International Bipolar Foundation
From the International Bipolar Foundation, click to visit our website
      

Greetings!

 

                  

 

Greetings all!

 

I don't usually write or comment about celebrities in the news, but I for one, am ecstatic that Catherine Zeta-Jones is treating her new bipolar diagnosis just as Michael Douglas dealt with his cancer diagnosis; openly, without shame, and with great gusto to seek treatment. I applaud Catherine Z-J, Demi Lovato (who has also publicly admitted her bipolar diagnosis), my son, and the 1000's of you who embrace your diagnosis. BRAVO for you! You are our leaders in helping break down the unnecessary stigma.

 

FOLLOW US! International Bipolar Foundation has expanded our efforts to provide the most up to date news and information about bipolar disorder.

 

Our FaceBook  page offers an online meeting place where you can learn and comment about mental illness news and reports, research, legislative action and related developments. Become a fan now!

 

Our Twitter IntlBipolar feed delivers links to breaking news, useful website tools and IBPF updates. Start following us today!

 

Lastly,  our website  brings the most comprehensive source of  information.




 

Sincerely,

Muffy Walker

 

P.S. Feel free to also contact me at anytime Muffy

 

 


April 23, 2011  
If you are in a crisis,
please call:

1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433)
or
1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Join Our Mailing List
Bipolar Links  

International Bipolar Foundation  

FREE MONTHLY LECTURE SERIES

Going to College with Bipolar Disorder

Challenging Times for Students & their Families 

5:00 - 7:00p.m.
(5:00p.m. social, 5:30-7:00 p.m. lecture and Q&A)
Sanford|Burnham Medical Research Institute, Building 12 Auditorium
10905 Road to the Cure, San Diego, CA 92121  Directions

NOTE DATE CHANGE FOR MAY

Thursday, May 5: Guest Speaker; Dr. Russ Federman

Article written by Dr. Federman: click here 

 

 

 federman

Please R.S.V.P. to Ashley Reitzin:

NEXT MONTH Join us for our lecture featuring Dr. De Silva, Dr. Shanbhag, and Jeannine Loucks RN., MSN from the Depression Bipolar Institute www.dbinstitute.org

 


Russ Federman, Ph.D., ABPP, is Director of Counseling and Psychological Services at the University of Virginia and an Assistant Professor in the UVa Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences. He is a licensed psychologist and a Diplomate in Clinical Psychology through the American Board of Professional Psychology.  Dr. Federman is co-author of the recently published book: Facing Bipolar: The Young Adult's Guide to Dealing with Bipolar Disorder (New Harbinger).  He also writes an ongoing blog for Psychology Today titled Bipolar You.  Over the past year Dr. Federman has conducted multiple trainings at universities around the country pertaining to work with bipolar students.  

 

IBPF & JFS Present 

CHANGING MY MIND

Featuring Margaret Trudeau

She will share her journey of acceptance, recovery & hope, with the goal that others will reach out and get the help they need. 

 

Lunch & Lecture  

Thursday, May 26; 11:30 - 1:30, Hyatt Regency La Jolla 

mgt trudeau
Tickets: $45 (prior to May 12), $50, thereafter. Contact Ashley if you need scholarship assistance: [email protected]
Register online here or call 858.637.3231

SUMMER CAMPS & PROGRAMS 

* YMCA Raintree Ranch Summer Horse Camp: camp.ymca.org
They have financial aid available; they deal with a lot of children with bipolar but do not have specific trained people; need to be stable, etc.

*SOAR- Success Oriented Achievement Realized
Camp for Youth with AD/HD and LD- but will take people on a case to case basis with bipolar disorder. They travel and have programs in N.Carolina, Wyoming, Florida, California, Costa Rica, Belize, and Peru

10 day program $3,000
12 day program $2,800
18 day program $3,500

http://www.soarnc.org/
Kylie Cye-Director
828 456-3435

*Ramapo Summer Camp: Rhinebeck, NY
Summer Adventure ages 6-14
Teen Leadership ages 14-16
http://www.ramapoforchildren.org/html/home.htm

*Camp Nuhop : Perrysville, OH
http://www.campnuhop.org/index.html
419 938-7151

*Magdalena Ecke Family YMCA
200 Saxony Rd
Encinitas CA 92024
760.942.9622
Inclusion Camp
Cory Howell at 942-9622 ext. 1006.

