Pacific Bipolar Foundation Snapshot - Fall 2014 Jon Grenke, Elaina Maria Moss & Kristen Pring-Mill
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Pacific Bipolar Foundation Snapshot Fall 2014 Jon Grenke, Elaina Maria Moss & Kristen Pring-Mill
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................ 3
Letter from the President ................................................................................................................................... 3
RESEARCH SUMMARIES ......................................................................................................................... 5
NEW YORK TIMES: BIPOLAR DISORDER IN-DEPTH REPORT ............................................................................5
HEALTH AT A GLANCE – MENTAL AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS IN CANADA, STATISTICS CANADA. BY
PEARSON, CARYN, TERESA JANZ & JENNIFER ALI. (2013)..............................................................................5
SLEEP IRREGULARITIES IN BIPOLAR DISORDER, NEUROWIKI 2013, BIPOLAR NEUROSCIENCE,
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO. .....................................................................................................................................6
THE BEST BIPOLAR DISORDER IPHONE AND ANDROID APPS OF THE YEAR. BY PIETRANGELO, ANN,
TRACY ROSECRANS & KENNETH R. HIRSCH, MD. MAY 13, 2014. ................................................................6
GENERAL NEWS ........................................................................................................................................ 7
FIRST ANNUAL FALL FUNRAISER..........................................................................................................................7
UPDATES: YOUTH PROGRAM 2014-2015 ....................................................................................... 8
BALANCING BIPOLAR YOUTH SUPPORT GROUP .................................................................................................8
SPEAKERS BUREAU ..................................................................................................................................................8
RESOURCES................................................................................................................................................................8
LOCAL COMMUNITY RESOURCES ....................................................................................................... 9
COMMUNITY RESOURCE SPOTLIGHT: MOOD DISORDERS ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA ..............9
FRIENDS OF BIPOLAR: PEER SUPPORT UPDATES..................................................................... 10
MY BIPOLAR JOURNEY & HOW I BECAME A FRIENDS OF BIPOLAR PEER SUPPORT WORKER BY
ANONYMOUS PEER SUPPORTER ......................................................................................................................... 10
OUTLET BY MICHAEL SCOTT ............................................................................................................................... 11
GUEST WRITER ...................................................................................................................................... 12
THE UNFINISHED TRAINING OF A BIPOLAR YOGI BY JEFF GRACE .................................................................. 12
2Introduction
Letter from the President
As president of the Pacific Bipolar Foundation, it gives me great pleasure to
introduce our first newsletter.
The purpose of the newsletter is to keep members and leaders of our community
informed about the work of the Foundation and the progress we are making in
various areas.
We continue to make significant progress in providing resources and services for
individuals with bipolar disorders. Our biggest project at present is Friends of
Bipolar: a bipolar-specific peer support program. The program involves training
individuals in recovery from bipolar disorder to become peer support workers.
They undergo a two-month training program followed by an exam. They are then
subsequently assigned to provide support to individuals with bipolar disorder as
they work toward recovery. We aim to connect with patients as soon as possible
after they are discharged from the hospital, and to assist and facilitate their re-
integration into the community. The Friends of Bipolar program is of course a
supplement to traditional psychiatric treatment.
So far the program has been met with great success and is appreciated both by our
peer support workers and their clients.
The Foundation remains active in public and professional education, and we are
planning to continue directing our efforts towards the de-stigmatization of bipolar
disorders and mental disorders in general.
The Foundation is also actively involved in the production of ongoing research
programs. Currently, the Foundation is sponsoring an educational video teaching
program for professionals and a documentary for the public on the use of single-
proton emission computed tomography (SPECT) analysis in the diagnosis and
treatment of bipolar disorders. SPECT is proving to be a promising aid in the
accurate diagnoses of brain disorders such as bipolar disorders. The Foundation is
also involved in a joint research program with the University of Southern California
on the computer analysis of the SPECT data from individuals with bipolar disorders.
The Foundation remains active in researching Actibands to monitor sleep. Sleep
disturbances are often the first sign of impending bipolar disturbance.
