What is DBSA (the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance)?

The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) is the leading patient-directed national organization focusing on the most prevalent mental illnesses. The organization fosters an environment of understanding about the impact and management of these life-threatening illnesses by providing up-to-date, scientifically-based tools and information written in language the general public can understand. DBSA supports research to promote more timely diagnosis, develop more effective and tolerable treatments and discover a cure. The organization works to ensure that people living with mood disorders are treated equitably. DBSA was founded in 1985 as the successor to the National Manic-Depressive Association founded approximately 10 years earlier.

The DBSA Orange Counter Chapter

Was inititiated in the summer of 1983 in the form of a small outpatient peer support group hosted by St. Joseph Hospital in Orange and initially facilitated by Dr. Himasiri De Silva, a nationally recognized expert on treating Bipolar disorder. The original 5 core members of that group went on to become self-facilitating and formed the Orange County Chapter of the National Manic-Depressive Association with Dr. De Silva as our Cheif Medical Advisor. The Orange County Chapter went on to incorporate as a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization under the Corporate Name: Manic-Depressive Association of Orange County, Inc. a California nonprofit corporation.

Twenty-five years later the organization has developed into the county's premier information and educational resource for people living with mood disorders. Today we operate as the DBSA Orange County Chapter affilate of the National DBSA (Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (either abbreviated as OC DBSA or DBSA OC) but we have not re-incorporated under a new name.

Still under Dr. De Silva's leadership, the OC DBSA chapter has touched the lives of thousands of patients, their families and the general public through multiple support groups, monthly educational meetings, quarterly newsletters, a staffed resource center with a lending library, and ever increasing visibility in the community. The chapter now runs eight support groups throughout Orange County that serve patients and family members, as well as the under-served dual diagnosis and Spanish speaking communities.

The support group wasn't DBSA's only contribution to those suffering with mood disorders in those early days. In 1983, the chapter launched the Educational Meeting which has since become a staple in its community outreach. Over the past 25 years, some of the county's preeminent physicians in the field of psychiatry and other expert professionals from Orange County's mental health community have conducted these free meetings that can attract up to 75 people.

Inspired to reach even more local people living with mood disorders, DBSA commenced the publication of its quarterly newsletter, The Rollercoaster Times . Currently, 2,000 to 2,500 newsletters are distributed each quarter to patients and their families, chapter members, area hospitals, clinics and mental health organizations. A majority of Orange County psychiatrists also receive the newsletters as well as many therapists and social workers.

However, it is the Bipolar Resource Center, located in the Sister Elizabeth Building on the St. Joseph Hospital campus, that serves not only as DBSA's base of operations, but is its heart and soul. The chapter's greatest advocacy is done at the resource center where volunteers answer calls, respond to emails and receive visitors Monday through Friday from noon to 4 p.m. Last year, volunteers fielded more than 1,900 calls, responded to more than 1,200 emails and mailed out more than 400 packets with our introductory letter, newsletter and pertinent brochures. Patients from the St. Joseph in and outpatient programs routinely tour the resource center. Additionally, the Bipolar Resource Center stocks a lending library with more than 50 books, 75 videotapes and DVDs, and 50 cassette tapes pertaining to mood disorders as well as brochures in English and Spanish and other materials from our national association and local mental health organizations.