{"id":2708,"date":"2018-04-05T20:53:27","date_gmt":"2018-04-05T10:53:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wimr.org.au\/?post_type=wimr_news&p=2708"},"modified":"2024-09-30T18:26:27","modified_gmt":"2024-09-30T08:26:27","slug":"bursting-the-bubble-of-bipolar","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/wimr.org.au\/news\/bursting-the-bubble-of-bipolar\/","title":{"rendered":"Bursting the bubble of bipolar"},"content":{"rendered":"
On Wednesday 28 March, the Westmead Institute of Medical Research celebrated World Bipolar Day through a community information seminar and symbolic bubble event.<\/p>\n
People affected by bipolar disorder, their families, friends and the local community blew thousands of bubbles for \u2018blow bubbles for bipolar\u2019, an international initiative to raise awareness and help end the silence surrounding bipolar disorder.<\/p>\n
The floating bubbles represented the \u2018high\u2019 or \u2018manic\u2019 moods a person with bipolar might experience, while a falling, bursting bubble represented the \u2018low\u2019 moods.<\/p>\n
Helen Hadlow and Max Morris, who attended the event, both have a close connection to bipolar and other mental illnesses.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n\n
Max Morris and Helen Hadlow blowing bubbles for bipolar<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/figure>\n
<\/p>\n
Helen said her family and friends \u2013 including her four children and eight grandchildren \u2013 were her motivation for participating in the event.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo many people close to me have been personally affected by mental illness.\u00a0 My sister has suffered from mental illness for most of her life and I have had friends attempt suicide.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou never know if, or when, your family will be affected, so it\u2019s important that we have a greater understanding of mental illness.”<\/p>\n\n
Isabella Breukelaar from the Brain Dynamics Centre<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
The occasion was also marked with a panel discussion, featuring five leading clinicians and researchers in mood disorders.<\/p>\n\n
Dr Mayuresh Korgaonkar<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/figure>\n
Dr Mayuresh Korgaonkar, panellist and Director of the Brain Dynamics Centre at the Westmead Institute, said the event was an important step towards raising awareness about the disorder among Western Sydney.<\/p>\n
\u201cUp to 1 in 50 of us will experience an episode of bipolar disorder in our lifetimes, so it\u2019s surprising how little the everyday Australian knows about the condition,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Brain Dynamics Centre wanted to raise awareness and shed some light on what living with bipolar is actually like to help break down the stigma associated with the illness.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBreaking down the stigma of bipolar is a community effort,\u201d Dr Korgaonkar said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe bubble blowing event was so simple, but it got everyone together to understand bipolar. It was great to see the community and our researchers and students get involved.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bipolar disorder is a mental illness characterised by extreme variations in mood. A person with bipolar may go through phases of feeling \u2018manic\u2019, where they feel agitated and energetic, and phases of severe depression.<\/p>\n
People with bipolar disorder may be misdiagnosed due to the complexity of their illness, and because certain symptoms, such as depressive phases, can mirror other illnesses.<\/p>\n
Those affected have a greater risk of suicide compared to the general population, and may experience difficulties in maintaining relationships, and finding and keeping employment.<\/p>\n
\u201cBipolar is complex and can really impact those who have it. But, it\u2019s important to know that with the right treatment, we can successfully manage the disorder. We hope that message came across today,\u201d Dr Korgaonkar concluded.<\/p>\n
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