CHICAGO, and ARLINGTON, Va., June 25 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) (http://www.dbsalliance.org/) and The HealthCentral Network, Inc. (http://www.healthcentral.com/) have agreed to create new online resources for individuals with mood disorders.

The alliance marries the expertise and resources of DBSA in education and support of those living with depression and bipolar disorder with The HealthCentral Network's (THCN) multimedia capabilities and large online community of consumers and experts.

The extensive knowledge base, interactive tools, and multimedia of DBSA and THCN have combined to serve the community struggling with these illnesses with practical information relevant to daily life and recovery.

DBSA's newly redesigned Web site provides comprehensive information about DBSA's resources including illness-specific information, podcasts, self- screeners, a locator for the organization's 1,000 support groups and a library of information about mood disorders. Initial joint projects include a regular blog by DBSA President Sue Bergeson (http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/9994) and videotaped patient stories designed to provide peer-oriented help and support to others living with mood disorders.

DBSA is also providing a co-branded version of CareCentralSM, THCN's caregiving application for families to help them stay connected and organized during serious medical events.

"Our relationship with The HealthCentral Network offers us a valuable new vehicle to increase visibility for DBSA's educational materials, peer-run support groups, research, and advocacy initiatives," said Sue Bergeson, President of DBSA.

DBSA is a national grass-roots patient organization that seeks to support recovery and address inequity in the treatment of mood disorders. Depression and bipolar disorder are two of the most prevalent mental illnesses. "DBSA is continually exploring new ways to help our peers manage their illnesses, be active participants in their treatment plans, connect with others and achieve recovery," Bergeson added.

Building on a base of comprehensive medical information about depression and bipolar disorders, THCN's sites, MyDepressionConnection.com and BipolarConnect.com, seek to leverage the wisdom and experience of people living with mood disorders to help others coping with similar challenges. Through new tools, such as customizable Web sites to keep extended families up-to-date about patient care and patient expert advice offered with compassion and insight, THCN hopes to provide the ultimate community site to alleviate the isolation that can characterize these illnesses.

"DBSA has played a crucial role in creating a national network of patient- run support groups that have made a demonstrable difference in recovery and treatment adherence. Through this relationship we look to expand the online blog community to include peer leaders who live with the same illnesses and can share the experiences that have made a difference in their lives," said Chris Schroeder, chief executive officer and president of The HealthCentral Network. "We also look to build upon the power of DBSA-created content, such as their State of Depression in America video, with the production of related pieces that tell more stories of courage, grace and hope."

About The HealthCentral Network

The HealthCentral Network, Inc. (http://www.healthcentral.com/) is a new and unique online offering, comprised of more than 30 health and highly specific condition Web properties. Each site provides timely, interactive, in- depth, and trusted medical information from organizations including Harvard Health Publications among others, and connections to leading experts and thousands of people who share their related experiences and inspiration.

The HealthCentral Network recently launched personal health tools including CareCentralSM, the most comprehensive web solution to help caregivers manage their communities of friends and families (http://www.carecentral.com/). The company also produces the nationally syndicated television show called "Medical Breakthroughs Presented by HealthCentral," and has a library of nearly 1,000 short-form, condition- specific videos throughout its network.

The HealthCentral Network was acquired in 2005 by Polaris Ventures, Sequoia Capital, The Carlyle Group and Allen & Company, and has built a management team that combines decades of experience in interactive media and medical, science, and news journalism. The company received top recognition from The International Health and Medical Media Awards with a 2006 FREDDIE Award for MyDiabetesCentral.com and the Health Care Standard of Excellence WebAward from the Web Marketing Association.

About the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance

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 individuals receive information and assistance from DBSA each year.

CONTACT: Kristen Carriker, PR Manager of The HealthCentral Network,
+1-703-302-1058, carriker@thcn.com; or Keith Romero, Director of
Communications of the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance,
+1-312-988-1174, kromero@dbsalliance.org

Web site: http://www.thehealthcentralnetwork.com/
http://www.dbsalliance.org/