 
*Club Xcite
1/2 & full day summer camp, every other week
~ $345 1/2, ~$600 full day
Mornings are sports
Afternoons are adventures (beach, zoo, etc)
Stefan Hochfelzer:
 
 
*Camp Kodiak
Summer Address
Email Address: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
General Delivery
McKellar, Ontario,
Canada, P0G 1C0
Tel 705 389-1910


*SUWS Wilderness Program
http://www.suws.com/ <http://www.suws.com/>;
911 Preacher Creek Road
Shoshone, Idaho 83352
888-879-7897 admissions
208.886.2565 field office
 
*JCC
Camp Jaycee: La Jolla, CA
Inclusion information
Contact Lori Kauffman Faison, Inclusion Director: (858) 362-1123.

* FUSION LEARNING CENTER
Help children make the most of their summer with Fusion Learning Center's programs! Fusion Learning Center has been a community staple for academic and social support for over 20 years.  We offer a vast array of tutoring and mentoring services that are sure to meet each family's individual needs.  By taking advantage of our flexible scheduling and special classes, each students support structure is customized allowing the student to maintain momentum, get a jump start on the fall semester, polish a skill, or increase their self-confidence! We offer services for all individuals 5+ years and have experience working with students who have mild/moderate learning disabilities.

Our unique one-to-one approach to tutoring and mentoring unleashes the potential of every student to learn in their own way-and it works! Students are taught how to utilize their independent thinking, broad knowledge base and creative talents across all academic areas and in different types of social settings.  The idea of individualism, academic support beyond the classroom walls and social/emotional support is what makes Fusion the best place for students to get ahead this semester or summer, while still allowing time for fun, friends and family.

Here are some of the programs Fusion offers during the school year and summer:
�         Hamburger Writing

�         Novel Pre-Reading

�         Social/Emotional/Academic Skill Building

�         Summer School Tutoring

�         Foreign Language Support; Spanish, French, Portuguese and German

�         Get-Ahead Program

�         Study Skills

�         SAT & ACT Prep

�         Wellness Program

�  Music & Art Instruction

�  Therapeutic Services

�  Yoga & Meditation

�         Other Unique Individualized Programs

 

For details on summer tutoring and mentoring programs or to schedule a tutoring and mentoring intake, contact April Zay directly at 858.792.2300 or via email at [email protected]

Catherine Zeta-Jones: 'There Is No Need to Suffer Silently'



When Catherine Zeta-Jones received a recent diagnosis of bipolar II disorder, a mental illness marked by prolonged periods of depression alternating with episodes of mild mania, she didn't hesitate to step forward with the news.

"This is a disorder that affects millions of people and I am one of them," the actress, 41, tells PEOPLE in an exclusive statement in this week's cover story. "If my revelation of having bipolar II has encouraged one person to seek help, then it is worth it. There is no need to suffer silently and there is no shame in seeking help."

In early April, the Oscar-winning wife of actor Michael Douglas, 66, and mom to son Dylan, 10, and daughter Carys, 8, checked in to Silver Hill Hospital, a mental-health facility in New Canaan, Conn.
People Mag: CZJ
Shaken by Douglas's battle with throat cancer, Zeta-Jones was privately struggling, a friend says. As Douglas recovered, Zeta-Jones didn't - and with her new movie, the romantic comedy Playing the Field, slated to start shooting in Louisiana, the actress realized she needed help in the face of mounting depression.

"The simple things would just seem overwhelming, like going out to dinner," says the close friend. "There was just a little piece of her chipped away. It was hard to watch because I knew how hard she was trying."

VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION

Last week was National Volunteer Appreciation Week. International Bipolar Foundation is grateful and proud of all those who have given their time and talent to help further our mission.

To honor these men and women, a tea was held at Tea Upon Chatsworth in San Diego.

