International Bipolar Foundation Campaigns & Resources

On May 9, 2013 the International Bipolar Foundation will be holding their free monthly mental health lecture with Kimberly Knox on, “Meditation, Medication and Magic.” What if you had a quick and precise way to size yourself up mentally, emotionally and physically throughout the day? What if you could have reminders to take your medications and supplements? And what if you could accurately chart all of this information – including how you were feeling, sleeping and meditating for your personal reflection, or to share with your physician or therapist? These will be the topics that Ms. Knox will be covering at the May lecture.

Kimberly Knox is a multidisciplinary inventor and of note, a patient with Bipolar I. She was educated around the world, completing her Bachelors degree in Philosophy of Art and Science at the Union Institute and University. Her patented inventions include US6476069, “Compositions for creating embolic agents and uses thereof” (11 patents), and (US61757086 pat. Pending) Moodwatch, among other notable contributions in chemistry, biofluid mechanics and biomechanical engineering, including awards and publications.

Her work in fine art and fine jewelry include bronze, fiberglas and fiberglas reinforced plasters, glass, gold, platinum and precious stones with a permanent installation in the collection of The Los Angeles County Natural History Museum. The integration—in fact a fusion—of science and art seem to almost compliment this complex mental condition.

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 areitzin@internationalbipolarfoundation.org

Event and Parking are free

Abraxas High School, 12450 Glen Oak Road, Poway, CA 92064, Saturday, May 18, 2013, 8:30am-3:30pm—- The Forum event provides an educational opportunity and environment for individuals and families to speak openly about their mental health, and learn what resources are available to help them address their challenges. The Forum title, “The Road to Healing: Navigating Paths to Recovery” reflects our organization’s vision of providing participants with the support to cope with life’s most difficult challenge: successfully living with mental illness and/or substance abuse. We strive to reduce the stigma of mental illness and focus on individuals affected, those who care for them, and those who serve them.

The Forum will provide powerful, insightful and inspiring workshops throughout the day for parents, teens, young adults, and anyone interested in improving mental health. The workshops are aimed towards empowerment, motivation, knowledge, healing, understanding, and practical skills. A Resource and Arts fair will be featuring over 30 local artisan’s crafts, San Diego health and wellness organizations and community resources. Breakfast, lunch and raffle prizes will be available.

Mark S. Komrad, M.D. will be the Forum keynote speaker. His presentation is titled: “The Tough First Step: How to Convince Someone to Get Psychiatric Help”. Dr. Komrad is a psychiatrist on the teaching faculty of Johns Hopkins, and the prestigious Sheppard Pratt hospital in Baltimore, MD. He is also a well-respected author. Based on his new book You Need Help, Dr. Komrad will give an overview on how to convince a troubled person in your life to have an evaluation by a mental health professional. Dr. Komrad teaches about state-of-the-art psychiatric help that is more approachable and accessible.

Ken Druck, Ph.D. will be the closing keynote speaker. His presentation is titled: “Hope Loves Company”. He is author of The Real Rules of Life, and one of the foremost authorities on transforming adversity into opportunity. Dr. Druck will share concrete and effective strategies for cultivating resilience, practicing self-compassion, dealing with “living losses” and building a community of hope and healing.

For registration information visit: www.cahmsd.org. CAHM was founded by Rex & Connie Kennemer, in memory of their son Todd (1980 – 2005), to honor his life and struggle with mental illness. CAHM exists to engage the community in awareness of and support for mental health issues and suicide prevention among youth and young adults, through venues of music, arts, and education. CAHM states: Together we can change the landscape of mental health in our communities. CAHM is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity.

San Diego, CA- Look around you. One in four people is touched by a mental illness – 450 million worldwide. It is very likely that you, your family or one of your colleagues has experienced the stigma and misunderstanding of mental illness.

That is the goal of International Bipolar Foundation’s 2013 Gala, Behind the Mask; Proud as a Peacock Gala, which will be held at the beautiful Estancia Hotel and Spa in La Jolla, California on Saturday, May 11, 2013.

According to Dr. Thomas Insel, Director of the National Institute for Mental Health, “psychiatry is the only part of medicine — where there is actually greater stigma for receiving treatment for these illnesses than for having them.”

They are going to change that – and they are asking for your help. Stigma – although powerful – does not have to be inevitable. International Bipolar Foundation, founded here in San Diego by four mothers with children who have bipolar disorder, is dedicated to educating the public and erasing the devastating stigma and isolation, thereby breaking down obstacles to treatment, promoting recovery, and decreasing isolation and emotional pain.

They invite you to help them remove the mask, so that their family members, neighbors, co-workers and friends can take off their own masks and strut with pride instead of shame.

