Welcome to Somerset County

We are a mood-disorder self-help support group affiliated with the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA). 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.

We are offering virtual Peer Group meetings as follows.
Monday, 7:00 PM to 8:45 PM.
Third Tuesday of the month, 7:30 PM. For parents of children with mental illness.
First and Third Thursday of the month, 7:30 PM. For young adults.
Please contact Cyndi at 732-763-4136 for information.
Our Wednesday Peer Group meeting are now IN PERSON. Please see below for details.

(Posted October 4, 2021)

 In Person Meeting

When: Wednesdays from 7:00 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.

Where: Shimon and Sara Birnbaum Jewish Community Center, 775 Talamini Rd, Bridgewater NJ 08807

Helpful Information: Directions | View Map | Somerset News & Events

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.