Speaker Series Program will feature Roy Richard Grinker in conversation with DBSA Advocacy Vice President Phyllis Foxworth regarding his new book Nobody's Normal: How Culture Created the Stigma of Mental Illness . It is scheduled for Tuesday, May 4th at 7:00 pm ; watch here for more details and registration. DBSA Chapter Outreach Project - Planning Committee Meeting Scheduled As recently announced, The National Capital Area Chapter was the recipient of a generous donation to support the development of a community outreach campaign, with a particular focus on communities of color. The Board is very excited with the possibilities that this contribution presents to the growth of DBSA in the region and opportunities for members to participate in a variety of ways. A special planning committee has been established to develop a marketing campaign and create new support group meetings targeted to a variety of communities. The first meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday, April 20th at 7:15 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. Mental Health Access Improvement Act National Council For Behavioral Health suggests contacting your Senators: Write Your Legislators | Mental Health & Addiction Public Policy Dangers of Marijuana and Psychiatric Medications Kay Jamison in her recent talk warned about how people with mood disorders may face dangers from marijuana. Here is a HealthyPlace article on some concerns with CBD: CBD and Some (Psychiatric) Medications: Dangerous Together News from National DBSA DBSA Seeking Participants Peer Advisory Councils Putting wellness within every individual’s reach is at the core of DBSA’s mission, strategies, and programs. Two of the ways we do that are through peer councils and market research. One of each of these opportunities are outlined below. If you are selected to participate in either opportunity, you will be compensated for your time and energy. More information will be provided about compensation in each of the pre-screeners. One opportunity is for individuals who live with major depressive disorder. The other opportunity is for individuals who support someone else living with bipolar disorder. Both opportunities require: • 18 years of age or older • Access and ability to participate in an online video conference, such as Zoom Opportunity 1 Peer Council for individuals living with major depressive disorder Specific Requirements: • Experience of treatment-resistant depression, i.e., did not fully find wellness despite trying various approved medications for depression. What will the Peer Council do? Members of the peer council will participate in an online video conference that may last up to 90-minutes. The video conference will be recorded and transcribed. Who is conducting these peer council sessions? Phyllis Foxworth, DBSA Advocacy Vice President, will moderate the discussions on behalf of COMPASS Pathways. COMPASS Pathways is a mental health care company dedicated to accelerating access to evidence-based innovation in mental health. COMPASS is currently researching how psilocybin therapy could help people with treatment-resistant depression. For more information on COMPASS, visit: www.compasspathways.com What should I do if I’m interested? If you’re interested in participating, please click here to take the pre-screener survey. We will reach out if this opportunity seems to be a good match for you. Opportunity 2 Interview with a supporter of someone with bipolar Specific requirements: • Supports someone living with bipolar disorder who has been to the emergency room for symptoms of agitation The purpose of the interview is to understand: • Your experience of supporting someone living with bipolar disorder • Your views on treatments prescribed to your loved one • Your experiences with the “bad days” associated with your loved one's condition, particularly those that require more urgent or emergency care at the emergency department or hospital • Your views on a medication currently being investigated as a possible treatment for the agitation associated with bipolar disorder What will you be asked to do? Selected participants will take part in a 60-minute interview with an Evolution Consulting & Research professional via telephone with web-assistance at a time of your convenience. Who is conducting the interviews? Evolution Consulting & Research is conducting these interviews on behalf of BioXcel Therapeutics, a pharmaceutical company. Your identity will be kept confidential at all times. No information that could identify you will be shared with BioXcel or any other 3rd party. Evolution Consulting & Research plan to interview approximately 20 people to understand their experiences and challenges living with bipolar disorder. The final report will be presented in an aggregated form that does not include any individual-specific information about you. In other words, the report will consist of perceptions of all the participants interviewed rather than only your personal perceptions. For more information on BioXcel, visit: https://www.bioxceltherapeutics.com/ What should I do if I am interested? If you are interested in participating in the interview, please call the following number and mention the “Bipolar Disorder Study.” You will be asked some pre-screener questions to make sure that you qualify to participate in the interview. Please Call/Email or Visit the Weblink: Call: (866) 978-0122 ask for Saida or Deyon Email:
[email protected] Weblink: https://m3research.info/2OgQZFO Links 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 ‘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 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) My “Bipolar Brain”: Constant Conversations in My Head 5 Ways Out of My Bipolar Purgatory 6 Practical Self-Tracking Strategies for Managing Bipolar Symptoms Keith O'Neil: Tackling Bipolar Disorder The History of Bipolar: Through the Ages—It's Been There Breaking the Cycle of Emotional Eating -