Depression Bipolar Support Alliance

DBSA Overland Park is a chapter of the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance based in Chicago. It is one of two DBSA chapters serving the Kansas City metro area. (The other chapter is DBSA KC Metro, which straddles the state line with one group in Fairway, Kan., and a second in Liberty, Mo.) DBSA Overland Park’s stated purpose is to provide support for people living with depression and bipolar. This support takes the form of a weekly DBSA support group for people who live with depression and bipolar, as well as a monthly Friends & Family support group for loved ones of those living with depression and bipolar.
The chapter has a board consisting of three people, all of whom share the responsibility for facilitating the support groups. The format is typically one in which attendees discuss what’s been happening during the week, including challenges and accomplishments. Optional topics for discussion are frequently offered to help frame the conversation. Guest speakers are sometimes present to discuss their areas of expertise. On these nights, the typical format is suspended in order for the speaker to have a chance to talk.
Support groups are intrinsically communal in the sense that they would not be what they are without their attendees. In other words, peers imbue these groups with shared power by creating and maintaining the conditions needed for collective healing and wellness. DBSA itself acknowledges this reality and emphasizes the role of peers throughout its sixteen-​point core beliefs statement, including the last point, which reads: «The lived experience should inform everything DBSA does.» The people who come together each week to support one another and provide support in turn are, hands down, amazing. Something alchemical happens when these individuals gather with the genuine desire to listen and to be heard. This type of chemistry is rare and precious. The people who attend DBSA Overland Park’s meetings are the chapter’s biggest asset. As such, they — and their paths to wellness — should be protected, championed and prioritized at all times.
One of the downfalls of DBSA Overland Park is that a large percentage of the structured social time offered outside of groups takes place at a bar. These gatherings are announced at the weekly support groups. It is widely understood that depression and bipolar are highly associated with alcohol and substance abuse. The problem with having events at bars are multifold. First, people who need to avoid such establishments because of their own drug and alcohol recovery are left out of these gatherings by default. Second, younger members who cannot enter bars will also be excluded from these events. Third, the leadership of DBSA Overland Park is not modeling wellness (including DBSA’s own mental health recovery and wellness guidelines) by hosting events at bars and by drinking at these events. Fourth, having gatherings in these venues encourages attendees to drink when they might not do so otherwise. (There could even be social pressure to drink simply because of the setting and the fact that, as a group, attendees are engaged in the act of drinking.) Fifth, people may drink despite taking medicines that interact with alcohol in potentially dangerous ways.
Another downfall is the fact that this chapter’s messaging sometimes veers from that outlined in DBSA’s brand standards for chapters. A focus on wellness can take a backseat to pathologizing terminology that actually works against wellness. This language is occasionally pushed on attendees during group facilitation rather than allowing them to use their own vocabulary to understand and communicate their experiences. This seems to be at odds with the objective of making sure the lived experience informs everything DBSA does.
A third downfall of this chapter is the fact that it is experiencing growing pains. Attendance is up and a number of factors within the group are in flux as the chapter orients itself to its new size and scope. These growing pains are expected and occur in all nonprofits. Still, they can create negative effects that range in severity from slight to significant.
I have attended DBSA Overland Park’s support group with a loved one for the past seven months and have been involved in the chapter in other ways. My loved one and I have decided not to take part in this particular chapter anymore for the reasons listed above, as well as other reasons I have shared with the board. I care deeply about the people who attend regularly, many of whom I consider friends, and will miss them a great deal. At the same time, I realize remaining in this chapter will undermine my own wellness.
For those looking for a support group, my advice is to check out DBSA Overland Park, along with the options available through DBSA KC Metro and The Whole Person. It’s important to find the right fit because so much rests on the support group component of wellness.

I found DBSA when I was at my worst, and they took me in without judgement. Even now that I’m doing much better I can go share with the group as well as try to provide feedback to others that may help them with their struggles. It is a non for profit group that only asks for small donations when you can making it easy for anyone to participate. Having a feeling of fitting in and belonging when it feels you are most alone with your struggles is life saving. Another great part is even though it is the Depression and Bipolar support, the group welcomes all type of mental conditions including anxiety, insomnia, ADHD, and others that may or may not be associated with depression or bipolar.

This group has been so helpful. It is a safe place to share, listen, help and gather «judgement free» feedback from peers that struggle coping with their brain disorders. I cannot suggest strongly enough joining the group and see for yourself

I located this local support wing of the Depression and Bibolar Support Alliance (DBSA) at the behest of a friend who was severely depressed and was needing to speak to someone who understood what they were going through, but couldn’t afford professional counseling. After asking around my group of medical contacts, I was given the contact info for DBSA of Overland Park. Through some investigation, I found that they offered support groups at a local temple and encouraged newcomers to attend. I called the number provided on the website and explained what I was trying to accomplish, and the lady I spoke to (also the founder of the support group) was very helpful, and encouraged me to have my friend attend their next support group. I provided my friend with the contact information and some additional info that I had gleaned from the website (
). She was happy to have such a wonderful resource so close to her home, and found the group to be highly supportive. The peer-​led support meeting was exactly what she needed to find support for her struggles. The difference in my friend’s demeanor after her first support group was night and day different. She so appreciated finding someplace to share her issues and hear that she isn’t alone. It is my understanding that she is now attending regularly, and loves being among others who have the same difficulties and struggles as she does. The topics discussed change weekly, and it is a wonderful resource to provide understanding for a very misunderstood disease. I would recommend DBSA of OP very highly to anyone with depression or Bipolar issues who needs support or just a listening ear.