Congratulations to Chrisi Hard; IBPF's 2010 Volunteer of the Year Award Recipient

Chrisi

THANK YOU TO ALL OUR VOLUNTEERS

tea 


CURRENT NEWS

New Approach To Bipolar Mood Swings
The future mood swings of people with bipolar disorder can be predicted by their
current thoughts and behaviour, a study has found.Psychologists from the
Universities of Manchester and Lancaster say their findings are important
because they mean talking therapies, like cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT),
could prove effective treatments for the condition. more here
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Brain Cells Recreated From Skin Cells To Study Schizophrenia Safely
A team of scientists at Penn State University, the Salk Institute for Biological
Studies, and other institutions have developed a method for recreating a
schizophrenic patient's own brain cells, which then can be studied safely and
effectively in a Petri dish. more here
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'Forgetfulness' main reason for nonadherence in BD patients
The main reasons for medication nonadherence in patients with bipolar disorder (BD) are forgetfulness and problems with side effects, results from a US study suggest. more here
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Gender differences in mania symptomatology
There are significant differences between men and women with bipolar disorder regarding the symptomatology of manic episodes, results from an Indian study show. more here
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CBCL-JBD phenotype does not predict Axis I disorders
Researchers have found no evidence to suggest that children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who have the Child Behavior Checklist-Juvenile Bipolar Disorder (CBCL-JBD) phenotype will go on to develop bipolar disorder or other Axis I disorders in late adolescence. more here
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USC Research Shows Critical Role Of Placenta In Brain Development
Research at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California's (USC) Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute shows for the first time that the human placenta plays an active role in synthesizing serotonin, paving the way to new treatment strategies that could mitigate health impacts such as cardiovascular disease and mental illness. read more
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Clinical correlates of eating disorder comorbidity in women with bipolar disorder type I
Journal of Affective Disorders, 04/12/2011
Brietzke E et al. - The presence of eating disorders (ED) is a correlate of severity of BD type I, and interventions should be developed to minimize distress and suicide risk and to improve treatment outcome. read more
***********************
The expression of bipolar spectrum psychopathology in daily life
Journal of Affective Disorders, 04/12/2011
Kwapil TR et al. - High Hypomanic Personality Scale (HPS) scores were associated with elevated energetic-enthusiasm, irritability, dysphoria, flight of ideas, mild grandiose beliefs, and risky behavior, as well as increased variability in affect in daily life. High HPS scores were also associated with greater reactivity in negative affect and behavior in response to viewing themselves as unsuccessful in their activities. read more
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Cognitive abilities and clinical variables in bipolar I depressed and euthymic patients and controls
Journal of Psychiatric Research, 04/14/2011
Yates DB et al. - The fact that the impairment of cognitive performance of both groups of patients is influenced by the severity of the illness is consistent with the literature. For all subtests, comparisons of depressed and euthymic patients' scores were non-significant. Performance on several subtests was negatively predicted by the severity of the disorder in both patient groups.
**************************
Molecular imaging in patients with mood disorders: a review of PET findings
European Journal of Nuclear Medicine & Molecular Imaging, 04/20/2011
Chen Q et al. - Patients with mood disorders have mood-correlated regional metabolism changes and molecular abnormalities in several neurotransmitter systems. Although the findings of these studies are not completely consistent and confounding factors, including drug effects and specific methodology, should be strictly controlled, these results reveal the pathophysiology of mood disorders and aid the development of novel treatment approaches for mood disorders.
*************************
Clinical management and burden of bipolar disorder: a multinational longitudinal study (WAVE-bd Study)
BMC Psychiatry, 04/20/2011
Vieta E et al. - This study will provide detailed descriptions of the management of bipolar disorder (BD) in different countries, particularly in terms of clinical outcomes and resources used. Thus, it should provide psychiatrists with reliable and up-to-date information about those factors associated with different management patterns of BD. more here
*************************
Marine omega-3 fatty acids and mood disorders - linking the sea and the soul
Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 04/22/2011
Hegarty BD et al. - More research is required before omega-3 supplementation can be firmly recommended as an effective treatment for mood disorders. Whereas increased omega-3 FA intake may alleviate depressive symptoms, there is little evidence of any benefit for mania.
**************************
Mood effects of the amino acids tryptophan and tyrosine
Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica,
Parker G et al. - Acute tryptophan depletion continues to provide a research tool for investigating the relevance of serotonin to depression onset. There is limited evidence that tryptophan loading is effective as a treatment for depression through its action of increasing serotonin production. Most clinical studies are dated, involve small sample sizes and/or were not placebo controlled. The development of the new serotonin reuptake inhibitor drugs seemingly signalled an end to pursuing such means of promoting increased serotonin as a treatment for depression. The evidence for tyrosine loading promoting catecholamine production as a possible treatment for depression appears even less promising, and depletion studies less informative. read more
*****************************
Bipolar disorder drug development has had mixed success says new report
The report R&D Trends: Bipolar Disorder states that for the past 5 years R&D for new bipolar disorders drugs has been met with mixed success; while five drugs have progressed through the clinical pipeline and entered the market, four late-stage candidates have been discontinued. For four of the approved products, bipolar disorders represented an indication expansion. Alexza's AZ-004 (loxapine) is currently the closest pipeline candidate to market. read more
******************************

