June 2015
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Greetings!

For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, summer will soon be here. For many that brings vacations, longer days and school break. Along with the relaxed summer schedule, we may lose structure and discipline. Here is an article to help you manage summertime: read here

For those in the Southern Hemisphere, winter and shorter days will soon be upon you. An article to help you beat the winter doldrums can be found here.

Lastly, thank you ALL who participated in May Mental Health Awareness Month. The more people we can collectively educate about bipolar disorder, mental health and stigma, the more we can forge ahead in our quest to erase barriers to treatment.

To your health,

Muffy Walker  

JUNE WEBINARS

   
Dr. Melissa DelBello: 

"Depression Associated with Bipolar Disorder in Youth"

Wednesday, June 10th , at 9:00 am PST

Treatment options for bipolar depression in youths have been primarily studied in adults. Currently only one medication is approved by the FDA for use in bipolar depression in youths. However, there is a growing number of research on treatment options in youths with bipolar disorder. Despite this, there is still a huge gap in clinical trials performed on adults and children and as this webinar will show, extrapolating results of adult studies doesn't necessarily translate to successful treatment options for youths. Furthermore, although medication is the cornerstone of treatment in children and adolescents with bipolar disorder, we'll discuss how psychosocial interventions are of paramount importance. The current webinar will review the empirical evidence available for both pharmacological and psychosocial treatment strategies for bipolar depression.

 

Dr. Melissa DelBello is Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, Dr. Stanley and Mickey Kaplan Professor and Chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience and Co-Director of the Division of Bipolar Disorders Research at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. Dr. DelBello received her medical degree from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and completed her postgraduate education through psychiatry residencies at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and Payne Whitney Psychiatric Clinic of the New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center. Dr. DelBello completed a clinical fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. She also obtained a master's degree in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from the University of Cincinnati. Dr. DelBello is a child and adolescent psychiatrist with expertise in the field of the neurodevelopment and treatment of adolescent bipolar disorder. She has been studying pharmacological interventions for, as well as the neurofunction, neurochemisty and outcome of adolescents with and at risk for developing bipolar disorder for over 15 years. She is the principal or co-investigator of many NIH, foundation, and pharmaceutical research grants. In addition to teaching and lecturing both nationally and internationally, she has received numerous awards and honors and has authored or co-authored over 250 peer-reviewed journal articles, reviews, and book chapters.

 

Space is limited. Reserve your seat now here.

 

Dr. Niku Singh: 

"Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)"

Wednesday, June 17th, at 9:00 am PST  

  

Details coming soon to our website here!

 

Dr. Peter Forster & Dr. Kelsey Schraufnagel Psychologist:

"Bipolar Depression"

Wednesday June 24th, at 9:00 am PST

 

For many people with bipolar, it is depression that is the source of most of their difficulties. Considerable controversy has surrounded to the question of how to treat bipolar depression. New medications offer the hope of more effective treatment. In this talk I will review the literature on treatments of bipolar depression, both medication as well as other approaches, and integrate that information into our own clinical experience at the Gateway Psychiatric Mood Disorders Clinic in San Francisco.  

 

Peter Forster, MD, Clinical Director of Gateway Psychiatric Services, graduated from the University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine in 1985, and completed his residency in psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Forster was previously the Medical Director of Community Mental Health Services for the City and County of San Francisco and Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry at John George Psychiatric Pavilion in Alameda. For the last six years Dr. Forster has been recognized as one of the Best Doctors in America. Dr. Forster is currently a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at University of California, San Francisco and a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association.

 

Dr. Kelsey Schraufnagel earned her PsyD in clinical psychology at the California School for Professional Psychology in San Diego.

She completed an APA accredited internship, with an emphasis on crisis assessment and intervention, at the University of Colorado-Boulder's Wardenburg Health Center in the department of Psychological Health and Psychiatry.

She was trained in a variety of clinical settings and her experience includes providing individual and group therapy and psychological assessment for those with chronic pain and cancer diagnoses, mood and anxiety disorders, substance abuse or dependence, a history of trauma, and those undergoing life transitions.

Dr. Schraufnagel has advanced training in mindfulness-based cognitive therapy and mindfulness-based stress reduction, which have been the focus of her research. She considers biological, psychological, and social factors that impact clients' presenting concerns and provides individualized, empirically-supported treatments including acceptance and commitment therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy.

She emphasizes a compassionate and active, collaborative approach to serve as a foundation from which to work toward clients' goals and enhanced well-being.

  

Space is limited. Reserve your seat now here.

 






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


IBPF 2015 Essay Contest Winners!

                                 
                                                                
Jake McCann                  Hosana Tagomori         Robert Ye
Scottsdale, AZ, USA      Bangkok, Thailand        Chappaqua, New York, USA
Please help by signing this Petition!

Our goal is to make a real difference in the lives of people living with mental illnesses. Finding better treatments will require funding for research from the U.S. government. Our representatives in Washington need to know that we want them to place a higher priority on curing mental illnesses, which affect so many of us. We will take this petition to Washington to draw attention to the issue and begin a serious dialogue about curing mental illnesses.

Click here to sign!
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


2015 IBPF GALA WAS A HUGE SUCCESS THANKS TO YOU!


We are so thankful for the generosity which allows us to continue our mission and make a difference! 
                   OUR NEW IBPF BLOGGER

Ravneet Sandhu 

Meet her here!




