Improving wellness for people living with mood disorders from childhood throughout adulthood

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance and The Balanced Mind Foundation Join Forces

The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) and The Balanced Mind Foundation (TBMF) are joining forces to improve the mental health of, and facilitate wellness for, individuals living with mood disorders from childhood throughout adulthood.

Historically DBSA's programming has been almost exclusively focused on adults with the lived experience of a mood disorder and TBMF's programming has been centered on programming to support the families of children and adolescents living with bipolar disorder and other mood disorders. On January 1, 2014, TBMF's comprehensive family-focused programming—including its dynamic online family support network—will become part of DBSA's program services and resources.

"Early identification and treatment of mood disorders is critical to maximizing the potential for children to grow into adults living in mental health and wellness," explains DBSA President Allen Doederlein. "Parents and guardians are the most influential factor in helping children achieve full, thriving lives and therefore it is imperative that they receive the support, tools, and resources they need to ensure the best possible outcomes for their children as they grow into adulthood. That's why DBSA is so invested in continuing the excellent programming developed by The Balanced Mind Foundation. Under a single organization, we have a greater potential, through early intervention, to help reduce the severity of mental health issues for children as they grow; to provide consistent support for individuals as they transition from childhood to adulthood and throughout their lives; and our hope for the future—to address factors impacting prevention."

Susan Resko, Executive Director of The Balanced Mind Foundation, shares, "By joining forces, our members, volunteers, and supporters will not only benefit from renewed support for current TBMF programming, they will gain new educational and empowering tools and resources; will have new opportunities for in-person support for themselves and their children as they grow into adulthood; and will have a larger voice in shaping the future of mental health through DBSA's research, peer specialist, and advocacy initiatives. Our ability to impact change will be exponentially greater together. "

The Balanced Mind programs will complement DBSA's extensive peer-centered programming, which recognizes the importance and power of the lived experience and is grounded by its network of more than 300 chapters and 750 in-person, peer-led support groups nationwide. DBSA envisions wellness for people living with mood disorders and remains steadfast in its mission to improve the lives of individuals—now of all ages—living with depression or bipolar disorder.