What's NewFebruary - Friends Monthly E-News
In this issue:
- Newly updated! Educational Booklets For Children Now Available Online
- Vancouver Police Department - Breaking News
- Naked* Bungee 2008! Just 19 days away!
- Need a place to stay in Nanaimo? We’ve got you covered!
- The Medicated Child - PBS Frontline Documentary On Children With BiPolar
- Small-Scale Study Suggests Omega-3 Fatty Acids May Delay Development of Severe Mental Illness
- Tonya Alton - Kelowna Branch
- The Doctor is Out!
- ReachOut HighSchool Tour - Write Up - Osoyoos Secondary
- Online Support Groups
- Planned Giving - bring a free information session to your area!
- EMPOWERMENT
- Next time in Friends
- Upcoming Events and Groups / Monthly Support Groups
Newly updated! Educational Booklets For Children Now Available Online
Hot off the press! BCSS has recently completed a long-awaited revision to our Children’s Booklets. These popular and informative educational booklets are available for downloading (for free!) at the attached link: http://www.bcss.org/category/resources/children-youth/
Printed and bound booklets are available from the BCSS Provincial Office for a cost of $2.00 plus shipping and handling. Funded in part by an unrestricted educational grant from Janssen-Ortho.
Vancouver Police Department - Breaking News
Lost In Transition -How a Lack of Capacity in the Mental Health System is Failing Vancouver’s Mentally Ill and Draining Police Resources. For the full report, please click below: http://www.bcss.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/vpd-lost-in-transition.pdf (If this link doesn’t work for you, please click on the link on our home page at http://www.bcss.org/ )
BCSS has published a policy and research document on this issue: Blueprint for Change
Naked* Bungee 2008! Just 19 days away!
Our second annual Naked* Bungy Jump For Schizophrenia is now less than three weeks away! We are thrilled to welcome the Victoria, Kelowna, and Courtenay branches on board this year! This year’s event is even bigger and better than last year!
We have a hot new band called “The Matinee” performing on Sunday afternoon. This is the same band that plays for our ReachOut Concert Tour. Check out The Mattinee on myspace at: http://www.myspace.com/thematineebandmusic We will also have hot and cold beverages and a barbecue this year! Pre-register online, time is running out! (*clothing optional, you don’t have to jump naked.)
Need a place to stay in Nanaimo? We’ve got you covered!
The Painted Turtle Guesthouse has offered to donate $10 from every private room booking and $5 from every quad occupancy booking directly to BCSS! Give your special someone a Valentine’s gift they won’t soon forget! Sign up for our unique, FUNdraiser today!
The Medicated Child - PBS Frontline Documentary On Children With BiPolar
In recent years, there’s been a dramatic increase in the number of children being diagnosed with serious psychiatric disorders and prescribed medications that are just beginning to be tested in children. The drugs can cause serious side effects, and virtually nothing is known about their long-term impact. “It’s really to some extent an experiment, trying medications in these children of this age,” child psychiatrist Dr. Patrick Bacon tells FRONTLINE. “It’s a gamble. And I tell parents there’s no way to know what’s going to work.” For more information, please watch the documentary online.
Small-Scale Study Suggests Omega-3 Fatty Acids May Delay Development of Severe Mental Illness
Australia’s Melbourne Herald Sun (11/29) reports that omega-3 fatty acids could “help delay or prevent the onset of severe mental illness,” according to a study to be presented today at the World Psychiatry Association (WPA) Conference in Melbourne.
Paul Amminger, M.D., of the Orygen Research Center in Melbourne, and colleagues, “enlisted 81 ‘high-risk’ young people aged 13 to 24 who had previously suffered brief hallucinations or delusions.” If left untreated, “one-third of these individuals will go on to develop a sustained psychotic disorder.”
Half of the participants “were treated with capsules of fish oil, a rich source of omega-3 fats for three months, while the rest took a fishy-tasting dummy substitute.” One year later, “three percent of those who had taken fish oil supplements had developed schizophrenia,” as compared to “28 percent of those who had swallowed the placebo.”
ABC Online (11/29, Miller) provides a transcript and an audio file of an interview with Dr. Amminger and colleague Patrick McGorry, M.D., Ph.D., also of the Orygen Research Center, in which they discuss their study and its implications. Click here for the full story and references
Recovery In Action!
Tonya Alton - Kelowna Branch
My name is Tonya Alton.
I have a ‘mental imperfection’ which I like to call my illness (Bipolar). I was diagnosed three years ago with Bipolar and I have been on the road to recovery ever since. For me, time has been a big factor in healing. Learning and becoming an advocate for mental health is the key to my success. I am active in my community with regards to mental wellness, and currently I am a member of the Central Okanagan Consumer Council.
On February 24th, 2008, my daughter, Shayla Driver will be turning eighteen. She will be celebrating her birthday by particpating in the 2nd Annual Naked Bungy for Schizophrenia Fundraising Event, along with myself and two other friends who support the BCSS.