Gala Co- Chairs: Robin Nordhoff and Maggie Watkins

Gala Committee: Susan Blanchard, Kate Collier, Ashley Jacobs, Katherine Kennedy, Marina Pastor, Lauree Sabha, Camille Sobrian Saltman, Lisa Stennes, Debbie Torbati, Fiona Tudor, Muffy Walker, Lonna Williams and Julie Meier Wright

Behind the Mask; Proud as a Peacock

Saturday, May 11, 2013 6:00 pm

Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa 9700 North Torrey Pines Road La Jolla

Ticket per person $325

For more information, please contact Ashley Jacobs 858-764-2496 or areitzin@internationalbipolarfoundation.org

2013 Forum for Healthy Minds presents The Road to Healing: Navigating Paths to Recovery

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CAHM

P.O. Box 27744

San Diego, CA 92198

www.cahmsd.org

CONTACT:

Rex Kennemer, Founder

Community Alliance for Healthy Minds

E-mail: rex@cahmsd.org

Phone: 858-395-3265

Look around you. One in four people is touched by a mental illness – 450 million worldwide. It is very likely that you, your family or one of your colleagues has experienced the stigma and misunderstanding of mental illness.

They invite you to help them remove the mask, so that their family members, neighbors, co-workers and friends can take off their own masks and strut with pride instead of shame.

Gala Co- Chairs: Robin Nordhoff and Maggie Watkins

Behind the Mask; Proud as a Peacock

Saturday, May 11, 2013 6:00 pm

Estancia La Jolla 9700 North Torrey Pines Road La Jolla

Ticket per person $325

For more information, please contact Ashley Jacobs 858-764-2496 or areitzin@internationalbipolarfoundation.org

Thanks to an anonymous donor, we have a MATCHING GRANT opportunity to fund pediatric bipolar research.

Every $1 given will be matched 100%.

Please help us fund this very valuable pediatric research project by donating today. Donate using our secure server here

Anti Stigma Campaign:

When it comes to mental illness and stigma, silence is NOT golden!

Stigma hurts. It prevents people from getting the medical help they need. It prevents them from turning to their loved ones for support. Stigma stems from ignorance – people just don’t understand mental illness.

Please join us in educating people about mental illness with our second annual “Say It Forward” campaign, in honor of National Bipolar Awareness Day on October 4. The concept “pay it forward” means to do an selfless good deed for another. In our online anti-stigma campaign, you can do that just by forwarding an email. We hope that you will help us spread the word and decrease stigma by sending out information about Say It Forward to your members.

Here is how it works: Click on the link below to get started. Then forward the email we have created containing information that does the education for you, to as many friends, family, and coworkers as you can. Ask them to send it on to whomever they can. We will be tracking how many people who receive the message about mental illness during the week of National Bipolar Awareness Day.* The campaign will run from Sunday September 30, through Sunday October 7. Our goal is to reach 10,000 people this year!

http://internationalbipolarfoundation.org/say_it_forward/

We would appreciate your participation in “Say It Forward”. By sharing the above link with your members you can help us spread the word about stigma and mental illness to thousands, all across the globe. It will take us all working together to undo negative perceptions about those who suffer with mental illness.

Webinars & Seminars:

Get info on upcoming webinars and seminars on our website!

All lectures are videotaped and available for viewing on our website http://www.internationalbipolarfoundation.org/ibpf-educational-videos*

It’s FINALLY here!!!!
International Bipolar Foundation is proud to announce the release of our book:
Healthy Living with Bipolar Disorder
The book is geared to both the person with bipolar disorder and their caregivers. Fourteen chapters, each written by an expert in the field, are included in a 3-ring binder.

The Consumer Advisory Board for IBPF felt it was important for people to have an easily accessible “compendium” of information. The binder format allows users to add handouts from their mental health providers and update chapters without having to order a new book.

Healthy Living with Bipolar Disorder is broken into 3-sections;

1. About Bipolar Disorder including chapters on children & adolescents, suicide, substance abuse, medication treatment, stigma and pregnancy
2. Healthy Living includes chapters on family life and relationships, nutrition, spirituality and faith, the workplace, college, social interactions and the caregiver
3. Resources including Medication Charts (English & Spanish), Medication Side Effect Checklist, Mood Chart, Exercise Journal, Food Log, Doctor Contact Sheet, Questions to Ask Your Doctor, and U.S. and International Mental Health Resources.

In addition to these information rich chapters, the book has country-specific chapters written by consumers and professionals from countries around the world. There are currently eight such chapters with more being added weekly.

This book is available free of charge to you! Go to our web site www.InternationalBipolarFoundation.org

Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy for Patients with Bipolar Disorder
Join us for a Webinar on July 23 at 9:00am PST
Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar seat now at:

https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/494734686

Ellen Frank is Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry and Professor of Psychology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Director of the Depression and Manic Depression Prevention program at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic.

