Home Wellness Mental Health Awareness Month: Chapter Stories

Mental Health Awareness Month: Chapter Stories

Where DBSA’s Chapters Are Starting: Mental Health in a Changing World

As independent affiliates of DBSA in their communities, DBSA chapters offer peer-run support groups across the nation where you will find comfort and direction in a confidential and supportive setting and where you can make a difference in the lives of others. DBSA’s Chapter Leaders work hard to sustain their chapters and support groups to ensure their legacy continues. Chapter President Victoria H. of DBSA Greater Baltimore Area shared that although much of the work is not “flashy or glitzy,” a lot of effort goes into maintaining and sustaining their chapter. Individuals attending groups and participating in their local chapters will meet community members who can relate to each other’s experiences. In addition to this, many of DBSA’s chapters also offer educational events, newsletters, lending libraries, and special events to serve their communities.

During Mental Health Awareness Month, we are reminded of the incredible impact our collective efforts have in supporting those with mood disorders. Each chapter’s unique contributions help strengthen our community, spreading hope and vital information. Their initiatives, events, and stories are inspiring and a beacon of support and resources for many. Below are upcoming events, stories and quotes that our chapters would like to share. 

DBSA California Chapter

Creative Self-Expression for Community Building & Mental Wellness

May 25th Zoom Event 4-6 pm

This special event will highlight not only the importance of creative self-expression and its positive benefits but also how integral it is to have a creative arts community. We are currently developing this for DBSA CA with regular bi-monthly poetry workshops to bring together all walks of life in a safe place for participants to express their truths, to be witnesses, to celebrate, and to be supported and cared for.

Poet Sophia Falco (right)–also DBSA Board Member with titles: Poet Laureate and Director of Outreach to the LGBTQ+ Community–with the release of her award-winning fourth poetry book titled If My Hands Were Birds: A Poem (UnCollected Press) and Crystal Tai (left) pictured.

 

DBSA Longspeak

Since 2010, we have hosted a fundraising event on Saturdays in May, where we set up a table in front of King Scoopers (local grocery store). We sell baked goods, and this year, we are selling inspirational pens.  It is also a great awareness event because people are curious about our group and mission. 

-Laurie, DBSA Longspeak Founder/Executive Director

DBSA West Virginia

Hosted an Open House at their office on May 4th to bring more people to our office to help spread the word about DBSA and bring awareness to the mental health crisis in West Virginia. West Virginia ranks one of the highest states in depression rates due to its many rural areas throughout the state, making it hard to reach much of the population with our support groups. We work hard to get our services out by partnering with the state, offering in-person and virtual groups, and attending community outreach events to spread awareness.

-Stacie, DBSA WV Executive Director

DBSA Arlington Heights

Our groups are reading a portion, at each meeting, of a 300-page book, “Thriving With Anxiety: 9 Tools to Make Your Anxiety Work for You”.  Author David H. Rosmarin, PhD, has gotten our attention on how we think about our own experiences of anxiety, and we’re learning to re-frame those experiences. We’ve learned the difference between stress and anxiety. Dr. Rosmarin includes the real-life issues of his own patients, and we found this to be more relatable and life-like. 

-Naoki, DBSA Arlington Heights Treasurer 

DBSA Overland

With a strong theme of empowering a better tomorrow, the DBSA Overland Park Chapter participated in a conference that took place at the Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas, on Friday, April 26, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. The morning opened with a hearty breakfast and sensational speaker, fireman Jeff Avery, who shared his story of addiction and depression while trying to maintain a stressful career and raise a family. Individuals with lived experience with a mental health condition or substance use disorder, along with supportive loved ones and members of the community, were invited to attend the annual resiliency conference at the church.

Sponsored by Johnson County Mental Health Center, over thirty-five vendors participated in the program and offered pamphlets and personal connections through employees or volunteers. There were two breakout sessions to attend for additional information regarding mental health support. DBSA Overland Park Chapter facilitators James Leach and Burma Cenovich set up their vendor tables and greeted many individuals throughout the morning. It was an invigorating and hopeful event and a great way to kick off Mental Health Awareness Month.

DBSA Boston

Hosts a speakers’ series which began in 2006 and has been an active part of DBSA Boston for nearly twenty years. This program has allowed people to benefit from others’ expertise and lived experiences.  Topics that have been covered include a myriad of mental health-related topics such as diagnosis and treatment options for depression, bipolar, etc., as well as recovery stories, mindfulness, sleep hygiene, relationships, and self-determination.  Since early 2023, the format of the series has shifted from a presentation to an interview style which has enabled more interaction overall.

One particularly meaningful two-part series this year focused on the NAMI book “You Are Not Alone” written by Dr. Ken Duckworth, NAMI Medical Director, including an interview with him as well as with some individuals from the book. DBSA Boston makes videos of our speakers’ series events which are available on our website. All events are on Zoom, open to all DBSA chapters and to the public and are free.  For further information, speaker suggestions, etc. feel free to reach out to the co-chairs – Cynthia Piltch at cynthia@dbsaboston.org or Alisa Stepanian at alisa@dbsaboston.org.   

