May 2015
IN THIS ISSUE...
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Greetings!

 
This May, millions of people will participate in Mental Health Awareness Month. In fact, in California, the first full week in May is Mental Health No Stigma Week and May 7 is National Children's Mental Health Day.

We invite you to participate on whatever level you're most comfortable; from educating a friend to hosting a bake sale to organizing a lecture at your school or church.

Once scheduled, go
here to have your event placed on our map.

To your health,

Muffy Walker  

MAY WEBINARS

   
Stephen Dale, Esq., LL.M: 

"Conservatorships and Mental Health"

Wednesday, May 13th , at 9:00 am PST

 

This presentation will give a little history on mental health services in California with specific review of the Lanterman system. Participants will learn about different types of conservatorships including limited, LPS Conservatorships (Lanterman-Petris- Shor t Act) and conservatorships for the gravely disabled. The current state of available services for the mentally disabled will be discussed as well as when SSI or other benefits are affected.

Stephen W. Dale received his JD from Armstrong Law School and his LL.M. in Taxation from Golden Gate University. His law firm is dedicated to providing quality estate planning to clients by working cooperatively with the clients' tax, financial and insurance professionals. 

Mr. Dale is a disability rights advocate and spends much of his time attending disability rights activities, including legislative hearings and serving on boards and committees of disability-rights organizations.  In addition he regularly teaches courses to the public, financial professionals, and other attorneys on special needs trusts and trust administration.  His main focus is on achieving independence while maintaining essential government benefits.  His courses have received accreditation by the California Department of Insurance and the California State Bar. Mr. Dale is the recipient of the 2010 Theresa Foundation Award and the 2007 NAELA Powley Award. He is also a long standing member of the Special Needs Alliance, a national, not for profit organization of attorneys dedicated to the practice of disability and public benefits law.


Space is limited. Reserve your seat now here

 

Krish Ram: 

"Bipolar Warrior"

May date coming soon!
 

"All my life I had been known for my mind, and now the only thing I trusted was going out of control." 

That was the situation that confronted me when I was initially diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. Seven years of medication, rehab and therapy had got me stable and functioning again. And then ... the illness came back. 

Following an explosive meltdown fueled by a relapse of my Bipolar Disorder, I found myself surrounded by shambles: of my home, my arranged marriage, and my life. Confused and frustrated, I saw no choice but to leave everything I knew behind and search for a better way to live. Read more here
 

Reserve your seat at ibpf.org

 


 

Martha Rhodes:

"3,000 Pulses Later: Managing Depression With TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation)

Wednesday May 27th, at 9:00 am PST


 
Martha Rhoades will discuss her personal journey with depression, discovering Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and how this treatment worked for her. She will share her remission and how she manages her depression with maintenance TMS. Also, she will discuss the future of neurostimulation.

After working for twenty-five years in several major New York advertising agencies as a senior-level executive, Martha left the advertising world to devote her time to patients and health care professionals throughout the United States as a TMS Advocate. She is on the Patient Advisory Council of the ISEN (International Society for ECT and Neurostimulation) and is a member of NAMI (National Association for Mental Illness) and Mental Health America. She has managed several TMS support groups for patients either considering TMS therapy, or who were in process or have completed TMS.

Her book, 3,000 Pulses Later: A Memoir of Surviving Depression Without Medication describes how, as a successful advertising executive, wife, and mother with a seemingly ideal life, she succumbed to depression and overdosed on Xanax and alcohol in an unsuccessful suicide attempt. The memoir describes her challenges with untreated, drug-resistant depression and her struggle to find an alternative to the drugs that failed to relieve her symptoms.

After a grueling stay in a psychiatric ward and many months of trial-and-error medications, Martha pursued TMS, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation-the FDA-cleared, safe and proven-effective alternative to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and the ineffective drugs her doctors prescribed.

She shares how the road back to health with TMS returned her to an even better place than where she started. She now manages her depression with TMS therapy-and without the side effects attributable to antidepressant medications.

She has appeared on ABC-TV, The Daily BUZZ TV, Fox News TV, and Sirrius XM Radio. She has written articles or been interviewed about TMS for online and offline media such as CNN.com, the New York Times, US News and World Report, The Saturday Evening Post Online, HealthyWomen.org and TMS Neuro Health Centers.

Martha lives in Danbury, Connecticut with her husband of thirty-eight years and their rescue dog, Josie. They have two grown children and three grandchildren.

 

Space is limited. Reserve your seat now at:

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5229472281445257729

 






After registering you will receive a confirmation email
containing information about joining the Webinar.

Support a very important cause with us! #iknowJenny

 
             
                                                                                              

We are excited to partner with: Bring Change 2 MindTo Write Love on Her Arms,The Jed FoundationThe International Bipolar Foundation and Young Minds in empowering people to take action.