Frank and her colleagues have developed and tested a series of adaptations of interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) including maintenance IPT, brief IPT, and interpersonal and social rhythm therapy for the treatment of bipolar disorder which has now been adapted for both group and individual treatment of both bipolar and unipolar disorders. She recently completed a study with researchers at the University of Pisa, Italy, aimed at achieving a better understanding of the clinical importance of subsyndromal mood and anxiety conditions and their impact on the outcome of interpersonal psychotherapy and SSRI for depression. She is currently working with colleagues throughout France to establish a network of expert centers for the treatment of bipolar disorder.

An expert in mood disorders and their treatment, Frank was Chair of the Food and Drug Administration Psychopharmacologic Drugs Advisory Panel. She also is a former member of the U.S. National Advisory Mental Health Council. She currently serves on the Mood Disorders Workgroup of the American Psychiatric Association Task Force on DSM-5 and is an Honorary Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. In 1999, Dr. Frank was elected to the National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine.

Dr. Frank has over 400 peer-reviewed publications in psychiatric journals.

A graduate of Vassar College, Frank earned a master’s degree in English at Carnegie Mellon University and a doctorate in psychology at the University of Pittsburgh.

Title:

Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy for Patients with Bipolar Disorder

Date: Monday, July 23, 2012

Time:
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM PST

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

System Requirements
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server
Macintosh®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.5 or newer

International Bipolar Foundation has been invited back for the 2nd time as an official charity for the 2013 Tri-City Medical Center Carlsbad Marathon & Half.
race
Please support us and our team, the Stigma Busters, by raising $15,000 between now and January! The goal of the International Bipolar Foundation is to continue to make a difference in the lives of those affected by bipolar disorder. With the help of donations from supporters such as you we will continue to see the changes and improvements.

http://www.active.com/donate/ibpf2013

Corporate Anti Stigma Campaign
International Bipolar Foundation endorses a society that is free from the negative stigma and discrimination of mental illness.

If you agree with our position statement and wish to join our campaign, please fill out the following:
NAME:
(You hereby agree that you have authority to act on behalf of your business)
ORGANIZATION/BUSINESS:
ADDRESS:
Contact Information: e: t:
___ I hereby give permission to IBPF to publish my/company name as a participant in this campaign
POSITION STATEMENT
We understand the negative impact that stigma and discrimination has towards people living with mental illnesses, those who care for them and as a society at large.

We recognize that stigma and discrimination
• affects the basic human rights of those living with mental health challenges, including their right to be treated with dignity and respect,
• serves as an impediment to live full, meaningful and productive lives in the community,
• hinders recognition, open acknowledgement, and effective management and recovery of their lives,
• affects the allocation of resources for effective diagnostic, treatment and community support services,
And we support and participate in this campaign so that ultimately, discrimination is
eliminated and stigma is not tolerated.

www.InternationalBipolarFoundation.org
8895 Towne Centre Drive * Suite 105-360 * San Diego * CA * 92122