Mary Mc
The mission of the Depression & Bipolar Alliance (DBSA) is to provide hope, help, support and education to improve the lives of people living with depression or bipolar disorder. The group meets at The Congregation, Temple B’Nai Jedhudsh located at 12 310 Nall in Overland Park. The group meets on most Thursdays from 7−9pm. There is also a Friends & Family group which meets at the same time on the second Thursday of each month. It s a peer support group in which individuals share their
Experiences with others. It can be very beneficial to listen to others experiences, sorrows and triumphs. For me, it has taken place of a therapist. A great organization!
Call 913−730−0042 fo answer any questions you may have or come by on Thursday.

This group was a port in the storm for me. It provides me a safe place to express experiences with bipolar free from judgement and stigma. It is wonderful to have a place to talk with other people who share similar life challenges.
Once a month there is a group for the adult friends and family members of those living with depression and bipolar mood disorders.
The primary group meets Thursday’s from 7 — 9 pm; the friends and family group meets from 7 – 9 pm on the 2^nd Thursday of each month. Location = The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah, Overland Park, KS. Review written Nov 2014.

DBSA is a national organization sponsoring peer-​led support groups for people living with depression and bi-​polar disorder. This review is for the group that meets Thursday nights between 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. at Cong. B’nai Jehudah in Overland Park. I’ve been attending for over a year now and it’s been a great support resource. Personally I haven’t faced a lot of issues with accepting my diagnosis, or other people accepting it, but many folks have experienced these issues and, if you’ve been in denial or just unclear about what is going on with you, a diagnosis can be pretty scary! The folks here are warm, friendly and non-​judgmental, and many have been dealing pretty successfully with their illness for years! Some people have been coming ever since this group started up a bit more than a year ago, others are brand new, but everyone is welcome and gets a chance to talk and share (if they wish to). You’ll feel at home with us in no time.
DBSA does take the view that these illnesses are caused by chemical imbalances in the brain and that, for most of us, lifetime medication will probably be necessary, just as if we were diabetic or have thyroid problems! A few particpants don’t take meds and the group isn’t judgmental about that, but we know from personal experiences that not taking meds or not being compliant with them is usually a recipe for disaster, sooner or later. But nobody is «pushed» to go on meds if they don’t want to, although almost all of us can testify to the difference the meds have made in our lives. Of course the group doesn’t negate the need for talk therapy, but it’s an excellent adjunct and it’s really good to be with a group of nice people who actually «get» what you’ve been going through! (BTW, most of us have these diseases chronically. A few are dealing with situational depression, like after a death or divorce or loss of a job, and those folks may well be able to discontinue medication once their situations stabilize and they emerge from their depression. But for most of us this is an illness we’ll have to deal with for the rest of our lives. Of course, symptoms vary and can change as we age, so meds periodically get adjusted or changed to be sure they’re still working.)
We aren’t medical professionals and we’re not a substitute for professional care. But many of us have a lot of experience that we can share with people who are newly diagnosed and perhaps help save them some of the heartaches this illness can bring. Some of us have gone through some very heavy experiences, but have managed to emerge on the other side surprisingly intact! The meetings are casual, with 10 — 20 people depending on the night. We almost always have coffee and some kind of refreshments. We ask for a $ 3 donation each night to cover the refreshments, the nominal rent the Congregation charges us, and dues to the national DBSA organization. If you can’t afford that some nights, there’s no pressure to donate. Many of us have (or had) employment problems because of the disabling effects of our diseases and we all know what that’s like! So please don’t let that inhibit you from coming. The group is also open to people of all religious backgrounds and sexual orientations. If this turns out not to be the group for you we have quite a few resources we can refer you to so you don’t have to feel like you wasted an evening. We’ve also collectively been on just about every medication there is and seen many physicians and therapists, so if you have questions about meds or professionals you can get a lot of information from us.
The group varies in ages. Some folks are in their 20s or 30s, others in their 50s and 60s (the aging baby boomers). Most nights after the meeting we go to a nearby bar or restaurant for less formal chatting and making new friendships! Except for some national and Jewish holidays, the group meets every Thursday. Call or checki the website to save a trip if you’re coming from far away. There ARE some other DBSA support groups in the metro, which you can locate on the national website, but I can’t speak to them because I’ve been so pleased with this one that I haven’t checked out any of the others! And even if your problem isn’t primarily depression or bi-​polar, you’re still welcome. A few of our members have other issues, like anxiety, OCD or borderline personality disorder. We also welcome «sane» people who are living with family members or loved ones with these illnesses. For some diagnoses there may not be any local or nearby group, so you can check us out. Of course, if you are currently experiencing heavy duty symptoms, are suicidal or don’t feel fully in touch with reality this is NOT the group for you. We aren’t a crisis center — if you’re experiencing those kinds of things PLEASE call your providers, the local mental health center or 911 or go to the E.R. But once you’re stable come see us! We can help support you in maintaining that stability!