Spring is fast approaching. There are many things that those who live with bipolar disorder can to do as healthy options this time of year. It's important to take into account the changes in time and daylight vs. moonlight hours and the effects on your circadian (internal) time clock.

I encourage you to take our Behavioral Healthy Quality of Life Tool here. Your participation and feedback is truly appreciated.

Help us also increase awareness and decrease stigma by celebrating World Bipolar Day on March 30. Find out how you can participate below. This year we will also have a press conference on March 23 in Washington DC to announce a Congressional resolution for World Bipolar Day. If you are in the DC area and would like to join us at this event, please email me your interest at
lbutler@ibpf.org (attendance is limited).

No matter where you are in the world, we want you to know that IBPF cares and we are joined by a community of others who do too!

To your health,
Lori J. Butler, Executive Director

March 30,  2016
  
More Than A Diagnosis

Submit your photo or video by March 15 to participate in our World Bipolar Day social media campaign.  All submissions will be posted on our Facebook page on March 30. The mass posting of photos and videos will show the public that people with bipolar are More Than A Diagnosis -  they are capable of living full, successful lives, despite and in spite of their diagnosis. 

We also want to encourage people who live with bipolar disorder to remember that they can accomplish great things even though they have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and to remind them that there is a very supportive community out there for them to reach out to. 

Ask the Expert

Each month, a different expert from our Scientific Advisory Board will answer your questions about bipolar disorder research and treatment. 

This month's expert: 
Trevor Young M.D., Ph.D., FRCPC, FCAHS

Question: How do mood stabilizing drugs alter the changes in brain structure and function in patients with bipolar disorder?  

Answer: There are many different treatments for bipolar disorder but no one has figured out what is common between them to account for their mood stabilizing effects. A number of labs including ours have focused on targets inside the cell to explain how the drug works. Among these targets, factors involved in cell growth and protection and the brain's antioxidant system stand out as the most important. These experiments point to the ability of treatment to prevent potential cell loss and damage that occurs particularly after multiple mood episodes. This suggests that early intervention and prevention against more mood symptoms is a good choice for most people with bipolar disorder.

Dr. Young, the co-chair of our Scientific Advisory Board,  studies the molecular basis of bipolar disorder and its treatment. His focus is on the processes that lead to long-term changes in brain structure and function in patients with bipolar disorder, and how mood-stabilizing drugs can alter those changes. Read his full biography here

For more answers from our experts, visit our Sharecare page.
Behavioral Health Quality of Life Tool 
Announced at Lake Nona Impact Forum


Our Co-Founder and Board Chairman Muffy Walker spoke at the 2016  Lake Nona  Impact Forum to announce the launch of its free, online Behavioral Health Quality of Life Tool (BHQL) to empower people struggling with bipolar disorder to assess the associated risks of their current lifestyle choices and encourage them to embrace lifestyle changes to lead live longer, healthier lives. 

Take our Behavioral Health Quality of Life Questionnaire here to receive health plans to help you manage your physical and mental health.

Pictured: 
(Left) Muffy Walker with  Dr. Husseini Manji of our Scientific Advisory Board and  CNN medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta  
(Right) Muffy Walker with Deepak Chopra
Watch our Latest YouTube Video

Submit Your Video for World Bipolar Day
Submit Your Video for World Bipolar Day


Nicole demonstrates how to submit your video for World Bipolar Day.

Submit your video by March 15 using our online submission form


Watch more inspiring and educational videos on our YouTube Channel


High school age youth worldwide are encouraged to enter our annual essay contest. 

This year's topic is: Are people who live with bipolar disorder stigmatized in your community?

Address this topic in 500-1000 words by March 30 for a chance to win $1000. 

More details and online submission form at  ibpf.org/essaycontest

Sign Up For Our Next Webinar
With Dr. Caitlin Thompson

Wednesday, March 16 at 11:00am Pacific Time
Sign up here (link includes time zone converter)

Dr. Thompson will review methods to reach Veterans and their families where they are through outreach, connect those who are facing challenges with care, and reduce the stigma of seeking support for crises such as suicide. She will also include an overview of VA's integrated approach to suicide prevention which will outline contact-based approaches to mental health outreach and education and key elements of VA's suicide prevention program, including local suicide prevention coordinators, the Veterans Crisis Line, and the Make the Connection campaign.

The webinar will be recorded and posted here the following week.

See the rest of our upcoming webinars here
Featured Blogs




Read more hopeful and informative articles
here.

Research Updates



Learn more about the latest studies in bipolar research here.
Upcoming Events

Featured Event


Bianca Zable will show how to integrate yoga and meditation into your life.
Bianca will share research behind the powerful impact of yoga and meditation and will also lead a brief interactive session.

Please join us at a new location!
Kearny Mesa Library: 9005 Aero Drive, San Diego, Ca 92123

See the rest of our events here.
About International Bipolar Foundation

International Bipolar Foundation is a not for profit organization based in San Diego whose mission  is to improve understanding and treatment of bipolar disorder through research; to promote care and support resources for individuals and caregivers; and to erase stigma through education. 

International Bipolar Foundation is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Never disregard professional advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read or received from the International Bipolar Foundation.

Visit us online for more information: www.ibpf.org



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