2013 State Organization Service Award
DBSA Tennessee
DBSA Tennessee’s amazing accomplishments made 2013 a rewarding year! They supported chapters in their state by hosting educational presentations and training programs, giving them the tools necessary for successful chapters. With help from DBSA Tennessee, five local chapters were interviewed on television or radio to promote DBSA to the community. Leaders encouraged one chapter’s community outreach, resulting in a city-wide Mental Health Day declared by their mayor. DBSA Tennessee’s robust plan to help new chapters in the startup process helped find free meeting locations, assistance in affiliation fees and paperwork, and provided a sponsor from an already established chapter to assist the new chapter.
Five members of DBSA Tennessee attended DBSA’s Peer Advocate Training in Washington, D.C. and then created an advocacy plan for their state including a campaign against proposed budget cuts to close all 45 of Tennessee’s Peer Support Service Centers. DBSA Tennessee is a growing, thriving organization. With its advocacy for peer support and local chapter start-up, community outreach and commitment to peer education, DBSA Tennessee is one of the most energetic affiliates of DBSA.
2013 State Organization Service Award
DBSA New York
DBSA New York started up one year ago and their first year was filled with successes. They have created a localized website for meeting information, contact information, and literature. Thanks to their support to new chapter leaders, support groups have sprouted up throughout Long Island and two new support groups have started in Queens, with plans to open new chapters in all boroughs of New York City. DBSA New York participated in local walks, health fairs, suicide prevention symposiums to bring information and support to people in need. They also participated in open panel discussions on mental health conditions at Columbia University, private colleges, and local chapters of other national mental health organizations to let everyone know that there is support out there. We look forward to all that DBSA New York has in store for 2014!
2013 Large Chapter Service Award
DBSA Colorado Springs (CO)
DBSA Colorado Springs has set as its hallmark a consistently measured approach to growth as a chapter by offering programs to best assist people with mood disorders achieve and maintain wellness, and increasing its reputation as a viable and respected service-oriented organization in their community. The chapter attended multiple symposiums and health fairs including an event dedicated to Veterans and Military Families, a school counselors conference, and Brain Awareness Week. The chapter doubled the size of their weekly Inpatient Hospitalization and Awareness program, which visited with more than 2,000 patients in adult, adolescent, and Veteran units to provide recovery-oriented resources and information.
DBSA Colorado Springs holds eight weekly support groups and provides bi-monthly facilitator meetings and trainings. Thanks to their extensive base of volunteers, the chapter held more than 50 events, answered 870 phone calls, and reached more than 4,000 individuals through support groups. The joy of successes they have celebrated with each other for every achievement is a testament to the power of selfless devotion to a shared mission.
2013 Large Chapter Service Award
DBSA MDSG Long Island (NY)
DBSA MDSG Long Island experienced tremendous growth in 2013 through each of their services and efforts to help the people living in their communities. They doubled their facilitator ranks and increased support group offerings from three to nine groups. All facilitators were offered multiple training opportunities as well as a web portal to access group literature. The new groups included a teen group, a group for young adults under the age of 30, a topic meeting, and a lecture series, with plans for a LGBT group in the near future.
DBSA MDSG Long Island created public relations and fundraising committees which led to several fundraising initiatives and reaching out to local therapists and behavioral health programs to inform them of the support group and other chapter programs. Participants joined local walks, health fairs, and symposia dealing with mood disorders and suicide prevention. Congratulations on an excellent year, DBSA MDSG Long Island!
2013 Small Chapter Service Award
DBSA Feeling Better About Ourselves (FL)
DBSA Feeling Better About Ourselves is successful thanks to community outreach, training, educational efforts, and support. The chapter has grown from one support group to two groups thriving in different cities. Through promotion in newsletters and hospital units, the chapter helped another group that was in danger of closing due to lack of facilitators and participants. DBSA FBAO hosted multiple classes to train facilitators. The meetings have seen impressive growth and the group they helped has joined DBSA FBAO.
In support groups, leaders establish a format that keeps the group moving. According to a participant, “There is a new visible strength in these people who are not talking about the same thing every time. There is a definite healing and acceptance going on.” Group leaders have also created a variety of wellness-focused resources they provide to group participants and community members through seminars and workshops. These programs cover topics such as fear, processing anger, and grief. A chapter leader has spoken about mood disorders to a group of law enforcement officers at a crisis intervention training.
