Attention-seeking takes many forms, and a particularly virulent outbreak appeared under the name of Janet Street-Porter last week.
In a newspaper article she wrote about depression as some kind of trendy new illness, which many women now view as a must have accessory, like the latest handbag. (more…)

The Bipolar Disorder Research Network have published a guide to Bipolar Disorder. Please click on the following link http://www.bipinfo.org

Bipolar Scotland will be holding their Annual General Meeting and Annual Conference on Saturday 18 September 2010, 10am – 3.45pm. The event will be held at the Menzies Hotel, 27 Washington Street, Glasgow, G3 8AZ.

The main theme of the conference will be “Celebrating Self-Help”. Will Lyons, a Journalist with the Wall Street Journal, will be one of our keynote speakers. Will wrote an article for the Scotsman and has been interviewed by Fergal Keane on BBC Radio 4, on his experience of caring for his wife who has a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Also, Aileen Bell and Alan Douglas from Bipolar Scotland will be giving a talk on self-help groups – the story so far.

The afternoon session will include workshops on Welfare Reform – Which Way Now? Self-Help groups – do they work? and participative workshops with Universal Comedy and in Tai Chi.

Please note that Bipolar Scotland will be able to meet the cost of travel expenses for members in severe financial hardship.

Click here to download the booking form (.pdf, 98kb).

You can also get a copy of the booking form by contacting Bipolar Scotland on 0141 560 2050, e-mail: info@bipolarscotland.org.uk

The Kilmarnock self-help group is no longer meeting. The meetings have ceased due to poor attendance. However, Bipolar Scotland are looking at establishing new groups in Irvine and Largs. Further information on these groups will appear on the website in the near future.

Also, the Ayr self-help group continues to meet on the 2nd Wednesday of the month, 7pm – 9pm, Strathyre House, 42 Prestwick Road, Ayr. The meetings are open to people who experience bipolar disorder and carers.

The Scottish Government’s new policy and action plan for mental health improvement for 2009 to 2011 – Towards a Mentally Flourishing Scotland – was launched on Thursday 7th May by Shona Robison, Minister for Public Health (more…)

For those of you who are keen on using Twitter, just to say that there is now a BipolarScotland group on Twitter. Please feel free to become followers of our group.

If you are not yet a Twitterer, you can register with Twitter on www.twitter.com