I want to take this opportunity to publicize an essay contest the International Bipolar Association is sponsoring. It is open to all high school students both here in the United States and internationally. The essay topic is “Changing the Future of Stigma; Bipolar Disorder in 2020.” The essay should be 500 words long. The essays will be judged by individuals who write about topics currently relevant to bipolar disorder and mental health. The first prize is $500.00. And the last day to submit an entry is 1 May 2013.
For those of you who follow me on my Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/steveshouse.steveshouse and http://www.facebook.com/steveshousebypaula, as well as follow my blog, know and understand why I am so passionate about removing the veil of shame and secrecy surrounding mental health/illness. Two previous posts discuss how pervasively mental health issues in general and bipolar disorder in particular have affected my family. Significant advancements have been made in both the understanding and treatment of mental health illnesses, but more needs to be done in removing the final barriers to treatment. which I believe involves removing the stigma attached to mental health issues. I always tell my patients that if I told them they had diabetes, they would be willing, albeit maybe reluctantly, to accept treatment, and that mental health/illness is no different than another physical disease. Honestly, sometimes this works and sometimes not, but I think it is a good place to start.
The purpose of this essay contest is three-fold. First, it is hoped that the high school students will research stigmas and learn how they impact our daily lives and the decisions we make. Second, it is hoped these young people will then become educated about the deleterious effects of stigmas. And, finally, it is hoped the research for and the writing of the essay will help change the perception people have about mental illnesses.
Even though this was not mentioned in the purposes of the essay contest outlined in the press release from the International Bipolar Foundation, I think there is an additional benefit that could result. As we learn more about bipolar disorder, we have come to understand that teen-agers, and sometimes even grade school age children, can begin to manifest symptoms of bipolar disorder and other co-morbid disorders, such as “emotional dysregulation disorders” (to use the new DSM-5 nomenclature), oppositional defiant disorder, even obsessive-compulsive disorder, to name just a few. The list is legion and not without controversy. But this we do know. Teen-agers frequently present with depression as their first manifestation of bipolar disorder. This is why a good family history not clouded by denial based on stigma is necessary to treat teen-agers with depression optimally. It is well-established that treating depression alone in an individual with bipolar disorder can lead to the precipitation of mania. So my hope is that a teenager writing an essay like this might recognize symptoms in him/herself or other loved ones and be encouraged to seek the correct treatment.
And, finally, I have seen how the power of social media, especially as marshaled by the generations coming of age now, has been used to change the world in a relatively short time frame. The first thing that comes to mind are the changing attitudes regarding marriage equality. I was amazed and heartened to see Facebook ablaze with the red and pink equal signs during the time oral arguments were presented to the United States Supreme Court. People talk about HIV/AIDS far more freely and with greater alacrity than when the epidemic began and there was talk of “quarantining” the “lepers.” There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t wish my brother, Steve, were here to see the advancements in tolerance that have occurred.
As I have stated previously, writing about and championing these issues helps me make my loss matter, especially if it helps another individual dealing with similar issues. You can go to http://www.internationalbipolarfoundation.org to read the press release and download an application or you can go to the Facebook community at http://www.facebook.com/internationalbipolarfoundation, where there is a link to their web page.
Even if you think you cannot write, give it a try and submit an essay. If this is something you are passionate about, you will find the right words. You can trust me on that.
Paula
steveshousebypaula 