3The current activities of the Foundation will remain the focus in the near future. The
Foundation is engaged in longitudinal planning and developing a comprehensive
mood disorders treatment centre with social, psychological, and medical facilities to
assist in the rehabilitation of individuals with bipolar disorder. Our plan is that such
a centre will become a place of refuge for the many individuals in our community
who suffer from bipolar disorder.
We are looking forward to your ongoing interest and support.
Yours truly,
Paul E. Termansen, MD, FRCP(C)
4Research Summaries
New York Times: Bipolar Disorder In-Depth Report
This undated report by the New York Times newspaper provides an excellent
overview of Bipolar Disorder, formerly called Manic-Depression. The report covers
the various categories of bipolar disorder, as well as its causes, which are unknown.
Also, the report provides a breakdown of possible complications associated with the
disorder, as well as extensive coverage of the symptoms of the disorder, including
symptoms of mania and of depression. The report also provides a large, useful and
wide-ranging section on diagnosing bipolar disorder. Also included in the report is a
large section on treatment of the disorder, which includes treatment guidelines,
treatment with drugs, and specific sections on treatment for pregnant women and
youths and adolescents. A section on Psychotherapy provides summaries on
Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy, Family Therapy, and Lifestyle Factors. Finally, the
report provides a very useful set of links to websites that deal with bipolar disorder.
Also included is a complete list of references used in writing the report.
http://www.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/bipolar-disorder/print.html
[accessed July 28, 2014]
Health at a Glance – Mental and substance use disorders in Canada, Statistics
Canada. By Pearson, Caryn, Teresa Janz & Jennifer Ali. (2013)
The report defines Mental Disorders as “conditions that signify considerable
distress or disability, behavioural or psychological dysfunction, or a risk of a
harmful or poor outcome, such as suffering, pain, disability or death.” The article
uses results from the 2012 Community Health Survey – Mental Health (CCHS – MH).
The article focuses on data on generalized anxiety disorder and cannabis abuse or
dependence over one’s lifetime. In 2012, 9.1 million people, or 1 in 3 Canadians, met
the Statistics Canada criteria for at least one of six selected mental or substance use
disorders at one point in their life. Approximately 6 million Canadians, or 21.6%,
had a substance abuse disorder during their lifetime. 18.1% of survey respondents
had alcohol abuse or dependence issues, cannabis abuse problems (6.8%), and
abusing other drugs (4.0%). Approximately 3.5 million Canadians, or 12.6%,
suffered from a mood disorder during their lifetime. Depression affected most
people (11.3%), while a minority of people (2.6%) suffered from Bipolar Disorder;
2.4 million Canadians (8.7%) had Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Using a 12 month
snapshot, the survey found that mood disorders and substance use disorders are
more prevalent for youth aged 15 to 24, and less prevalent among adults 65 and
older. Females have a higher rate of depression (5.8%) than men (3.6%). The largest
difference in rates of depression is among the 15 to 24 age cohort; 9% of females
5suffer from depression whereas only 5.3% of males do. Females also have higher
rates of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (3.2%) than do males (2.0%), although the
difference is not significant. Similar to what was found for other results, youth aged
15-24 have the highest rates of substance abuse (11.9%), with the lowest rate
(1.9%) found among the 45 and older-cohort. In the past 12 months 4.7% of males
and 1.7% of females had alcohol dependence issues, while 1.9% of males and 0.7%
of females had cannabis and dependence issues.
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/82-624-x/2013001/article/11855-eng.htm
[accessed August 3, 2014]
Sleep Irregularities in Bipolar Disorder, Neurowiki 2013, Bipolar Neuroscience,
University of Toronto.
Bipolar disorder affects 2% of the world’s population, giving rise to a suicide rate 20
times that of the general population. A symptom that repeats itself again and again
in those with bipolar disorder is sleep disturbance. Even when no symptoms are
present, sleep problems still occur. Individuals have reported longer sleep times,
less efficient sleep, and constant wakening at night. A recent study reports that the
sleep of individuals with bipolar is similar to that of insomniacs. Insomniacs
overestimate the amount the amount of time it takes them to fall asleep and
underestimate their total sleep time, which is similar to what people with bipolar
disorder report. This brief paper argues that “disturbances in psychological function
cause a disruption of routine sleep and therefore, circadian-regulated sleep cycles,
which subsequently causes an episode.” It also notes comorbidities with other
medical issues may lead to adverse outcomes for those with bipolar disorder when
it comes to sleep issues. The study concludes with a discussion about REM sleep
disturbances and cognitive dysfunction. Also included is a bibliography.