 

DBSA Omaha

During weekly in-person groups, seven members rotate to present a specific topic. During MHAM, one of the topics will be “How Has Society In General Progressed In Mental Health Understanding, and What Can We Do to Increase Understanding?” Snacks and drinks are provided as the group dives into this difficult topic.

A break is taken after the first hour, and the second portion of the meeting consists of breaking into small groups to share our journey, struggles, victories, etc., on a personal level. Sharing is done with space for everyone and assurance of confidentiality; no one is expected to share if they are uncomfortable doing so.

We take community outreach and service seriously, including setting up booths at venues like PRIDE, suicide prevention events, Churches, NAMI, medical centers, and more. We also have a canned goods drive where people can bring their donations to the designated meetings, and we can then gather them for a food pantry donation.

We also believe fostering supportive friendships away from our weekly gatherings is important, so they started the friendship project in our group. This project is when we host events and allow each person from the group to bring an additional adult with them. Events might include games and pizza night, a picnic in the park, a pumpkin patch, a zoo, or the botanical garden.

-Deb, DBSA Omaha Treasurer

 

DBSA Metro Atlanta

*DBSA Metro Atlanta Picnic: Saturday, May 18th, 12 PM-2 PM. We will have games, food, music, and a program.

*DBSA Metro Atlanta Mental Health Awareness Webinar: Monday, May 20th, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM “End the Stigma.”

Our chapter will be hosting our first webinar; the webinar will focus on the stigmas of mental health, how to combat stigmas, informative/educational discussions, shared experiences/stories (within guidelines), public awareness and highlighting DBSA Organization, and our chapter support groups.

*Future Plans: Organizing DBSA Atlanta Chapter community awareness events and collaborating with other community organizations for community fairs/events.

*Upcoming Events: DBSA Speaker Series “Ask the Doctor”: Tuesday, June 25th 7:30PM – 9:00PM, Speaker is Dr. Eamon Dutta

 

“During one of the darkest periods of my life, DBSA City of Angels chapter provided a space for warmth and understanding. Regardless of a person’s past, background, or the severity of their condition, all are welcome. We are flawed individuals on a journey of recovery, and that journey is made lighter when we walk it together.” -DBSA CoA Board Member

The DBSA City of Angels Chapter has successfully run biweekly support group in-person and online meetings and social events for six years. Thanks to the hard work of our grant coordinator, Ather, we applied for and were awarded a $50k grant through the California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA) “Take Action for Mental Health” campaign. We are participating in the California Mental Health Services Authority & LA County Department of Mental Health’s community event and hosting two of our own.

DBSA City of Angels Mental Health First Aid Training

Sunday, May 12, 2024

Mental Health First Aid is a course that teaches you how to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. The training helps you identify, understand, and respond to signs of addictions and mental illnesses. DBSA City of Angels is offering this training free of charge to 30 community members

Register Here

DBSA City of Angels Take Action 4 Mental Health Art Show

Friday, May 17th, 2024 

Experience the transformative power of art at the Take Action 4 Mental Health Art Show, where 10 Los Angeles-based artists living with mood disorders will share their compelling journeys through creativity. Witness firsthand the resilience and depth of their lived experiences, as their artworks offer poignant insights into the complexities of mental health. Join us for an evening of inspiration and advocacy as we celebrate the strength and creativity within our community.

Register Here

DBSA Tennessee State Chapter

We are making big progress this year, including starting new groups focused on DBSA Black Wellness, Hub City, and Nashville LGBTQ. We have secured a table at the upcoming NAMIWalks on May 18th to socialize, meet new people, and spread awareness.  Shy is the president of DBSA TN and the impact it has made on her life has been transformation. Read Shy’s full story here.

“Although I was apprehensive about attending my first group meeting and meeting new people, I knew it was a crucial step toward my recovery.”

DBSA TN shares the following closing remarks at their meetings. We thought it would be nice to close out our chapter initiatives with this statement as well.

As we close our group tonight, we want to say, thank you, for working on living healthy with a mood disorder. This is not an easy thing to do. Remember, you are not alone. We are all here because we share the same struggles. We know that some days are harder than others. On those days, we remind each other that there is hope. We also remind each other to reach out, because the tendency is to isolate and suffer alone. This does not help, and in fact: makes the pain worse. 

We remind each other to build a strong support team. Take care of yourself. Keep your appointments with your healthcare provider. Communicate regularly with your support team. Teach them how to help you. Control the disease rather than be controlled by it. Move from pain and anguish. Choose health. 

We thank you for being here tonight. You sharing your victories and fears helps us to deal with ours. We ask that you come frequently. There is work to do. Good health does not just happen. We thank you for taking care of yourself. We’ve been there. We can help.