The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance DBSA Greater Houston is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization located in Houston, Texas. DBSA provides free and confidential support groups for individuals living together, or affected families and friends, depression or bipolar disorder. Each support group is led by a facilitator trained by the organization. Certain groups target specific populations including veterans, youth, and adolescent parents, young adults, senior citizens, LGBT Community, homeless individuals, and Spanish-speaking individuals.
Video Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (Greater Houston)
Histori
Founded in 1979, Greater Houston's Depressive and Manic Disorder Association (DMDA) sponsors up to five weekly support groups for those depressed or depressive. In 2003, the Greater Houston DMDA changed its name to DBSA Greater Houston and established its own 501 (c) (3) company. Currently, DBSA Greater Houston sponsors nearly 70 weekly support groups in 50 different locations throughout the Houston metropolitan area. The Houston organization is the largest of the nation's DBSA chapters, serving more than 1,000 support group participants annually.
Maps Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (Greater Houston)
Affiliate
The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance of Greater Houston is a member of the chapter of the Chicago-based National Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance organization. In addition, the organization has developed collaborations with a number of health and social services providers in Houston, including the Texas Department of Corrections, Harris County Justice System, Michael DeBakey VA Hospital, Mental Health America, the National Alliance on Mental Illness and the Houston AIDS Foundation. Each group provided by DBSA Greater Houston is a collaboration with other organizations in the community. For a list of collaborations, visit the organization's website.
Statistics
DBSA Greater Houston uses 75 trained volunteers and professional facilitators to provide nearly 70 weekly support groups. According to an independent demographic study conducted in 2008, 64% of DBSA Greater Houston participants were female, 36% were male; 77% were diagnosed individuals while 23% were family members; 66% reported diagnosis and/or symptoms of depression, 69% were diagnosed with bipolar disorder; 88% prescribed psychotropic drugs and 65% in professional therapy.
The Greater Houston Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance conducted an annual satisfaction survey for the participants. In 2013, the results continue to show a high satisfaction rating with a score of 4.28 out of a possible 5, representing excellence. Also, it was found that the longer a person attends a group, the more satisfied they are with the experience and the more skills they learn to manage their disorder.
In 2006, DBSA Greater received the Chapter of the Year award from the National Depression and Bipolar Alliance Support.
Recent developments
On September 24, 2013, the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance in Greater Houston hosted a second annual Help, Hope, and Healing Luncheon with speakers Jessie Close and actress Glenn Close. Jessie lives with Bipolar Disorder and Glenn talks about family perspectives and gives 2 monologues.
The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance in Greater Houston hosted the first annual Lunch, Hope, and Healing lunch at River Oaks Country Club on September 24, 2012 featuring Jane Pauley as a speaker. Jane Pauley is known for her work on Dateline NBC and the Today Show. Ms. Pauley lives with Bipolar Disorder.
In the fall of 2008, DBSA Greater Houston published an independent study of results conducted by Dr. Ralph Culler, former Dean of Associate Research at Hogg Foundation for Mental Health. The results study was designed to analyze the effectiveness of the Greater Houston DBSA support group model. This study provides tools for DBSA Greater Houston to (1) provide quantitative and qualitative evidence that the model of its support group is effective (2) to prove the accountability of DBSA Greater Houston to individuals using its services and; (3) learn how DBSA benefits occur.
This study provides evidence-based results that the Greater Houston DBSA support group model is effective in a number of areas. The study used a questionnaire of results that asked questions about demographics, medical data, results assessment and satisfaction with support group experiences. On average 89% of the group participants experienced an increase in their quality of life as a direct benefit of their participation in the DBSA group. 93% of participants reported high or very high satisfaction with the experience of their DBSA support group.
References
External links
- DBSA-Houston Web site
- Website of National Organization
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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