CONFERENCES/WORKSHOPS

If someone you serve was experiencing a mental illness or crisis, can you help them?
 
We are more likely to encounter someone -customer, client, coworker, neighbor, friend or member of the community - in an emotional or mental crisis than someone having a heart attack.  Mental Health First Aid teaches a 5-step action plan to offer initial help to people with the signs and symptoms of a mental illness or in a crisis, and connect them with the appropriate professional, peer, social, or self help care. Anyone can take the 12-hour Mental Health First Aid course - first responders, students, teachers, leaders of faith communities, human resources professionals, and caring citizens.  Sometimes, the best first aid is you.
 

Take the course, save a life, strengthen your community.

 
WHAT:            Mental Health First Aid Highlights - FREE 3-hour public course.
DATE:              Monday, May 2, 2011
TIME:               5:30-8:30 pm
LOCATION:     Manchester Grand Hyatt, 1 Market Place
San Diego, CA 92101
 
*Light refreshments served. See back for registration and contact information.
 
In partnership with Mental Health Systems, Mental Health America and the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare
 
REGISTRATION:  Please register online at www.jotform.com/form/10723351271.
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"Mental Health, and Learning Disabilities in Children"

  Monday, July 11, 2011 San Diego

It's So Much Work to Be Your Friend: Helping the Child with Learning Disabilities Find Social Success, with Rick Lavoie, M.A., M.Ed.
 
Rick Lavoie is an internationally known expert on Learning Disabilities in children, with numerous national television appearances including The TODAY Show, CBS Morning Show, Good Morning America and ABC Evening News. Rick serves as a consultant on Learning Disabilities to several agencies and organizations including Public Broadcasting Service, New York Times, National Center for Learning Disabilities, Girl Scouts of America, Child Magazine and WETA.

Extensive studies have examined students with learning disabilities who have experienced chronic failure in mainstream classes and adults with learning problems who have been unsuccessful in the work place. Invariably, these studies have clearly demonstrated that this failure is due to the person's social skills, not his academic skills. The majority of people with learning disorders have marked difficulty perceiving, understanding and responding to social situations. Social isolation, rejection and humiliation are often the result. This seminar will explore the relationship between learning disabilities and social incompetence and will identify the specific causes for specific social skill deficits. Field tested strategies will be presented that can be used by parents, teachers, coaches and caregivers to assist students in gaining peer acceptance and developing age-appropriate social skills.
**************************** 

Youth with Mental Health Disorders: What EVERY Adult Should Know, with Lisa Boesky, Ph.D.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011, San Diego
Dr. Boesky is a world renowned psychologist, speaker and author. She has appeared on CNN Headline News, O'Reilly Factor, Anderson Cooper, The Early Show, 20/20, CNBC, MSNBC, Fox News and in print in USA Today, Family Circle, US News & World Report and many more.

Today's youth are often over, under, or mis-diagnosed- and medication to control their moods and behavior is prescribed at the highest rates ever. It is essential for parents and youth-serving professionals to understand young people with mental health disorders to ensure the right youth receive the right services. Learn how Depression, Dysthymia, Bipolar Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Conduct Disorder, ADHD, Trauma, Psychosis and Self-Injury/Cutting specifically manifest in children and adolescents- as well as practical tips (dos & don'ts) for managing young people with the above diagnoses. Fast-moving, practical presentation with videos, case examples and audience participation.
 
 
Conference Location:
Handlery Hotel and Resort
950 Hotel Circle North
San Diego, CA  92108
619-298-0511
Registration & Conference information here
 
bpmag logo

We want to hear from you!

 

 

SoundOFF! for our Summer 2011 issue.

It is not uncommon to be stigmatized by someone close to you--a family member, friend, minister, etc.

