Lighting the way for wellness

Education • Community • Action

Annual Report 2021

Annual Report 2021 - DBSA

As a person living with mental health conditions, participating in the groups gives me a sense of community and something to look forward to. When I’m having a bad day, I know someone will be there to listen.

– Love B., support group attendee

A Word From Our CEO

Kent Dauten - Board Chair

Note from the Board Chair

Emerging from the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic, ongoing social upheaval, and a paradigm shift in how we talk about and address mental health, the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance lit the way for wellness for more people than ever before in 2021.

Through education, community, and action, DBSA moved the needle on mental health and empowered hundreds of thousands of people living with depression or bipolar disorder to forge a path to wellness.

In our annual report, you’ll find more information on mental health tools, such as the Wellness Wheel and Tracker, and how they helped thousands on their path to wellness. How our expanded and improved resources reached countless people in need of empowering support. And how our community coalesced around our shared mission of improving the lives of people experiencing mood disorders.

These triumphs can only happen when passionate mental health advocates come together and light the way for change.

We are deeply grateful to you, our supporters, and our community, as we go forward together in our relentless pursuit of mental health wellness for all.

Kent Dauten - Board Chair

Kent Dauten, 2022 Board Chair

Introduction

In a year full of uncertainty, the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance doubled down on its mission to bring hope, help, education, and support to people living with depression or bipolar disorder. More than ever, people relied on DBSA to light the way to mental health wellness through education, community, and action.

Education

For more than 35 years, the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance has been a trusted source for educational resources and tools to help people living with a mental health condition forge a path to wellness. Thanks to our supporters, more people were reached this year than ever before.

2 Million People

2 million people

visited DBSAlliance.org in 2021 to learn more about depression and bipolar disorder, as well as to access tools and resources.

Mood Crew™

Mood Crew
people

downloaded activities from the Mood Crew, a series of exercises for parents and children based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), positive psychology, and play therapy.

More than people

visited the Mood Crew webpages to learn more about teaching children to identify and cope with challenging emotions.

LTMYS_Graphic_FINAL_1

I’m Living Proof: A Letter to My Younger Self

7 podcasts 5,252 podcast listens

DBSA’s newest podcast launched in 2021. The series centers on the experiences of young adults who live with depression or bipolar to inspire hope, understanding, and empathy for those dealing with the challenges of a mood disorder.

The Wellness Toolbox

For those on the path to mental health wellness, DBSA’s Wellness Toolbox continues to be a foundational framework for assessing wellness and setting goals.

Wellness Wheel

7,084 downloaded the Wellness Wheel Over 2,000 listened to the podcast

85% of survey participants said the Wellness Wheel instruction guide and tool helped them evaluate how well they are doing in specific areas of their life.

Wellness Tracker

About 50% of survey participants discussed the Wellness Tracker with a clinician or mental health care provider.

85% of survey participants said the DBSA Wellness Tracker is helpful for their wellness.

Community

Our community of people living with mental health conditions, their families, and mental health advocates are the heart of who we are and what we do. DBSA’s free peer support groups are available in-person and online to foster connections that lead to wellness.

Because of your support, people were helped with mental health support through:

Community Chapters

111 local DBSA Chapters

Support Groups

400 online and in-person support groups

Over 20,300 people were helped with peer support through DBSA national online support groups in 2021, and in-person groups provided a supportive space for 300,000.

An average of 238 people a month attended the national online young adult support groups.

An average of 29 people a month attended the national online Veterans support group.

An average of 135 people a month attended the national online Black community support groups.

An average of 115 people a month attended the national online co-occurring usage disorder support groups.

In 2021, DBSA launched support groups for the Black community, designed to address the unique cultural needs of Black Americans.

 

Yi Lin

Support groups like DBSA are the only place you can go to find people just like you. When you share, people understand exactly what you mean. The feedback is given in a helpful and non-demanding way. It also brings you out of the isolation of struggling with your illness alone.

– Yi Lin, support group attendee and facilitator

Vanessa Harris

For me, the support groups are a place where we can let our hair down. We can talk about the things people say to us that make us feel bad. A lot of us have experienced the same types of discrimination and can say “Yeah, I’ve heard that, too. I understand.” ...We offer each other support because many of our families don’t understand the condition. With the support groups, it’s like we become a family to each other.

– Vanessa Harris, support group attendee

Balanced Mind Parent Network

Around 400 monthly users

logged on to the Balanced Mind Parent Network’s new platform, designed to include more dynamic ways for parents and caregivers of a child living with a mood disorder to connect.

Young Adult Council

10 new members

joined the Young Adult Council, chartered to assist in expanding DBSA’s resources for young people. The council assisted in the creation of 11 new resources, including a guide on recognizing the signs of a mood disorder and grounding strategies.

