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


     

Greetings!

  


In this issue, you will see what makes us more than the sum of our parts. We are believe in collaboration, working together towards the common goals to fund research, educate the public and erase stigma and promote care & support!

 

To your health,

 

Muffy Walker

 

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

Our new mailing address: 8895 Towne Centre Drive, Suite 105-360 San Diego CA 92122  

 

 


October 7, 2012   
If you are in a crisis,
please call:
 
1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433)
or
1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Join Our Mailing List
OCTOBER; a VERY important month for us all ribbon    
  •  October 7 - 13: Mental Health Awareness Week 
October 9: USA National Day of Prayer for the Mentally Ill
  • October 10: World Mental Health Day is on Wednesday
  •  
  • October 11: USA National Bipolar Awareness Day and National Depression
  •  Screening Day 
                    IBPF WELCOMES NEW BOARD MEMBERS

F. MARC KULLMAN
is a founding director of the National Bipolar Foundation. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Administration. He served as President of National Clothing Liquidators for over 12 years. He is a Mayoral Appointee, serving as Chairman of the Delgado College Commission, re-appointed by four consecutive city administrations, in New Orleans, Louisiana.   
 

marc  

Marc studied Fine Arts at both Tulane University, and Taos Institute for the Arts. After being diagnosed in 1997 with Bipolar Disorder, he was determined to become a spokesperson for the disease, with hopes of eradicating the stigma associated with the illness. Soon to follow was his notoriety for his "Just Today" painting, which depicts Bipolar Disorder. Today, this painting serves as the symbol for the National Bipolar Foundation.

 

SANDRA REDMAN, known as Sandy, is a Banker and a Philanthropist, who is passionate about children, education and the arts. A resident of Rancho Santa Fe, Sandy devotes much of her time to various charities throughout San Diego. Sandy has a BS degree in Finance from the University of Edinburgh. She has three grown children and five grandchildren.

sandyFor the past five years Sandy has been actively helping a young family member grapple with a litany of behavioral symptoms, but who was never formally diagnosed with bipolar. She has experienced first hand the devastation and toll it took on her family. "Finding International Bipolar Foundation has opened our eyes that we are not alone; there is help and support. My hope is to become further educated about mental illness and reach out to others so they know there is somewhere to turn for help and not be in the situation my family has been in for so long."

In addition to serving on the board of International Bipolar Foundation, Sandy is a board member of The Old Globe and KidsKorp, and an ardent supporter of the Patrons of the Prado, Epilepsy Foundation San Diego, the Arc and Country Friends. "I'm very concerned about the education system and how much is being taken from the children and what it will do to the next generation as we remove teachers, art and music from the schools." Her personal philosophy is: "Live every day as though it's your last; surround yourself with good people and remove the things from your life that are not positive."

In addition to Sandy making a significant personal contribution to these organizations, she is also able to support them on a corporate level with her position as the Senior Vice President/San Diego Private Banking Group Manager for California Bank & Trust, the largest community bank in San Diego.

  

WENDY ABRAMSON

Ms. Abramson is a public health professional with over 25 years of experience in international and domestic public health. She has provided leadership and management of multi-country teams in developing countries in Latin America, Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe. Her focus has been on strengthening health systems to increase access to basic healthcare and improve equity with practical experience in translating research and data into policy and operations at the country and global levels. She has expertise in public-private partnerships, community development, international health policy and planning, health management organization, decentralization of health systems, and evaluation to strengthen health systems. Ms. Abramson is fluent in Spanish and lived in Nicaragua for 12 years where she obtained a post-graduate degree in Business Administration and a Masters in Public Health. wendy

 

Ms. Abramson is originally from the Washington D.C. metro area and she currently resides in Columbia, Maryland. She feels passionate and driven to support those living with bipolar disorder as well as family members and friends of those with this illness through public education and stigma reduction. She has been volunteering for NAMI Howard County, MD and has been teaching NAMI's Family-to-Family course in order to provide education and essential skills for those who are feeling helpless and isolated while caring for a family member with severe mental illness. 

 

 
November Webinar
AT RISK CHILDREN WITH ELLEN LEIBENLUFT, M.D.  

