I hadn’t heard of Bipolar Disorder Awareness Day until I was browsing the NAMI website today. My interest piqued, I read on:
"Bipolar Disorder Awareness Day was created by NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) and Abbott Laboratories to increase awareness of bipolar disorder, promote early detection and accurate diagnosis, reduce stigma, and minimize the devastating impact on the 2.3 million Americans presently affected by the disorder."
I wiped my eyes and read that again. I saw the same thing: NAMI and Abbott Laboratories. Yes, THAT Abbot Laboratories, the manufacturers of Depakote. Not that there's anything wrong with Depakote per se, it gave me a major psychotic episode but I'm sure thousands benefit from its proper use. But suddenly I feel cheated. Cheap and used. It's like finding out Hallmark started "Love Day", "Sweetest Day", and "Second-Cousin's Day" for purposes of selling greeting cards.
Maybe I should feel honored that a disorder that personally affects me has its own day. Wondering if other conditions have their own day, I select 2 at random. There's World Schizophrenia Day, and World Crohn's and Colitis Day. Hmmmmmm - are any of those days co-sponsored by pharmaceutical companies? I guess it doesn't really matter, and everyone's particular health challenge should be honored with it's own day irregardless of who sponsors or benefits from it.
Am I sounding a little sarcastic? That's my frame-of-mind right now. Antagonistic, sarcastic, anxious, and bitter. But enough of that, let's get back on topic and learn a little more about Bipolar Disorder Awareness Day.
BDAD activities focus on encouraging the community to:
* Learn more about the symptoms of bipolar disorder and mental illness and understand its impact on society.
* Participate in a free mental health screening held in many communities.
* Reach out to individuals suffering from bipolar disorder or mental illness.
* Encourage individuals with bipolar disorder to seek treatment.
Bipolar Disorder Awareness Day is actually a part of the 2007 Mental Illness Awareness Week, which occurs the first week in October each year. It's happening now, October 7 - 13. Once again, per NAMI:
Established in 1990 by Congress, the first week of October is designated as "Mental Illness Awareness Week" (MIAW) in recognition of NAMI’s efforts to raise mental illness awareness. "Bipolar Disorder Awareness Day" (BDAD) is held each year on the Thursday of MIAW to encourage further understanding and promote early intervention and treatment for this mental illness.
MIAW and BDAD are NAMI’s premiere public awareness and public education campaigns that link the organization nationally to the organization’s over 1100 local affiliates across the country.
Over the past 16 years, MIAW has become a tradition in NAMI. It presents an opportunity for all three levels of NAMI –national, state and local – to work together in communities across the country in meeting the NAMI mission through a variety of outreach, educational, and advocacy efforts.
"Bipolar Disorder Awareness Day was created by NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) and Abbott Laboratories to increase awareness of bipolar disorder, promote early detection and accurate diagnosis, reduce stigma, and minimize the devastating impact on the 2.3 million Americans presently affected by the disorder."
I wiped my eyes and read that again. I saw the same thing: NAMI and Abbott Laboratories. Yes, THAT Abbot Laboratories, the manufacturers of Depakote. Not that there's anything wrong with Depakote per se, it gave me a major psychotic episode but I'm sure thousands benefit from its proper use. But suddenly I feel cheated. Cheap and used. It's like finding out Hallmark started "Love Day", "Sweetest Day", and "Second-Cousin's Day" for purposes of selling greeting cards.
Maybe I should feel honored that a disorder that personally affects me has its own day. Wondering if other conditions have their own day, I select 2 at random. There's World Schizophrenia Day, and World Crohn's and Colitis Day. Hmmmmmm - are any of those days co-sponsored by pharmaceutical companies? I guess it doesn't really matter, and everyone's particular health challenge should be honored with it's own day irregardless of who sponsors or benefits from it.
Am I sounding a little sarcastic? That's my frame-of-mind right now. Antagonistic, sarcastic, anxious, and bitter. But enough of that, let's get back on topic and learn a little more about Bipolar Disorder Awareness Day.
BDAD activities focus on encouraging the community to:
* Learn more about the symptoms of bipolar disorder and mental illness and understand its impact on society.
* Participate in a free mental health screening held in many communities.
* Reach out to individuals suffering from bipolar disorder or mental illness.
* Encourage individuals with bipolar disorder to seek treatment.
Bipolar Disorder Awareness Day is actually a part of the 2007 Mental Illness Awareness Week, which occurs the first week in October each year. It's happening now, October 7 - 13. Once again, per NAMI:
Established in 1990 by Congress, the first week of October is designated as "Mental Illness Awareness Week" (MIAW) in recognition of NAMI’s efforts to raise mental illness awareness. "Bipolar Disorder Awareness Day" (BDAD) is held each year on the Thursday of MIAW to encourage further understanding and promote early intervention and treatment for this mental illness.
MIAW and BDAD are NAMI’s premiere public awareness and public education campaigns that link the organization nationally to the organization’s over 1100 local affiliates across the country.
Over the past 16 years, MIAW has become a tradition in NAMI. It presents an opportunity for all three levels of NAMI –national, state and local – to work together in communities across the country in meeting the NAMI mission through a variety of outreach, educational, and advocacy efforts.
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