$ was raised
during Giving Tuesday and year-end fundraising, thanks to our generous community of donors.

Action

Whether it’s bolstering the peer support specialist workforce, gathering supporters for an educational summit, or advancing policy, your support enabled DBSA to take action on the issues that matter to mental health advocates.

Peer Support Apprenticeship program takes off

Building on our legacy of enhancing peer support, DBSA launched the inaugural class of peer support specialist apprentices. As a result of DBSA’s training program, the four apprentices will be equipped with the skills necessary to achieve certification and gain employment as much-needed, highly valued peer support specialists.

$
in funding from SAMHSA, Boeing, McCormick, and TCI made this first class of peer support apprentices possible.

Senior Strength program makes wellness a reality

senior citizens were helped with peer support
%
of participants reported a reduction in PHQ-9 depression screening scores at the conclusion of the program.

I can attest that the Senior Strength Program has contributed to my wellbeing and recovery. During a time when my life was turned upside down and I was struggling physically and emotionally, I found that help came in the form of calls from Jennifer from the Senior Strength Program through Facey Medical. There was someone out there who checked in on me to see if I was alright. I looked forward to the calls and honest conversations with someone who could relate to my situation. This was a very important part of healing. The program is a vital and necessary part of moving forward. It benefited me tremendously in many ways.

– Senior Strength Program participant

Leadership Summit

Leadership Summit Most Successful To Date

The 2021 Leadership Summit featured keynote speaker and daytime television star Maurice Benard (“General Hospital”), who willingly shared about his life growing up with and managing a mood disorder. 

2021 DBSA Leadership Summit Week

400 registrants participated in 50 individual live and recorded sessions

designed to educate and empower those living with depression or bipolar disorder, their families, and friends.

Klerman Awards recognize outstanding achievers in mental health research

Dr. Maria Oquendo | 2020 Klerman Senior Investigator Award

Dr. Daisy Singla | 2020 Klerman Young Investigator Award

Dr. Tamsyn Van Rheenen | 2020 Klerman Young Investigator Award

Advocates mobilized to advance mental health policy goals

8 action alerts sent

17 letters of support

written for various mental health issues, such as funding for telehealth, mental health parity, and expanding peer support.

DBSA took a stand on police brutality against those experiencing mental health conditions and members of the Black community. Read the position statement here.

Financials

Statement of Activities

2020 2021
Revenue
Contributions $3,469,664 $3,027,486
Program fees $273,946 $259,747
Net Investment Income $24,654 $156,906
Donated Goods and Other Services $2,868 $36,112
Total Revenue $3,771,132 $3,480,251
Expenses
Program Expenses $1,782,956 $2,136,713
Supporting Services Expenses
Management and General $450,860 $464,584
Fundraising $336,672 $316,515
Total Supporting Services $787,532 $781,099
Total Expenses $2,570,488 $2,917,812
Change in Net Assets $1,200,644 $562,419
Net Assets, Beginning of Year $2,206,902 $3,407,546
Net Assets, End of Year $3,407,546 $3,969,985

Statement of Financial Position

2020 2021
Assets
Cash and Cash Equivalents $985,907 $1,099,437
Accounts Receivable $38,121 $12,108
Contributions Receivable $269,725 $495,995
Prepaid Expenses $166,496 $246,655
Total Current Assets $1,460,222 $1,854,195
Property and Equipment, Net $46,679 $59,576
Other Assets
Deposits $20,000 $20,000
Contributions Receivable $7,500
Investments $2,068,705 $2,688,871
Total Assets $3,603,106 $4,202,642

Liabilities and Net Assets

Liabilities
Accounts Payable $32,269 $56,168
Accrued Payroll and Vacation $72,749 $92,988
Deferred Revenue $5,032 $10,230
Deferred Rent $85,510 $73,271
Total Liabilities $195,560 $232,657
Net Assets
Unrestricted $2,841,758 $3,145,397
Donor Restricted $565,788 $824,588
Total Net Assets $3,407,546 $3,969,985
Total Liabilities and Net Assets $3,603,106 $4,202,642

My involvement with DBSA gave me back my sense of purpose and meaning. My experience as a peer facilitator has shown me that it is my willingness to be vulnerable and authentically share my story that allows me to be helpful to others.

– Rhonda Greder, support group facilitator

Rhonda Greder

Thank You

This work is only possible thanks to supporters like you. DBSA is deeply grateful for our community, staff, board of directors and donors who made our work possible in 2021 and beyond.

2021 Investors

$100,000 or More

AbbVie Pharmaceuticals
The Dauten Family Foundation
Janssen

Jay Herman Fund
Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.

