Studio 1016, Mile End Mill

Seedhill Road

Paisley

PA1 1TJ

BIPOLA R F ELLOWS HIP SCOTLAND

Phone: 0141 560 2050

E-mail: info@bipolarscotland.org.uk

‘Empowering people in Scotland with Bipolar Disorder’

Www.bipolarscotland.org.uk

Desiderata - by Max Ehrmann

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant, they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love, for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is perennial as the grass.

Take kindly to the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt

the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labours and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.

Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

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Bipolar disorder is thought to affect 1 in 100 adults at some time during their life and ment and women appear to be affected equally. It is now well established that bipolar disorder runs in families and that genes play a role in i n f l u e n c i n g a n i n d i v i d u a l ’ s susceptibility to the illness.

The Mood Disorders Research Team led by Professor Nick

Craddock, is a group of researchers based jointly at Cardif f University and the U n i v e r s i t y o f Birmingham. Their study aims to look at how genes and other factors (such as stressful life events) interact and make some people more likely than others to exper ience bipolar disorder.

It is hoped that their research will improve diagnosis and help researchers develop

Max Ehrmann

to success.

Voices of Experience (VOX) has developed good practice guidelines for s erv ice user s ’ i n v o l v e m e n t . (voxscotland.org.uk)

Watch out for local feedback sessions in your area or log onto your local health board’s website for more details. Be aware however, that not every health board is at the stage of consulting with service users. However, some health boards will welcome service users on the project development group.

Welcome to another edition of Connexions the newsletter which connects our network of self-help groups. Our heading alludes to Spring’s arrival but whilst I write this it’s raining outside. Never mind, the odd days of sunshine are enough to chase the winter blues away. I hope you’ve all had a chance to check out the new website. Keep an eye on news and events to see what’s coming up in your area. If there is anything you would like us to advertise on the site for your group or for the benefit of others don’t hesitate to give us a call at the office. Hope you enjoy this issue and, as always, let me know if there is anything you want me to include in the next issue.

Spring Edition

What is an ICP? The development of Integrated Care Pathways (ICPs) for mental health is a key priority for all NHS boards. This is part of a national drive to improve the quality of mental health services in Scotland. ICPs for mental health have been in development in most NHS boards across Scotland over the last 18 months.

The ICP system of care encompasses how care is organised, co-coordinated and governed. The implementation of ICPs will improve the quality of mental health services by focusing the attention of local care providers on key steps along the journey of care.

The most important aspect of ICPs is acting on variances. ICPs allow the comparison of planned care with the care actually given. This enables the

im p le m e n ta t io n o f c o n t in u ou s q ua l i t y improvement.

ICPs allow local services to access their own practice and are the tools that help drive the redesign of services.

These can then better meet the assessed needs of service users (and carers) and facilitate closer working with other agencies to deliver a coordinated service.

For all people requiring specialist mental health services a generic ICP is being developed.

In addition to this ICPs are being developed for borderline personality d i s o r d e r , b i p o l a r , depression, schizophrenia and dementia.

Involvement of service users and carers in the development is crucial

Special points of interest:

Vivian Wade’s Art Exhibition

What is Employment and Support

Allowance?

Equality and Human Rights Commission

Bipolar Research

Welcome 1

What is an ICP 1

My Life in Art 2

Our Groups 2

ESA Benefit

Equality and Human Rights Commission

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Bipolar Research

Desiderata by Max Ehrmann

4

Contact Details 4

Inside this issue:

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Issue 3

Spring 2009

illness and alongside that finding her faith as a Christian.

Phoebe Lowe, Assistant Curator from the Scottish Borders Council, describes her delight in displaying these works. She says “This is an important exhibition because the works are powerful in their own right. All works of art communicate at many different levels. Some of our greatest artists have reportedly suffered from clinical depression such as Pablo Picasso, Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko and Vincent Van Gogh and have done much important work by expressing how they feel through their art”.

EXHIBITION DETAILS:

28th March - 2nd May 2009

Open Tuesday to Saturday

10am - 4pm

Pringle Room

Old Gala House

Scott Crescent

Galashiels

TD1 3JS.

Tel: 01896 752611.

Free Admission.

Full wheelchair access.

A unique Art Exhibition is set to open in Galashiels in the Borders and it is set to feature our Borders Group Facilitator - Vivian Wade. The exhibition pulls together a group of artists who have all experienced mental health problems.

Some of the artists are part of a group called „One in Four‟ who attend a local resource centre in Galashiels.

Andy Greenfield, manager of the resource centre says “the exhibition reflects the work of people who have been given the opportunity to freely express themselves using a wide variety of materials, mediums, shapes and colours.”

