Tag: Bipolar
-
Please stop using my mental illness as an adjective
“God, the weather is so bipolar today.” Hollie Smith asks, please stop using my mental illness as an adjective, in World Mental Health day article. Cover photo by Matthew Brodeur on Unsplash October 10th is World Mental Health Day. “Yeah, I’m so OCD—I keep everything clean.” “Ugh, she’s a total schizo!” It’s easy to slip up and use these phrases if you don’t fully understand the…
-
‘We talk about depression but when it comes to life-long debilitating mental illnesses, we still have a long way to go’
Today is World Mental Health day. Shamim Malekmian talks to a young man who fights a daily battle with a complex ailment. This article appeared in The Irish Examiner on 10.10.2018. For almost two decades, Gregg Kelly nursed a dark suspicion that everyone in his hometown of Ballincollig, Co Cork, deeply resented him. “When I was…
-
‘I spent many years wondering what the hell happened’
They had been close at school and kept in touch afterwards, but it was when successful musician and writer Kevin Nolan opened up about his mental health struggle to journalist Philip Ryan, that a conversation led to a whole new understanding and awareness. This opinion piece with writer and musician Kevin Nolan appeared in the Independent.ie,…
-
Shining a light on personality disorder
This article, written by Prof Patricia Casey, appeared in the Independent.ie 21/08/18. The Irish public is now well versed in aspects of various mental illnesses. Gone are the taboos that surrounded psychiatric illness in the past, when it was spoken of in whispered tones and seen as a weakness instead of being viewed with compassion and…
-
Stigma and a lack of understanding has led to a 10-year gap in treatment
Getting Fully Acquainted with Bipolar Disorder This article, written by Micheal G. Pipich MS, LMFT appeared in Psychology Today on 09.07.18. Recently, we’ve been hearing more in the news about celebrities who have openly shared their bipolar stories and have encouraged others to recognize bipolar in their own lives. And tragically, we’ve also heard about individuals…
-
Many psychiatric disorders have common genetic links – major study
Findings likely to lead to changes in the way such conditions are treated. This article, written by Kevin O’Sullivan, was published online the Irish Times 22/06/18. Many common psychiatric conditions, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, “are deeply connected on a genetic level”, scientists have discovered. Researchers explored the links between these and other disorders…
-
What happens when doctors change your diagnosis?
For some, a definitive label offers a lifeline and a way to understand their condition. When that is altered, even for the better, the effects can be devastating. This article written by Jules Montague appeared online The Guardian, 11.06.18. Suzy Syrett suddenly stopped going to her bipolar support group. Nobody had thrown her out, but…
-
For Doctors with mental illness, ‘help me’ can be the hardest words
There is a greater openness about mental health generally, but for medical professionals the taboo remains. This article, written by Clare Gerada, appeared online at the Guardian on 06.06.18. The charity Mind has found that almost half of all patients consulting their general practitioner do so for problems with their mental health, such as anxiety and…
-
The Living Library – A Library Come to Life in the Outdoors for Green Ribbon Month
The College ran the ‘Living Library’ this May for Green Ribbon Month with See Change. By starting the conversation in the outdoors the College aimed to challenge the stigma of speaking about mental health difficulties and to encourage an important mantra ‘Don’t Judge A Book by Its Cover’. When it comes to mental health everyone has…
-
Living With Bipolar Disorder: ‘I’d get ridiculously excited then crash back down to earth’
Having suffered from bipolar disorder since childhood, Colin Donnelly has endured periods of euphoria and despair and his illness led him to some very dark places. Now, he tells Independent.ie that he believes no one should suffer in silence For as long as he can remember, Colin Donnelly has suffered from mood swings. As a child, he…