 

Let's help each other by sharing our stories, our struggles and our successes in dealing with mental health issues through #iknowJenny and help our charity partners by picking up one of these exclusive reward packages.

 

Thanks for your support!

Jonny, Mark, Daniel & Paul


ORDER YOUR SWEET TREATS FROM

CHRISI'S CREATIONS HERE!

 Gooey Lemon Bars - Caramel Brownies - Yumm Bars - Red Velvet Bars
10% of all proceeds will benefit IBPF. Thank you for your support!
SHE SHIPS TOO!
2015 IBPF GALA
For more information contact Debbie Brown at [email protected] or purchase your ticket 
View our video invite here!
                   OUR NEW IBPF BLOGGERS

Krystal Reddick

Mary Kidd

Meet them here!
   Do you live in the 49th District in CA?                              Unsure? Check here
You, your spouse, voting kids, etc., PLEASE take 5 minutes to call Congressman Darrell Issa's office and ask him to please support our anti-stigma bill by bringing it to the floor at 202-225-3906.  

 

H.R. ES 572 Resolution for designation of the first full week of May as                            ''National Mental Health No Stigma Week''


 

Sample conversation:

I am calling to you to express my support for the H.R. ES 572 Resolution for designation of the first full week of May as ''National Mental Health No Stigma Week'', and I am asking that you also support it by bringing it to the floor.

 

If you prefer to write, click here for a sample letter.


 
As you may already be aware, a similar resolution was passed in California; ACR110 California Mental Health No Stigma Week.

 

Please forward this to friends & family in 49th district, ask your Democratic or Republican clubs to help!

THANK YOU!




Story of Hope and Recovery

   Dominique's Story 

 

I was diagnosed when I was 7. I had a hard time at the public school I was going to and I was fighting and hurting the teachers, trying to kill myself and my sister, running away, and having random outburst. My mom was scared and my sister hated me. I was kicked out of that school. I was sent to go to a screening center to get evaluated. Read more here.






























 

I

n observance of Children's Mental Health Awareness Day, SAMHSA and HRSA present a webinar on May 4 on the pediatric psychiatric consultation model. Hear from a safety-net pediatrician and learn how these models can be implemented in your organization. Register here for this webinar.

 

 

**International Bipolar Foundation Scientific Advisory Board Member(s)
* Honorary Board Member(s)

IF YOU LOVE OUR WORK THEN TELL THE WORLD! 

You have an opportunity to help us make even more of a difference in our community. GreatNonprofits - a review site like TripAdvisor - is honoring highly reviewed nonprofits with their 2015 Top-Rated List. Won't you help us raise visibility for our work by posting a review of your experience with us? All reviews will be visible to potential donors and volunteers. It's easy and only takes 3 minutes! 

 

Create Your Review Here! 

Newly Diagnosed With Bipolar? 
 Make your video today!
"You've Got This" supports the Bipolar community. View the videos from Bipolar sufferers encouraging those with Bipolar to know they are not alone and that they've "got this" and then make your own video!

GET EDUCATED WITH IBPF!

Check out our YouTube informational videos. Click on the icon to view the latest: 
Visit our sharecare page and ask our panel of experts a question. Click on the icon to get started!
 

Watch our latest webinar video below: 
Parenting Through the Storm with Ann Douglas


Follow us on FacebookLike us on Facebook and twitter Follow us on Twitter for current and relevant discussions and information.
THE BOOK & MOVIE CORNER


 
Wrestling with our Inner Angels: Faith, Mental Illness, and the Journey to Wholeness

Wrestling with Our Inner Angels is Nancy Kehoe's compelling, intimate, and moving story of how she brought her background as a psychologist and a nun in the Religious of the Sacred Heart to bear in the groups she formed to explore the role of faith and spirituality in their treatment - and in their lives. Through fascinating stories of her own spiritual journey, she gives readers of all backgrounds and interests new insights into the inner lives of the mentally ill and new ways of thinking about the role of spirituality and faith in all our lives.

 

 

 

 

 

 

UNDERSTANDING MENTAL DISORDERS:Your guide to the DSM-5

Understanding Mental Disorders: Your Guide to DSM-5� is a consumer guide for anyone who has been touched by mental illness. Most of us know someone who suffers from a mental illness. This book helps those who may be struggling with mental health problems, as well as those who want to help others achieve mental health and well-being. Based on the latest, fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders known as DSM-5� Understanding Mental Disorders provides valuable insight on what to expect from an illness and its treatment and will help readers recognize symptoms, know when to seek help, and get the right care. Featured disorders include depression, schizophrenia, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, and bipolar disorder, among others. 