 

How do you cope when important people in your life don't accept your bipolar disorder?

Click here to let us know in 75 words or less.
We need your submission by Monday, April 25th.Thank you so much!
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She's one of us

Catherine Zeta-Jones
Add actress Catherine Zeta-Jones to the A-list of celebrities who have gone public about having bipolar disorder. According to her publicist, the movie star's decision to enter a treatment facility recently for her bipolar II was a response to "the stress of the past year." (Zeta-Jones has been supporting her husband, actor Michael Douglas, as he battled throat cancer and wrangled with his ex-wife in court.)

With her successful career, strong identity as a loving wife and mother, and willingness to show that seeking medical help is important, Zeta-Jones makes a welcome champion in the fight against stigma. Every celebrity who speaks out about getting treatment helps raise awareness-including former supermodel Mary Forsberg Weiland, who is featured in our Spring 2011 issue.

In "My Story: Rock Solid," she explains that her position in the public eye has allowed her to shed light on bipolar-and hearing about someone else's experiences would have helped "when I needed some truth and felt so alone in the world."  To read "Rock Solid," click here.
***************************************

Sheen on board to "Stop the Stigma!"

Charlie Sheen
APRIL 15, 2011-Meanwhile, actor Charlie Sheen-who arguably has not been the ideal celebrity role model-recruited participants for an impromptu "bipolar awareness walk" in Toronto last Friday. Proclaiming "Stop the Stigma!," Sheen invited his Twitter followers to join him for the mile-long walk from his hotel to the theater where he was performing. He also solicited donations he said would go to the Calgary-based Organization for Bipolar Affective Disorder (OBAD).
A rep for the actor told The Hollywood Reporter that "Charlie wants to bring awareness to bipolar ... it was totally his idea." Meanwhile, CTV reported that OBAD was "in shock" and that the organization plans to press Sheen for any funds donated by his 200 or so walking companions.
***************************************

'Effective' thinking influences moods

APRIL 19, 2011-Future mood swings of people with bipolar disorder can be predicted by their current thoughts and behavior even when their medical history is accounted for, according to a small British study. Psychologists from the Universities of Manchester and Lancaster found that people with "extreme" beliefs about their moods, such as thinking mood swings were out of their control, had more mood problems in the course of a month.
By contrast, those who were confident about managing their mood swings or viewed them as a normal reaction to stress fared better. The researchers are developing a form of cognitive behavioral therapy that encourages participants to accept and manage a range of emotions. They plan to test the method, called TEAMS (Think Effectively About Mood Swings), in a larger study looking at relapse and recovery in the long term. Read more.

 




 

 
club logo
club excite
If you are looking for appropriate Summer Camps for children with ADHD, Bipolar, other mood disorders, or social and behavioral challenges, ClubXcite offers two Summer Camps where children can have a blast and be in a natural but well supported environment. Our staff is well equipped with years of experience working with children who require personalized attention. Our Camps are designed to accommodate children who, in the past, haven't had a positive experience in a Camp environment. Our formula for success includes:

3:1 Child to Staff Ratio
Small Group Environment
Home Pick up and Drop off available
Young and Energetic Counselors with years of experience!

Our mornings are focused on Sports and other group activities while our afternoon Adventure Camp is centered on going on exciting community outings.

Don't forget the teens! ClubXcite has a Jr Counselor training program for our teens ages 15+. Often, teens don't want to go to Summer Camps anymore, but we have created an opportunity where teens can get job training, gain leadership experience, get a real paycheck and have a fun time!  This has been a very popular program and a great way to coach and build confidence in teens with struggles.

We are happy to answer any questions you have and look forward to speaking with you soon!

--
Angela Bianco, MA
Program Manager
ClubXcite
M:858 922 0617




 

A Whole New Light on the Bipolar / Violence Connection

By  Marcia Purse, About.com Guide  April 11, 2011
crime scene
Having bipolar disorder by itself does not increase the risk of violent behavior. Yes, you heard that right, all you crime drama writers and finger-pointers. Sorry, but you'll have to find another explanation.
Researchers from Oxford University and the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden looked at 3,700 hospitalized patients with bipolar disorder, 4,000 of their siblings, and 37,000 people from the general public. The rate of violent crime in the control group was 3%, in the siblings 5%, and in the bipolar group 5% - or 21%.

