Author: coloniedbsa

Family Support Group

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Is your family looking for a support group to learn more about your diagnosis, how to help you, & just general support? NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) of NY State runs a support group to help with just these sort of things. Days, times, & locations for these groups are listed below and more information about the group can be found here:

Second & Fourth Tuesday of each month, 6-7:30pm at:
Church of Latter Day Saints
420 New Scotland Ave.
Albany, NY

First & Third Wednesday of each month, 6:30-8pm at:
SUNYA School of Public Health
1 University Place – Classroom 6
Rensselaer, NY
Information about all of NAMI’s program offerings may be found here:

How Big a Problem is Mental Illness?

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Thanks to long-time member of our Colonie DBSA family, Jenny, for bringing this very informative video to our attention. In this video, by John Green of the YouTube channel, vlogbrothers, discusses global human health, mental illness, and how metrics like Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) can help us understand how severely mental illness affects human health around the world. It’s <4 minutes long and I found it very illuminating especially coming from someone having their own mental health struggles.

How Big a Problem is Mental Illness? https://youtu.be/NSA1BE6KUr0

Bipolar Rock N Roller Subject Wins NAMI Award

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Sports announcer, Mauro Ranallo, subject of this year’s documentary,  “Bipolar Rock N Roller” (click link for trailer/promo), has received an award for his work in mental health advocacy from the NYS Chapter of NAMI (National Association on Mental Illness). “Bipolar Rock N Roller” is an unflinching account of Ranallo’s struggle with bipolar disorder.

Currently,  “Bipolar Rock N Roller” is only available through Showtime but, fortunately, you can get a free 7 day trial of Showtime by clicking here (cable subscription not required) and Mauro Ranallo is working on getting subscribers to his free newsletter access to the documentary for free once Showtime’s network exclusivity period over this documentary is over.

Pro Hockey Player Robin​​ Lehner’s Struggle with Bipolar Disorder & Addiction

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As we discussed in this week’s meeting, this is that article about professional hockey player Robin’s Lehner’s struggle with bipolar disorder & addiction: Islanders goalie Robin Lehner opens up about his addiction and bipolar diagnosis: ‘I could not stand being alone in my brain’.

It is a very interesting first hand account and a worthwhile read, even if sports are not your thing,

Music to help cope/comfort us

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This week’s group discussion immediately reminded me of this subreddit called WILTWIFLS (What I Listen To When I Feel Like S**t) that I occasionally check out when I’m feeling down. Keep in mind, a lot of the songs listed might embrace or even exacerbate an already depressed mood but there are good number of songs listed (especially those with the classification of “feeling better” in the post title) that might just help elevate you out of that funk. Anyway, it might be worth a look-see. Feel free to share in the comments section here what songs or playlists help you get out of an undesired mood or distract you from intrusive or ruminative thoughts.

Out of the Darkness Walk for Suicide Prevention

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On Sunday, September 23rd, 2018, several Colonie DBSA chapter members will be participating in the Out of the Darkness walk put on by the AFSP (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention) at the Saratoga Spa State Park at the Orenda Pavilion. If you are interested in participating or would like to find out more information, please go to this event’s website. Online registration ends the Friday before the walk at noon but walk-on registration on the day of the event is permitted, starting at 9 AM on the day of the walk. Registration is free and open to the public.

If you are unable to make this walk or would like to participate in an additional Out of the Darkness walk, there will also be one in Central Park in Schenectady on October 13th, 2018. You can find out more information about this walk at the event’s website.

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