For more than 35 years, the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance has been a place for adults living with depression and bipolar disorder to share support and understanding.

This fall, DBSA launched a pilot program to make that same support and understanding available to teenagers. The teen support group pilot is on pause until further notice.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one in three high school students had experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in 2019, and approximately one in six youth reported making a suicide plan in the past year.

“Teens today have to deal with more stressors than ever before: the fallout of a pandemic, economic instability, the climate crisis,” said DBSA CEO Michael Pollock. “Young people need mental health support. Launching support groups for teens with depression and bipolar disorder is part of our increased efforts to address this youth mental health emergency.”

DBSA learned a lot during this pilot, and we will use what we learned towards future planning efforts when creating resources for teens. To keep in touch, sign up for our newsletter.

Learn more about teen mental health here.