This article is part of a six-part series focusing on the Wyeth-sponsored non-profit coalition Depression Is Real. To learn more about this series, please click here.
Preserving The Independence Of Pharma-Supported
Depression Education: A Conversation With Barbara A. Hylard Of
The Depression & Bipolar Support Alliance
Depression Education: A Conversation With Barbara A. Hylard Of
The Depression & Bipolar Support Alliance
Program/Coalition Genesis
1. Why did the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
(DBSA) decide to join six other mental health-related non-profits to form the Depression is Real Coalition?
Depression is a treatable illness affecting more than 19 million Americans. DBSA helps over 4 million people each year. This means that our message of help, hope and support still needs to reach more people and we hope this campaign will help us do so.
2. Who came up with the idea of developing the Coalition?
The idea was generated by four of the groups -- American Psychiatric Foundation (APF), Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA), Mental Health America (MHA) and National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
3. What unique perspective/resources does DBSA bring to the Coalition?
DBSA is unique because we offer hope, help and support in a peer-led and recovery-oriented way. DBSA is led by and operated by people living with depression and bipolar disorder, which allows us to bring a consumer perspective to the coalition.
Program Purpose/Impact
1. There are a lot of depression-related materials available to consumers. Why do we need another educational campaign? What makes the Depression is Real Coalition different?
This coalition is different because we recognize that depression impacts without bias so this coalition includes organizations in the mental health field and other influential groups like the National Medical Association, the League of United Latin American Citizens, and the Urban League.
While there are a lot of materials already out there focused on symptoms to help people recognize that they may have depression, this Depression Is Real campaign is really about educating the broader public that depression is a serious medical condition and not something that is “made-up.” Our goal is to decrease the stigma surrounding this illness.
2. What has been the impact of the program thus far from a policy, educational and visibility perspective?
Members of the coalition have briefed a few key Congress members interested in mental health issues to let them know about our campaign. We also recently held a reception on Capitol Hill where we invited members (and their staffers) of the Mental Health, Women’s, Black and Hispanic Congressional Caucuses to introduce them to our campaign and ask them to help us spread the word to their constituencies.
In terms of visibility, the PSA has been picked up in most of the major markets around the country and we are hoping to see even more pick-up in the months to come.
Relationship Between Wyeth and the Coalition
1. Who came up with the idea to develop the coalition; was it Wyeth or the partners?
The members of the Coalition came up with the idea.
2. What kind of support is Wyeth providing to the coalition; is it financial or human?
Wyeth has generously provided financial support for this campaign.
3. How much is Wyeth contributing to the campaign?
I don’t know the exact amount that Wyeth has contributed to all the members. DBSA was given a grant to help support our staff time and efforts.
4. What procedures and policies does the Coalition have in place to ensure that program content is truly independent?
We are not that formalized and I don’t think we need to be. The members of the Coalition work well together, are responsible for each aspect of this campaign and believe in the messages being communicated through it. In fact, DBSA specifically wanted to ensure that one of the main messages of this campaign must be that there is hope for people with depression. We refused to deviate from this message or we would not be part of the Coalition. I believe this message comes through strongly in the PSA and all of our materials.
5. Are there plans to invite other pharmaceutical companies to sponsor the campaign?
I don’t believe so.
6. Information about Wyeth's sponsorship is difficult to find on the Depression is Real Website or in the podcast. Are there plans to make Wyeth's funding of the program more visible and explicit?
No, we have no plans to do that. While Wyeth’s financial contribution is important, the members of the Coalition are the ones driving this effort and our sole focus is to educate the public that depression is real. I don’t think making Wyeth’s support more visible would be helpful.
Answers To Key Critiques Of Depression Education Programs
1. Some have suggested that pharmaceutical companies fund projects like the Depression is Real Coalition simply to sell more of their medicines. What is your response to this assertion?
It is DBSA’s mission to foster an understanding about the most prevalent mental illnesses, depression and bipolar disorder. Clearly, the Depression Is Real campaign is very much in-line with our mission. We are grateful from support from companies like Wyeth that help us meet our important cause.
2. Critics have alleged that non-profits like the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance focus too much attention on the pharmacologic treatment of depression and related disorders and unemphasize the side effects of antidepressant medications. How is the Alliance addressing these concerns via the Depression is Real educational program?
At DBSA, we are recovery-focused. Once a patient receives a diagnosis, we know most of us will find a treatment regimen that works most of the time. Treatment may include medication, talk therapy, peer support and wellness and recovery tools. DBSA’s mission to improve the lives of people living with mood disorders is centered on peer support, overall wellness and recovery-oriented tools and resources.
In fact, DBSA has a grassroots network of more than 1,000 patient-run support groups across the country and more than 70,000 people attend our peer-led support groups every year. Also, our website is loaded with free recovery and wellness tools, services and opportunities. Web visitors will find free resources like podcasts, chat rooms, educational brochures and more. Our offerings reflect what we as patients know best and need most. DBSA’s tagline is “We’ve been there. We can help.” And we hope that our participation in the coalition helps more people find us and the assistance we offer.
As such, we are not looking to address this concern through the Depression Is Real Coalition. DBSA does not endorse specific medications so that’s not a real concern for us. But we do encourage a four-pronged approach to achieving recovery that includes medication, counseling, peer-support and wellness maintenance.
