Support, hope, and education are the three things the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) focuses on offering to people with mood disorders.
DBSA support groups are there to help people realize that they are not alone; that there are other people who may be going through the same situations, problems or experiences. This way people gain support for challenges throughout their lives, whether what happened is in the past, the present, and maybe something they want to have happen in the future.
During a DBSA support group a person may or may not be asked to do a check-in, sharing how well or how poorly they are doing. People in DBSA Support Groups can relate to, know about, and understand situations like:
- Days and times when you don’t want to get out of bed
- Spending sprees
- Manic rage or anger
- Inability to clean, take care of routine household chores, etc.
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Everything in these meetings is confidential. This means what is said in the meeting, stays in the meeting. This provides privacy and the option to open up without fear.
After a person speaks, then the group is open to offer suggestions, ask questions, or make comments before the next person shares. DBSA Support Group members are helped to focus on positive things:
- Praise accomplishments
- Provide support when help is needed
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A DBSA peer support group supports a person where they are at in their life, and in their recovery journeys, helping people understand issues that others may not understand. Family members may not understand, but people in DBSA Support groups have often been through many situations that are similar, and chances are that someone will be able to understand. Each DBSA support group is different, but the understanding and available support are the same from group to group.
DBSA National has guidelines, online facilitator training, needed standard forms, and whatever else is needed to run a DBSA Support Group. DBSA conducts a yearly, mandatory, one-day training for leaders, co-leaders, people who want to be leaders, or people who just want to see what is involved.
Other trainings are offered, and speakers from all over the country come to speak.
DBSA offers support not only for consumers (the person who has the mental illness or psychiatric diagnosis), but for family and friends as well. A person doesn’t have to be a DBSA member to attend any of these meetings. If finances are a concern, DBSA memberships may be offered at a discount price. No one ever gets kicked out of support group meetings. A consumer can go to a family meeting and not be asked to leave. They will be told of other available support groups.