YOU CAN BE A PART OF HISTORY!!

Recently, members of DBSA’s senior staff had the remarkable opportunity to meet President-Elect Barack Obama’s transition team. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the issues and concerns of those of us living with a mood disorder and how these issues can be addressed by our country’s mental health system. The meeting was an astonishing, even unprecedented, work of outreach.

And, another incredible thing happened! The Obama team wants to hear from you! They would like your thoughts about the challenges you face everyday as a mental health consumer. However, time is short. Go to change.gov, no later than Wednesday, December 31, 2008, to tell your own personal story.

Would you also like to make recommendations on how your concerns can be addressed? Go to http://change.gov/agenda/health_care_agenda/, a site where you can tell them about what works and what doesn’t.  This is your opportunity to actually suggest how our country can meet the needs of those living with a mental illness.

Would you like to participate even further? You also have the opportunity to lead a health care discussion over the holidays. These discussions will be extremely valuable because Sen. Tom Daschle (D-SD), Secretary of Health and Human Services, will be attending many of them. Please note that sessions must be held before December 31, 2008. To signup, go to http://change.gov/page/s/hcdiscussion.

This is a unique moment in history, when an incoming president and administration are using technology to listen to the concerns of all Americans. Those of us who live with mental illness know very well that having an opportunity to talk directly and openly with those in government who make the decisions that affect our lives is rare, and we need to take full advantage of this opportunity.

(We also encourage you to add the phrase, Member of the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA), below your name so that we can present ourselves as one unified voice)!

One Person Can Make a Difference.