North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System
The HONOR Center Hosts Support Group for Depression, Bipolar Disorder
July 5, 2011
Gainesville, FL
The VA HONOR (Hope, Opportunities, Networking, Outreach and Recovery) Center for Veterans invites people living with depression or bipolar disorder to join the local chapter of the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA). The DBSA will host regular, confidential, peer-led, self-help support group meetings on Tuesdays, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. at The HONOR Center for Veterans, 1604 SE 3 Ave, Gainesville.
“The HONOR Center received a grant last November to launch our nationally affiliated DBSA group,” said VA Recreation Therapist Alee Karpf. “The intent of the group is to create a place for community members and Veterans living at The Honor Center to interact and build a mental health bridge to the community.”
DBSA support groups are open to anyone diagnosed with a mood disorder, has a family member or friend who is diagnosed, or who thinks they might have depression or bipolar disorder (also known as manic depression). DBSA support groups are not run by professionals, but instead offer peer-to-peer support, which is considered an important component of recovery from mental illness for many people.
DBSA is the nation's leading patient-directed organization focusing on the most prevalent mental illnesses – depression and bipolar disorder. The organization has more than 400 independent local chapters that operate more than 1,000 self-help support groups around the United States.
DBSA meetings are open to Veterans and community members living with depression or bipolar disorder. For directions to The Honor Center, contact 352-548-1800 and for details, call Alee Karpf at 352-548-1800.
