DBSA’s 2022 Summit took place in October. This year’s summit was packed with informative, engaging sessions designed to equip our community of mental health advocates with the education and tools needed to impact change at the individual, local, state, and national levels. Browse the selected recordings below or see the whole playlist on YouTube.

Mood Disorder Education

Misdiagnosis and Taking Charge of Your Care

Diagnosis is an integral part of treating a mental health condition, but sometimes finding the correct one can be a challenging process. In this session we will focus on how mood disorder diagnoses are made, factors that lead to misdiagnosis, and ways peers can take an active role in their mental health care.
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Bipolar Disorder Across the Lifespan

Hear from leading experts in the field of bipolar research to talk in detail about what living with bipolar looks like across the lifespan. From diagnosis to treatment options, we will hear how individuals can take charge of their wellness while living with bipolar.
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Just Diagnosed: Perspectives from the DBSA Young Adult Council

Many feelings can arise when receiving a mood disorder diagnosis. Understanding what steps to take can help navigate the process. In this session, we will hear from members of the DBSA Young Adult Council (YAC) on their own experiences and what was helpful or unhelpful in managing their new diagnosis.
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Advocacy

The Core Components of Peer Support: Human-to-Human,Trained, State Credentialed, and Making Sense of It All

Ever wondered about the difference between the various levels of qualifications for peer support? Learn how to explain peer support using plain language which helps the public understand those levels and the pathway to state credentials.
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Changing the Mental Health System: 8 Steps to Bring About Reform

Transformations in the policies, practices, power dynamics, social norms, or mindsets underlie societal issues. Systemic change must be fundamental and affect how the entire system functions.
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988: Where Do We Go From Here?

988 in the new three-digit dialing code which routes callers to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. When people call, text, or chat 988, they will be connected to trained counselors who will listen, provide support, and connect callers to resources.
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Elections 2022: Evaluating the Candidates’ Mental Health Positions

Elections can be overwhelming. We will share a rubric for evaluating candidates on their positions on mental health issues and trusted resources to find the information you need to make an informed choice.
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Words Matter: How to Talk about Mental Health

Mental health conditions have historically been associated with what we now consider stigmatizing language. While the terminology is constantly evolving, using language that affirms individuals living with mental health conditions can serve as a tool for empowerment. In this session, we will hear from members of the DBSA Young Adult Council (YAC) on language that can be helpful and what can be harmful.
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Engaging Your Audience: A Workshop to Amplify the Peer Voice

The power of great storytelling lies in its ability to transform any story into a compelling narrative that engages listeners to a degree that they feel they’re living the experience as they listen to it. Great storytelling can make all the difference in changing hearts and minds and moving listeners to the desired action.
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Chapters

DBSA’s Sustainability Model: How It Can Work

Hear a happy ending to a story about several chapters’ struggles to be sustainable. This panel discussion features chapter officers who will discuss their former chapters’ struggles, dissolution, and evolution to a new, larger organization.
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Chapter Communications Strategies

The DBSA chapter network offers peer-run support groups across the nation where participants find comfort and direction in a confidential and supportive setting and can make a difference in the lives of others. The chapters are the way support groups develop strong relationships at the local level with their respective communities.
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The Key Three: Who Does What and Why?

What is fiduciary responsibility for a DBSA Chapter and why do I need to learn about it? Learn how the “key three” chapter officer positions apply the fundamentals of fiduciary responsibility to each of their positions. Learn how a chapter president, chapter secretary, and chapter treasurer fulfill their roles and responsibilities in the real chapter world. Each officer will share some of their triumphs as well as some of the challenges.
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DBSA Communications and Fundraising

Effective Outreach to BIPOC Communities

DBSA has long understood that mood disorders affect people of all ages, races, ethnic groups, and social classes. To continue to expand its mission of providing hope and support to people living with mood disorders, DBSA wants to equip its chapter network and support groups with the necessary tools to reach more underserved communities that have experienced long-standing inequities that have hindered access to mental health services and created significant disparities in the quality of mental healthcare.
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Leveraging DBSA Brand Equity to Strengthen Communications Outcomes

The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance brand is built upon the inspirational truth of our origin and the strength of our community of people living with mood disorders and their families. The way our brand is communicated—its look, feel, and tone—reflects what the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance is and aspires to become.
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The Ins & Outs of Fundraising

Join the DBSA development team for advice on building your fundraising program. We will discuss how to successfully connect with and secure funding from foundations, individuals, and corporate donors. Get tips, techniques, and tools to help appeal to your audience.
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