May 2014
IN THIS ISSUE...
If you are interested in writing a country-specific chapter,
or translating our book,
Healthy Living with Bipolar Disorder
please email Debbie Brown

Greetings! 

 

 

Happy May! For me, May is a happy month; in the USA we have Mother's Day, school graduations, longer days with more sunshine, and flowers poking through the soil. More importantly, in the USA, we celebrate mental health:

  • The month of May is Mental Health Awareness Month
  • California Mental Health No Stigma Week is May 4-11 (organized by us:-)
  • The first week in May is National Children's Mental Health Week (May 2-8) and National Anxiety and Depression Week (May 4-10)
  • National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day is May 8
  • Older Americans' Mental Health Week is May 15-21
  • Schizophrenia Awareness Week is May 18-24

On May 6, International Bipolar Foundation will be receiving the National Council on Behavioral Health Award in DC, then hosting 2:365, an art event in Seattle on May 8 & 9, celebrating our annual gala Behind the Mask; Phantom of the Opera on May 10th, and announcing the winners of our International High School Essay Contest and our HOPE and IMAGINE awards!

 

If all goes as hoped, on May 7, the U.S. House of Representatives will vote to enact our bill making Mental Health No-Stigma Week a federal law!

 

Whether your country celebrates these dates or not, I hope you will take the opportunity to help spread the word, educate people, and help us knock down the barriers of stigma!

 

To your health,

Muffy     

 

If you would like to help support our newsletter or any of the free programs we offer, please make a tax-deductible donation. Thank you!

 

 

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

UCKI OOD AND IBPF PRESENT

      BOOK LAUNCH AND ART EXHIBITION      

 
MISSY DOUGLAS Ph.D.

ucki ood, the fine art studio of Missy Douglas & Kim Rask, in partnership with International Bipolar Foundation (IBPF), announces the launch of their new art book, 2:365, and accompanying exhibition of paintings and sculpture. Comprising 365 canvasses painted every day for the entirety of 2013, 2:365 explores the direct relationship between Missy's struggle with bipolar disorder and her creative voice. 

 

Thursday May 8, 2014 6:00PM - 12:00AM

Sole Repair Shop

1001 E Pike St., Seattle, WA 98122

Register today: http://bit.ly/1lpy0lA 

This is a free event. Appetizers and drinks will be served.

OUR NEW COUNTRY SPECIFIC CHAPTER
"MEXICO"
NEW SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER
ERIC YOUNGSTROM, Ph.D.

Eric Youngstrom, Ph.D., is a professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he is also the Acting Director of the Center for Excellence in Research and Treatment of Bipolar Disorder. He is the first recipient of the Early Career Award from the Division of Child and Adolescent Clinical Psychology, and is an elected full member of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology. He has consulted on the 5th Revision of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5) and the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). He chairs the Work Group on Child Diagnosis for the International Society for Bipolar Disorders. Read More

NATIONAL DEPRESSION SCREENING DAY
                Mark your Calendar!
                  October 9, 2014  

National Depression Screening Day raises awareness and screens people for depression and anxiety disorders. NDSD is the nation's oldest voluntary, community-based screening program that gives access to a validated screening questionnaire and provides referral information for treatment. Learn More...
MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH MONTH
The 2014 May is Mental Health Month theme is "Mind Your Health". The goal is to build public recognition about the importance of mental health to overall health and wellness; inform people of the ways that the mind and body interact with each other; and provide tips and tools for taking positive actions to protect mental health and promote whole health.
 
How would you like to incorporate the "I wont stand for" campaign in to your Children's Mental Health Awareness activities within the week of May 4-10? 

Increase public awareness about the triumphs and the challenges in children's mental health with these "Children's Mental Health Matters" green ribbons!

