StrengthofUs is an online community designed to empower young adults through resource sharing and peer support and to build connections for those navigating the unique challenges and opportunities in the transition-age years.  StrengthofUs provides opportunities for you to connect with your peers and offer support, encouragement and advice and share your real world experiences, personal stories, creativity, resources and ultimately, a little bit of your wonderful and unique self. It is a user-generated and user-driven community; so basically it's whatever you make it. Everything here has been developed and created by and for young adults with you specifically in mind...because we think you're worth it! We hope every time you visit, you find hope, encouragement, support and most of all, the strength to live your dreams and goals.

In 1997 the Rodwell Dart Memorial Foundation was set up in memory of Roddy Dart, who tragically died of a traumatic brain injury thirteen years ago while celebrating his twenty-second birthday in Aspen, Colorado. Roddy battled bipolar illness for much of his short adult life. In the early 1990’s there existed little awareness and understanding of teenage depression. The Rodwell Dart Memorial Foundation (directed by Hailey Dart, founding director, and Lindsay Dart, Roddy’s younger sister) was established to fund programs devoted to increasing awareness and understanding of teenage depression and bipolar disorder, while hopefully reducing the stigma surrounding these illnesses.

In the past two years the Foundation’s mission has grown to include teens and young adults—the “transition-age” youth who often fall through the cracks of society. This is a precarious time in the lives of older teens and early twenty year olds when depression and bipolar disorder are often diagnosed or misdiagnosed. Some of these transition-age youth may drop out of school, leave their families or drift away to lives of substance abuse and poverty with their illness possibly remaining undiagnosed.

Born on January 2^nd, 1976, Roddy was raised in Southern California and England. He returned to the United States to attend Stanford University in 1993. When Roddy was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in early 1995, he decided to move back to the UK. On the strength of his love, enthusiasm and knowledge of both English and American literature, along with his very persuasive personality, he managed to get himself enrolled in the Fall of 1995 into the three-year English BA program at Bristol University—no small feat. On home ground and in a program that included no, or few, extraneous subjects, he found himself more in his element. Much of the time, he was fun, enthusiastic, charming, generous—he lived with bipolar disorder and was very bright. Other times, he had his demons. A voracious reader with a curious mind, he loved writing (books, screenplays, movies and poems) and painting as well as socializing and keeping up with his friends on both sides of the Atlantic. He was a beautiful skier—and of course somewhat reckless. He was highly creative, conceptualizing such prescient ideas as warning noises in cars when they came too close to other obstacles—now in 2010, and many years later, an old notion. 

The reflective, generous side of Roddy often emerged when he encouraged sad or discouraged friends. On one occasion he drove half way across southern England to support a friend who was suffering from newly diagnosed bipolar disorder. Roddy believed realistically that he would probably stay on "meds" for the rest of his life. 

His demise, the morning after celebrating his 22^nd birthday in Colorado, prompted outpourings of love and support from family and friends on both sides of the Atlantic. Thus the idea was formed to establish a memorial foundation in his name.

 

Development of StrengthofUs

 

We would like to thank the more than 200 transition-age young adults who shared their feedback, thoughts and expertise for the project by completing NAMI National's survey on their social networking habits, resource preferences and what they wanted included in an online community. The national survey report served as the blueprint for the development of StrengthofUs.

 

StrengthofUs was developed by NAMI in close consultation with a young adult expert advisory group. We would also like to express our deepest gratitude to the Young Adult Expert Advisory Group members, who have been involved in the online community project from the very beginning and have provided their time, input, ideas and personal stories for their committment to developing a site that would meet the unique needs of their peers. Their ongoing support and commitment to the project has been a source of great inspiration for the entire development team. Below are a few members of the Expert Advisory Group. We hope their stories and strength inspire you too...
 

Born and raised in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Alex W. was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder at the age of 13. After suffering a nervous breakdown, dropping out of high school and several suicide attempts, White eventually gained control of his illness. Through therapy, the support of his friends and family and the use of art as an emotional outlet, he went on to finish high school and graduate from Montana State University with a B.A. in Film. Ten years after his diagnosis, White now leads a healthy, stable life and is following his dreams. He currently lives in Brooklyn and works in the film industry of New York. Visit Profile.

Hi, my name is Wesley K. I am a 25-year-old Special Education student at the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV). I live in Henderson, Nevada with my parents and my two cats, Morton and Misue (pronounced "MEE-SUE"). Upon entering my university for the first time, at age eighteen, I suffered a nervous breakdown and was later diagnosed with Schizoaffective Disorder. I have spent time in a mental health facility, but with my current medication, therapy and family support, I have been able to continue my studies at UNLV. I switched my major from Architecture to Special Education because I felt that as someone with a disability, I can understand and be of better service to my students with disabilities. I hope to be a Special Education teacher one day and plan on staying in southern Nevada for the rest of my career. Visit Profile.

Hi, I’m Michelle. I’m 23. When people ask me what I do, I’m not sure what to say. I usually tell them I work for DBSA San Diego as a volunteer. I am the Secretary and Director of Programs. But I think a better answer would be that I do life. I don’t have any direct path or major life goals right now. I spend most of my time in groups and therapy, but I try to make a difference with all the extra moments. I sing in a gospel choir and have a passion for clog dancing. I attended USC for a short time after high school but have not finished my degree. I was diagnosed with a mental illness in high school but have dealt with it my whole life. I have had several diagnoses since. The ones I share most often are Bipolar 1 and Borderline Personality Disorder. I find myself mostly living for the now. I like working on projects that are useful and make a difference in people’s lives, and I’ve enjoyed helping with StrengthofUs.org. Life with a disability is not easy but it does get better. I promise. Keep up the hope and hang in there. And let other people help, even when it hurts. You’ll make it. I have and so can you. Visit Profile.

 

We hope you enjoy the hard work these young adults put into developing the site and that you find reflections of yourself and their strength as you navigate through the StrengthofUs online community. You can learn more about NAMI and related projects at www.nami.org.