Save the Date: Tuesday, November 13
ellen liebenluft
Ellen Leibenluft, M.D. is Senior Investigator and Chief of the Section on Bipolar Spectrum Disorders in the Emotion and Development Branch, Mood and Anxiety Program, National Institute of Mental Health, and Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Georgetown University School of Medicine. Dr. Leibenluft received her B.A. from Yale University summa cum laude and her M.D. from Stanford University. After completing residency training at Georgetown University Hospital, she served on the faculty there as director of the psychiatric inpatient unit and day hospital. She came to the NIMH in 1989, and since that time has been conducting research on bipolar disorder. Her research focuses on the brain mechanisms involved in bipolar disorder in children and adolescents. Her work involves the use of cognitive neuroscience techniques and neuroimaging modalities, including functional MRI. In addition, since questions have been raised as to whether children with impairing irritability should be diagnosed with bipolar disorder, Dr. Leibenluft conducts research on this question, including studies on the brain mechanisms mediating severe irritability in children.     

 

October Lecture
A Perspective from the Consumer and Caregiver:
Real Life Experiences
From
The Members of International Bipolar Foundation
Date: Thursday, October, 11, 2012
Social: 5:30-6:00pm
Lecture: 6:00-7:00pm


Ellen Frudakis was born in Northern California and raised in the foothills of Nevada County California. In 2004 she co-founded Impact Young Adults (IYA), a nonprofit organization that provides social activities and leadership development for young adults with mental illness. A previous member of the Consumer Advisory Board, Ellen now serves on the Executive Board of the International Bipolar Foundation. Ellen is also the recipient of the International Bipolar Foundation's prestigious Imagine award. Ellen received her Bachelor of Science degree in Human Services from Springfield College in 2005, graduating with honors and earning the Student Humanics award for representing the very principles of this degree program and recently received her Masters of Arts Degree in Nonprofit Leadership and Management at the University of San Diego.


Karen McClurg Sheffres was born in Michigan and spent her childhood in Colorado. She attended Colorado State University where she obtained her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree and has enjoyed working as a small animal veterinarian for 24 years. Her oldest son was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at the age of seven. Karen has spent the last 10 years helping him learn to live with his illness. This experience has made her determined to do her part in improving the lives of those who suffer from bipolar disorder and other mental illnesses. Karen is passionate about reducing the stigma associated with mental illness through public education. She served on an advisory board for Special Education where she developed a parent education program and advocated for students with mental illnesses. Karen is one of the founding members of International Bipolar Foundation.


Location:
Sanford Children's Research Center (Building 12)
10905 Road to the Cure
San Diego, CA 92121
Time:
5:30-6:00 Social
6:00-7:00 Lecture and Q&A


Please R.S.V.P. To [email protected]
Event and Parking are free
 

3 Promising Ideas in Psychiatric Drug Development  

NIMH Director Thomas Insel, MD, on changing the way that neuropsychiatric illness is treated, interviewed by IBPF's Scientific Advisory Board Co-Chair, Dr. John C. Reed
tom and john
Watch the videoed interview here
 
SAVE THE DATE
January 24, 2013
IBPF PRESENTS:
The "REAL" Informant: Mark Whitacre
Mark Whitacre
Luncheon & Lecture
Estancia Hotel, La Jolla, CA




NEWS AROUND THE WORLD




SOUTH AFRICA
New Support Groups have formed in:(go to sadag.org for more info)
  • Western Cape: Strandfontein
  • Gauteng: Meyersdal:  
  • Alberton:  Akeso Clinic  
  • Mpumalanga: Middleburg.
  • Tzaneen:  Macadamia Community Centre.
  • Swaziland   
     
AdReach Street Pole Adverts
DraftFCB (Johannesburg) and AdReach have very generously designed and sponsored street pole ads that will be on street poles across Johannesburg. AdReach has kindly supported SADAG in the past and many people saw our street pole ads previously and hundreds of people called us for help. Once again, the street pole ads will raise awareness about depression and let people know how to get help. From Sandton to Soweto, keep a look out for SADAG!

Akeso launches a new Emergency Response Unit in Gauteng


UNITED KINGDOM:
Each year in the UK, twice as many people die by suicide than lose their lives in road traffic accidents. U Can Cope is a film that promotes the messages that anyone can experience suicidal thoughts, there is always hope and there is always somewhere to find help. Please share the film to spread these extremely important messages.
Launched on World Suicide Prevention Day earlier this month, the film was produced in collaboration with the Royal College of Psychiatrists, Connecting with People and other professional and voluntary organisations.

How do we improve access to psychological therapies?

