The Mood Disorders Support Group of New York City

The Mood Disorders Support Group (MDSG) is a non profit, self-help organization serving both individuals with depression and manic-depression (bipolar disorder), as well as their families and friends. We help people to accept and manage their illness and improve the quality of their life. We are an independent affiliate of the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance.

An overview of our services		Support MDSG
Special announcements Every week, MDSG holds support group meetings in New York City. We sponsor monthly lectures by experts in mood disorders. MDSG publishes a hardcopy newsletter four times a year. We summarize recent news stories about depression. Membership and Contributions. Internet links related to depression and support groups. The various ways to contact us. What's new on this site.		Purchase anything at Amazon.com after clicking here and they will pay MDSG a commission. This costs you nothing.
All information in this website is intended for general knowledge only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for a specific medical condition

	Next Lecture
	Cognitive Problems in Bipolar Disorder: Are They Real? Can They Be Treated? The MDSG Lecture Series presents Katherine Burdick, PhD Tuesday, September 9, 2008 7:30PM More...

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Suicide Hot Line

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Our Brochure

MDSG publishes a brochure describing the group, appropriate for any health care provider to give to someone who might benefit from our support group. For copies email info@mdsg.org

MDSG's support groups are the main reason for our existence. They provide opportunities for participants to share personal experiences, thoughts, and feelings in small, confidential gatherings. Also known as discussion meetings or rap sessions, they provide a friendly, safe place for the exchange of experiences and information.

A typical group will meet for about an hour and a half, but there is no strict schedule and you are free to leave at any time. Reservations are not required, just show up. We have support groups for people with the disorder, family and friends of those with the disorder and people under 30. Meetings are held at two locations in Manhattan (see below).

Support groups are lead by trained facilitators. We try to limit each group to a maximum of 12 people. Separate groups are available for:

Newcomers -- The first time someone comes to an MDSG support group meeting, they should attend the newcomers group. This is just a one time thing.
Unipolar -- to discuss depression
Bipolar -- to discuss both depression and mania
Friends and family -- for people closely connected to someone suffering from depression or manic-depression
20-something Group -- for those under 30, including teens, also for those with both unipolar depression and bipolar disorder

If you have never attended one of our support group meetings, there was an article in our May 2000 newsletter describing the initial experiences of a new member, first with the newcomers group, then with the 20-something (formerly "youth") group. Our April 2004 newsletter had an article on getting the most out of a group. The August 2005 newsletter had an article with Support Group Advice From The Folks in the Know.

Anyone can attend an MDSG support group meeting. There is no need to be screened, approved or to make a reservation. For non-members, there is a suggested $5.00 contribution. MDSG members can attend at no charge as a benefit of membership.

Manhattan - East Side Group

MDSG's East Side groups meet every Friday at the Bernstein Pavilion of Beth Israel Medical Center. All five groups meet: Friends and Family, Newcomers, Unipolar, Bipolar and the 20-something group. To keep group sizes small, there are multiple bipolar and unipolar groups running concurrently. In addition, there is also a Topic Group every Friday with the topic chosen by the facilitator. Doors open at 7:00 PM and all groups begin at 7:30 PM.

The Bernstein Pavilion is between 15th and 16th streets and between First and Second Avenues. However, the main entrance is on a small side street called Nathan Perlman Place. To get there walk west on the south side 16th street from First Avenue. When 16th street runs into Stuyvesant Square park, you are on Nathan Perlman Place. Make a left, the entrance is between 16th Street and 15th Street. It is the only building on the block. See a Google map of the area. Additional directions are available.

Everyone should check-in on the second floor. Groups meet on either the second floor or the ground floor. There will be signs in the lobby directing you within the building.

Manhattan - West Side Group

MDSG's West Side group meets every Wednesday. All five groups meet: Friends and Family, Newcomers, Unipolar, Bipolar and the 20-something group.

The West Side support groups meet at St. Luke's/Roosevelt Adult Outpatient Clinic at 910 Ninth Avenue (between 58th and 59th Street). Doors open at 7:00 PM and groups begin at 7:30 PM.

To get to St. Luke's/Roosevelt, take the 1, A, B, C or D trains to Columbus Circle and walk one block west. Additional directions are available. See a Google map of the area (opens in new window).

MDSG/NY sponsors a series of authoritative lectures on various aspects of mood disorders. These lectures are designed to keep people with mood disorders, their families, and friends informed about recent developments in the understanding of mood disorders and in the treatment of people with such disorders. Anyone can attend our lectures. They are normally free for MDSG members, with a $5.00 suggested contribution for non-members. Occasionally there is a special lecture with a premium charge. There are no MDSG lectures in the summer.

Further details on the lectures and a complete schedule are available on our lectures page where you can also read about purchasing tapes of prior lectures.

The Mood Disorders Support Group depends on membership fees and contributions for its operating expenses. Both memberships and contributions are tax-deductible.

A one year individual membership is $45, a one year family membership is $65 which applies to an unlimited number of family members. Membership entitles you to attend all the discussion group meetings and all the lectures for free. The only exception is the one fund-raising lecture a year for which everyone must pay, but MDSG members pay less.

You can sign up to become a member either in person or by mail. Someone is available to sign up new members at all discussion meetings and lectures. To sign up by mail, send a check and a note (no official form needed) to our Post Office Box (see above) and we will mail you a membership card. Please print your name and address clearly.

Contributions can be mailed to us at the address below (checks payable to MDSG Inc.). In celebration of the 25th anniversary of MDSG, the board of directors is offering a special matching pledge. For every three dollars you donate (up to $25,000 total), the board will give another dollar. Please make checks payable to MDSG, Inc. and send them to: MDSG, Inc., PO Box 30377, New York, NY 10011. More . . . .

You can also contribute just by shopping at Amazon.com. Purchase anything at Amazon after clicking on the image at the right and MDSG will receive a commission. This costs you nothing.

M a i l		Telephone		Fax		E-mail		Web
The Mood Disorders Support Group P.O. Box 30377 New York, N.Y. 10011		(212) 533-MDSG 533-6374		(212) 675-0218		info@mdsg.org		www.mdsg.org

Our phone number above has both a recorded message and an answering machine. The recorded message is about 90 seconds and provides an overview of the groups activities and any last minute changes to our scheduled events. After the recorded message plays, the answering machine can be used to leave a message for the group. Someone will call you back, so be sure to leave your phone number.

For questions about MDSG, e-mail us at info@mdsg.org.

For information on support groups in other cities, or depression in general, see the web site of our parent organization, the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance. You can call them at (800) 826-3632 or e-mail them at questions@dbsalliance.org.

Recent changes and additions to this site:

Added the February 2008 edition of MOODS, our newsletter, in Acrobat format (172K) February 6, 2008
Added the December 2007 edition of MOODS, our newsletter, in Acrobat format (172K) December 8, 2007
Added multiple news stories November 13, 2007
Added news story about the increase in Bipolar diagnosis in children September 4, 2007
Added news story about family inclusive treatment for bipolar disorder from the Wall Street Journal. July 17, 2007