Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance National Capital Area Chapter Weekly Update November 21, 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 A special chapter board meeting the weekend of October 17th considered the matter of resuming in-person group meetings. It decided that the chapter groups that previously had in-person meetings may consider returning to in-person meetings or offering some combination of in-person and virtual meetings. The Thursday evening groups (DC and Oxon Hill) will resume in-person meetings on Thursday November 11, while virtual Thursday evening meetings are planned to continue. Other groups are delaying decisions for now. In person meetings 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, November 21, 2021 at 6:00 PM Eastern Time Beltsville Zoom Peer Support Group Meeting Monday, November 22, 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, November 23, 2021 at 7:00 PM Eastern Time Mid-Day Zoom Peer Support Group Meeting Wednesday, November 24, 2021 at 12:00 PM Eastern Time Montgomery County Zoom Peer Support Group Meeting Wednesday, November 24, 2021 at 7:00 PM Eastern Time Southern PG Peer Support Group Meeting (In Person) No meeting this week Thursday DC Peer Support Group Meeting (In Person) No meeting this week Thursday Zoom Peer Support Group Meeting Thursday, November 25, 2021 at 7:00 PM Eastern Time - special Thanksgiving meeting particularly for those alone for the holiday Sunday Evening Zoom Peer Support Group Meeting Sunday, November 28, 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 No meeting this week 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! News From National DBSA September 2021 eUpdate - Supporting Our Community DBSA recently released its 2020 Annual Report - learn all about the incredible work of DBSA over the past year. 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 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 Mind Your Mind Mondays - MHAMD - Mondays at 6:30 - 7:30 PM 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 Heads Up Guys - Online resource helping men fight depression A promising new treatment for depression (YouTube Video) - CBS Sunday Morning CDC adds mental illness to high-risk Covid list - Washington Post The State of Mental Health in America - Mental Health America Annual Report 2021 Children's Mental Health Report - Child Mind Institute Understanding Anxiety, Depression and CBT - University of Reading free online course FreeWill for Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) - FreeWill lets you create a last will and testament. Severe Depression and Covid-19: Communities in Need Across the U.S. (pdf) - MHA What to Know When You're Newly Diagnosed With Depression - article from WEBMD From BBRF Team Identifies Three Possible Brain-Based Biotypes of Post-Trauma Psychiatric Vulnerability Lumateperone, an Antipsychotic, is Tested in a Phase 3 Trial for Major Depressive Episodes in Bipolar I and II Disorders Positive Preliminary Results in Highly Personalized Deep-Brain Stimulation Therapy for Treatment-Resistant Depression Mindfulness Training Plus tDCS Stimulation to Treat Cognitive Decline in Older Persons with Depression or Anxiety Study Sheds Light on Prevalence of 'Long-COVID,' Including Cognitive and Psychiatric Symptoms Positive Phase 3 Test of Rapid-Acting Oral Medicine for Postpartum Depression Healthy Minds TV | Brain & Behavior Research Foundation Study Identified Potential Predictors of Suicide Attempts in 30 Days Following Suicidal Thinking In Study, Phone-Based Mindfulness App Helped Young Teens Ruminate Less Depression’s Genetic Links Probed in 1 Million People in a Single Study for the First Time Obesity Is a Risk Factor for Brain-Structure Changes in Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder, 2 Studies Show Study Indicates Brain Lesions and Treatment Targets in Depression Affect the Same Circuitry, Suggesting New Treatment Possibilities Recent articles from BP Magazine (BP Hope) 3 Things to Do NOW That Improve Bipolar Disorder Symptoms | bpHope.com Facing the Beast of Bipolar Irritability 4 Tips for Telling Someone about Your Bipolar Disorder 6 Basic Steps to Manage Stress with Bipolar A Potential Solution to the Impulsivity of Bipolar Disorder 7 Tips for Surviving Holiday Stress People Like Me: 4 Personal Stories about Living with Bipolar How to Jump-start Your Self-Care Rituals When Depressed Depression, Independence, & Taking Control of Your Life What Does Bipolar Mania Sound Like? 6 Ways to Control the Impulsivity of Bipolar Disorder Bipolar Depression: Letting the Light In Imposter Syndrome—Recognizing & Overcoming the Urge to Hide Bipolar & Recovery: There Is NO 'Five Year Plan' 7 Tips for Caregivers to Ask for Help Break the Cycle of Self-Sabotage and Achieve Your Goals | bpHope.com Anxiety from My Head Down to My Toes Depression and the Art of Self-Compassion 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
