The Communications and Marketing Committee aims to promote ISSTD activities and services, both internally and externally. It also has a role in promoting issues relating to complex trauma and dissociation in the wider community, targeting health professionals, other relevant professionals, and the general public. This includes improving the awareness of complex trauma and dissociation in the general community. We have been busy this year with a number of projects.
Dissociative Identities Awareness Day
As part of promoting general awareness of dissociation, the Committee has a role each year in planning activities for Dissociative Identities Awareness Day in March. This year we held our second webinar for the general public to mark this day.
The Webinar bought together the same team from 2021 and ISSTD was delighted to collaborate again with Cathy Kezelman (Blue Knot Foundation – BKF), Anne and Lexi (Beauty After Bruises) and Jamie Pollack (An Infinite Mind). We were really lucky that once again ISSTD Member Emily Christensen agreed to moderate for us. This year the focus was on supporting someone living with DID, and was aimed at those who have a friend, family member or colleague living with DID. The webinar was well attended and feedback from the international audience was overwhelmingly positive. A recording of the webinar is available here.
Fact Sheets for the General Public
The Committee has continued to play a lead role in developing Facts Sheets for the general public. Last year we launched our five Facts Sheets on Dissociative Identities Awareness Day and they have been very popular. This year the project is expanding and Spanish versions of these five Fact Sheets are currently being produced.
Secondly, we developed a new information sheet entitled Supporting a Person who lives with Dissociative Identities. This support sheet was launched on DID Awareness, along with the webinar. This support sheet was specifically aimed at supporting an adult who has DID. A searate Fact Sheet is being developed this year to assist those who support a child or adolescent with dissociated identities.
Finally, we are in the process of developing a social media fact sheet. This fact sheet aims to assist members of the general public in the often challenging task of navigating social media, and finding a community or resources that feel safe and appropriate. We hope this will be on the website soon. For a copy of existing facts sheet, visit the Public Resources section of the ISSTD Website.
Other News
After chairing this Committee for the last few years, I have decided to step aside and Nicole Black will be taking over leadership of the Committee. I look forward to hearing more about the Committee activities under her leadership.
Looking for New Members or Interested Volunteers
Our Committee is actively seeking new members, or if you don’t wish to join a committee, we are also interested in people to help us out with our up-coming projects. Specifically, we are seeking:
Volunteers to Edit ISSTD Wikipedia Page
We still need members to join our small project group which is editing and updating the content of our Wikipedia page, which is, unfortunately often out of date or incorrect. If you have an interest in Wikipedia, or a desire to communicate information to the general public about complex trauma and dissociation, then this is a great project to get involved with. We are particularly interested in engaging with members who have been involved in editing a Wikipedia page before.
Development of Video Marketing Content
We hope to have an ongoing project to develop short video materials to promote ISSTD and to educate the public and other professionals about complex trauma and dissociation. If you have an interest in video-based education, editing or production – come and join our committee.
Dissociative Identity Awareness Day 2023
We have a small project team to assist with activities for this day, but always welcome more members. We invite people to join who want to think creatively about how we mark this day, and to assist us in projects. Each year work for this project begins in October and goes through until mid-March.
Social Media Content ‘Spotters’
Do you love social media? Always checking out Facebook or Twitter? If that’s the case – we’d love to hear from you. We are after keen volunteers to spot content on Social Media and share with Headquarters. Our wonderful staff program all our social media posts, but they values input from members, especially members outside of America, to make sure our social media posts are international and culturally relevant to members.
So, if you are interested in joining our Committee, please email info@isst-d.org for more information.