Welcome to DBSA Morristown Area

We are a self-help support group affiliated since 1986 with the highly respected Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance. DBSA is in almost all states. We were New Jersey’s first. The mission of DBSA is to improve the lives of people living with a mood disorder, and their loved ones.

People who are living with depression or bipolar disorder (manic depression), and their families and friends, are welcome. Our goal is to help our support group participants towards wellness.

Peer Support Groups

DBSA (Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) support groups are non-judgmental peer-support forums for people with mood disorders, family members, friends and others interested in supporting people living with mood disorders. Meetings are led by trained volunteer facilitators who also have mood disorders. Our support group meeting and lectures are handicap accessible.

The Ivan K Goldberg MD Memorial Lecture Series

Education is vital. We offer monthly lectures, usually on the last Wednesday of the month, by mental health professions to help you on your path to wellness. Please see our schedule, and check out our lending library of past lectures, available before each lecture.

As in-person lectures are not possible due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have moved our April lecture with Jill Brown, LSCW, online. Ms. Brown’s topic is Choosing YOU: Prioritizing self-care for long term stability when you have a mood disorder. Please join us at 7:45 PM on April 29, 2020 via Zoom. The meeting ID is 884 9838 5029 with password 293413. You may also participate by phone by calling 1-929-436-2866.

Morristown Meetings
NOTICE: Peer Group meetings are cancelled until further notice due to the coronavirus outbreak. You may instead participate in our virtual support group meetings as follows.

Meetings are Tuesdays at 7:30 PM on Zoom.
Meeting ID: 960 641 545
Password: 090861
You can also participate by telephone. Call 1-646-558-8656 using the above Meeting ID and Password.
(Posted May 6, 2020)

Peer Support Group
When: Tuesdays from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM.
Where: Morristown Unitarian Fellowship, 21 Normandy Heights Rd, Morristown, NJ 07960
Helpful Information: Directions | View Map  | Lecture Series | News| Links

Young Adults Group – Ages 18-25
When: Tuesdays from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM.
Where: Morristown Unitarian Fellowship, 21 Normandy Heights Rd, Morristown, NJ 07960
Helpful Information: Directions | View Map | Lecture Series | News | Links

These weekly meetings are for anyone with a mood disorder; family and friends are welcome to attend as well. Call 917-723-2258 after 6pm during hazardous weather to check if meeting is cancelled. DBSA group meetings are free of charge. A voluntary donation to cover various literature, mailing and rent costs for the group is, of course, always appreciated. For information, please call 973-994-1143.

Our groups and meetings are:

  • led by trained facilitators who are peers, that is, individuals with a mood disorder.
  • open to family and friends with or without the person living with a disorder.
  • an empowering experience that is free of charge with no pre-registration required.
  • NOT a therapy group ; we do NOT give professional advice, but we DO share mutual experiences to educate and support each other.

There is hope. People living with a mood disorder can be helped by medication and/or therapy. Many people so affected lead normal lives, and participate in our support group to help others. Support groups help during recovery. “You are not alone, we can help”.

About Depression & Mania

Common possible symptoms of depression include:

  • Decreased or increased sleeping
  • Loss of energy and motivation
  • Exaggerated feelings of guilt
  • Unexplained aches and pains or ailments
  • Inappropriate or exaggerated feelings of sadness, hopelessness, anxiety, impending disaster or doom

Common possible symptoms of mania include:

  • Impaired judgment
  • High energy level and increased activity/talking
  • Significant decrease in sleeping
  • Inflated self esteem (grandiosity)
  • Extreme irritability and/or restlessness

Other symptoms are possible. No one symptom determines the disorder. A psychiatrist or psycho pharmacologist should be consulted for an evaluation.