GERMANY:
Michael Bauer on our Scientific Advisory Board : Monthly sunlight increase linked to age at BD onset

CANADA:
SUDs common in youth at high risk for bipolar disorder


bpmag logo

App-titude 
September 28, 2012-A CNN story on using smartphone apps as "surrogate therapists" notes that psychiatrist Rakesh Jain, MD, of the University of Texas Medical School at Houston, recommends a free app called Moody Me to his patients. Users click on a photo that matches their mood, then can explore what might be causing the mood with a list of emotions, symptoms and events. The app also creates graphs of moods over time so users can detect pattern.

Jain also likes a 99-cent app called Live Happy, developed by Sonja Lyubomirsky, PhD, a psychologist at the University of California, Riverside. That app has various "happiness-boosting" activities that can be done during moments of free time. Experts note that such technological tools make good accessories to therapy and treatment, but not substitutes.
  
CURRENT NEWS

Roles Of Novel Epigenetic Chemical In The Brain Involved In Memory And Learning                                             
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Quetiapine fumarate augmentation for patients with a primary anxiety disorder or a mood disorder: a pilot study
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Cerebrospinal fluid kynurenic acid is associated with manic and psychotic features in patients with bipolar I disorder
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Abnormal Temporal Lobe White Matter as a Biomarker for Genetic Risk of Bipolar Disorder
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$1-million gift will advance groundbreaking stem cell research into bipolar disorder

Steven Schwartzberg with nephew Howie Starer, and nieces Melissa Starer, and Isabel, Sabrina, and Molly Schwartzberg
With the help of a $1 million commitment, the University of Michigan Comprehensive Depression Center, home of the Prechter Bipolar Research Fund, will continue its mission to unravel the unknowns about bipolar disorder using stem cell lines developed from skin cells.
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Bipolar conversion in children linked to family history
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About.com      

New - Self-Test for Bipolar Mania 

 

Autism more likely when a parent has schizophrenia or bipolar disorder

Red Flags: Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder in Children Bipolar Child Basics

What Causes Bipolar Disorder?

Buying Medications Online? Think Again
 

Psych Central 


Genes Determine If Lithium is Effective for Bipolar Disorder Genes Determine If Lithium is Effective for Bipolar Disorder

Setting up and running an evidence based clinical e-practice: BipolarLab.com By DR. YANNI MALLIARIS
THE BOOK & MOVIE CORNER

 

Healthy Living with Bipolar Disorder, now available on Kindle

here  book

   

 Did you know we are having a chapter written on Native Americans & Bipolar Disorder? Meet April Redbird from New Mexico. Thank you April!      april
 

 

 

 

  

 


and Dr. Thomas Meeks at UCSD is writing a chapter
on Geriatrics with Bipolar Disorder. meeks
Thank you Dr. Meeks!
wrightslaw
Dear Friend & Advocate
Is your child off to a good start in school this year or do you already see signs of problems?

Lack of enthusiasm
Disagreeable about going to school
Refusal to complete homework assignments
Do you have a "master of deception" in your house who says he has no homework? By the time you learn that he did, he has another "0."

In this issue of the Special Ed Advocate, you will find parent concerns about assignment refusal and school failure. Learn how to identify key issues and find strategies to resolve the problems.

*****
Do you know what IDEA really says about IEPs? This may be different from what you have been told!

Who may be excused from IEP meetings?
Can I change my child's IEP without a meeting?
What are the IEP requirements for transition?
What happens to services when we transfer schools?
What does the law say about developing, reviewing and revising IEPs?

In this issue of the Special Ed Advocate you will learn about the legal requirements of IEPs. Get answers to your questions and find out what you need to know about IEPs, IEP teams, and IEP meetings. Learn how to use tactics and strategies to get quality services in your child's IEP.

*****
If your child's IEP does not include measurable academic and functional goals, the IEP is defective and open to a challenge that it denies your child a FAPE.

You need to know your child's starting point - the Present Levels, so you can develop measurable goals.

In this issue of the Special Ed Advocate you will learn the requirements for Present Levels in IEPs and how they are used to develop SMART, measurable goals to meet your child's unique needs and monitor his progress.

