Chapter Professional Advisor Guidelines
A DBSA Chapter Professional Advisor is a licensed health care professional who provides mental health services, and who offers assistance of a technical, professional, and therapeutic nature to a
DBSA chapter. The professional advisor supports the chapter in its efforts to provide self-help to persons with mood disorders. Professional advisors should understand and respect the mission of DBSA,
the policies of its Scientific Advisory Board, and how self-help groups differ from therapy groups. Advisors are what their name implies and should not take part in leading support group meetings, which
is the job of chapter members. Professional advisors are an integral part of successful DBSA chapters. Each year, outstanding advisors and their chapters are honored by DBSA for their partnership in
supporting self-help for persons living with depression and bipolar disorder.
Responsibilities At minimum, all DBSA Chapter Professional Advisors commit to:
- remaining in regular contact with chapter leaders
- referring individuals to the chapter
- promoting the chapter to other professionals and the public
- providing the chapter with information regarding mood disorders
- assisting chapter leaders in dealing with difficult situations within the group
An advisor may advise, educate and offer their expertise to a DBSA chapter in other ways; for example:
- speaking at educational meetings or public lectures
- writing articles for the chapter’s newsletter
- seeking or providing funding to the chapter
In addition to their commitment to the local chapter, individual advisors are encouraged to make a financial contribution in support of DBSA.
Qualifications A DBSA Chapter Professional Advisor should be:
- a licensed health care professional who provides mental health services
- supportive of the concept of self-help
- well versed in mood disorders, their causes and treatments
- committed to the DBSA mission.
A variety of health care professionals (psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses, social workers, psychologists, or professional counselors, for example) may be qualified to serve as chapter professional advisors.
A chapter may have more than one professional advisor if desired.
Length of service
Each DBSA chapter is asked to identify its professional advisor annually at the time of the chapter’s affiliation renewal. There is no limit on the amount of time a person may serve as a professional
advisor; however, DBSA chapter leadership should consider the advantages of changing their professional advisor periodically. We’ve been there. We can help.
The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) is the leading patient-directed national organization focusing on the most prevalent mental illnesses – depression and bipolar disorder. The
organization fosters an environment of understanding about the impact and management of these life-threatening illnesses by providing up-to-date, scientifically- based tools and information, all
written in language the general public can understand. DBSA’s mission is to improve the lives of people living with mood disorders.
Assisted by a Scientific Advisory Board comprised of leading researchers and clinicians in the field of mood disorders, DBSA has a grassroots network of more than 1,000 peer-run support groups across
the U.S. and Canada. Nearly two million people request and receive information and assistance from DBSA each year.
Contact: Vanessa Jones at 443-995-8351 or email: vjones@dbsahcmd.org