Get “Connected” in Houston, Texas!

Did you make a resolution this year to take better care of yourself? Make new friends? Learn something new? Do something fun? Then this year’s DBSA conference is for YOU! Join us May 20-22 at the DBSA 2011 National Conference: Peer Connections at the Westin Galleria Houston. Connect with your peers while enjoying empowering keynote presentations and inspiring educational workshops. Rejuvenate and bond at relaxation sessions, peer roundtables and support groups. And don’t forget to kick back and share some laughs at our annual stand-up comedy night!

The Westin Galleria is located within the impressive Galleria shopping and entertainment complex. With its stunning architecture, exceptional store mix and distinctive style of entertainment, The Galleria has established itself as the #1 tourist destination in Houston!

DBSA 2011 National Conference: Peer Connections

Friday, May 20 - Chapter Leadership Forum, Pre-Conference Institutes, Meet and Greet
Saturday, May 21 Conference (all day), Comedy Night
Sunday, May 22 Conference (half day)
Monday, May 23 and Tuesday, May 24 - Post-Conference Institute (8:30am-4:00pm)
Get connected at www.DBSAlliance.org/Conference2011

Conference NEWS:

Conference registration is now open!
DBSA Support Group participants receive our best discount. Register before March 30, 2011 and receive the special Early Bird rate!

Register for Chapter Leadership Forum!
Registration is FREE for up to five participants per chapter. Additional participants and those not affiliated with a DBSA chapter may register for $50. Click here for more information.

Book your room at the Westin Galleria!
Call (713) 960-8100 or (888) 627-8514. Be sure to indicate that you are attending the DBSA National Conference.
You may also book your room online!
Special Rates for DBSA Conference Attendees:
$109/night (single or double occupancy)
$129/night (triple occupancy)
$149/night (quadruple occupancy)

See more information.

Scholarship Applications are now being accepted!
The Center for Mental Health Services will be offering a limited number of scholarships for consumers interested in attending DBSA's 2011 Chapter Leadership Forum and National Conference. Learn how to apply.

Reminder! If you're interested in our comedy student program, apply before February 14, 2011.

February 21st Deadline for March Peer Specialist Training in Chicago

Are you are a person living with a mental illness who wants to use your experiences to assist your peers in moving forward to recovery? If so, working as a Peer Specialist may be the next step for you. This workforce is growing nationwide with expanding employment and volunteer opportunities. DBSA’s nationally-recognized Peer Specialist training and certification orients participants to a recovery philosophy, and prepares them to use peer-delivered services to enhance treatment strategies. Our curriculum meets competency standards established by the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Mental Health Services.

The spring 2011 DBSA Peer Specialist Training course will be held March 21-25 in Chicago, Illinois. Here’s how to apply:

A Note about FacingUs.org: 
When you visit the Facing Us Clubhouse, you'll notice that several "rooms," including the room that houses wellness tips, require you to log in or create an account. Why is this necessary? Because in these sections, you are creating personal journals, books or a plan that is uniquely yours. So, we need a way to pull your unique information--like pulling your file out of a filing cabinet.

Joining the Facing Us Clubhouse is easy and FREE! We only need two things to create an account just for you—your e-mail and a password. Please be assured that we will not distribute or sell your information to anyone outside of the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance. The media room and creativity center on the site does not require registration. The only reason we require registration for other parts of the site is so that you can create your own personal wellness tools.