Welcome Scott, our newest blogger

 

 
My name is Scott Walker.  I'm 39 and live in Canmore, Alberta, Canada.  I was labelled as being bipolar (diagnosed) on January 1, 2000 in Auckland, New Zealand.  A rather interesting way to bring in the new millenium!  I had three hospital stays between 2000 and 2007 for manic episodes.  As with most persons with bipolar, I've been on many different medications and met with a multitude of medical professionals during my journey to wellness.  I am at a point now where I'm the healthiest I've ever been mentally, scot emotionally, physically and spiritually.  Personal holistic wellness is what I give the most energy to in my life.  I'm a huge believer in natural mental wellness and have been medication free for over two years.    

This year I had some big shifts in being comfortable in sharing my bipolar experience with others.  The more people I talked to about this the more I realized that there are MANY people labelled bipolar who are simply surviving...or worse.  I truly want to give these people hope that life can be great.  And normal!  What is "normal" anyways?  A lot of work has to be done to get well, in addition to consistent daily actions to stay well.  The more proactive I've been with my health the better my overall health has become.  For those of you looking for "the magic pill" it will not be in my blog.

I truly feel that my life purpose is to serve and support persons labelled with bipolar in going from surviving to thriving.  It took me twelve years to get to where I am, and it is my intention to assist others in rapidly collapsing that time frame.  At the current time I am writing out the story of my bipolar journey, supporting others recently labelled as bipolar, and setting up a business to fulfill my life purpose.  At the current time my website is being constructed.  Feel free to contact me on facebook at www.facebook.com/scottinsideout.  I appreciate you taking the time to read this! 
laura 
LAURA'S LAW UPDATE
Congratulations to all of you!

Among the many bills signed by Governor Brown over the weekend was AB 1569, Assemblymember Michael Allen's bill to extend Laura's Law. This means that the authority in the Laura's Law statute for a county to operate, establish or continue a program of Assisted Outpatient Treatment, which was due under the current law to expire on December 31 of this year, has been extended until December 31, 2017.  Thank you to all of you whose actions supported this important legislation.
Congratulations to our Program Manager, Ashley Reitzin, who married Ted Jacobs On October 6th. We wish you a lifetime of happiness.
ash


 

NEWS FROM NAMI, DBSA, & SAMHSA  

NAMI:
San Diego: Exciting News: The Friends in the Lobby Program is Expanding!
For more information about Friends in the Lobby and/or volunteer opportunities, you can reach her by phone at 619-398-9861 or by email at [email protected]

9th Annual Inspiration Awards Dinner
Tuesday, October 16, 2012 ▪ 5:30 p.m
Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa and Marina, 1441 Quivira Road, San Diego CA 92109
For reservations and sponsorship information: online: www.namisandiego.org
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DBSA:
Life Unlimited Stories. Each month, DBSAlliance.org features new, empowering stories of individuals whose lives have been touched, but not limited by, a mood disorder. Our hope is to provide inspiration to individuals living with depression or bipolar disorder-to acknowledge that, though there may be dark times, there is also hope, and we are not alone.
IBPF's Board Member: Ellen Frudakis
I was twenty when I found myself in a mental institution being handed a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. In that moment, I felt like a shattered version of the person I had once known myself to be. The old me had value, I thought, and was someone whom I, myself, had liked. How had I gotten there? more here

Concordance 2012
On Monday, November 12, the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) joins forces with the International Society for Bipolar Disorder (ISBD) to host a live event and simultaneous web-streamed panel discussion about enhancing collaborative care.
November 12, 2012 | 2:30-4:30pm EST
Online: Everywhere
In person: Cahners Theater, Museum of Science, Boston, MA

DBSA's next Mental Health First Aid training course will be held October 22-23 in Springfield, IL

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SAMHSA:  SAMHSA showcases behavioral health advocates and community leaders in recovery at 2012 Voice Awards 

 

SAMHSA awards up to $4.6 million in youth suicide prevention grants to tribes through South Dakota 

 

The National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention (Action Alliance) and other leaders from both the public and private sectors will release the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention on Monday, September 10, 2012. The National Strategy for Suicide Prevention, a report of the Surgeon General and the Action Alliance, features community-based approaches to curbing the incidence of suicide, details new ways to identify people at risk for suicide, and outlines national priorities for suicide prevention.