Yes, that's right. A rate of 5% for bipolar patients without substance abuse problems - and 21% for those diagnosed with severe substance abuse in addition to bipolar. Similar results were found for people with schizophrenia. And rates of violent crime among substance abusers who are not mentally ill are 6-8 times as likely as non-abusers to commit violent crimes.

In other words - it's alcohol and drug abuse - not bipolar disorder and schizophrenia alone - that lead to violent crimes.

Of course, there's a catch: people with severe mental illnesses are far more likely to be substance abusers in the first place than others. Researchers have found that from 30-60% of bipolar people are also substance abusers.

One of the study leaders summed it up beautifully: "Substance abuse is really the key mediator of violent crime. If you take away the substance abuse, the contribution of the illness...is very minimal," said Seena Fazel of Oxford University's department of psychiatry.

"It is probably more dangerous to be walking outside a pub on a late night that it is to be walking outside a hospital where mental health patients are being released."

San Diego Survivors of Suicide Loss Day

 Saturday, May 14th  10 am to 2:30 pm
Hope & Healing:  The Heart of the Matter
Featuring: Sara Gilman, Marriage and Family Therapist,
Fellow of American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress. EMDR Certified.
 upset girl
After the loss of someone to suicide you wonder if life will ever be the same?  Living through this grief can be like steering a ship through stormy uncharted waters. This ongoing stress can break down your mind and body and diminish the quality of your life. However, the mind and body also hold the keys to activating your natural healing process. Come learn some important tools that will help you transform your life to a healthier new normal.
 
Lunch will be provided and after lunch we will meet in small, facilitated groups according to our  loss: child, parent, spouse/partner, sibling, friend, etc.
 
__________________________________________________________________________________________
 
Support Group for Child Survivors of Suicide Loss Using Expressive Arts Starting soon!
We have had many requests for a support group for children who have lost a loved one to suicide. This will be a closed group for a period of 6-8 weeks. Registration is required.
This group will be facilitated by 2 expressive arts interns and one of our facilitators, Scott Johnson
This support group is a safe place for children to express their worries and pain while discovering how to manage and move through their grief. The making of art is a unique way of soothing and understanding their responses to grief. Contact [email protected] for more information.
 


 


Mynd Mind 

   

FREE COPY OF UNCOVERED MAGAZINE  FOR ALL TWITTER AND FB FOLLOWERS

http://www.facebook.com/l/cb225P2IMShFRD9Kh96TIwVjQHw/bit.ly/fMgc4o

NO CATCH, JUST SPREADING THE WORD ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH - please share this link with anyone interested in mental health

mag

   

Just let us know your name, where you live and we'll post your free copy today or alternatively email an electronic copy:

 


 

  

 

Seasonal episodes can add to burden of bipolar disorder


By CLAUDIA PINTO                                          spring
The Tennessean

For some people, spring can mean more than a change of seasons. It also can bring on mania, spending sprees and delusions.

Lisa Corbin understands. In 18 months, she racked up $30,000 in credit card debt. She bought clothing to match her new, gregarious persona, extravagant presidents for acquaintances. "It was every April for six or seven years that we would just hold our breaths and hope that nothing happened," she says. "But it always did."

Alarmed by her uncharacteristic behavior, some people from her church here encouraged Corbin to get help. She was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, an illness marked by recurring episodes of mania and depression that can last for weeks or months at a time before a person's mood returns to normal.

About a quarter of the people with bipolar disorder have seasonal episodes, says Chief Medical Officer Karen Rhea of Centerstone, a not-for-profit mental health care provider. She adds that the changes in daylight appear to be a factor.

For many, mania tends to spike in the spring while depression is more probable in the winter months.

Overall, people in the United States suffer from bipolar disorder more than in other countries, according to the World Health Organization's World Mental Health Survey Initiative. The recently released survey done in 11 nations showed that the U.S. has the highest lifetime rate of bipolar disorder, at 4.4 percent, and India the lowest, with 0.1 percent. read more

  

Tx Afv  

banner 

TO: California Treatment Advocacy Coalition

FROM: Carla Jacobs, Randall Hagar, Chuck Sosebee & Mark Gale

DATE: April 22, 2011

Click here to read a great letter discussing efforts to implement Laura's Law in San Diego.

