Feeling blue or confused? Help is nearby.

Sep. 23, 2026

By Mary Wade Burnside

Roger Neptune was already in search of a support group when a brochure fell off a table in a therapist’s waiting room. He picked it up.
That’s how he learned about the West Virginia chapter of the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA), the organization he now heads up as executive director.
The DBSA has an office at the Mountaineer Mall, staffed from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. It’s also the home of in-person and online support groups where anyone can gather to discuss (or just listen) as people unpack their feelings, seek advice or tell others what has worked well for them when it comes to mental health.
“You don’t have to be diagnosed with a disorder,” Neptune said, noting that family and caregivers are also welcome.
“We’re here to cover the gap. We know that some West Virginians may not have insurance or they may not be able to seek therapy. This can give them a sense of community and shows that there are peers to talk to where they feel they can open up.”
Everyone who volunteers at DBSA has lived experience with mental health conditions, Neptune said. Someone who drops by the office can get literature, information on meetings and what Neptune calls “mental first aid” if needed.
“If someone is experiencing a mental health crisis, we can work with that person and try to get them some immediate help,” he said. “It would be more of a long-term thing, but we can help them on the spot.”
National Mental Illness Awareness Week, supported by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), begins today, but it’s good to know that the DBSA is around for individuals year-round in Monongalia County and beyond.
In fact, some members who have moved away still participate in online groups, Neptune noted.
“They Zoom in from wherever they are located,” he added. “They want to keep that sense of community.”
According to information on NAMI’s website (www.nami.org), 1 in 5 adults in the United States experiences a mental health condition annually. “Mental health is something we all experience, manage and need support with,” it states. “No one should have to face these challenges alone.”
Signs that someone should consider seeking help or guidance include excessive worrying or fear; excessive sadness; confusion or problems concentrating; extreme mood changes; irritability and anger; avoiding friends and social activities; changes in sleeping habits and thoughts of suicide, to name a few.
A meeting begins with going over some guidelines to assure attendees that it’s a safe and confidential space, Neptune said.
“If someone wants to talk about their experiences and help someone else, we use ‘I’ language — ‘I have experienced this,’ or ‘I have found that …’ We talk about our own experiences and what works for us.”
And, when someone attends a meeting, they are not required to speak up. “But, over the past 10 to 12 years of being a participant myself, I’ve never had a meeting where someone didn’t share by the end of it.”
Alcohol and drug use also can be a topic of discussion, Neptune said.
“Unfortunately, drugs are being used as a bad coping mechanism for mental illness,” he added. “It does come up. Not always, but it often goes hand in hand.”
The group keeps naloxone, which reverses the effects of an opioid overdose, on hand and the peers have been trained to use it.
The DBSA is a 501(c)3 organization that was founded in 1978. The West Virginia chapter was established in 2005 and it became an official state organization in 2008, Neptune said. The office has been located at Mountaineer Mall on Green Bag Road since 2022.
In addition to literature and support groups, DBSA also conducts mental health first aid workshops. Most services are free but trainings can require a small fee.
Neptune also wants to make sure people know about crisis helplines, including 911, 988 and 211.
“The big point is to help people understand that others are going through something similar,” Neptune said. “There are peers out there who have an understanding of what it’s like to be in their shoes. It’s another way that can help, in addition to medication, therapy, healthy eating and getting good exercise. We encourage people to look at those other avenues too.”

Mary Wade Burnside is the public information officer at Monongalia County Health Department. Email MaryWade.Burnside@wv.gov.