http://neurowiki2013.wikidot.com/individual:sleep-irregularities-in-bipolar-
disorder [accessed August 7, 2014]
The Best Bipolar Disorder iPhone and Android Apps of the Year. By Pietrangelo,
Ann, Tracy Rosecrans & Kenneth R. Hirsch, MD. May 13, 2014.
http://www.healthline.com/health-slideshow/top-iphone-android-apps-bipolar-
disorder [accessed August 7, 2014]
6General News
First Annual Fall FunRaiser
We are delighted to announce that our First Annual Fall FunRaiser was a success!
The FunRaiser took place on October 4th 2014, on a ship called Spirit of the Nation
docked at Mosquito Creek Marina in North Vancouver. We hosted 129 guests for an
evening of live music, dance, and comedy. Our keynote speaker for the event was
stand-up comic and founder of Stand Up For Mental Health, David Granirer.
The evening also included both a live and silent auction. The net proceeds from the
event total $12,326.39
We would like to thank our event sponsors:
City of North Vancouver
North Shore News, Media Sponsor
Mr. Paul Zalesky, CEO, AllWest Insurance
Ms. Zelma Rebbman-Huber
Golder Associates
Dr. & Mrs. Tom Barnett
Mr. & Mrs. Aziz & Julie Ahamad
Ms. Dorothy Kotler
Performers, donors, collaborators:
Celebration on Water Marvin James
Mosquito Creek Marina North Shore Orthopaedic & Sports Clinic
David Granirer Nizar & Mariyam Damji
Chris Kusba Gulshan Mitha
Mike Watson Star Muse Astrology
Joy Hair Salon Don’s Lawns
Tamara Cohen Julie’s Dog Services
Runaway Jukebox Henry Rippling
Michael Sherman Victor Amato
Murray Wimbles Gianni Italian Restaurant
Pooneh AL Everything Wine
Enlighten Spiritual Centre Lonsdale Meat Shop
Jeff Grace Village Table
Bob Sung Boston Pizza
Barry Rich Choices Market
MJ Moore Downtown Tango
TQ Consulting Wayne W. Choy, Park Gate Eye Care
Kim Prints
…And all of our wonderful staff and volunteers!
7Updates: Youth Program 2014-2015 Balancing Bipolar Youth Support Group If you have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, or suspect you may have it, we have a support group called Balancing Bipolar for youth ages 16 – 30. It will take place every Wednesday evening at our office in North Vancouver. The group will be counsellor and peer facilitated and will offer education about bipolar, as well as the opportunity for you to share and receive support. We would like to invite interested youths to a “Think Tank” session on November 19th at 6 pm at our office on the North Shore. The purpose of this session is to collaborate with youth in determining the format and direction of the support group. Refreshments will be provided. For more information and to sign up for the Think Tank session, please contact our Youth Outreach Coordinator, Elaina, at elaina@pacificbipolarfoundation.com Speakers Bureau The Pacific Bipolar Foundation has many qualified speakers available to educate school and university audiences about the challenges and stigma of bipolar disorder, early detection and diagnosis, as well as self-management strategies and support services that facilitate recovery. If you are interested in booking a speaker or joining our team of educators, please contact us at info@pacificbipolarfoundation.com Resources The Foundation is currently working on the production of youth-oriented resource and self-help materials.
Local Community Resources
Community Resource Spotlight: Mood Disorders Association of British Columbia
The Mood Disorders Association of British Columbia (MDABC) is a registered non-
profit organization that exists to provide clinical treatment and support for people
across British Columbia living with mood disorders. They also offer some programs
for individuals with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
MDABC offers support groups all across British Columbia. All support groups are
drop-in and free of charge. Support groups are peer-led and take the form of a
“sharing circle” where participants are invited to share their thoughts, feelings,
growth, successes and failures, good news or bad news. For a list of support groups
in your area, please visit their website at: http://www.mdabc.net/
MDABC looks for volunteer support group leaders on a continuous basis. If you are
interested in becoming a volunteer, you can download and print an application from
their website. Prospective support group leaders must attend an MDABC support
group in their area prior to an interview.
