April 2014

Barnet Bipolar News

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barnetbipolargroup@gmail.com

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top stories

Van Goghs Birthday becomes World Bipolar Day

According to current data 1 in 20 of us experiences bipolar challenges, some mildly, some severely, during our lifetimes, yet awareness of the condition remains low and social stigma surrounds the disorder, which impedes early diagnosis and effective treatment. To combat this, a trio of international organisations - the Asian etwor! of "ipolar #isorder, the $an #iego based %nternational "ipolar &oundation and the %nternational $ociety for "ipolar #isorders - came together to launch the first 'orld "ipolar #ay a few days ago. The date, (arch )0, was pic!ed to coincide with the birthday of *incent *an +ogh, the painter who was posthumously diagnosed as probably having bipolar disorder. %t followed a three-day conference in $eoul, $outh ,orea - the 1.th Annual /onference of The %nternational $ociety for "ipolar #isorders.- which attracts thousands of leading scientists, psychiatrists and clinicians to meet and trade ideas, share information, expertise and cutting edge research findings - and networ! with fellow experts in the field of bipolar disorders. %n a study carried out by carried out by one of the delegates, eminent 0ong ,ong psychiatrist #r 1ric /heung 2at-wo, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, some 100 sub3ects half with bipolar % disorder and the other half healthy controls - were put through cognitive tests on a computer.

4ust under half - 5.6 of sufferers in remittent state - failed to regain pre-morbid cognitive functioning 71very time a sufferer has a relapse, there are some conse8uences on his or her brain processes, such as deterioration in memory, slower processing, and reduction in executive function that turns thoughts into actions - thus highlighting the importance of early intervention and treatment,9 says /heung.

MIDDX UNI S UD!N S "#!DG! $!MS!#V!S %S V&#UN !!'S

FORWARD, the "arnet non profit mental health social enterprise which supports the borough:s bipolar support group is ta!ing on a bunch of volunteer students from (iddx ;niversity to help man mental health information stands across the borough at wee!ends Their willingness to volunteer follows a recent community fair at the uni:s 0endon campus, supported by "arnet /ouncil. $ophie (c,ay, (iddlesex ;niversity $tudents: ;nion deputy president and vice president of health < education, science < technology schools, made a pledge in her student officer manifesto to develop a volunteering programme during her time in office. $he believes her uni8ue idea to match students with organisations in need will ultimately see students turn into long-term volunteers with local charities and have a real, lasting impact on their local community

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On 6 February this year the first Time to Talk Day to get more people talking about mental health than ever before, took place across the national and surpassed their ambitious target of generating a million conversations, with an incredible 1,066,506 recorded conversations Click here to read about. how we made it past our million milestone But the day was about so much more than just the numbers. The day provoked many inspiring, stigma busting, li e!changing conversations, making it possible to talk more openly about mental health " to break down stigma and discrimination. There are lots of other ways to get involved in Time to !hange click here to find out more

next Barnet bipolar support group meeting

the newcomer with the enquiring mind is the most important person at all our meetings....

Wednesday 23 April from 7.30pm- 9.30pm @ the New Barnet Community Centre, 45-50 Victoria Roa , New Barnet, !ert" #N4. uest !pea"er. To be announced #he meeting is open to carer", menta$ hea$th profe""iona$", frien ", fami$y mem%er" an anyone "imp$y wantin& to 'now more a%out %ipo$ar.

(here i" p$enty of free par'in& "pace B$!%! )07, 307, *4,)+4, 3+4, 3,* an 3+3 !#A#&'N! New Barnet, !i&h Barnet, -a'woo
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