2012 OCD Awareness Week Events...
IOCDF Events in the Boston Area
"A Night To Believe" — Saturday, October 13, 2012
In an effort to raise awareness about OCD and effective treatment, the IOCDF will hold a special event in Boston, at the Sheraton Hotel in the city's historic Back Bay on Saturday, October 13th. There will be music, food, cocktails, a silent auction, and inspirational stories and art about life with OCD, including stories from this year's Dare to Believe contest winners. Click here for more information, and to register for the event.
OCD Massachusetts Zoo Day & Paint4Peace
Help the IOCDF and OCD Massachusetts kick off OCD Awareness Week by spending a day at Franklin Park Zoo and joining in a fun art activity for kids and teens of all ages. Monday, October 8th – Columbus Day, Franklin Park Zoo, 10am–4pm. Click here for more info, and to register for FREE zoo admission.
Promote OCD Awareness Week on Facebook, Twitter, and other Social Media
- Join the conversation on Twitter every day at 1pm ET. We will be hosting a series of Twitter chats at 1pm Monday, 10/8 - Friday, 10/12. Ask questions of leading OCD experts using the Twitter hashtag #OCDchat, on the following topics:
- Monday - Dr. Jeff Szymanski will be answering general OCD questions.
- Tuesday - Dr. Nestadt and Dr. Fuesner will be answering OCD medication and treatment questions.
- Wednesday - Dr. Abramowitz will be answering questions about OCD and its effects on relationships.
- Thursday - Dr. Penzel will be answering questions from teens about OCD.
- Friday - Dr. Neziroglu will be answering questions about hoarding, BDD, Tourette's, and other disorders related to OCD. Learn more here.
- Show you support for Awareness Week by tweeting or sharing a photo of yourself with the OCD Awareness sign.You can also show your support for OCD Awareness Week on by Facebook and Twitter by changing your profile picture to show a photo of yourself holding our "I'm supporting OCD Awareness Week" sign. Download the PDF and print at home, then snap a picture using your phone or digital camera and upload to social media to show your support. Tweet and Instagram your photo with the hashtag #OCDweek... let's see if we can get #OCDweek trending! Click here to download your sign.
- Donate your Facebook status.
Just copy and paste the following: For OCD Awareness Week, I donate my status in support of anyone who has ever battled this disorder. May they find treatment, comfort and hope. Together we can end the stigma around mental illness. Please copy and paste this as your status to promote the International OCD Foundation’s OCD Awareness Week efforts www.iocdf.org
Other Ways That You Can Participate in OCD Awareness Week
- Participate in the OCD Film Festival. OCD Texas is hosting an OCD Film Festival in the weeks leading up to OCD Awareness Week. This “virtual” film festival is open to anyone, anywhere to participate. Many of the films are available online via streaming services such as Netflix, or can be found at your local library or video rental store. Watch the films on your own, or organize a viewing party at your house, and then go online and join the discussion on the film festival website.
- Online: OCD Texas has selected feature films, shorts, and animated films, plus a TV show, to watch and discuss as part of the film festival — reviews have been posted online by members of the OCD community, along with questions to kick off discussion. Let's start the important conversation about how we can begin to to wash away the myths and stereotypes associated with this serious disorder. Watch the films and then join in the discussion online here.
- Onsite: Members of the OCD Community will also be gathering for special film screenings around the world. Host your own special OCD film event, or attend a special OCD film event in your local area. Find event listings here.
- Host a local viewing party to watch last year's “A Night to Believe” event, or OCD-related films, TV shows, or videos.
- Host additional events/fundraisers throughout OCD Awareness Week including guest speakers, storytelling/open mic, art events, support groups, etc.
- Host a book discussion among friends about OCD. Visit the IOCDF Book List.
- Be a mentor and friend to someone with OCD.
- Send a Letter
Send a Letter to the Editor to your local newspaper about OCD Awareness Week.
Please feel free to use the following template: Letter to the Editor template
- Start an Email Campaign
Consider pasting the below invitation into an email note and sending it to your friends, relatives, and colleagues. You never know whose life you may change forever!
Dear friends,
Please forgive the form-letter nature of this note, but I would like to call your attention to the fact that October 8–14, 2012, is OCD Awareness Week. The International OCD Foundation has asked me to help spread the word about this important outreach effort, and I'd like to personally invite you to visit the IOCDF web site for more information about this often-debilitating disorder that affects up to 4 million people in the United States. An overview of OCD, along with a variety of OCD resources, can be found at http://www.ocfoundation.org/awarenessweek. Thank you in advance for taking the time to help make a difference!
Sincerely,
Dare to Believe Creative Expression Contest
Thank you to everyone who entered this year's contest. We had so many amazing writing entries, songs, videos, paintings, drawing, and photographs! And thank you to everyone who voted. To see this year's winners, click here.
Map of 2012 OCD Awareness Week Events
View Larger Map Calendar of 2012 OCD Awareness Week Events
Other Ways to Support the IOCDF