BEHIND THE MASK 2014 GALA
NATIONAL CONFERENCE FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

 

The National Council will host Conference '14 - and Hill Day -  in Washington, D.C., May 5-7, 2014.  On the final day of the conference, they will feature sessions on federal behavioral healthcare policy, followed by visits with elected officials on Capitol Hill to advocate for better resources for mental health and addictions treatment.  There is no additional fee - however you do need to register for Hill Day. 

 

Please join 3 IBPF board members and register today http://www.thenationalcouncil.org/events-and-training/conference/register/

MAY WEBINARS

Dr. Louisa Sylvia: Getting To Wellness 
May 6th, 2014 at 9:00 am PDT.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among individuals with bipolar disorder. Diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and obesity are among the most common diseases in bipolar disorder and are also the leading risk factors for cardiovascular disease. This medical burden is highlighted by individuals with bipolar disorder having nearly three times more medical admissions than other behavioral health care diagnoses. Although it is unclear why the medical burden in bipolar disorder is so high, it is a primary concern for the treatment of the disease. Dr. Sylvia will discuss this medical burden, its importance in managing bipolar disorder, and ways to overcome it. Specifically, she has developed a therapy called "NEW Tx" which is composed of the following treatment modules: Nutrition/weight loss, Exercise, and Wellness treatment (Tx). She will review the rationale for this therapy as well as ways that you can start doing some of the strategies to begin a healthier lifestyle.

 

Dr. Louisa Sylvia is a staff psychologist and is Associate Director of Psychology at Bipolar Clinic and Research Program (BCRP) at Massachusetts General Hospital and is an Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School.
 
Space is limited, reserve your Webinar seat now at: 

Dr. Jennifer Bahr-Removing Obstacles: A Naturaopathic Perspective on Treatment

May 15, 2014 at 9:00 am PDT

 

In this webinar, Dr. Jennifer Bahr, ND will give an overview of naturopathic medicine and will discuss how its philosophies relate to treating mood disorders and can offer hope and options to those who are struggling within the conventional model. She will discuss lifestyle and natural therapies that can be used to stimulate healing and maintain stable moods, as well as some to avoid. She will also help you learn to identify some common obstacles to good health and how to remove them so that any treatment you use may be more effective. 

 

Dr. Jennifer Bahr is licensed naturopathic doctor that specializes in the homeopathic treatment of mental illness. Dr. Bahr received her Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, AZ, where she focused her clinical studies on homeopathy and pediatrics.  She practices in Santa Cruz, CA.  

 

Space is limited, reserve your Webinar seat now at:

https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/926340390


Dr. Carrie Bearden: 

Risk and Vulnerability for Mood Disorders in Teens

May 21st, 2014 at 9:00 am PDT

 

This webinar will discuss normative brain changes that occur during adolescent development that may predispose toward the development of mood disorder during this critical period in vulnerable individuals. I will discuss brain changes that lead to increased risk taking behavior in adolescence, the relationship between sleep and mood, and  how these factors may interact. Finally, I will discuss potential lifestyle interventions that may help to improve mood stability. 

 

Dr. Carrie Bearden received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania and joined the UCLA faculty as Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences at UCLA in 2003. She holds a joint appointment in the Department of Psychology. She has received numerous awards and honors, including Young Investigator Awards from the International Congress for Schizophrenia Research and the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Affective Disorders (NARSAD), and the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP), the A.E. Bennett Neuropsychiatric Research Award for Clinical Science in Biological Psychiatry, and the Samuel Gershon Junior Investigator Award from the International Society for Bipolar Disorders. Dr. Bearden's research aims to identify underlying vulnerability markers for complex psychiatric disorders that typically develop during adolescence (primarily bipolar disorder and psychosis), which may advance our understanding of the genetic contributors and biological processes leading to these illnesses. In collaboration with geneticist Nelson Freimer, she is examining genetic variants associated with neural, cognitive and circadian anomalies associated with bipolar disorder in genetically isolated populations in Latin America. 

