Over 23 million people in the U.S. are affected by depression or bipolar disorder. No one with these illnesses has to feel alone, and we don’t want them to.
DBSA offers a place where people with depression or bipolar disorder and those who care about them can share experiences, discuss coping skills, and offer hope to one another.
Welcome and thank you for helping peers improve their lives. Below you will find news and resources for Support Group Facilitators.
Read the full article here.
Whether you are a new facilitator or an experienced one, raise your facilitation skills up to the next level by attending DBSA’s free, interactive Virtual Facilitator Training. Taught by experienced support group facilitators, this 8-hour introductory training class includes 2 – 3 separate sessions featuring lecture, question and answer segments and mock facilitator practice.
Participants must attend all sessions of a particular class to receive a certificate of participation. Please note that these training sessions are intended for peers who are working with a DBSA chapter or DBSA support group.
| Class | Dates | Times |
|---|---|---|
| Intro Fac Training March | 3/19 & 3/26 | 2pm – 6pm Eastern time |
| Intro Fac Training April | 4/09 & 4/23 | 2pm – 6pm Eastern time |
| Facilitator Think Tank | 4/14 | 8pm Eastern time |
| Intro Fac Training May | 5/6 & 5/13 | 3pm – 7pm Eastern time |
| Facilitator Think Tank | 5/12 | 8pm Eastern time |
| Facilitator Think Tank | 6/9 | 8pm Eastern time |
| Intro Fac Training June | 06/21, 06/23, 06/25 | 6-9pm Eastern time, Final class 6-8pm |
To Register for any of the above sessions, please email Jill at jburgos@dbsalliance.org
Please include the following: your full name, your chapter name, email address and chapter president or support group coordinator’s name and email.
Please let us know how we are doing by taking part in the short survey below about your support group experience with DBSA West Virginia! We are hoping that your anonymous feedback will help us improve our service and help illustrate the importance of our volunteer run groups for people living with mood disorders.
The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) WV is pleased to announce the opening of its statewide headquarters at Mountaineer Mall, 5000 Greenbag Road in Morgantown.
Staff and volunteers will be available 11 am – 3 pm, Tuesday through Saturday. Fully vaccinated community members are encouraged to stop by to learn more about DBSA WV free peer support groups (for people with mood disorders and the people who love them) and to pick up educational materials and wellness tools.
For more information, call (304) 241- 1862 or email dlkiss02@yahoo.com.
Whether you are a new facilitator or an experienced one, raise your facilitation skills up to the next level by attending DBSA’s free, interactive Virtual Facilitator Training. Taught by experienced support group facilitators, this 8-hour introductory training class includes 3 separate sessions featuring lecture, question and answer segments and mock facilitator practice.
Participants must attend all sessions of a particular class to receive a certificate of participation.
| Session | Dates | Times | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intro Facilitator Training | 1/21 & 1/28 | 3pm -7pm Eastern | |
| Intro Facilitator Training | 2/12 & 2/19 | 1pm – 5pm Eastern |
To Register for any of the above sessions, please e-mail Jill at jburgos@dbsalliance.org
Please include your full name, your chapter name and e-mail address.
DBSA West Virginia will hold the annual conference this year on August 14th, 2021 at the Holiday Inn University Area in Morgantown. You can also join the conference virtually via Zoom. The admission fee is $25 for the general public and $10 for DBSA affiliates, support group attendees, and college students. A COVID-19 vaccination record is required to attend the conference in person. If you have any questions, please reach out to Marylou Neidig at mcn0001@mix.wvu.edu.
Click the link to register: DBSA WV Conference Registration
Ever feel the need to just “check-in” with others who understand living with depression and other mood disorders? The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance understands and wants to offer you a new source of support and encouragement.
Beginning Monday, January 3rd, we will be offering weekday check-in calls at 10 am EST. These calls are free and open to anyone who just wants to talk to and hear from others with similar concerns. You may call every day or just when you need an extra bit of encouragement on your way to making healthy choices.
Just dial into the free conference call at 602-580-9894, code# 6022958.
For more information, e-mail dlkiss02@yahoo.com or call 304-376-7438.
For more information on other services provided by the Depression and Bipolar Alliance, check out DBSA WV.
With COVID-19 still in full swing, human connection can feel elusive.
Sade Miller, a junior social work student, has recently organized a group to help those whose mood disorders may have worsened during COVID-19. Miller herself suffers from a mood disorder, and is the lead facilitator of the WVU Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance.