Group Medical Visits (GMVs) are a unique and popular service that MDABC
provides. GMVs are open to anyone receiving care from the MDABC clinic. GMVs
offer a time-efficient way of caring for patients who share similar diagnoses.
Participants receive necessary medical attention, psychoeducation, and advice
within a supportive group environment.
Also of note is the MDABC Speakers Bureau. The Speakers Bureau gives speakers
with lived experience with mental illness the opportunity to share personal stories
with audiences around the province. The aim of the program is to raise awareness
about mental health, educate the public, dispel myths, address stigma and
discrimination, and inspire others to seek help. The bureau’s roster of speakers
includes individuals in varying stages of recovery who are of all ages, genders, and
cultures.
For more information:
Mood Disorders Association of British Columbia
1450 - 605 Robson Street
Vancouver, BC V6B 5J3
Canada
E-MAIL: info@mdabc.net
PHONE: 1.604.873.0103
FAX: 1.604.873.3095
9Friends of Bipolar: Peer Support Updates
My Bipolar Journey & How I Became a Friends of Bipolar Peer Support Worker
by Anonymous Peer Supporter
I was twenty-one years old when I first heard of bipolar disorder. When I received
my diagnosis, it felt like I had been marked with a permanent scar. The name itself,
bipolar disorder, scared me. I felt as though I was damaged goods, and I was afraid
that I would be treated differently for the rest of my life. The idea that I may be
discriminated against for my illness drove me to attempt suicide. I wanted to die
rather than face the reality of the challenges ahead. After a while, I realized the only
way I could move on with my life would be to accept that I have bipolar disorder
despite the fact that it made me feel like I was wearing a T-shirt with a tag that read,
“I don’t fit in”.
The trauma after mania, depression, and/or hospitalization can be damaging.
Depression makes you want to hibernate like a bear while mania makes you feel like
you can conquer the world. It is only through awareness, self-management, and
support that one can learn to balance it all and live a healthy life. I am now thirty-
five years old, and bipolar disorder continues to take a toll on my mind, body, and
soul. However, I practice yoga, write, and meditate to relax my mind and to help
prevent depression, mania, and anything in between. It is easy for people who do
not have lived experience with this illness to advise others to get well by eating
healthy, exercising, getting enough sleep, and being socially active. They do not seem
to understand that, at times, it is emotionally and physically difficult to return from
a dark tunnel of emotions with no train to get out of there fast. This is why family
and friends play an important role in the bipolar recovery journey. They need to
learn how to support their loved ones in a non-judgmental and tolerant way.
I struggle to reveal my disorder publicly for fear of becoming a label. I took my first
steps to overcome this fear this spring by enrolling in the Pacific Bipolar
Foundation’s Friends of Bipolar Peer Support Training. Now, I work as a peer
support worker for the Friends of Bipolar Peer Support Program. I found that the
training helped me not only to understand myself, but also to be a support to others
who are struggling with bipolar. My role as a peer support worker is to be there,
listen, empathize, and be living proof to my clients that it is possible to be functional
and live a full life with this disorder.
We have come a long way in acknowledging mental illness. More and more
celebrities are coming out of their bipolar closets, but there is still much more work
to be done. For many, it is easier to look at a label on a T-shirt than to go deeper into
10finding out what kind of fibres it consists of, where it is made, etc. If we each take
one step forward in reaching out to support one another rather than to judge, then
we are in for a more welcoming future for people with bipolar disorder. That future
depends on each and every one of us.