$25,000 - $99,000

Alkermes, Inc.
American Legion Child Welfare Foundation
Anonymous
Axsome Therapeutics, Inc.
BioXcel Therapeutics
Boeing
Bryan and Iliana Cressey
Kent and Liz Dauten
Estate of Irving Greenberg
Compass Pathways Limited
Estate of Michael Herman

Intra-Cellular Therapies, Inc
Johnson & Johnson Community Impact
Lillian Goldman Charitable Trust
Lundbeck, Inc.
Myriad Genetics
Network for Good
Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.
Jim and Molly Perry
Rowe Family Foundation
Sage Therapeutics

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Timothy and Susanne Sullivan Family Foundation
Sunovion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc.
Telligen Community Initiative
Teva Pharmaceuticals
The Allergan Foundation
United Behavioral Health

$10,000 - $24,999

Anonymous (4)
Rebecca Weinstein Bacon and Wade Bacon
Benevity Community Impact Fund
Biotechnology Innovation Organization
Carole B. and Kenneth J. Boudreaux Foundation
Miranda Cooper

Creating Healthier Communities (formerly Community Health Charities)
The George Link, Jr. Charitable Trust
Harman Family Foundation
Harri Hoffman Family Foundation
Henry Foundation, Inc.
Ellen Krantz
MJ Leman and Carolyn Leman

The Marc Haas Foundation
Relmada Therapeutics, Inc.
Ari Staiman
Edward Swan and Mary Swan
Tiltify Donors
Wintrust Financial Group

$5,000 - $9,999

Estate of Frances E. Allpass
Anonymous
Suzanne and James Bergoffen
John and Sharon Benson Family
Shaun and Selme Finnie

Robert Gunn
Justin Haber
Bradley S. Hvolbeck
Baromkoch Leenutaphong
Mr. and Mrs. James A. McShane

Novus Medical Education
Alisa Petersen
Travelers
Christy B. Beckmann and Mr. Jim Vykopal
Mr. Darrel K. Wilcox

$2,500 - $4,999

Allergan, An AbbVie Company
Margaret Annett
Edward Brill
John Budin, MD
David and Liz Chandler

Mark A. Frye, MD
Matthew Fuirst
House Of Cards
Eileen Kamerick
Eva Csordasne Kohegyi, MD

Jim and Jane Ann Lockwood
Ms. Susan Madian
Jason Park
Mr. Michael Pollock
John S. Tamerin, MD and Susan Penry-William

$1,500 - $2,499

Kimberly Allen and Susie Brodsky
Anonymous
Dr. and Mrs. Mark S. Bauer
Terrance and Georgia Blazevic
Danvers Boardman
Bright Funds Foundation
Victoria Chumney
Karen and Seth Hieken
Merry Beth, Michael, Matt and Sara, and Daniel Kowalczyk

Ellen Malow
Renee Moller
Carole Mourad
Patient Access Network Foundation
Bruce Pfaff
John and Mary Quinn
RALI
Victoria Rosskam
Christopher and Lori Rothko

Sara Madeleine Saz
Shell Oil Company Foundation
Tod Tappert
Wilson Townsend II & Marlaina Townsend
Patricia Underwood
William Watterson
YourCause

$1,000 - $1,499

Krishna and Ja-Ling Agrawal
AmazonSmile
American Academy of Clinical Toxicology
Anonymous (5)
Ms. Cynthia Ballard
Kathy Bernstein
Bengt and Marianne Bjernfalk
Lisa A. Blazar
Marcia and Robert Boehm
Patricia Boyer
Ida and Steve Chan
Ms. Roberta Culbertson
Nona Fine
Jeffrey Frishman
Mary A. Fristad, MD and Joseph F. Fiala, MD
Frontstream

Hamilton and Traci Hill
Mr. Adam Hoeflich
Steven Hollon, MD
Edward and Mary Jinks
Jameson Jones
Kathleen Kirk
Judith R. Klein
Timothy Kuhnlein
Mr. Jordan Kurland
Sara Lewis
Pasquale Mascaro Jr.
Mastercard
Mr. and Mrs. Marc E. Mehl
David N. Osser, MD
Mr. and Mrs. Ricardo A. Pascoe
Roy Perlis, MD

Jacques and Beverly Perret
Donald Provasi
David Rothbart
Sarah Salice
Marian Sassetti, MD
Jeffrey Scherrer PhD
Ms. Marylou Selo
Gregory Simon, MD
Garrett Smith
Altha Stewart, MD
Synchrony Financial
Theodore and Joan Tanner
Ken and Pat Thompson
Cameron and Jane Thornton
Laura Vele