Speaking about her part in the show, called „Soul Mining‟ Vivian says her experience of bipolar years ago caused her to hide behind a mask, now however, she is very open about the condition in the hope that it will help others who may be struggling with the condition. Vivian has widely advertised the Bipolar Support group based in the borders, in itself not an easy thing to do. Sometimes living in close knit communities such as those in the Borders means stigma can be much more of a challenge.

Vivian's artwork is very much autobiographical, it reflects her journey with her work, with the

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“ My paintings are a celebration of colour

and I really hope people will find

something in them to connect with and

enjoy”

CONNE XIONS

My Life in Art The Groups

We are pleased to announce the addition of two more groups on the West coast. Our Ayr group starts in April after a very popular information night held in March and our Kilmarnock group will start in May. Our self help groups exist to offer support to people experiencing bipolar, their families, friends and carers. We have groups that meet in:

Glasgow Inverness Fife Perth Stirling East Renfrewshire Dumfries Inverclyde Dundee Lothian (Edinburgh City Centre) East Lothian (Haddington and Musselburgh) Borders (Selkirk) Dunoon Edinburgh (City Centre) Stranraer Ayr (new group) Kilmarnock (new group)

Our 2009 group development has included Ayr and Kilmarnock and the re-launch of Dundee. Our next stop is the far north of Scotland.

For more information on times, dates and venues for the above groups visit our website or give us a call at the office on the number listed above.

Viv Wade

ESA Benefit Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) is a new benefit paid if your ability to work is limited by ill health or disability and you are claiming after 27th October 2008. It replaces both incapacity benefit (IB) and income support (IS) paid on the

grounds of incapacity.

When someone becomes entitled to ESA they will enter a 13 week assessment phase. The assessment phase applies to all new ESA claimants. During this period claimants undergo a work capability assessment and a work

focused interview.

The assessment will be carried out by a health care professional working on

behalf of the DWP.

It is intended to:

Find out whether you have a

‘limited capability for work’

Find out whether you have a ‘limited capability for work

related activity’.

Carry out a ‘work focused health

related assessment’.

The test for ‘limited capability for work’ has many similarities to the incapacity benefit PCA. Points are scored based on your ability to carry out a range of physical or mental health activities as appropriate. If you fail this part of the test you will be moved onto jobseeker’s

allowance.

The ‘limited capability for work-related activity’ test is used to decide whether you are placed in the support group of claimants or the work related activity group. The test has a list of descriptors, relating to both physical and mental functions. If at least one of them fits, you will be placed in the support group of

claimants.

The ‘work-focused health-related assessment ’ (WFHRA) col lec ts information about your ‘functional capacity’ to carry out tasks. This focuses on the things you can do as opposed to the limited capability for work assessment, which focuses on the things you cannot do. The WFHRA also collects information about any health interventions that could improve your functional capacity and thus support a move back into work. This could include the use of appropriate aids and adaptions. The information collected in the WFHRA is put into a ‘capability report’ which is used in the work-focused

interview.

The interview normally takes place during the 8th week. During the interview the advisor will discuss your work prospects, the steps you are willing to take and the

support available to you.

Depending on the outcome of the interview you will be placed in a groupaccording to your needs. If you are placed in the ‘support’ group of claimants, you will not have to undertake work-related activities (though you can

volunteer to do so if you want).

If you are placed in the ‘work-related activity’ group of claimants you will be expected to adhere to work-related conditions which will involve attending a series of five further work-focused interviews in addition to the initial work-

focused interview.

There are various rates of ESA payable dependent on which group you are placed

in.

It is proposed that between 2009 and 2013 all IB claimants will be reassessed using the new ESA work capability assessment. If you pass the assessment you will be transferred over to ESA. If you do not pass the assessment you will be moved

onto jobseeker’s allowance (JSA).

There is also a recommendation that Income support (IS) be abolished replacing

it with ESA or JSA.

You can find out more about the new

benefit at www.dwp.gov.uk/esa

This link will take you to other useful

information:

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/esa/esa-useful-links.asp

Equality and Human Rights Commission: Who are they and what do they do?

The role of the EHRC is to e n s u r e t h a t everyone is treated f a i r l y a n d r e s p e c t f u l l y . Unfortunately this doesn’t always h a p p e n . According to a survey carried out i n 2 0 0 7 ,

discrimination and disadvantage are still c ommon ac r o s s Britain. Sometimes people choose to ignore the rights of others even when this is against the law.

Their role is to:

Ensure people are

aware of their rights and how to use them

W o r k w i t h employers, service p r o v i d e r s a n d organisations to help them develop best practice

Work with policy makers, lawyers and

the Government to make sure that social policy and the law promote equality

and

Use the i r

“Our specialist helpline advisors

are here to give you information

and guidance on your rights”

ISS U E 3 Page 3