1. Why did the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
(DBSA) decide to join six other mental health-related non-profits to form the Depression is Real Coalition? Depression is a treatable illness affecting more than 19 million Americans. DBSA helps over 4 million people each year. This means that our message of help, hope and support still needs to reach more people and we hope this campaign will help us do so.
2. Who came up with the idea of developing the Coalition?
The idea was generated by four of the groups -- American Psychiatric Foundation (APF), Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA), Mental Health America (MHA) and National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
3. What unique perspective/resources does DBSA bring to the Coalition?
DBSA is unique because we offer hope, help and support in a peer-led and recovery-oriented way. DBSA is led by and operated by people living with depression and bipolar disorder, which allows us to bring a consumer perspective to the coalition.
Program Purpose/Impact
1. There are a lot of depression-related materials available to consumers. Why do we need another educational campaign? What makes the Depression is Real Coalition different?
This coalition is different because we recognize that depression impacts without bias so this coalition includes organizations in the mental health field and other influential groups like the National Medical Association, the League of United Latin American Citizens, and the Urban League.
While there are a lot of materials already out there focused on symptoms to help people recognize that they may have depression, this Depression Is Real campaign is really about educating the broader public that depression is a serious medical condition and not something that is “made-up.” Our goal is to decrease the stigma surrounding this illness.
2. What has been the impact of the program thus far from a policy, educational and visibility perspective?
Members of the coalition have briefed a few key Congress members interested in mental health issues to let them know about our campaign. We also recently held a reception on Capitol Hill where we invited members (and their staffers) of the Mental Health, Women’s, Black and Hispanic Congressional Caucuses to introduce them to our campaign and ask them to help us spread the word to their constituencies.
In terms of visibility, the PSA has been picked up in most of the major markets around the country and we are hoping to see even more pick-up in the months to come.
Relationship Between Wyeth and the Coalition
1. Who came up with the idea to develop the coalition; was it Wyeth or the partners?
The members of the Coalition came up with the idea.
2. What kind of support is Wyeth providing to the coalition; is it financial or human?
Wyeth has generously provided financial support for this campaign.
3. How much is Wyeth contributing to the campaign?
I don’t know the exact amount that Wyeth has contributed to all the members. DBSA was given a grant to help support our staff time and efforts.
4. What procedures and policies does the Coalition have in place to ensure that program content is truly independent?
We are not that formalized and I don’t think we need to be. The members of the Coalition work well together, are responsible for each aspect of this campaign and believe in the messages being communicated through it. In fact, DBSA specifically wanted to ensure that one of the main messages of this campaign must be that there is hope for people with depression. We refused to deviate from this message or we would not be part of the Coalition. I believe this message comes through strongly in the PSA and all of our materials.
5. Are there plans to invite other pharmaceutical companies to sponsor the campaign?
I don’t believe so.
6. Information about Wyeth's sponsorship is difficult to find on the Depression is Real Website or in the podcast. Are there plans to make Wyeth's funding of the program more visible and explicit?
No, we have no plans to do that. While Wyeth’s financial contribution is important, the members of the Coalition are the ones driving this effort and our sole focus is to educate the public that depression is real. I don’t think making Wyeth’s support more visible would be helpful.
Answers To Key Critiques Of Depression Education Programs
1. Some have suggested that pharmaceutical companies fund projects like the Depression is Real Coalition simply to sell more of their medicines. What is your response to this assertion?
It is DBSA’s mission to foster an understanding about the most prevalent mental illnesses, depression and bipolar disorder. Clearly, the Depression Is Real campaign is very much in-line with our mission. We are grateful from support from companies like Wyeth that help us meet our important cause.
2. Critics have alleged that non-profits like the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance focus too much attention on the pharmacologic treatment of depression and related disorders and unemphasize the side effects of antidepressant medications. How is the Alliance addressing these concerns via the Depression is Real educational program?
At DBSA, we are recovery-focused. Once a patient receives a diagnosis, we know most of us will find a treatment regimen that works most of the time. Treatment may include medication, talk therapy, peer support and wellness and recovery tools. DBSA’s mission to improve the lives of people living with mood disorders is centered on peer support, overall wellness and recovery-oriented tools and resources.
In fact, DBSA has a grassroots network of more than 1,000 patient-run support groups across the country and more than 70,000 people attend our peer-led support groups every year. Also, our website is loaded with free recovery and wellness tools, services and opportunities. Web visitors will find free resources like podcasts, chat rooms, educational brochures and more. Our offerings reflect what we as patients know best and need most. DBSA’s tagline is “We’ve been there. We can help.” And we hope that our participation in the coalition helps more people find us and the assistance we offer.
As such, we are not looking to address this concern through the Depression Is Real Coalition. DBSA does not endorse specific medications so that’s not a real concern for us. But we do encourage a four-pronged approach to achieving recovery that includes medication, counseling, peer-support and wellness maintenance.
Next Up
The next installment of this series will feature commentary from Wyeth's Gwen Fisher about the Coalition's podcast, The Down & Up Show.
» Depression Education, Cause Alliances & Social Media Communications -- Part V from HealthCareVox
This article is part of a six-part series focusing on the Wyeth-sponsored non-profit coalition Depression Is Real. To learn more about this series, please click here.... [Read More]
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