THE Warrington Bipolar UK Support Group will be marking its third anniversary with a presence at the MPK mobile display unit in the Golden Square Shopping Centre, coinciding with World Bipolar Day.
Former Mayor, Geoff Settle as a legacy of his term in office, set up the group. As lead facilitator he said: “World Bipolar Day is designed to raise awareness worldwide of bipolar conditions and to work to eliminate social stigma whilst providing information to educate and help people understand the condition
I’d like to thank Ian Cox, Centre Director for inviting us back to the Golden Square Shopping Centre so that we can continue this work.”
The event, which takes place on Saturday March 30, is particularly important this year because all money donated before the end of the month will be match funded which a secret benefactor will double. Go to the www.bipolaruk.or web site to donate and double the money.
Mark Moran co-facilitator for group that meets at the Gateway building opposite the Town Hall on the first Tuesday of the month said, “The money raised will be a very important part of supporting groups throughout the country.
We welcome anyone who is Bipolar, their supporting friends, carers and family. At our last meeting we 18 members and members turn up when they chose. We have about 50 on our records.
Both Geoff and Mark attended the annual training day last week in Manchester last weekend. It a huge success and lots of information and techniques need to know. There was even a section on suicide recognition and what action to take.
Geoff said: “Of particular interest to me was the section on suicide identification. In November stories told to the group form four of our members had the impact of sending me to a bad place for several months.
Prior to this episode I had thought I’m glad I haven’t been experienced those thoughts. Listening to them talk about bringing a local motorway to a halt or a father who had to scream and shout to get his son help from a local psychologist did rattle the bad chimp in my brain. Having said that I did go to a dark place when I was suspended from work for being manic. Professor Richard Bentall diagnosed me as being Bipolar back in 1997 at Liverpool University where my wife worked. He saw me as a favour of a friend to a friend.”
Last year Geoff volunteered as a guinea pig for Lancaster University, they were studying the effects and impact of Bipolar people who were over sixty years of age.
He said, “Professor Fiona Lobban was my mentor and as part of the programme on “Recovery Focused Therapy” I received 12 one-hour sessions spread over six months. These were invaluable taking me through my life and possible episodes, high and low, I learnt Mindfulness and CBT techniques. I also drew on the importance of having hobbies (doing jigsaws and running in my case) and even took a leave of absence from the parkrun in Victoria Park where I will shortly have stood at Mayor’s corner on 100 occasions. I have returned to Yoga and Meditation. All these activities have successfully helped and distracted the bad thoughts.
For me it was a bit like managing my health as a child suffering from eczema, hay fever and asthma during which I developed coping mechanisms a tool box to dip into when required.
Currently with climate change it is being severely tested, I never thought that I would get hay fever in February with eyes streaming and experiencing breathing difficulties followed by adult eczema in March – a bit of a wreck but, I will cope.”
Bipolar, sometimes known as manic depression, is a severe mental illness characterised by significant mood swings including manic highs and depressive lows. Everyone experiences changes in mood but when you have bipolar, the symptoms are severe, affecting all areas of life. On average a diagnosis can take up to 10 years and then this can be followed by delays in receiving medication and treatment.
Geoff said: “The aim of our Warrington support group is to fill those gaps and spaces and get people talking about their experiences as soon as they want to. Everyone has a different story and the group has a wealth of experience about living with their illness and the effect it has on them, their family and friends.
Gill who joined recently, said “The hardest thing for me was that first night when I walked through the door. I didn’t know what to expect and thought that I might see depressed people with their heads in their hands or some hanging from the rafters? It was neither they are a great bunch who speak openly and honestly.
There are no experts but what there is, is a wealth of knowledge and advice. I was immediately put at ease and now it’s like meeting up with a group of friends for a chat.”
During the first three years members have worked with the local NHS to help develop their Bipolar pathway or service model, Geoff attended a University City of London’s International Conference whilst at a local level several speakers have come along to talk on a variety of topics for example Healthwatch and Dr Phil Cooper from State of Mind.
Geoff has recently benefitted greatly from being a research guinea pig at Lancaster University’s Spectrum Centre for Mental Health Research. They were looking for volunteers for a research study for Older Adults with Bipolar Disorder to investigate if can be used to the benefit of sufferers of the illness.
Mark said “Come and have a chat with us at the GGSC on Saturday and remember you can go to the BipolarUK donation page and make a small contribution. Whatever you donate will be match funded. In some cases, it will turn £20 into a massive £50.”
Further information can be found on the Bipolar UK web site https://www.bipolaruk.org or call Support Services on 0333 323 3880.
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Many thanks Hannagh – I won’t be able to give you a wave at the parkrun this weekend but hopefully you will drop by at the MPK unit near to Claire’s accessories.