DBSAlliance

It's that time again--time to make New Year's Resolutions! While the desire to change is real, most of us give up on fulfilling our resolutions by April. But in this podcast you'll hear 3 steps to making your New Year's Resolution work! Examples are drawn from a variety of areas including: weight loss, cyring spells during depression, anger management, and shopping & manic overspending.

Your Thoughts?

Can you use these 3 tips (Be: 1. Realistic 2. Specific 3. Accountable)?

How do you make your New Year's resolutions work?

Samantha, a Maryland college student, is back to tell us about her time at the 8th annual Active Minds National Conference (November 2011) and to kick off the Impact Series, which celebrates young people who are making a difference! Whether it's helping out a depressed friend or changing attitudes about mental health on your campus, the Impact Series shows you practical ways you can make a difference. In this interview, Samantha discusses three things: 1) Why our personal stories are so important in busting stigma 2) Stress-busting strategies & 3) The effects of high personal expectations. Want to learn more about Active Minds? Visit their website here!

Your Thoughts?:

Can you use any of these stressbusters (yoga, tea, popping bubble wrap, petting puppies, smashing TVs at a "Stress-Out" Day at school)?

Are you an advocate at your junior high or high school or college/university?

The Impact Series celebrates the ability of one person to make a difference. ♪ ♫ Featured in Part 2: Meg Hutchinson's song Gatekeeper, a song about a man who (for years) saved people from jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge. How did this man do it? Listen to find out. You'll hear tips on helping a depressed friend or busting stigma from Samantha, a college student who attended the Active Minds National Conference last November. Samantha will show us what she learned from 1) WNBA (Basketball) player Chamique Holdsclaw 2) Singer/songwriter Meg Hutchinson and 3) Active Minds Speakers Maggie and Jordan Bertram. Learn more about Active Minds at www.activeminds.org! Interested in buying some of Hutchinson's music, click here!

Your Thoughts?

Do you lead a chapter or support network at your school?

Has listening to Flipswitch given you courage to share your story?

Ever feel like you're the only one where you are who cares about destroying stigma? Hear why size doesn't matter-how you can make a difference no matter where you are! In Part 3 of the Impact Series, we finish my interview with Sam, a Maryland college student who attended the Active Minds 8th Annual National Conference last November. In this podcast, she talks about Active Minds Chapters at universities across the U.S. Interested in starting an Active Minds chapter at your school, visit www.activeminds.org!

Your Thoughts?:

Do you lead a support network or chapter at your school?

Were you able to get help for depression (or another mental illness) because of a support network at your school?

Meet, Claire, a California student who is Co-President of a LETS Club at her college. What is LETS? LETS is a great nonfprofit that helps young people break mental health stigma at their high schools and colleges. LETS stands for Let's Erase The Stigma. Claire will tell us about her diagnoses of depression and anxiety and how she has risen above these illnesses to become a successful college student. She will tell us about the genesis of LETS at her school. Claire talks about caring what her peers think of her but still acting despite stigma! Interested in learning more about LETS? Visit www.lets.org.

Your Thoughts?:

Do you want to break stigma but sometimes feel ashamed of your own diagnosis?

How do you choose who you will share your diagnosis with?

Claire, a 20-yo California student, finishes her story from Pt 4. Now, she tells us about activities she's put on as Co-President of the LETS Club at her college and how students have been impacted! Any student leading a support network can find inspriation. Claire also talks about how to break stigma even if you're not a student leader--we talk about how the little things count and how you can erase stigma everyday! L E T S stands for Let's Erase The Stigma! Interested in learning more about LETS? Visit their website at www.lets.org!

Your Thoughts?:

Can you use any of these ideas to erase stigma (testimonial days where people share stories, screening films, newsletters, or sm

all group discussions)?

Were you inspired to do something by Claire?

16-yo Sarah, the President of the largest LETS club in the U.S. L E T S stands for Let's Erase The Stigma; LETS is a mental health organization that empowers students at high schools and colleges to erase stigma on campus and in their communities. In the first half of my candid interview with Sarah, she discusses surviving a suicide attempt, getting a diagnosis of Bipolar I and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), and how her best friend helped save her life. Interested in learning more about LETS? Visit www.lets.org.

Your Thoughts?:

Has a best friend ever kept you from completing suicide? OR Have you ever saved a friend's life?

Can you use these 2 lessons (1. Don't dismiss mood swings as "teenage angst." 2. Put a friend's safety first before fear of rejection when dealing with a suicidal person)?

16-yo Sarah finishes her riveting story. She describes surviving a suicide attempt in 8th grade and later helping dozens of youth with depression. Sarah, a California highschooler with Bipolar I and ADHD, used her past painful experiences to found the largest LETS club in the country. She is now the President of a club with 110 students that serves as a a model to other LETS clubs. L E T S stands for Let's Erase The Stigma; LETS is a mental health organization that empowers students at high schools and colleges to erase stigma on campus and in their communities. Visit their website at www.lets.org!

Your Thoughts?:

Are you the president (or founder) of a support network or mental health advocacy group at your school?

Can you use your pain to help others?

Are you interested in making a difference at your high school or college? Hear practical tips and ideas from Ann, an 18-yo who talks about how she overcame her brother's suicide & how she helped so many students with depression. Ann started a successful chapter of Erika's Lighthouse (EL) at her high school and is now a freshman in college. Young people, parents, and teachers can all find inspiration from Ann's courage and compassion in the face of tragedy. Visit www.erikaslighthouse.org for more information about bringing EL to your school!

Your Thoughts?:

Can you use some of Ann's ideas to make a difference/start a club at your school for depression awareness (start a Facebook page, get involved in Homecoming activities, put a booth up at fairs, talk to health classes, etc.)?

Can you apply these 2 lessons to your life (1. persevere if you want to make a difference and 2. channel your grief into a force for good)?

Ever wonder if the things you're doing might be unintentionally making your depression or a friend's depression worse? Listen for 5 things NOT to do and 5 Things to do with a friend who suffers from depression. If you wish your family and friends knew how to help you better (or someone else) share this short podcast on your Facebook wall, Tweet it, or email it. List includes ideas from Flipswitch fans who shared their thoughts on Twitter.

Your Thoughts?:

What is the best thing someone ever did with you when you were depressed?

What is the worst thing someone ever did with you when you were depressed?

Do you know someone else who can benefit from hearing this podcast?