If you are someone who lives with a mood disorder, it starts with you believing that your depression or bipolar disorder is not a sign of personal weakness or something that can be whisked away by "pulling yourself out of it." It includes believing that you have the right to access to proper medical care, and the right to employment, housing, access to public services, and all the other benefits and services available to people with physical illnesses. As a family member or friend of someone with a mood disorder, your advocacy efforts begin with supporting those you know who live with depression or bipolar disorder and acknowledging that their illness does not define who they are.

Some Ways to Advocate

Vote. Know where your candidates stand on issues that are important to you.

Write to your senators and representatives - Federal and State.

Visit your federal and state representatives. Get to know their staff members.

Talking to Law Makers

Remember, you are the boss. Elected officials work for you, they are public servants. By virtue of your vote, you have the power to keep them in office or put them out of office. They know this, and will be responsive to your needs.

You are an expert. You know more about the issue of concern you are bringing to their attention than they do. Do not be hesitant to speak out; you are an expert and elected officials need the help and guidance of experts. (Federal grant recipients are in no way prohibited from sharing their views on agency funding with their elected officials.)

Build a relationship. It is best to have a relationship with your Member(s) of Congress prior to when you need to request their support. When each new Congress convenes, take 20 minutes and meet with the Member and their staff in the district or state office and help them to understand the work you do.

Preparing for a Meeting with A Member of Congress

The advantage of a Washington, DC visit is that you will meet with the specific staff who will be advising them on your specific issue. Both visits are worth doing regularly. When you are in Washington, DC for business or pleasure, make an appointment to stop in to chat with your Congressional staff to get to know them.

To make an appointment in Washington, DC call the Capitol Switchboard Operator at (202) 224-3121 and ask for your Member of Congress by name.

Prepare: Plan your message in advance and make a clear, well-organized presentation of the issue in 5 minutes or less. Leave a one-page issue brief behind. This can be accompanied by reference materials which support your position.

Simplify: Elected officials are not scientists or doctors and may not understand scientific concepts. Use easy to understand terms and keep your written materials simple. Practice your presentation on a non-scientist friend or family member prior to meeting with elected officials to see if it is easily understood.

Personalize: Health care and medical research are broad issues. Make it human, help elected officials understand how your work will help their constituents-- how it will make a difference for real people suffering from real illnesses.

Listen: Present your case, ask for their support and then let them lead the discussion to clarify their understanding. Do not leave the meeting unless they have clarified what they will do to help or what their next steps will be.

Follow up: Stay in touch with them. Gaining the long term support of elected officials is not achieved through "one-stop shopping." Become a consistent constituent, make frequent personal contacts with your elected official.

Find out what public policy the DBSA supports