Outlet by Michael Scott
My thoughts are careening, corroding,
I’m crying foul if I don’t find some better power,
Won’t be upset at all, to slip into a free fall,
No wreckage diving through these clouds and icy showers,
Our life can be like the road, each corner’s showed, only when the wheel is spinning
round,
The destination saves, brighter days,
At the next turn you see stripes on the roadside stand still,
Just know where to park it, and when you should start it,
That way you have the best chance to live all of life’s thrills,
Each day the earth will still move, surely time proves exactly what we have always
found,
Average days, blend into haze, but pure excitement saves the days by leaps and
bounds,
Maybe your next life time, will be the right time to cash in on all of your reserves,
If you are lucky and hard-working then tomorrow you may get what you deserve,
You can’t wait for karma to kick in,
But if you drive steady cool, and stay fair to rule,
You may find it all comes around,
Make the best choice, use your mind’s voice,
And be poised to ensure you keep raising the bars,
Know when there’s time at hand, its best to plan,
If you see their light, keep shooting for the stars,
There no use waiting, and then fading – pretending it will all happen by itself,
Our brain catapults best results, if we choose the right stations, learn patience, and
stealth,
My thoughts are brightening, enlightening, I’m still fighting to make it all work out,
There is no losing, just choosing and I am cruising past all those irritating doubts,
I know what I need, and I don’t have greed, or lead a distant co-existence,
We are all out there, and that’s exactly where, we all live to learn, burn, and mend,
Life can be so serene, or totally mean, - What you give: you will get back in the end
11Guest Writer
The Unfinished Training of a Bipolar Yogi by Jeff Grace
In the summer of 2012, I spent five weeks at Pavones Yoga Center (PYC) in Costa
Rica obtaining the credentials that allow me to teach yoga. I knew my life would
change from the experience, but I never thought it would give me the courage to
overcome my fears of being open about my mental illness.
There are so many incredible stories to tell from my time at PYC.
Some include:
sitting through an earthquake
witnessing a tree fall on our house
being stung by a scorpion
helping a fellow student deal with a tarantula that was sitting on the door
handle
staring down howler monkeys
being the only man in a house with thirteen women.
The one I will share today is about how a small community of yogis created a safe
space that allowed me to voice something I had never been able to before.
In an initial exercise, our teacher Indira requested that we examine our intentions
for coming to Pavones. We were then given time to reflect and journal about why we
had come. She invited us to share our journal writings if we wished, but it was not
necessary. All of my companions had beautiful and powerful reasons. All of their
intentions were truly heartfelt.
I sat silently while the others shared their words. I knew why I was there, and did
not need time to reflect. I desperately wanted to share, but could not because I was
scared.
I went back to the house for lunch, filled my plate and proceeded to find a spot
outside where I knew no one would find me. I could barely eat. I sat alone
contemplating why I did not have the strength to share, why I was ashamed, and
why I was afraid to hear my intentions aloud. I ended up in tears as I ate lunch alone.
Later, I went to Indira’s door where she welcomed me into her home and listened as
every layer of my emotional body broke down in front of her. I may have held it
together for the first thirty seconds, but it didn’t take too long to become a tear-filled
expression of emotion. I shared my intention with her: I wanted to become a yoga
teacher to help me deal with the challenge of living with type II bipolar disorder. I
12wanted to accept myself and my illness, and to learn coping strategies that I could
use on a daily basis. I had wanted to be open with my illness for months, years in
fact. I was scared: scared of what others would think, and scared of how others
would react.
It is true that the stigma around mental illness has lessened, but the stigma that still
exists creates intense fear and shame for many people. I have seen friends fired,
relationships ruined, and opportunities limited. More subtly, I have watched
people’s faces cringe when hearing the word “bipolar”.
I had always wanted to become an advocate for others like me, to educate and to
help bring awareness to what it means and doesn’t mean to live with a mental
illness. However, I was too embarrassed and it was simply too daunting.
That all changed in Pavones.
A couple of days after my conversation with Indira, I told my fellow students that I
had bipolar II and shared my intentions. The reaction was incredible. Some told me
they respected my courage, and many wanted to learn about the illness and how I
cope with it.
The way my fellow yogis reacted changed my life dramatically. Being able to talk
about it openly for a five-week period was the most empowering experience I have
ever had.
It took me another year before I could find the courage to say it publicly at home,
but the only reason I could is because of the support of my community in Pavones.
I am now free to be an advocate, free to educate others, and I am no longer afraid or
ashamed of who I am and how this illness affects me. I have been liberated to be
who I am without reservation.
It is not without risk or without consequence; the only reason I am willing to deal
with any repercussions that come my way is because of my time in Pavones. I hope
to impart the knowledge and practices I learned from my teachers and fellow
students in a way that honours them and helps others feel empowered to accept and
simply share and be who they are.
This experience was just the start of my journey, the beginning of my training as a
bipolar yogi…
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