The Initiative

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Newsletter of the Depression and Bipolar
Support Alliance of Colorado Springs, CO
Vol. 11, No. 3, Summer 2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Living Well: Making

Recovery Real"

Theme of The Depression and Bipolar Support

Alliance's 2006 Conferences

 

By Julia Nelson

 

  Connecting with others in your situation and making new friends is just two of the side-benefits of attending a DBSA 2006 Conference.  This year the conference will take place in two locations:  San Mateo, California on Saturday, September 8-10, 2006 and one in Chicago, Illinois on Saturday, October 20-22, 2006.

  Both regional conferences will focus on the topic Living Well:  Making Recovery Real.  It will be an opportunity to learn recovery strategies to help get you well and stay well.  While at the conference you will also…

  • Set a personal path for your recovery
  • Meet authors and nationally-renowned mental health professionals
  • Learn about the latest research in identifying and treating depression and bipolar disorder
  • Ask the experts for answers
  • Learn in a caring and fun environment


  The following topics are among what will be addressed by keynote speakers during the popular "Ask the Doctor" general sessions, interactive general sessions and/or breakout sessions during the conferences -

  • Creating The Life You Want
  • Disability & Housing
  • Talking to Depression:  Friends and Family
  • Supported Employment
  • Becoming Your Own Best Advocate
  • New Research in Mood Disorders
  • Co-occurring Diagnosis:  Pain
  • Dealing with Mania:  Friends and Family
  • Psychiatric Service Dogs
  • Successful Aging & Mood Disorders


  If any of this interests you, you can find more information at www.dbsalliance.org.  There is also a link to this address at our own website at www.dbsacoloradosprings.org, and you can pick up a conference registration form at the Resource Center, or call 477-1515 to have one mailed out to you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Train-the-Trainer Courses Offered to Local DBSA Chapters

 

By Julia Nelson

 

  DBSA National is offering two unique training opportunities for a limited number of DBSA chapter leaders from across the country interested in conducting self-help courses in their own community. The first training session "Living Successfully" has a deadline that has already passed, but the other course, "Pathways to Recovery", will take place this fall and applications should be available later this summer.   Some people from our chapter have applied for the first course, and it is hoped that others will want to apply for the second one.

  Both courses will offer mood disorder education, facilitation and teaching skills.   The "Living Successfully" course will especially focus on the types of mood disorders, who is affected, how individuals cope with the mood disorders, how it effects relationships and how to put a wellness plan into action.   Once participants have completed the training they will have the knowledge and tools necessary offer a 4-week course to people with mood disorders in their community.

  The "Pathways to Recovery" Train-the-Trainer Course will be a 4-day training session offered to 50 DBSA chapter leaders. It's focus will be instructing in the Pathways to Recovery

(Continued on page 3)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inside This Issue

 

DBSA Support Group Meeting Schedules………………………..…2
Local Voices:  Bipolar………………………………………...………..3
Helping Ourselves, Helping Others…………………………...……...4
Humor Can Increase Hope, Research Shows………………..…….5
Teens With Bipolar Disorder Misinterpret Facial Expressions…….5
Stigma a Hurdle to Treatment for Mental Illness……………………6
Reach Out and Touch Someone………………………………...…...6
Wacky World News…………………………………………………….7
Because You Have a Need to Know…………………………………8
Finding the Perfect Fit………………………………………………….8
Poems & Such……………………………………………...…….9 & 10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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