DBSA-NOVA Weekly News

Sunday, July 22, 2007

Volume 1, Number 2

This Week

· 7/24 Centreville Bipolar Support Group. 7:30 p.m. 6400 Old Centreville Rd, Room 218, Centreville, VA 20121

· 7/25 Woodbridge Bipolar Support Group. 15941 Donald Curtis Drive, Leesylvania Room, Woodbridge, VA 22191

· 7/28 Ashburn Bipolar Support Group. 44110 Ashburn Shopping Plaza, 2^nd Floor, Ashburn, VA 20147

Later this month

7/31 Loved Ones Support Group

7/31 Centreville Bipolar Support Group

Support Group Pages

Resources

The web page for the national Depression Bipolar Support Alliance

Publications

DBSA publications for those with mood disorders and their loved ones

Suicide

Links to suicide prevention hotlines and resources

Support Groups

Links to our Loved Ones, Ashburn, Centreville and Woodbridge meetings

http://www.dbsanova.org

bipolarhope@dbsanova.org

The news in this newsletter is brought to you from novabipolarhappens.blogspot.com

Mallinger discusses atrophy due to mania and depression and cell generating drugs

In a July 19 talk at George Washington University Hospital entitled "Pathophysiology of Affective Disorders and Potential New Treatments to Treatment Resistant Mood Disorders," Alan G. Mallinger, MD, at July 19 discussed treatment resistance in bipolar disorder and depression, and medications that can help reverse brain tissue damage caused by mania and depression.

Dr. Mallinger, a researcher and clinician at the National Institute of Mental Health, said that lithium and depakote have been shown to cause cells in the portion of the brain that governs emotions to regrow after prolonged exposure.

More information can be found at http://dbsanova.org/news.html

Mental health stigma continues

Patients, therapists and family members report a negative stigma attached to mental health issues as a big barrier for many to overcome before talking to someone about their problems, according to a report in The Faquirer Times-Democrat.

There's good news, however, because a new study from Mental Health America shows significant progress in Americans' attitudes regarding mental health issues over the past 10 years.

More information can be found at:

http://novabipolarhopenews.blogspot.com/

DBSA-NOVA prepares for new programs, amends bylaws, elects new director

DBSA-Northern Virginia’s Board of Directors met Saturday to discuss new community outreach programs and speaking events, amend the bylaws to make it easier to remove and appoint board members and to elect a new board member.

The regular board meeting, held at Ashburn Psychological Services, covered preparation for speaking events in the fall by Frederick Goodwin, M.D.; Andy Berhman, the author Electroby and Pete Earley, the author of Crazy: A Father’s Journey through America’s Mental Health Madness. Goodwin is scheduled to speak Oct. 18 at George Washington University Hospital in Washington; Berhman is scheduled to speak Sept. 29 at Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library in Falls Church and Earley is scheduled to speak Nov. 29 at Centreville Regional Library. All the events are co-sponsored with DBSA-National Capital Area.

In addition, two free depression and mood disorder screening events have been scheduled – Aug. 25 for children and adolescents and Sept. 22 for adults – and are being co-sponsored by the clinical staff of Ashburn Psychological Services, which will be conducting the tests. More information about all these events can be found at:

http://dbsanova.org/events.html

Jayson Blair, the executive director, also announced that Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute has agreed to be the pilot location for our hospital program, which helps patients when they need it the most by educating them, loved ones and medical staff about support that is available once they leave the hospital. Jayson also provided a timeline that had the pilot program beginning in October and said that he has begun searching for a paid coordinator to manage the program. More information and an application for the job can be found at: http://dbsanova.org/hospital.html

In addition, Ellen Galant, a member of the Centreville Bipolar Support Group who has long been involved in non-profit organizations, was unanimously elected to the board of directors.

The directors also discussed recent mailings designed to reach those who might be interested in the support groups in Woodbridge and Ashburn, the Washingtonian magazine article that will focus heavily on DBSA-Northern Virginia, advocacy in Richmond in the wake of the Virginia Tech shootings and new bylaws.

Rosenthal to discuss seasonal affective disorder

Norman E. Rosenthal, MD, will discuss seasonal affective disorder, light therapy and other ways that those with bipolar and depression can fight the impact of season changes. The talk will be at the GWU Hospital Auditorium on Sept. 6

http://dbsanova.org/events.html

Join us at any meeting

Just because you already attend one group does not mean you cannot attend another. Now that we are bipolar support groups meeting in Ashburn, Woodbridge and Centreville you are welcome to attend all of them – all you have to do is have the illness. You can finding meeting dates and times, as well as those for the Loved Ones Group, by clicking on the !Yahoo Calender at www.dbsanova.org.