Letters like this help advance the effort to bring Laura's Law to all of California!  Every article on the subject of assisted outpatient treatment (AOT) in the local news brings your county Board of Supervisors one step closer toward implementation. So please, look for your chance to share your story and to bring the need for Laura's Law to the papers covering your county.

Another way to advocate for Laura's Law is to share "One Family's Journey," a short video about how assisted outpatient treatment saved a loved one's life. You'll find a 1:12-minute version on YouTube and the entire 6-minute video on Vimeo.

TAKE ACTION TODAY!

Send a letter to the editor of your local newspaper urging them to cover the story of untreated mental illness pointing out that - more than 10 years after Laura Wilcox died - your county supervisors have failed to implement the law enacted by the California legislature in 2002 to prevent tragedies like the one that inspired the law. You'll find tips for writing effective letters to the editor on our website.

Write or call your county supervisors and urge them to implement Laura's Law in 2011.
****
To join efforts to implement the law in your county, email us at [email protected]

Web Site Here 

 





Psych Central

15 Ways To Support a Loved One with Serious Mental Illness

By MARGARITA TARTAKOVSKY, M.S.

Supporting a loved one with mental illness presents many challenges. But one of them isn't blame. It's important for families "to learn that they didn't cause [their loved one's disorder] and they can't cure it," according to Harriet Lefley, Ph.D, professor at the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine who's worked with families for 25 years.

Still, how you treat your loved one has a big impact on their well-being. "But their behaviors can exacerbate the symptoms," she said. In fact, Dr. Lefley cited a large amount of literature on expressed emotion that found that patients of families who expressed hostility and criticism toward their loved one (e.g., believing the patient was lazy) or were emotionally overinvolved (e.g., "I'd give my left arm if he'd get well") were more likely to relapse more here




NEWS FROM NAMI & DBSA

 

IBPF Joins the NAMI Walk in Balboa Park
walk
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BC2M Proudly Announces the 2011 BC2M/NAMI Walks Incentive Program!

Ready, Set, let's WALK and raise some funds in support of BC2M & NAMI 
 
NEED SOME INCENTIVE?
BC2M TEAM CAPTAINS: Raise a minimum of $5,000 to qualify for the CHANCE OF A LIFETIME to meet GLENN CLOSE on the filming set of DAMAGES in NYC! Team Captain who raises the highest dollar amount above $5,000 wins! Offer does not include travel, accommodations or food. Offer valid for team captain and one guest. One winner to be named for the Spring Walks, and a second winner to be named for the Fall walks. Offer valid for BC2M team captains only.
 
BC2M WALKING TEAMS: Purchase 20 + shirts on the BC2M website, and receive 6 BC2M logo fleece blankets, valued at $30.00 a blanket, for your highest team fundraisers! Purchase 15+ shirts and receive 4 blankets, purchase 10 + shirts and receive 2 blankets. Offer valid for Spring and Fall walks. Offer valid for BC2M walking teams only.
http://www.nami.org/walkTemplate.cfm?Section=NAMIWALKS&Template=%2FContentManagement%2FContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=96950

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SAVE THE DATE

 

**************************

Lunch & Lecture with Margaret Trudeau co-hosted by IBPF & JFS

Thursday, May 25, 11:30a. Hyatt Aventine

For more information please contact Ashley Reitzin 

************************* 

A Day with Patrick Kennedy hosted by IBPF  

October 6, 2011

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2011 U.S. Psychiatric and Mental Health Congress:

November 8-9, 2011

Las Vegas

Conference dates: November 7-10

The Venetian Hotel & Congress Center

 

The 2011 Prospectus and sponsorship information will be available next month. To view current information and documents, please visit https://www.cmellc.com/psychcongress/exhibitor_sponsorship.html 


 

About the International Bipolar Foundation
 
International Bipolar Foundation is a not for profit organization based in San Diego whose mission is to eliminate Bipolar Disorder through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support services for all affected; and to erase associated stigma through public education.
IBPF
Visit us online for more information: www.internationalbipolarfoundation.org
We have a new Community Page on FaceBook.

Please join us on Facebook and "Like" us and help us spread the word.
Find us on Facebook

A Word About Funding
 
Please note that International Bipolar Foundation does not represent any pharmaceutical company or give any speeches for a pharmaceutical company nor does our site receive advertising dollars from any company.