A NOTE FROM THE EDITORS:

Sue Bergeson President, DBSA

It’s getting colder here in Chicago, and the holiday season is in full swing. It looks like this might be our coldest winter in a while.  Most people look out for their physical health during times like these by dressing warmly or taking Vitamin C. While taking care of one’s physical health is certainly important, for those of us with mood disorders, maintaining good mental health is equally as important, if not more so.

Taking care of yourself this season can mean many things.  Try not to put too much pressure on yourself. Keep your expectations realistic, and resist the urge to become disappointed in or blameful toward yourself or others.

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LETTER FROM THE CHAIR

Miriam Johnson- Hoyte, Esq. Chair

This year I arrived at the Chicago DBSA conference feeling embattled by one of the biggest challenges in my recovery - trust. At the conference, I met well known author Tom Wootton, his book “The Bi-Polar Advantage” upset me. Advantage!

Then I picked it up and read the title of the first chapter: This is Bulls--t!” This Wootton guy knows his readers. I knew he had insight; but could I trust it?

A few days before I was talking with a friend and peer who is also my client.  My friend has endured terrible tragedies.

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CALL FOR NOMINATIONS Miriam Johson-Hoyte, Esq., Chair of the DBSA Board of Directors,  requests candidates for the 2007 DBSA Board of Directors.  Nominations will be considered for positions that become vacant after December 31, 2006. The Nominating Committee is seeking candidates from diverse backgrounds for Director positions.  Each candidate must agree to serve a three-year term and be willing to fulfill the responsibilities of Board service. Any DBSA support can nominate a candidate or himself/herself by submitting a nomination form.  To receive a nomination form and description of Board duties and responsibilities, please contact Ariel Brenner at (312) 988-1173 or (800) 826-3632.

SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD UPDATE Ellen Frank, Ph.D. SAB Chair As I near the end of my tenure as DBSA’s Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) Chair, I look back on two years of serving a unique patient-directed organization. DBSA is special because of its unwavering focus on patients, their needs and perspectives. Serving as chair of the SAB has reinforced my belief that the patient should come first, be empowered, and have open communication with health care professionals. Click here to continue reading.

DBSA UNVEILS ENHANCED WEBSITE After months of planning and tireless effort by the program department, DBSA’s redesigned website went live this month with several innovative features designed to provide hope, help and support to consumers and people seeking information on mood disorders. Click here to continue reading.

DBSA 2006 CONFERENCES ARE RESOUNDING SUCCESSES DBSA’s two 2006 conferences, held in San Mateo, Calif., and Rosemont, Ill., in September and October respectively, received rave reviews from attendees and presenters according to event organizers and co-sponsor DBSA California. The events, which had the theme, Living Well: Making Recovery Real, kicked off with a full day of training at the DBSA Chapter Leadership Forum (CLF), held the day before each conference. Click here to continue reading.

ON ONE SPECIAL NIGHT...REBECCA'S DREAM BECOMES A REALITY Some 330 guests were in attendance at the inaugural Rebecca’s Dream Gala as legendary Academy- and Emmy-Award winning actress, author and mental health advocate Patty Duke received the first “Rebecca’s Dream Legacy of Life Award” from The Rebecca Lynn Cutler Foundation, Saturday evening, November 11, 2006.  Click here to continue reading.

DBSA HOSTS COMEDY SHOW, PANEL DISCUSSION TO EDUCATE LATINOS ABOUT REAL IMPACT OF MOOD DISORDERS On Sept. 30, DBSA hosted a unique educational event in Chicago for the Latino community. The bilingual event was designed to break through the barriers of culturally based stigma to increase awareness of the impact and prevalence of mood disorders within the Latino community. Information was also provided about the signs and symptoms of mood disorders, what to do if an individual or friend/family member has a mood disorder, and where to get help.  Click here to continue reading.

CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS DBSA Announces Annual Chapter Service Award Winners. Each year DBSA recognizes the exceptional accomplishments of its affiliated chapters through the Chapter and Professional Advisor Service Awards. The Chapter Service Awards are presented to the DBSA chapters that have offered the most outstanding services benefiting people living with mood disorders, families/friends and the communities in which they operate. Chapter Professional Advisor Service Awards are given to professionals who have provided exemplary service to their local chapter. Click here to continue reading.

DBSA SUPPORT GROUPS NEEDED IN EVERY COMMUNITY While DBSA has an extensive network of chapters and support groups across the country, there are still far too many communities where consumers’ needs go unmet. According to Elizabeth Siegel, DBSA’s chapter recruitment manager, just about every region of the country has cities and communities that are underserved in terms of chapter representation and access to support groups. Click here to continue reading.

ADVOCACY UPDATE The results are in! On November 7, many of you voted for federal and local officials. And now that the results are in it’s time for us to step up to the plate and take action! Whether your preferred candidate was a winner or loser doesn’t matter now. What matters is that the candidates that did win are the legislators we’ll be working with for the next few years. Click here to continue reading.

DBSA & ME The following short essay was submitted via DBSA’s website. We thought it heartfelt and poignant. Perhaps it will inspire you and provide you with hope this holiday season. Thoughts From My Safe Spot By Sam My safe spot… sitting among the decaying leaves from last autumn. Glancing at the small offshoots from the trees that are surrounding me. A glimpse of spring showing as buds form on their little branches. The river in front of me traveling at its own pace, gliding over the stone bed, not letting anything stop it. Click here to continue reading.

A SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM SUE BERGESON “We’ve been there. We can help.” These are more than just words. Sometimes someone who has “been there” may be the only one who can help. Because no matter how much friends, family and even health care professionals reach out to a person with a mood disorder, sometimes the most powerful connection can be a peer to talk to and work with, someone who knows how it feels to experience depression or bipolar disorder and who can share his or her own stories about putting life back together. Click here to continue reading.

DBSA IN THE MEDIA PRINT Chicago Tribune September 2, 2006 Letter to the Editor from Sue Bergeson, DBSA president, regarding a tragic story of police mishandling a young woman diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Newsweek Magazine Sept. 11, 2006 Feature story on popular soap opera actor Maurice Bernard’s life with bipolar disorder as well as an article about DBSA focusing on Certified Peer Specialist Training. This was the first-ever national publication to talk about the importance of peer training. As more media coverage is gained, the more people will know about the life-saving training, making it more accessible. Washington Post Sept. 26, 2006 Feature story on recent advances in the treatment of depression included an interview with Cheryl Murphy, DBSA chapter president and Speakers Bureau member. The New York Times Nov. 15, 2006 In-depth feature story on children diagnosed with mental illnesses focusing on DBSA Speakers Bureau members Kristen and Katherine Finn. BROADCAST ABC General Hospital July 24, 2006 Actor Maurice Bernard appeared in a public service announcement that informed viewers about bipolar disorder and led them to DBSA’s website and (800) number for help. This 30 seconds of airtime resulted in a barrage of phone calls to the national office, proving that there are many who are looking for hope, help and support. Clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhlnGB39ssc Comcast Sports Chicago Oct. 13, 2006 In an interview with former Bears star Alonzo Spellman, former DBSA Vice President Paul O’Neill, commented about bipolar disorder and directed viewers to DBSA. Airing in the Chicago market, this interview was important because it reached a segment of the population that may have not otherwise heard about bipolar disorder or DBSA. NBC Today Show Nov. 1, 2006 Featured an interview with Bergeson regarding her depression.