We believe in promoting a positive image and raising awareness for those who have mental health issues. My own experience with my Bipolar has seen me become a person who is proud! Through adversity came a need to overcome all stigma’s related to my ‘imperfection.’ I am devoted to rebuilding my life.
As a B.R.I.D.G.E.S facilitator, I am dedicated to assisting others coming into recovery and give new meaning to the word HOPE ( Helping others Pursue Enrichment). The more I research Bipolar the more I feel free from the actual illness, as knowledge is a powerful tool in leading a productive life!
Through taking action and reclaiming myself I believe all things are possible, in building the bridges we need, to overcome ANYTHING!
For more information or to find out if the B.R.I.D.G.E.S course is taught in your area, you can speak to the Program Coordinator, Debbie Sesula, at 1-877-531-6262 bridges@bcss.org
The Doctor is Out!
This is an amazing feature article on a long-time supporter of BCSS, Dr. Bill MacEwan, from the December edition of Vancouver Magazine.
By Marcie Good — Two men stand next to a dumpster in an alley behind the Carnegie Centre. “You’re back from Sudbury?” says the tall one, who’s wearing a long black coat and single earring.
Trevor, black-eyed and stubbled, nods. Two weeks ago he left his room, with its collection of broken furniture piled in front of the window. He tried the meds, he’s saying, but they made his tongue feel thick and his body ache….
For the full article, please visit: http://www.vanmag.com/articles/07dec/Macewan.shtml
ReachOut HighSchool Tour - Write Up - Osoyoos Secondary
Reach-Out is The British Columbia Schizophrenia Society (BCSS) and our sponsors are proud to present Reach Out, a fun and innovative tour that will raise awareness about psychosis with music and poetry. The Reach Out tour brings education, music and poetry for youth aged 16-25.
“The student who had recently experienced Psychosis was courageous and direct as he spoke about his difficulties with school , friends and life in general. He was optimistic and confident about his future and his dialogue with the students and Mike was emotional and uplifting. The other students started to understand that a person who experiences Psychosis is very likely to have a full recovery with proper treatment, and can go on to lead a productive, healthy life….“
For the full write up, please visit: http://www.reachoutpsychosis.com/category/reachout/
Online Support Groups
Did you know, BCSS now has family/carer support groups on the web, open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week?
1) Family Support Group - This group is for a family member, spouse, parent, sibling, friend of a person with a mental illness. It is a private online place to discuss ideas and experiences, to ask questions and to share resources and information with one another. You are welcome to use your real name or a pseudonym/nicname when you register to this group, and only those people registered with the forum will be able to see what is written on the list or post responses.
2) LGBT Family Support Group - This group is for persons who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered, and who also are caring for a loved one or family member with a mental illness. It is a private online place to discuss ideas and experiences, to ask questions and to share resources and information with one another. You are welcome to use your real name or a pseudonym/nicname when you register to this group, and only those people registered with the forum will be able to see what is written on the list or post responses. This group is moderated by program coordinator Sophia Kelly.
3) Rural Family Support Group - This group is just like the Family Support group (#1) above, except for people living in rural areas. Since services are so different in rural BC, it makes sense to have a place to ask questions, share experiences and talk about caring for someone with a mental illness that is just for folks living outside the major centres in BC.
For more information on these groups, or to sign up, please visit: http://www.support.bcss.org/
Planned Giving - bring a free information session to your area!
The Planned Giving Committee of the MIND Foundation of BC can assist you in hosting Estate Planning Seminars designed to inform families of special needs dependents on the use of Discretionary Trusts and other Estate Planning tools. If your Branch or Community is interested in hosting an Estate Planning Seminar or if you wish more information on Estate Planning contact us at mfbc@telus.net
Click here for information on Planned Giving, to view our literature online, and to find out about seminars happening in your area (or to get started planning one with us!).
EMPOWERMENT
E. I will eliminate negative words from my vocabulary such as I can not, I do not, and I will not.
M. I will put my desires, needs, and wants first without hurting, stepping on, or damaging another person.
P. I will be patient, because it is the key to my success.
O. I will remain open to all opportunities that come my way.
W. I will possess a winner’s attitude to achieve my goals.
E. I will express enthusiasm and excitement about my future.
R. I will always remember: to receive respect, I must give respect.
M. I am more than what people see.
E. I will encourage myself, first through what I say and then what I do.
N. I will have no more excuses for not taking care of my responsibilities.
T. I will trust myself. I am SOMEBODY!
Next time in Friends:
Most of us are on some medications. But people with mental illness are usually taking more medications than the norm. Unfortunately, drug-drug interaction is a common problem among people with psychiatric illness. It can bring on unwanted side-effects such as constant fatigue. The more drugs a person is taking, the greater the chance of a problem occurring.
As a recent article in Share Care from Ami Québec points out, newer medications are now being formulated that are not extensively metabolized in the liver. This means patients can look forward to the prospect of fewer drug interactions, and fewer of the side effects that commonly occur - including the dreaded weight gain.
Our next print issue of Friends will explore drug-drug interaction as a fact of treatment - and a problem that often goes unreported.