 

Space is limited, reserve your Webinar seat now at:

https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/595215742 

Dr. Matt Stanford: Rethinking Mental Health Care: The Role of the Church in Recovery
May 28th, 2014 at 9:00 am PDT

 

This workshop will present a balanced clinical and biblical perspective on mental illness. The foundational role of the church in the recovery process will be discussed along with practical steps for churches to effectively minister to those living with mental illness and their families.

 

Matthew S. Stanford, Ph.D. is professor of psychology, neuroscience and biomedical studies at Baylor University. His research on the interplay between psychology and issues of faith has been featured by Fox, the New York Times, USA Today, MSNBC, Yahoo, and U.S. News & World Report. Stanford is a fellow of the Association for Psychology Science (APS). As the co-founder and executive director of the Mental Health Grace Alliance, he writes, conducts training seminars, and serves individuals living with mental illness and their families. He is the author of two books, Grace for the Afflicted: A Clinical and Biblical Perspective on Mental Illness and The Biology of Sin: Grace, Hope and Healing for Those Who Feel Trapped. 

 

Space is limited, reserve your Webinar seat now at: 
After registering you will receive a confirmation email
containing information about joining the Webinar.



DUBAI:

GERMAN:














FEATURE ARTICLE

Jayson Blair

It's not front page news when most people tell a lie. When I repeatedly did so, it was, and it was the reason for my downfall.

On Sunday, May 11th, 2003, The New York Times ran a 7,000-word above-the-fold, front page story (accompanied by a 6,400-word litany of corrections) that summed up many months of lies, deception, and a double life I had been living as  reporter for the newspaper. the Times called it plagiarism in stories about Iraq War prisoner-of-war Jessica Lynch, the families of missing soldiers, the Washington, D.C.-area snipers, and other
high profile stories of 2002 and 2003 a "low point in the 152-year history" of the newspaper. Read More

THE BOOK & MOVIE CORNER

 
CATCH A FALLING STAR

This book presents readers with a variety of symptoms that could be considered "red flags" in a child's emotional and social development.

Read More











THE GHOST AND THE WHALE
This movie tells the story of Joseph Hawthorne (Maurice Benard), a bi-polar man who went off to sea with the love of his life and returned back to the sleepy town of Bodega alone.


Die Schonste Krankheit Der Welt
Der menschliche Korper ist in der Lage...

MOORESTORMS GUIDE TO BIPOLAR SELF-CARE
Tips to help you learn the best way to take care of yourself while you are coping with bipolar disorder.



HOW I F***ED UP MY LIFE

AND MADE IT MEAN SOMETHING
A searingly honest and deeply personal account of Benjamin's nervouse breakdown and his journey to find a treatment that could actually help him.
Read More
   
RESEARCH STUDY OPPORTUNITIES
BIPOLAR DISORDER CLINICAL TRIAL
brain
Researchers at Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital are enrolling men and women for a clinical trial. Individuals who have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and are currently experiencing a manic episode may qualify.

Eligible participants will receive all study-related care at no cost, and may be reimbursed for time and travel.

Participation is confidential and trials are safely conducted under the supervision of experienced physicians and research specialists.
To learn more, call (858) 836-8350.

BRAIN SCIENCE We need VOLUNTEERS with BIPOLAR DISORDER
$160 for 7 hours
Click here for more information
USE OF TECHNOLOGY QUESTIONNAIRE
My name is Dr. Mark Matthews. I am a researcher at Cornell University where we are looking at the use of technology by people like yourself who have bipolar disorder. This questionnaire will help my colleagues and me better understand your use of technology which will in turn inform our design of computer tools for people with bipolar disorder.
Please read this form carefully before agreeing to take part in the study.