“We just talk; we introduce ourselves and what we personally go through, and then we just create conversation,” Miller said.
The goal of the WVU DBSA, one of more than 700 similar groups across the country, is to “improve the lives of people living with mood disorders.”
Read the full article here: https://www.thedaonline.com/culture/depression-and-bipolar-support-alliance-offers-assistance-to-wvu-students-in-need/article_e12c3e7a-ecba-11ea-b341-2bdefc4411d6.html
Source: Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance offers assistance to WVU students in need
 Racism is a direct and constant threat to the mental health of millions living in this country. The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance views the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis as one in a long line of tragic events that call on us to find common ground. We cannot turn away from the fact that people of color, particularly African Americans, continue to live in fear of violence at the hands of the police. The mental health effects of constantly looking over one’s shoulder, concerned that you may be judged and suspected without cause, are profound. This fear is part of a much broader reality that places all people of color at disproportionate risk for depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, and more. As an organization concerned with the mental health of all Americans, we cannot and will not ignore this reality. We view the public outrage we are seeing nationwide in light of the psychological burden that racism represents. We applaud peaceful protests that will move us toward understanding, compassion, and justice while exposing the mental health effects that racism creates. It is all too easy to blame one individual, one group, or one event for what is happening right now. Instead, DBSA is focused on decisive actions that will advance the long-term mental health of all citizens: We call on police departments across the nation to make urgent changes in policies, training, and accountability to prevent acts of injustice and brutality against any individual. We call for cultural changes within police departments that make it safe and acceptable for officers to obtain the mental health care they themselves need. We call on Congress to fund the full $38.5 billion needed to provide our citizens with the community-based mental health care required in this time of unprecedented stress. We also ask Congress to provide direct federal funding for the expansion of virtual, peer-led support groups. There must be no obstacles for people who reach out to give and receive support. DBSA encourages all individuals facing extreme sadness, anger, anxiety, and loneliness to find the resources they need. Visit DBSAlliance.org to access online peer support groups, podcasts, and other direct resources that can be of immediate help to you and your family. Sincerely, Michael Pollock, CEO  DBSA is celebrating 35 years of hope, help, education, and support for people living with mood disorders.  |
The DBSA Wellness Wheel is an easy-to-use tool that gives you a complete picture of the progress you’ve already made in your wellness journey. As you create your own wheel, you will see your strengths in perspective and discover ways to move toward the life you want to live.
The Wellness Wheel concept has been widely used by mental health experts as a tool for recovery. DBSA’s Wellness Wheel reflects the real-world challenges you face and the ways you’re rising up to meet them.
We have drawn on multiple research studies and our own lived experience to create the Wellness Wheel and the educational tools that go with it. Our goal is to support you in celebrating your progress, and encourage you to explore new pathways for learning and personal growth.
We suggest you begin by downloading the Wellness Wheel workbook, where you’ll find prompts to help you reflect on 7 important areas of your life.
If you don’t have all the answers yet, don’t worry! The prompts in the workbook will guide you along. All you need are some colored pencils, markers or pens and you’re ready to begin.
Sleep, nutrition, and physical activity for total health.
Spending, saving, and planning for confidence with money.
Enjoying your surroundings at work, home, and outdoors.
Stimulating your mind and enjoying creative activities.
Making sure your working life satisfies and supports you.
Creating caring, supportive relationships and community.
Finding connection with your values, meaning and purpose.
We’re excited to see how the Wellness Wheel works for you – and welcome your suggestions for making it even more useful and relevant. Take our 3-minute survey to share your Wellness Wheel story.
In response to the COVID-19 Pandemic and the issue creating the need to stop face to
face groups, DBSA WV has decided to implement the following temporary procedure
until the danger of the COVID-19 Pandemic has passed.
DBSA peer facilitators have been asked to use Zoom accounts to connect with their
group participants via Zoom online. DBSA WV will be helping financially with the cost
of the Zoom expense. DBSA National is still offering online support groups for those
that are interested as well.
This is a temporary solution to a temporary situation with the COVID-19 Pandemic. I
believe that face to face is usually always going to be the best way for people to meet
and support each other, but until the Pandemic has passed it is in everyone’s best
interest to use online services. For the safety of everyone, DBSA WV is requesting that
face to face groups stop meeting until further notice.
In light of the current situation, I ask for your patience and understanding. At this time
our main concern is to continue making support services available and to keep all
involved safe from spread of the COVID-19 virus.
Stay Safe!
Nancy Marshall, Executive Director
DBSA WV
dbsa wv 