Read more 

 

 



WARRIOR
THE BIPOLAR BATTLE

"All my life I had been known for my mind, and now the only thing I trusted was going out of control." That was the situation that confronted me when I was initially diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. Seven years of medication, rehab and therapy had got me stable and functioning again. And then ... the illness came back. Following an explosive meltdown fueled by a relapse of my Bipolar Disorder, I found myself surrounded by shambles: of my home, my arranged marriage, and my life. Confused and frustrated, I saw no choice but to leave everything I knew behind and search for a better way to live. Having previously been misdiagnosed once, an error that had disastrous consequences, I was determined this time not just to control my illness, but also to truly understand and overcome it. From a village in my homeland of India to the mysterious Wudang Mountains in China, Warrior: 

 

 

  

 

 

Zu Beginn der neunten Klasse sp�ren Chris und seine Eltern, dass etwas nicht stimmt. Er f�hlt sich st�ndig m�de, kann sich nicht mehr konzentrieren. Alles f�llt schwer, Chris ist traurig. Einige Monate sp�ter ist die Ersch�pfung so gro�, dass er nicht mehr in die Schule gehen kann. Diagnose: Depression.

Nach drei Monaten in der Klinik muss der Weg zur�ck in die Schule, in den Alltag neu gelernt werden. Zus�tzlich gilt es, die Erlebnisse in der Klinik zu verarbeiten. Was und wie sage ich es der Klasse, wie reagieren die Mitmenschen?

Es bleibt nicht bei diesem einen Klinikaufenthalt. Beim n�chsten Aufenthalt ist alles noch heftiger, die �rzte diagnostiziert eine bipolare St�rung. Doch Chris gibt nicht auf und kehrt nach weiteren vier Wochen  in seine Schulklasse zur�ck. Er lernt, sich mit dieser Krankheit zu arrangieren, aber was gibt ihm Mut und Kraft? 
Ist es sein Traum von einer toleranten Welt ohne Ausgrenzung?

 

Read more

 

NOTHING MORE Premieres Highly Personal 'Jenny' Video 

Singer Jonny Hawkins hopes to encourage dialogue about mental illness with new song.

Nothing More impacted Billboard's rock charts with the first two singles from its 2014 self-titled album, "This Is the Time (Ballast)" and "Mr. MTV." The songs reached No. 2 and No. 12, respectively, on the Mainstream Rock Songs chart, so naturally the Texas hard rock band is hoping its luck will hold with upcoming single "Jenny." But the quartet also wants the song to make an impact far beyond radio play.

 Watch video here;

 
 HOW YOUR DONATION WILL BENEFIT IBPF'S     
  MISSION
RESEARCH STUDY OPPORTUNITIES
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.

A STUDY ASSESSING YOUR CHILD'S
MOOD AND BEHAVIOR

FOR PARENTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH A DIAGNOSIS OF DEPRESSION OR BIPOLAR DISORDER.  

A STUDY ASSESSING YOUR CHILD'S MOOD AND BEHAVIOR

   Parents, if your child (aged 2 - 12) has mood or behavioral difficulties, we

would like to enlist your participation in a study called the Child Network.

Parents who enroll in the study will complete a quick online rating checklist

of their child's symptoms once a week by a secure web-based system.

Parents can then print out the ratings to help their child's clinicians assess

course of illness and response to treatment.

                       

     Also, parents who have been diagnosed with depression or bipolar

disorder and have a child (ages 2-12) who is currently

healthy, may also want to participate in this study to follow any symptoms that may develop over time.

     If you are interested in participating in this study, please go to

http://bipolarnews.org/?page_id=2630

or go to http://tinyurl.com/ChildhoodMoodDisorderNetwork

for direct access to the informed consent forms. For more information, call 301-530-8245 or email questions to [email protected]

Research Study

Principal Investigator: Robert L. Findling, MD, MBA. IRB Study #00026940

 


BIPOLAR DISORDER CLINICAL TRIAL



Sharp Mesa Vista is currently enrolling men and women aged 18-75 with a diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder for outpatient clinical trials. Eligible participants may 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. For more information, or to see if you qualify for a study, contact

Tonya Bell, RN at 858-836-8373 or [email protected]

Learn More Here


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.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR A BRAIN IMAGING RESEARCH STUDY


 

How to Participate

To determine if you are eligible, you will first be asked a few questions on the phone.

You will also be interviewed in person and have a physical exam to make sure it is safe for you to participate.

If you are interested, please call our study coordinator at

(631) 638-2053 

PARTICIPANTS WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER OR
SCHIZOPHRENIA NEEDED

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR A BRAIN IMAGING RESEARCH STUDY

To be eligible you must:

-Be between the ages of 18 and 65

-Have a diagnosis of bipolar disorder

-not use drugs or drink a lot of alcohol

 

If you choose to participate, you will have a brain scan to measure certain receptors in the brain that may be related to bipolar disorder.  You will be paid a possible total of $400 or more. (HIC 1101007933)

 

If you are interested and think you may be eligible please call our study coordinator at

(203)737-6884. 

