Depression Support Groups

Some say this is the most wonderful time of the year. But for many, the holiday season causes stress, memories and other feelings that can trigger or contribute to depression. For our friends in southwestern Pennsylvania who could use extra support this time of year, take a look at the following support groups for individuals with depression and bipolar disorder. Thank you to the Bipolar and Depression Support Alliance for providing us with the updated list below.

Depression and Bipolar Support Groups

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance-Pittsburgh (DBSA-Pittsburgh)
The Big D: 2nd & 4th Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m.
Oakland: Western Psychiatric Hospital, 4th Floor, Room 413
Contact: Ray Millsap 412-379-3902

Mood Support for Manic Depressive and Bipolar Disorder
2nd and 4th Thursdays at 7:30 p.m.
Mt. Lebanon: St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Rt.19
(Washington Rd. & Mayflower Rd.)
Contact: Tony (cell) 412-779-5834

Bipolar and Manic Depression Support Group
Every Tuesday 7-8 p.m.
Butler: Grapevine Drop-In Center, 221 West Brady St.
Contact: Bette Peoples
724-283-1704

Westmoreland County
Depression & Bipolar Support Group
1st Tuesday 11 a.m. to 1p.m. & 3rd Thursday 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Greensburg: 409 Coulter Ave., Suite 409
Contact: Julie Kostenbader 724-858-7533

Depression Support Group
1st Thursday @ 7:30 p.m.
Bethel Park: Christ United Methodist Church Youth Center
44 Highland Rd., Rte 19 (across from Village Square)
Contact: Duba Weinstein 412-344-6600 Ext.2320

For more information on depression or bipolar disorder, visit the NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania website.

Post-Gazette Covers "Next to Normal"

Photo by Craig Schwartz
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reviewed Next to Normal playing at the Benedeum Center now through Sunday, April 10.  Check out the review here.

Tickets are still available for this riveting musical about a woman living with bipolar disorder and the effect it has on her family. Next to Normal won the Pulitzer Prize for drama and three Tony Awards. 

For more information on bipolar disorder and other mental illnesses, visit the NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania website. 

"Next to Normal" in Pittsburgh

The Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning Broadway musical Next to Normal is off to a great start in Pittsburgh! Playing at the Benedum Center now through Sunday, April 10, Next to Normal is described as "an emotional powerhouse of a musical about a family trying to take care of themselves and each other." It focuses on a mother struggling with bipolar disorder and the effect that her illness has upon her family; the show also touches on themes such as grieving, suicide and psychiatric ethics.

Tickets are still available for this phenomenal play. Check out our NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania information table in the Benedum lobby!



Western Psychiatric Opening First Pediatric Bipolar Disorder Inpatient Facility

Image: Some rights reserved by ankledeep / JJ

The University of Pittsburgh's Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic (WPIC) will be launching the first inpatient facility in the nation dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of bipolar disorder in children.

According to Dr. Rasim Somer Diler (as quoted in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Lifestyles article by Matthew Santoni), medical director of UPMC's Inpatient Child and Adolescent Bipolar Services, or in-CABS,

"Research increasingly shows that bipolar disorders -- often taking the form of swings between depression and mania, changing levels of activity and sleep, and appetite disorders -- can manifest in young children and teenagers in worse forms than in adults and lead to higher rates of attempted suicide in young people."

The article goes on to describe the in-CABS program as being "designed to correctly diagnose young people with bipolar disorder. It can be hard to detect in short emergency room visits or outpatient therapy because it shares symptoms with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, depression, pervasive developmental disorder and substance abuse problems."

The article stresses the importance of diagnosis so that children can receive treatment and families can be educated on their options. Christine Michaels, the Executive Director of NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania, contributed to the article by discussing the impact of mental illness on families, further reinforcing the need for accurate and timely diagnoses for children and youth.

Read the rest of this fascinating article here. For more information about Childhood and Adolescent Bipolar Disorder, check out the NAMI Childhood and Adolescent Bipolar Disorder Fact Sheet.

Maintaining Stability While Unemployed

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Unemployment can add high stress to any life situation. BP Magazine's Sasha Faynor offers helpful tips on maintaining mood stability in her online article "When the job market crashes, your mood doesn't have to".

For more information about Bipolar Disorder and other mental illnesses, be sure to visit the NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania website.