Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance - National Headquarters

Home
United States
Chicago, IL
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance - National Headquarters

Find Wellness. Find Community. Find Hope. Visit dbsalliance.org for wellness info and tools, inspiring stories, podcasts and more.

Through 500+ support groups and 160+ chapters, DBSA reaches people with in-person and online peer support and easy-to-understand information on depression and bipolar disorder.

09/23/2026

During Su***de Prevention Awareness Month, we’re elevating voices that remind us of the power of connection, belonging, and being truly heard.

“What I needed most was to be heard and understood, to have someone identify with me without trying to fix anything.” – Robert D.

After years of struggling with suicidal thoughts and feeling alone, Robert D. found hope through community and peer support. His story is a powerful reminder that healing often begins when someone listens, validates our experiences, and helps us feel like we belong.

As Robert D. shares, “Connection and belonging belong in the same conversation as su***de prevention because walking alone can be dangerous.”

This month and every month, let's continue creating spaces where people feel seen, heard, valued, and supported.

➡️ Visit our page to read more inspiring stories, explore mental health and su***de prevention resources, and learn how peer support can make a difference. https://www.dbsalliance.org/wellness/spam/

***dePreventionAwarenessMonth ***dePrevention

09/17/2026

What can creativity make space for?

Creative expression can give us a way to explore thoughts and feelings, process our experiences, and gain new insight. For people living with mood disorders, creative activities can offer another way to express what may be difficult to put into words.

Introducing Create to Cope from DBSA.

Create to Cope brings creative activities and peer support together through virtual workshops. Each session is an opportunity to try something new, connect with others, and focus on the creative process—not the finished product.

No artistic experience is needed. Whether you write, draw, make music, move, or simply want to try something different, there’s no right way to create.

Explore Create to Cope and find a workshop that speaks to you.

https://www.dbsalliance.org/create-to-cope/

09/15/2026

A text.

A conversation.

A "How Are You Really Doing?"

Belonging isn't built in one big moment. It's built through small acts of connection.

Join the Challenge and help create more moments of belonging this month.

Download or screenshot the punch card today, then share your progress and tag so we can celebrate your acts of connection.
https://www.dbsalliance.org/su***de-prevention-awareness-month-punch-card-challenge/

09/08/2026

What if su***de prevention started with belonging?

Research shows that connection and belonging are powerful protective factors for mental health.

That's why we're launching the Challenge.

This simple challenge encourages small acts of connection within your own circle. Each action on the card is designed to help someone feel connected and like they belong.

Download or screenshot the punch card today, complete the challenge throughout September, and share your progress by tagging .
https://bit.ly/4zYUfry

09/03/2026

You’re not broken. You’re not alone.
Changes in sexual health are a common — and deeply human — part of living with a mood disorder. Whether it’s related to symptoms, medication, or body image, DBSA is here with judgment-free resources and peer-driven support.
Because your story deserves to be met with empathy, not shame.

09/01/2026

Su***de Prevention Awareness Month kicks off today.

This month is a time to raise awareness, share resources, and break the stigma surrounding mental health and su***de.

At DBSA, we work every day to support people living with mood disorders and their loved ones through peer support, education, and resources that foster community and belonging.

Research shows that connection and belonging are powerful protective factors for mental health. That's why DBSA is highlighting a simple but important message this month: Belonging Saves Lives.

Visit our resource hub to access su***de prevention resources, read personal stories, learn about upcoming events, and discover ways to participate in the campaign.

https://www.dbsalliance.org/wellness/spam/

08/26/2026

Holding Hope Together
Wednesday, September 9 | 8:00 PM ET / 7:00 PM CT / 5:00 PM PT | Virtual

Supporting someone living with a mood disorder can bring unique challenges. When suicidal thoughts are part of the picture, it can be difficult to know how to support someone you love while caring for yourself, too.

As part of Su***de Prevention Awareness Month, DBSA is bringing parents, family members, and supporters together for Holding Hope Together: A Conversation for Parents, Family Members, and Supporters of People Living with Mood Disorders.

Join Dr. Gabriel Fries, Nina Hotkowski, LCSW, Suzanne Bergoffen, and Jerry Pavlon-Blum, moderated by DBSA CEO Suzanne Baber, for a conversation about peer connection, supporting your own well-being, and navigating difficult moments together.

Hope is something we can hold together.

Register to join the conversation and read the panelists' bios: https://www.dbsalliance.org/holding-hope-together/

08/20/2026

Same intensity, different engine. Bipolar disorder affects about 2.8% of U.S. adults; borderline personality disorder about 1.4%—and they’re often confused. In bipolar, mood shifts come in episodes that last days to weeks and change sleep, energy, and activity. In borderline, shifts are faster, often tied to relationships and stress, with patterns of sensitivity and impulsivity. If this sounds familiar, a careful evaluation can sort out what’s happening and point to treatment that fits.

08/13/2026

A common myth is that depression always looks like someone who cannot get out of bed. The fact is that many people live with what is sometimes called “functional” depression, where they keep working, caring for others, and showing up, while feeling numb, hopeless, or exhausted inside. Their struggle is just as real, even if other people do not see a dramatic change on the outside.

It is also a myth that there is only one type of depression. There are different subtypes and specifiers, and some people experience mixed features, where symptoms of depression and symptoms that look more energized or agitated show up at the same time. A proper diagnosis looks at how long symptoms have been present, how they cluster together, and how they affect daily life, not just whether someone appears “sad enough” from the outside. https://www.dbsalliance.org/education/depression/

08/06/2026

This: Depression = ongoing feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and fatigue.
That: Bipolar disorder = those same depressive symptoms, plus mood episodes that shift to mania or hypomania.
Knowing the difference can be the key to effective support and treatment. https://www.dbsalliance.org/education/

Address

Chicago, IL

Website

http://www.DBSAlliance.org/, http://sprout.link/dbsalliance

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance - National Headquarters posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance - National Headquarters:

Want your practice to be the top-listed clinic in Chicago?