KINECT2STUDY
If you or a loved one have schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, or a gastrointestinal disorder (including trouble with reflux and/or gastric emptying) and experience involuntary movements in your face or other parts of your body, you may qualify for a medical research study. Each individual must be 18 to 85 years of age, and will be evaluated to determine his or her eligibility. All participants will receive study-related medical exams and lab tests at no charge. Compensation for time and travel may be available.  
To learn more, visit www.Kinect2Study.com.
MANAGING BIPOLAR MOOD EXPERIENCES
WITHOUT THE USE OF MEDICATION
 
* Have you been given a diagnosis of bipolar disorder by a mental health professional?
* Have you been offered medication to try and help you manage bipolar moods?
* Have you not been using any medication for your mood for at least the last 3 months?
* Would you be interested in talking to someone about your experiences of not using medication for your mood?

Taking part will involve answering some questions over the phone, then meeting me to fill in a questionnaire and complete an interview. If you think you might be interested in taking part and would like to find out more, please e-mail me on [email protected]. or phone me on 07852 523 954.
 

AN INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE
If you are:
  • Between the ages of 21 and 65
  • Have a diagnosis of bipolar disorder

You are invited to participate in this research study to see how effective the MoodSwings website is at improving the well-being of people with bipolar disorder.

PARTICIPANTS WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER OR
SCHIZOPHRENIA NEEDED
THE SCHEMA OF INDIVIDUALS WITH A MOOD DISORDER

We are inviting individuals aged 18 years and over, who identify with having bipolar disorder or depression, in addition to individuals who identify with having no mental/psychiatric illness, to participate in this study.

PLEASE JOIN THE "KNOW SCIENCE. NO STIGMA" AWARENESS CAMPAIGN!


How you can help:

  1. Join the conversation by visiting our Facebook  and Twitter pages and liking, sharing, retweeting or commenting on our #KnowScience posts.
  2.     Next, show your support for Mental Health Awareness Month by replacing your profile image with this "Know Science. No Stigma." badge.
  3.   Come back every day to see what's new, share your thoughts and continue to share broadly with your friends. 

   HOW YOUR DONATION WILL BENEFIT IBPF'S     
  MISSION
CALENDAR OF EVENTS - SAVE THE DATE!

 
May 4-10, 2014
Global
 
*************************
The International Review of Psychosis & Bipolarity (IRPB) Conference
Athens, Greece, 9-12 May 2014
*********************
Annual International Conference of the Association of Psychology and Psychiatry for Adults and Children (A.P.P.A.C.). The Conference will be held at the Hilton Hotel, in Athens, Greece, on 13-16 May 2014
*********************
National Council for Behavioral Health
May 7, 2014
Washington, DC
***********************
IBPF Behind the Mask Gala
May 10, 2014
La Jolla, CA, USA
*********************
The Annual Meeting of the International Forum of Psychosis & Bipolarity
May 25-28, 2014
Athens Greece 
*********************
Stress, Burnout, DepressionSymposium
July 1, 2014
Switzerland
**************************
AMHSA's 2014 Voice Awards
August 13, 2014
UCLA  
 
DGBS: "Bipolar Disorder: Up Close and Personal"
18 to 20 September 2014
W�rzburg, Germany
***********************

27th Annual U.S. Psychiatric and Mental Health Congress

September 20-23, 2014

Orlando, Florida

 

The First International Bipolar Foundation Annual West Coast Meeting
November 9, 2014
Anaheim, California
 
ISBD Annual Conference
June 3-6, 2015
Toronto, Canada
********************** 
*********************
September 25-28, 2014
*********************
October 9, 2014
Global
**********************
10th International Congress of the INA
Oct 14-16, 2015
Jerusalem, Israel
**********************
March 3-6, 2015
Japan


About the International Bipolar Foundation

International Bipolar Foundation is a not for profit organization based in San Diego whose mission is to improve understanding and treatment of Bipolar Disorder through research; to promote care and support services for individuals and caregivers; and to erase associated stigma through education.

International Bipolar Foundation is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Never disregard professional advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read or received from the International Bipolar Foundation.

Visit us online for more information: www.ibpf.org

MAILING ADDRESS:
8895 Towne Centre Drive, Suite 105-360 San Diego, CA 92122

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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.