Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
Encyclopedia
The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) (formerly the National Depressive and Manic Depressive Association or NDMDA) is a non-profit organization
providing support groups for people with depression or bipolar disorder
as well as their friends and family. DBSA's scope, also includes outreach, education
and advocacy
regarding depression and bipolar disorder. DBSA employs a small staff and operates with the guidance of a Scientific Advisory Board.
DBSA sponsors online and "face to face" support groups. A nonrandomized study found participants in such groups reported their coping skills, medication compliance
, and acceptance
of their illness correlated with participation. Member hospitalization decreased by 49% (from 82% to 33%). Following an initial meeting, members were found to be 6.8 more times likely to attend subsequent meetings if accompanied by a member the first time.
DBSA is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization that answers more than 3,000 calls per month on their toll-free information and referral line and receives over 21 million hits per year on their combined websites. Each month, DBSA distributes nearly 20,000 educational materials free of charge to anyone requesting information about mood disorders. DBSA reaches nearly five million people through their educational materials and programs, exhibit materials, and media activities.
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
providing support groups for people with depression or bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder or bipolar affective disorder, historically known as manic–depressive disorder, is a psychiatric diagnosis that describes a category of mood disorders defined by the presence of one or more episodes of abnormally elevated energy levels, cognition, and mood with or without one or...
as well as their friends and family. DBSA's scope, also includes outreach, education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
and advocacy
Advocacy
Advocacy is a political process by an individual or a large group which normally aims to influence public-policy and resource allocation decisions within political, economic, and social systems and institutions; it may be motivated from moral, ethical or faith principles or simply to protect an...
regarding depression and bipolar disorder. DBSA employs a small staff and operates with the guidance of a Scientific Advisory Board.
DBSA sponsors online and "face to face" support groups. A nonrandomized study found participants in such groups reported their coping skills, medication compliance
Compliance (medicine)
In medicine, compliance describes the degree to which a patient correctly follows medical advice...
, and acceptance
Acceptance
Acceptance is a person's agreement to experience a situation, to follow a process or condition without attempting to change it, protest, or exit....
of their illness correlated with participation. Member hospitalization decreased by 49% (from 82% to 33%). Following an initial meeting, members were found to be 6.8 more times likely to attend subsequent meetings if accompanied by a member the first time.
DBSA is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization that answers more than 3,000 calls per month on their toll-free information and referral line and receives over 21 million hits per year on their combined websites. Each month, DBSA distributes nearly 20,000 educational materials free of charge to anyone requesting information about mood disorders. DBSA reaches nearly five million people through their educational materials and programs, exhibit materials, and media activities.