Story of Hope and Recovery

  The Incredible Power Of 'Family Secrets'

By Ruth Katz

 

When I was growing up, my father and his four siblings went once a month on Saturday afternoons to an unknown destination.

 

I'm not sure my mom even knew where they went, because my dad was a keep-your-cards-close-to-your-chest type of person. In their native Lithuania, 'silence was indeed golden; speech was silver', as casual talk could lead to arrest and internment, or worse. Read more here.


 























 
    NEWS AROUND THE WORLD

CLICK ON THE ARTICLES BELOW TO VIEW

GLOBAL:


CANADA:




FRANCE:

UNITED KINGDOM:

UNITED STATES:





A shocking number of mentally ill Americans end up in prison instead of treatment

 

 

**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: 
Conservatorships and Mental Health


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


 
SHRINKS: The Untold Story of Psychiatry

Psychiatry has come a long way since the days of chaining "lunatics" in cold cells and parading them as freakish marvels before a gaping public.
But, as Jeffrey Lieberman, MD, reveals in his extraordinary and eye-opening book, the path to legitimacy for "the black sheep of medicine" has been anything but smooth. 
In Shrinks, Dr. Lieberman traces the field from its birth as a mystic pseudo-science through its adolescence as a cult of "shrinks" to its late blooming maturity -- beginning after World War II -- as a science-driven profession that saves lives. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WRITING AWAY THE STIGMA

 

One in four American adults will endure the trials of a mental health condition this year, and more than half will experience one in their lifetime. Yet the stigma of mental illness remains, leading many to face their difficulties in shame and silence. In this collection, ten writers confront the stigma of mental illness head-on, bravely telling stories of devastating depressions, persistent traumas, overwhelming compulsions, and more.

  Read more

 

 



MY BIPOLAR FRIEND

"My Friend Bipolar" is not a text book or guideline about bipolar disorder but a touching experience by a girl named Caroline. The poems I wrote really connect to my emotions and the narrations of the poems explain why I felt that way and what I was going through. They also shows how I became friend with my disorder. These poems are written by my hands and also my tears. I hope readers can find hopes and comforts through my book "My Friend Bipolar".

 

 

  

MOTHER IS GOD- Video

 

Mother is god is a fragmented and personal film on different visions of reality. The film is built on conversations between me (the director) and God (my psychotic mum), whose face we never see in the film. We talk about her worlds; We encounter her flower language, we meet the devil's birds and we learn how to marry the wind. The film turns into a declaration of love - to the crooked mind as well as to my mother.

 

 

FIRESIDE CHAT with Dr. Mark Komrad


 

This is "fireside chat" interview about Psychiatry. It is a fairly wide-ranging overview of how psychiatrists think through evaluating and understanding mental illnesses (starting with bipolar disorder but becoming much broader) through a wide range of questions that were submitted by consumers. See YouNeedHelpBook.com 

 

Watch video here

 

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

WE NEED YOUR EXPERIENCE, YOUR IDEAS, AND YOUR HELP

People with bipolar disorder or depression are joining doctors and researchers to help find new, more effective treatments.

We're launching a new kind of study-a collaboration. Participants are partners, not just patients or research subjects. 

Learn more here
BIPOLAR DISORDER 1 IN LOS ANGELES AREA 

We are conducting a research study involving children between 10-17 years of age suffering from Bipolar I disorder in the Los Angeles area. The goal of the study is to learn more about Bipolar disorder and increase future treatment options for children. Participation in the study includes health assessments and study medications at no cost, as well as reimbursement for your time and travel. Feel free to contact our office with any questions or concerns you may have about participating in this research study. Our phone number is (424)227-8127. We look forward to hearing from you!   

Marina Bussel, M.D.

ProScience Research Group"

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.

MEN AND WOMEN 18 TO 85 YEARS OLD WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER

We invite those 18 to 85 years old who are experiencing involuntary movements in their face or other parts of their body - and suffer from schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, or mood disorder - to see if they may qualify for the Kinect 3 Study. The purpose of this clinical research study is to evaluate the effectiveness, safety, and tolerability of an investigational oral medication for tardive dyskinesia.

Each individual will be evaluated to determine his or her eligibility. Those who qualify will receive study medication, study-related medical exams, and lab tests at no charge. Compensation for time and travel may also be available.

Participants will be screened for eligibility and if deemed eligible, will receive the medication for the study treatment period of 48 weeks (which includes 16 in-office visits and a follow-up appointment four weeks after completing study treatment). Throughout the study, participants will continue to receive regular general health check-ups and monitoring of TD symptoms.

Contact: Cheryl Chen, 858-617-7744, [email protected] 


 

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.


 

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!


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ISBD Annual ConferenceJune 3-6, 2015Toronto, Canada
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The Bergen Bipolar MeetingJune 8th & 9thBergen, Norway
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Women Breaking the Silence About Mental Illness- Luncheon
June 15, 2015New York, NY
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8th Annual FATHERHOOD SOLUTION CONFERENCEJune 19th, 2015Los angeles, CA
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July 2015
United States
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UMTR2ME Brain Games/Scavenger Hunt
August 8th, 2015
San Diego, CA
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September 10-13

San Diego, USA

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GERMAN SOCIETY FOR BIPOLAR DISORDERS

15th Annual Congress

September 17-19th

Essen, Germany
IBPF Muffy Walker speaker
9-17

September 19th

California, USA