The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance is a national umberalla organization of more than 1,110 support groups across the United States. DBSA-Northern Virginia runs four support groups, including the Teen Group. The Teen Group meets in Fairfax, and the three other groups meet in Woodbridge, Ashburn and Centreville.

Teens are more than welcome to attend any of the groups. However, they are encouraged to try the teen group first based on the notion that they will feel more comfortable and learn more from their peers. The teen group is moderated by two adult facilitators who have bipolar disorder. Those facilitators are monitored by the executive director and the deputy executive director of DBSA-Northern Virginia. All of these individuals have been trained in working with teens by mental health practitioners and the Fairfax County Department of Family Services' Division of Child Protective Services. In addition, each semester, a teen is honored by their selection as the teen facilitator of the group, where they would act as a liasion between the adult facilitators and group members, and provide an additional layer of peer-to-peer support.

Parents are welcome to stay in a room down the hall from the support group where we keep literature and refreshments.

DBSA-Northern Virginia has grown rapidly since its inception in 2005 as the home to a support group for those with bipolar that was based in Centreville. The leadership of the organization -- the people who developed the Teen Group -- were made up of the organization's board of directors -- family members and people with bipolar or major depression -- and a committee of parents, educators, a teen and other interested parties.

DBSA-Northern Virginia's goal is to give teens a chance to help each other in ways that we know adults cannot. We are committed to peer-to-peer support and non-coercive methods of treatment. We are also committed to protecting people who are a danger to others and themselves, but our years of experience have taught us that peers with bipolar have a better chance of getting through to those in crisis than others.

 

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