Members that prove to have an ability to make sure the groups run smoothly through non-judgment and mutual respect are asked by coordinators to attend facilitator training. Facilitator training takes place every four to six months all day on Saturday and Sunday. From there the new facilitators observe and run groups alongside a seasoned facilitator until they feel comfortable running groups by themselves.

No. Groups need to remain confidential, healthy, safe and respectful to members and can only be attended by those with a mood disorder or in support of a family member, a friend or a loved one with a mood disorder.

Yes. MDSG is affiliated with the Depression Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA).

MDSG meets every Wednesday and Friday. The board and coordinators actively meet with facilitators and members to determine new ways to expand our services. MDSG grows through word of mouth, our website and actively meets with outpatient programs and with our affiliate organizations.

MDSG is a peer support group. Our groups are run by the pool of members who have longevity, and demonstrated a willingness and ability to facilitate.

MDSG receives minimal revenue each year and fights to stay in the black. MDSG keeps a modicum reserve for large-scale projects such as the new website and operational expenditures such as facilitator training, continuing education, workshops, materials for both sites, our newsletter and other print and our annual holiday party.

Please go to Guidestar to access MDSG’s 990 tax documents. Guidestar connects donors and grantmakers to non-profit organizations.

MDSG is funded through our nominal fee for annual membership, weekly donations from non-members, book sales through Amazon Smile and charitable donations.

Defined by having had one or more episodes of mania or hypomanic episodes often coupled with episodes of depression.

Synonymous with being depressed, or having experienced being depressed.

You do not need an official diagnosis to attend a support group. You do however need to identify with a mood disorder to attend a meeting for yourself or attend as a friend and family member to someone who identifies themselves with a mood disorder.

The dynamic of each group varies but the groups are run similarly. Some members connect instantly in their first meeting while others may need a few meetings to decide if MDSG is a good addition to their support system.

The topics and breadth of discussions vary from group to group. Each group tends to touch upon stigma, diagnoses, medication, work, anxiety, triggers, therapists and different forms of therapy, coping skills, book recommendations, etc.

We can ALWAYS use volunteers to help us with setting up the site, welcoming people at the sign-in desk and closing the site. There are also volunteer positions off-site such as manning MDSG’s warm telephone information line or making content changes to our website.

We try to limit the group size to 8-12 people so that everyone has a chance to share. Under extenuating circumstances the group may occasionally be larger.

We ask participants to attend by 7:30pm EST. It can be distracting to walk into a meeting while another participant is sharing. While we strongly encourage people to come on time we try to accommodate someone who clearly has an extenuating circumstance.

For virtual support groups, please sign up from this form. For in-person support groups, in order to attend a meeting you do not need to pre-register or be a member. Simply go to the sign-in table and let the volunteers know that it is your first time and they will direct you to the most appropriate group.

We ask for a $5 donation for non-members that can afford it but we never turn anyone away.

We ask for a $5 donation for non-members that can afford it but we never turn anyone away.