Stephen Propst Elected New Vice Chair of the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance Board of Directors

CHICAGO, IL, February 15, 2005 – Atlanta resident Stephen G. Propst has been elected to serve a one-year term as the Vice Chairman of the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) Board of Directors, headquartered in Chicago, IL.

DBSA is the leading patient-directed national organization focusing on the most prevalent mental illnesses – depression and bipolar disorder. Incorporated in 1985, DBSA oversees and guides a rapidly expanding grassroots network of more than 1,000 support groups; provides useful and timely information on these illnesses to more than four million people each year; and acts as an advocate for equitable treatment of people with depression and bipolar disorder. 

Propst has been a member of the Board of Directors since 2003. He is active with DBSA on both a national and local level. Nationally, he is a board liaison to the Public Relations Committee and serves on DBSA’s Speakers’ Bureau. As president of the local DBSA of Metropolitan Atlanta chapter, he facilitates support groups, serves as the editor of the DBSA Metropolitan Atlanta News, and is the author of a bimonthly column called North Pole South Pole: A Cold Hard Look at the Hot Topics in Mental Health.

He explains his commitment to furthering the DBSA mission, “I share my experiences with mental illness openly and honestly. I have found that educating and enabling people to become more comfortable with mental illness opens the door to better relationships at home, improved performance at work and reduced stigma in the community.”

In addition to his work with DBSA, Propst is a personal consultant to patient and family members. He offers his personal insight for people to better understand and manage mental illness and lead more fulfilling, meaningful lives.

Stephen has also volunteered for several organizations, namely Hands On Atlanta, a 25,000-member agency serving the community with over 200 projects each month. In 2000 and 2001, Stephen served as Chair of Hands On Atlanta Day, the largest volunteer service day in the nation.

“Stephen brings unique insight and experience to the DBSA Board of Directors and we look forward to seeing where that vision leads us,” says Lydia Lewis, President of DBSA.

The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) is the nation’s leading patient-directed organization focusing on depression and bipolar disorder. The organization, which has more than 1,000 support groups nationwide, fosters an understanding about the impact and management of these life-threatening illnesses by providing up-to-date, scientifically-based tools and information.  Assisted by a 65-member scientific advisory board, comprised of the leading researchers and clinicians in the field of mood disorders, DBSA supports research to promote more timely diagnosis, develop more effective and tolerable treatments and discover a cure. More than 4 million receive information and assistance each year.  More information can be found at www.DBSAlliance.org or by calling 1-800-826-3632.