Recommendations (not required actions):
1. To have an Anti-Discrimination Policy which is reviewed and signed by all employees/volunteers.
Example: The employer is an “equal opportunity employer.” The employer will not discriminate and will take “affirmative action” measures to ensure against discrimination in employment, recruitment, advertisements for employment, compensation, termination, upgrading, promotions, and other conditions of employment against any employee or job applicant on the bases of race, creed, color, national origin, medical conditions (mental or physical) or sex.
2. Participate in $5 Dress Down Day; employees who donate $5 to IBPF are granted a dress down day as
per company policy. Funds collected are used in our anti-stigma campaign.
3. To be an active Myth-Buster
Myth #1: Psychiatric disorders are not true medical illnesses like heart disease and diabetes. People who have a mental illness are just “crazy.”
Fact: Brain disorders, like heart disease and diabetes, are legitimate medical illnesses.
Research shows there are genetic and biological causes for psychiatric disorders, and they can be treated effectively.
Myth #2: People with a severe mental illness, such as schizophrenia, are usually
dangerous and violent.
Fact: Statistics show that the incidence of violence in people who have a brain disorder is not much higher than it is in the general population. Those suffering from a psychosis such as schizophrenia are more often frightened, confused and despairing than violent.
Myth #3: Mental illness is the result of bad parenting.
Fact: Most experts agree that a genetic susceptibility, combined with other risk factors, leads to a psychiatric disorder. In other words, mental illnesses have a physical cause.
Myth #4: Depression results from a personality weakness or character flaw, and people who are depressed could just snap out of it if they tried hard enough.
www.InternationalBipolarFoundation.org
8895 Towne Centre Drive * Suite 105-360 * San Diego * CA * 92122
Fact: Depression has nothing to do with being lazy or weak. It results from changes in brain chemistry or brain function, and medication and/or psychotherapy often help people to recover.
Myth #5: Schizophrenia means split personality, and there is no way to control it.
Fact: Schizophrenia is often confused with multiple personality disorder. Actually, schizophrenia is a brain disorder that robs people of their ability to think clearly and logically. The estimated 2.5 million Americans with schizophrenia have symptoms ranging from social withdrawal to hallucinations and delusions. Medication has helped many of these individuals to lead fulfilling, productive lives.
Myth #6: Depression is a normal part of the aging process.
Fact: It is not normal for older adults to be depressed. Signs of depression in older people include a loss of interest in activities, sleep disturbances and lethargy.
Depression in the elderly is often undiagnosed, and it is important for seniors and their family members to recognize the problem and seek professional help.
Myth #7: Depression and other illnesses, such as anxiety disorders, do not affect children or adolescents. Any problems they have are just a part of growing up.
Fact: Children and adolescents can develop severe mental illnesses. In the United States, one in ten children and adolescents has a mental disorder severe enough to cause impairment. However, only about 20 percent of these children receive needed treatment. Left untreated, these problems can get worse. Anyone talking about suicide should be taken very seriously.
Myth #8: If you have a mental illness, you can will it away. Being treated for a psychiatric disorder means an individual has in some way “failed” or is weak.
Fact: A serious mental illness cannot be willed away. Ignoring the problem does not make it go away, either. It takes courage to seek professional help.
Myth #9: Addiction is a lifestyle choice and shows a lack of willpower. People with a substance abuse problem are morally weak or “bad”.
Fact: Addiction is a disease that generally results from changes in brain chemistry. It has nothing to do with being a “bad” person.
Myth #10: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), formerly known as “shock treatment,” is painful and barbaric.
Fact: ECT has given a new lease on life to many people who suffer from severe and debilitating depression. It is used when other treatments such as psychotherapy or medication fail or cannot be used. Patients who receive ECT are asleep and under anesthesia, so they do not feel anything.
(source: National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression (NARSAD) )
4. To use respectful Language don’t use generic labels:“retarded”, “our mentally ill” don’t use psychiatric diagnoses as metaphors: “schizophrenic situation” don’t use offensive words: “psycho”, “loony”, “crazy”, “wacko”, “slow”, “crackpot” don’t refer to a person as a diagnosis: “he’s bipolar”, instead say, “he has bipolar disorder
5. Praise those who combat discrimination and stigma
6. Report those who are discriminatory and not respectful of differences International Bipolar Foundation thanks you for your support.
Our mission is to eliminate bipolar disorder through the
advancement of research; to promote and enhance care & support
services; and to erase associated stigma through public education.
www.InternationalBipolarFoundation.org
8895 Towne Centre Drive * Suite 105-360 * San Diego * CA * 92122

Mental Health Awareness Patch Launched for Girl Scouts

A Mental Health Awareness Patch, designed for the Girl Scouts by International Bipolar Foundation, was launched last month in San Diego county.
Part of the mission of the International Bipolar Foundation (IBPF) is to erase stigma associated with bipolar disorder through public education. With nearly 30,000 Girl Scouts in the San Diego Council, the opportunity exists to help teach troop leaders and scouts learn about mental health and illness. “Our leaders are hungry for information related to ability awareness,” states Jo Dee Jacob, San Diego Council CEO of the Girl Scouts of the United States. Young girls today struggle with issues such as cyber-bullying, depression, anorexia, and self-harm.
What better match for IBPF’s mission to eradicate ignorance and stigma than young, eager-to-learn girls who will become our nation’s next leaders? In fact, Ms. Jacob quoted, “Nearly 2/3 of today’s women leaders were once Girl Scouts, and 82% of high achieving Girl Scout alumnae credit the organization with playing a positive role in their development.”
International Bipolar Foundation is a non-profit organization whose mission is to eliminate bipolar disorder through the advancement of research; to promote and enhance care and support services; and to erase associated stigma through public education.
Bipolar Disorder, also known as manic-depression, is a treatable brain illness marked by extreme changes in mood, thought, energy, and behavior. It affects approximately 5.7 million adult Americans annually, or about 2.6% of the U.S. population age 18 and older. (NIMH)
If you, or someone you know is interested in working on the patch, please contact areitzin@internationalbipolarfoundation.org or call 858.342.0327. To learn more about Girl Scouts, San Diego Council, please visit www.girlscoutssdi.org or call 1-800-643-4798.

IBPF FREE LECTURE SERIES
video
Our Lecture Series are now available for viewing on our website!!

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