BIPOLAR DISORDER?
The UCSD Department of Psychiatry is seeking volunteers for a research study involving genetics and medication response in Bipolar Disorder.

You may be eligible to participate in the study if you:
*are at least 18 years of age
*have been diagnosed with Bipolar 1 Disorder
*are willing to take Lithium for mood stabilization

To learn more about the study, please call: 858-642-3590
or, visit our website here 
BIPOLAR DISORDER 1

BEAM is a comprehensive, early-intervention treatment program for Bipolar I Disorder which uses strength-based services to create a two-year plan designed specifically to put individuals and families back on track.

To be eligible for the BEAM program, participants must:

*Have a diagnosis of Bipolar I Disorder *Have experienced one manic episode

  but no more than three; and
*Be 14-35 or younger;
*Be a San Francisco or San Mateo County Resident *Have Any health insurance (or      uninsured) 

Learn More Here
SUBSTANCE ABUSE STUDY

Do you have bipolar disorder (BD) and do you misuse drugs or alcohol?  If so, you may be interested in helping us better understand the meaning and experience of substance use and abuse among adults with BD.

 

Did you know that most adults with bipolar disorder will struggle with substances? Roughly 60% of those with BD will abuse alcohol and/or other substances. Existing research indicates that substance misuse can negatively impact BD symptoms and quality of life.

 

We are undertaking an exploratory study to better understand substance use and misuse among persons with bipolar disorder across the adult life course. The meaning and experience of substance use and abuse among adults will be explored. For more information, please go to: http://get.sfu.ca/BkzqPW

A STUDY ASSESSING YOUR CHILD'S MOOD AND BEHAVIOR

 Via the Bipolar Collaborative Network and the

Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Parents, if your child (aged 2 - 12) has mood or behavioral difficulties, we would like to enlist your participation in a study called the Child Network. Parents who enroll in the study will complete an online rating checklist of your child's symptoms once a week by a secure web-based system.

 

In addition, adults who have been diagnosed with depression or bipolar disorder and are the biological parent of a child (ages 2-12) who is currently healthy and has no troublesome mood or behavioral symptoms may also be eligible to participate in this study.

If you are interested in participating in this study, please go to www.bipolarnews.org
For more information, call 301-530-8245  or email [email protected].
Research Study in Germany

Ladies and gentlemen, I would like like to draw attention to a research project to survey the importance of treatment goals in the psychotherapy of bipolar disorders in affected visibility and ask for your participation. The project of the TU Chemnitz (Saxony) is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research and cooperation among others with the German Society for Bipolar Disorders (DGBS), the Austrian Society for Bipolar disorders (OEGBE), the BMBF research on patient-oriented research, self-help association Bipolaris Berlin-Brandenburg eV and the bipolar forum (Self Help Forum DGBS) realized. For more information, see the flyer in the Appendix. The last part of our study aims to raise the importance of different therapeutic targets in the treatment of psychotherapy from the affected perspective in order to make such statements about the importance of individual goals and the previous survey to destinations in the pharmacotherapeutic treatment supplement. This therapy target preferences are to be derived from those affected to the future already integrated at the level of assessment of efficacy studies, the patients' perspective stronger. It is a complex statistical analysis method (conjoint analysis) used in the form of an online survey, which puts you in the position, to deal with different therapy options and decide how important is each offer.The questionnaire can be found at http://phil-gate.phil.tu-chemnitz.de/klipsy/sawtooth/ 
 (Please use the Mozilla Firefox browser for answering the questionnaire.) The answers will take about 20-30 minutes. We would love to be able to win their support. For questions, please contact us by telephone at: Frederik Hairy: Phone  0371/531 38315, email: [email protected] 
With thanks for your support and kind regards.

Description:


 

Psych Congress is driven to provide practical, clinically relevant education based on the very latest in scientific understanding. The educational agenda concentrates on advances in mental health care, individualized treatment strategies, and the health care team's approach to patient management and wellness. The ultimate goal of the conference is to aid mental health professionals in providing effective, long-term management of patients with mental disorders in order to maximize outcomes and improve quality of life.


 

Who Should Attend:


 

This conference is intended for psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses, physician assistants, psychologists, primary care physicians, and other health care professionals who seek to increase their knowledge, confidence, and abilities related to psychopharmacology, psychotherapy, and wellness. 


Additional details 
CALENDAR OF EVENTS - SAVE THE DATE!


Mental HealthAwarenessMonth
May 2015
May 3rd-Mental Health Dignity Day
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Global Day For HopeMay 2nd, 2015
Plant your sunflowers!
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May 9th
San Marcos, CA 
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ISBD Annual Conference
June 3-6, 2015
Toronto, Canada
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June 8th & 9th
Bergen, Norway
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July 2015
United States
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September 19th

California, USA