2013 Small Chapter Service Award
DBSA Norman (OK)
DBSA Norman might be small, but they have worked hard in all of the functions of a DBSA chapter: advocacy, community outreach, education, and support. In 2013 DBSA Norman grew to maintain average participation of 15 members from very diverse backgrounds. They announce chapter news through a weekly email along with other resources, websites, and videos submitted by members to further their knowledge and understanding of mood disorders. Facilitators advocate for individuals in crisis, helping them obtain needed services including crisis hotlines, hospitalization, and referrals to doctors or clinics.
Leaders are also involved in the state organization DBSA Oklahoma with the goal of doubling the number of support groups in their state. To further these goals they make 10 presentations each month on the importance of DBSA peer support groups in sustaining long-term recovery. These presentations reach clients at mental health facilities and inmates at state prisons. “It is our goal to keep DBSA Norman a dynamic, growing group, beneficial to all who attend, and to increase DBSA’s presence in Oklahoma. It is gratifying to watch members grow and know that DBSA Norman has been a part of their recovery, just as it has been a part of ours.”
2013 Rookie Chapter Service Award
DBSA Murfreesboro (TN)
DBSA Murfreesboro began in July of 2013 with support from DBSA Tennessee. The chapter started out with one support group, which saw its attendance double in fewer than six months, becoming one of the fastest growing local chapters in the state. The growth of the chapter can be attributed to the forces behind it that work tirelessly to get the word out about the group. Flyers and pamphlets are distributed to agencies and health care providers, the Salvation Army, local hospitals and businesses, and more. DBSA Murfreesboro provides post-hospitalization support for those who would otherwise have none.
Educational materials, resources, and wellness tools are provided to each chapter participant. They have also started a family and friends support group.
Members of DBSA Murfreesboro participated in the state chapter meetings and contributed to grassroots advocacy efforts. The chapter also enlisted the backing of their U.S. Representative. For a chapter that achieved all of this in six months, DBSA Murfreesboro has a fine resume of accomplishments, but they consider their greatest success to be the level of support offered to each person who walks through their doors.
2013 Outstanding Leadership Award
Leslie Davis of DBSA Rockland County (NY) and DBSA New York
Leslie helped bring about many developments for the chapter in 2013. As a regular facilitator for support groups, she helps mediate tough situations. She takes calls daily from people wanting to learn about mood disorders and speaks with people in crisis to help them get through difficult situations. She also spearheaded the chapter’s annual fund drive which raised more than $2,200.
Leslie is the co-president of the Mental Health Coalition (MHC) of Rockland County where she represents and advocates for DBSA Rockland County while educating the community about mental health. She is the first consumer to be elected co-president of the MHC of Rockland, which is a tribute to the great respect she has gained in the local mental health community. Leslie is also active on the state level. As vice-president of DBSA New York, she reached out to several other chapters in the state to learn about how they operate, help them get more focused and organized, and to be better advocates for people who have mood disorders. Her sound advice and strong leadership will continue to expand awareness and opportunities for helping people to give and get support through the efforts of DBSA.
2013 Outstanding Leadership Award
Steve Brannon of DBSA Jackson (TN) and DBSA Tennessee
Steve is an excellent role model for pursuing a wellness-focused life while living with a mood disorder. He fights stigma by openly sharing his journey in the local newspaper, on DBSA’s website, and on his weekly online newsletter. He has worked with the local police department to help educate and train police officers for crisis response teams. Steve was selected for DBSA Peer Advocacy Training and was a representative of DBSA for Hill Day in Washington, D.C.
At his local chapter, DBSA Jackson (TN), Steve gently encourages, trusts, and believes in support group participants. He instituted a monthly “share your inspiration” night in which group members report on what keeps them going, creating an environment of hope and personal growth. Steve is dedicated to further advancing DBSA’s mission into surrounding communities and across the state. The number of support groups has doubled in the past year under his direction, encompassing all major cities and some smaller cities across the state. He has traveled hundreds of miles at his own expense to conduct local chapter visitations as state director. Steve’s passion for the advancement of DBSA’s mission in Jackson and the state of Tennessee is so strong that he has diligently dedicated his time and resources for over a decade.