 

 

SAVE THE DATE

    

 
Sixth annual Mental Health Arts & Film Festival takes place across Scotland  1-25 October

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Silverado Escondido Presents: Managing the Emotional Aspects of Caregiving
Speaker: Alejandra Ceja-Aguilar, MA
Tuesday, October 16th, 2012      12 PM - 2:00 PM
RSVP: 760-737-7900
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Didi Hirsch and Living Works Education are pleased to invite you to apply for our ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) T4T! 
This training is made possible through a CalMHSA Suicide Prevention Initiative grant.  Candidates who are accepted into the training will have the cost of the training (approximately $3,000) waived and can receive up to $500 towards travel for the T4T.
The training will take place October 22-26, 2012, at the Embassy Suites Hotel at 9801 Airport Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, 90045. [email protected]
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Join thousands of tea lovers across the country on 10 October to help the 1 in 4 people experiencing mental health problems every year.
Holding a Tea & Talk event is as simple as getting together a group of friends, family or colleagues, putting the kettle on and inviting them to make a donation to the Mental Health Foundation. It's a piece of cake!
A good cup of tea and a chat can be really beneficial for your wellbeing and we've got lots of fun ideas and mouth-watering recipes to help you host a tea party to remember.Get your free Tea & Talk pack now
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Wellness Education Day
Helen Joseph Hospital - 22nd October - South Africa
Recognising that Mental health problems can affect people with many different illnesses Helen Joseph Hospital are hosting a wellness education day with brochures, pamphlets, posters, and 2 SADAG counsellors to answer any questions that patients, family members, friends or staff from throughout the hospital can all participate in. This will be held at the main entrance with SADAG Banners showing the way.
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Understanding Social Security & SSI Benefits
Saturday, October 13, 2012 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 Noon

The Arc of San Diego 9575 Aero Drive, San Diego, CA 92123

SNTF (619) 201-2672
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Mental Health First Aid Training
October 12 & 13. San Diego, CA.

(619) 688 4236  [email protected]   

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MONTREAL WALKS For Mental Health  

Sunday, October 14 at Phillips Square. Registration starts at 10am. Come walk with us!

Register here

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Mental Health Conference 2012
16 October 2012, London
JanJan Hutchinson will be speaking at the Mental Health Conference 2012 in Central London. For further information about the conference themes visit the Govknow website here: www.govknow.com
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AMERICAN ACADEMY OF CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY
AACAP's 59th Annual Meeting
October 23-28, 2012
San Francisco, CA
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Dr. David Goldbloom will be exploring the fascinating topic on the association between mental illness and creativity.
October 24th 2012,
Montreal. For more info: 514.486.1448
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Rebecca's Dream: A Date to Dream"  

Saturday, October 20, 2012. The Society for Arts, 1112 N. Milwaukee Av., Chicago, IL

rebeccasdream.org

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SPECIAL NEEDS TRUST SEMINAR

Saturday, October 20, 2012 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.San Diego 

SNFT: 619.201.2672
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Behavioral Health Conference & Resource Fair  

MEETING OF THE MINDS  

November 7, 2012 - San Diego, CA

www.mhasd.org 

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AMERICAN PSYCHIATRIC NURSES ASSOCIATION
APNA 26th Annual Conference: Fighting Stigma
November 7-10, 2012
Pittsburgh, PA 

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6th Annual Lecture on "Stem Cells and Ethics"

with John Kelsoe on IBPF's Scientific Advisory Board

Monday, November 12, 2012
University of Michigan Free, Register here
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Promoting physical health in secure psychiatric care 

November 13, 2012, London, UK
more info here:  http://www.centrevents.co.uk/secure.html
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4th Annual Family & Youth Conference
Stigma Discrimination and Disparities in Children Services
February 13-15, 2013, San Diego, CA
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ME2 Orchestra; Music for Mental Health
ME2/strings  performance

Saturday, November 17 at 8:00 p.m. in the UVM Recital Hall.
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Purchase tickets today by visiting www.FlynnTix.org or calling the Flynn Regional Box Office at 802-863-5966.
NAMI San Diego gears up for San Diego County NAMI Walk 2013 
Saturday, April 13, 2013  
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IBPF GALA
May 11, 2013
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DBSA 2013 National Conference 

June 15-17, 2013, Miami, FL   

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ISBD Annual Conference

June 15-18, 2013, Miami, FL 


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 promote care and support services; and to erase associated stigma through public education.
IBPF
Visit us online for more information: www.internationalbipolarfoundation.org
OFFICE:
11622 El Camino Real, Suite 100  San Diego, CA 92130
p: (858) 764-2496  f: (858) 764-2491
MAILING ADDRESS:
8895 Towne Centre Drive, Suite 105-360  San Diego, CA 92122
We have a new Community Page on FaceBook.

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