Support for those who suffer from depression, bipolar disorder and their families
"Hopeworks" is the Blount County chapter of the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance. There are 23 million people in the United States suffering from either depression or bipolar disorder. The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance is one of the major patient directed organizations in the country helping to deal with these issues. There are over 1000 support groups throughout the country helping both those diagnosed with one of these disorders and their loved ones and family members who often feel like they have fallen into a hell of their own and have no idea how to help either themselves or the people they love.
Hopeworks meetings-
Hopeworks held its first meeting on January 8, 2008. Meetings are on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month at 7pm at Blount Christian Church at 7pm. As a result of members request meetings are also starting on the first and third Saturday meeting also. Saturday meetings start on April 19. Blount Christian Church is located off Highway 321 in Maryville at 323 Partnership Parkway. To find the church get on Highway 321 going towards Lenoir City. The church is on the left approximately 3 miles past Foothills Mall. It is the big building on the hill with the picture of Jesus Christ laughing on it. If you get lost give us a call and we will help you out.
Our meetings sometimes involve professional speakers and always allow plenty of chances for you to talk about your story and hear the stories of others who know where you are coming from. Family members and friends are welcomed. We have found out that sometimes family members learn best from someone else who has a mood disorder. People with mood disorders learn a lot from other people's family members.
Support groups are not a substitute for professional treatment, but play a vital role in the life of many people. Among other things they can help perform some of the following functions:
Education- a vital part of living with a mood disorder is to become educated about what they are, how they work, and what you can do about them. In addition to support groups, a wide variety of educational materials are availible through the DBSA.
Support- sometimes the cruelest and most incapacitating thing is to be isolated and feel like there is no place to turn in your suffering. You get the feeling that no one knows where you are coming from. To know that someone else has walked or is walking the same path as you and has survived or even prospered is a gift of the greatest measure.
Service- it is important to know that you have the capacity to help others. Too often, and too easily people fall prey to the belief that there is nothing that they can give others that really matters. It is important for people to know that mood disorders are what they have and not who they are.