Ask Us Anything about Bipolar Disorder
Thursday, March 30 is World Bipolar Day. To mark the occasion, the CREST.BD team is presenting an evening at the HOpe Centre in North Vancouver. (CREST.BD is the Collaborative RESearch Team to study psychosocial bipolar disorder. Its core mission is to foster communication, dialogue and collaboration in bipolar disorder research and knowledge exchange. Visit crestbd.ca for more info.)
During the event, “Ask Us Anything (About Bipolar Disorder)“, a friendly panel will host open conversation about current research and lived experiences with bipolar disorder as well as mental health conditions more generally. CREST.BD’s diverse team will share a variety of perspectives, including peer support, research, lived experience, and clinical expertise.
The event is hosted in partnership with the HOpe Cafe and Kelty Dennehy Resource Centre. On the panel will be the following CREST.BD team members:
- Dr. Erin Michalak, Professor, UBC
- Dr. Ahmad Alshayea, Assistant Professor, King Saud University
- Sara Lapsley, Group Clinician & Counsellor, Forensic Psychiatric Hospital
- Amir Ashtari, Peer Researcher, CREST.BD
- Michael Scott, Peer Support Worker
- Natasha Kolida, Redefining Bipolar & Peer Researcher, CREST.BD
Event details:
When: Thursday, March 30th, 2017
Time: 6 pm – 7:30 pm
Where: Atrium of the HOpe Centre
1337 St. Andrews Avenue, North Vancouver
RSVP: Everyone is welcome and refreshments will be provided. But seating is limited so please RSVP by emailing hopementalhealth@cmha.bc.ca
History of bipolar day (from CREST.BD)
Each year on March 30th, the birthday of Vincent van Gogh, the CREST.BD team takes part in World Bipolar Day. Van Gogh was posthumously diagnosed as likely having lived with bipolar disorder; on World Bipolar Day, van Gogh’s life and works might help us to reflect on both the positives and the negatives of bipolar disorder. Already a professional artist, van Gogh voluntarily sought help for his mental health challenges, which began the period of his hospitalization. This period was his most productive as an artist; during the year he was hospitalized (1888 – 1889), he painted some of the works which have touched people most and made the most important impacts upon art history. His productivity during this period has been well-linked to his illness — highlighting that the condition can, to many who live with it, feel like a “double-edged sword” that has negative, but also some positive, aspects.
This World Bipolar Day, you can focus on your strengths by taking part in the International Bipolar Foundation’s (ISBD) photo campaign and sharing your passion or the passion of your loved ones who live with bipolar disorder. Read about the ISBD campaign here.