Brought to you by the Depression Is Real Coalition, The Down & Up Show is dedicated to the reality of depression. Each week our hosts will talk with some of the world's top experts on depression, as well as people who have been impacted by this illness. The reality of depression is that it is a debilitating and potentially deadly medical condition that affects more than 15 million Americans every year. The other reality of depression is that there is hope.

Sue Bergeson

President, Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA)

Sue Bergeson became President of the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA), formerly the National Depressive and Manic-Depressive Association, in March of 2006, after serving as Vice President since August of 2000. The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) is the leading patient-directed national organization focusing on the most prevalent mental illnesses — depression and bipolar disorder. DBSA has more than 1,000 peer-run support groups across the country and responds to the needs of over four million consumers who ask for help each year.

She is a participant and member of various task forces, advisory boards, and conferences including the Annapolis Coalition, Institute of Medicine Closing the Quality Chasm Mental Health Workforce Training workgroup, SAMHSA Mental Health and Evidence Based Practices and Recovery Definition Task Force, NIMH Advocacy Coalition, Rehabilitation Research & Training Center Advisory Board (RRTC), University of Pennsylvania, the Treatment Resistant Depression Registry Advisory Board, the Carter Center Mental Health Symposia and the American College of Mental Health Administration Summits on Behavioral Health. She also oversaw development of Peer Specialist Certification curriculum and training for the Peer-to-Peer Resource Center, a SAMHSA funded Technical Assistance Center.

Prior to her current position, Sue worked with the American Osteopathic Association as Assistant Director of Component Society Affairs. Previously, Sue served as Chief Staff Executive with the Central Society for Clinical Research, the National Hearing Conservation Association, and the Awards and Recognition Association.

Sue is a consumer who is strongly committed to DBSA's mission, having struggled to support her beloved sister, Barbara, who lost her own battle with bipolar disorder in 1999.