Sean Costello Memorial Fund For Bipolar Resarch Update

Bipolar Disorder Resources www.seancostellofund.org DEPRESSION AND BIPOLAR SUPPORT ALLIANCE (DBSA) MAYO CLINIC MOODTRACKER ONLINE TOOLS FOR DEPRESSION AND BIPOLAR DISORDER NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS (NAMI) NATIONAL NETWORK OF DEPRESSION CENTERS Officers President Debbie Costello Smith Vice President Glenn H. Smith Secretary/Treasurer Allison Dellamaggiora Scientific Advisory Committee Chair - Sheri L. Johnson, Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley Richard Bolton, Esq. Debbie Costello Smith, MSN Thilo Deckersbach, Ph.D., Partners Healthcare, Boston, Massachusetts Barbara Fredickson, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Stephen Hinshaw, Ph.D University of California, Berkeley David Miklowitz, Ph.D, University of California, Los Angeles Greg Murray, Ph.D., Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia Andrew Nierenberg, MD, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard University Ihsan Saloum, MD, MPH University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida. Jonathan Schooler, Ph.D., University of California, Santa Barbara Jonathan Smallwood, Ph.D. Eric Youngstrom, Ph.D., University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Directors Lauren Arno Patti Beaman Bridget Costello Darlene Lopez Amy Pollick, Ph.D. Richard "Rosy" Rosenblatt Kelli Stripling	E-Newsletter                                                       Issue 7 - May 2011  April was such a busy month! Read on about The Sean Costello Memorial Fund's new alliances with the Collaborative RESearch Team to study psychosocial issues in Bipolar Disorder (CREST.BD) & the International Review of Bipolar Disorders.  To keep up with what we are doing, please join our Facebook Page and check out our blog, updated regularly by Debbie Costello Smith.    Debbie Costello Smith had an opportunity of a lifetime to represent the Fund in Vancouver and Rome in April of this year.  Below is her account of this amazing journey. Collaborative RESearch Team to study psychosocial issues in Bipolar Disorder VANCOUVER The Sean Costello Memorial Fund was an integral part of a research program at the University of Vancouver by the CREST.BD program. The two day event started with "Creativity and Bipolar Disorder in Movie Makers" presented by Bruce Saunders, a CREST.BD member. Three films were shown (2 were documentaries) that reflected the life and/or perspective of people with bipolar disorder. The attendees were very moved by the films and a discussion ensued. The following day, 22 volunteers with Bipolar Disorder participated in a Community Consultation Day. The morning consisted of 4 groups where the individuals answered questions about the relationship between bipolar disorder and creativity. Following an network luncheon, there was a presentation by Sheri Johnson PhD, Greg Murray, PhD (both members of our Science Advisory Committee) as well as Debbie Smith representing the Fund. The entire day was planned and moderated by Erin Michalak, PhD, the newest member of the Advisory Committee. Sean occupied center stage during the entire day and we left with new followers of the Fund and Sean's music. The results of the focus group discussion will be summarized by CREST.BD and shared in future communications. Poster for International Review of Bipolar Disorders ROME Immediately following the intense, rewarding experience in Vancouver, Debbie, Sheri, Greg and Erin flew to Rome to attend the International Review of Bipolar Disorder, the largest conference in the world on Bipolar Disorder research. Over 1400 clinicians and researchers were in attendance, along with the best and the brightest in the world of Bipolar Disorder Research. The amazing part of it is that Eric Youngstrom, another member of our Science Advisory Committee was a featured presenter, and the team from Vancouver presented their initial research sponsored by the Sean Costello Memorial Fund. Additionally, the SCMF had a poster placed prominently among the world's researchers and occupied the last page in their abstract book, which was distributed to all attendees. Debbie will be writing about what she learned; however, in addition to the information obtained, the visibility of the Fund was immeasurable. The organization who runs the IRBD is going to put a link to our website on theirs as well as develop a section on their website, featuring the Fund.... there is no other organization that has previously had the honor and exposure. This was a huge accomplishment for a young organization, and hopefully, the continuation of great things. Don't Pass Me By: A Celebration of Sean Costello On Saturday, April 16, 2011, The SCMF held our 3rd annual celebration of the Life of Sean Costello. The concert was at Northside Tavern and featured incredible musicians such as Uncle Sugar, The Electromatics, Rod Hamdallah, Snave & the Grass, The Hollidays, Truett Lollis, Odd Man Out, Joe McGuinness, and Chicago Joe's Rockin' Blues Camp Band. The night was full of great music and fellowship of many of Sean's friends and fans.  We were overwhelmed by the support.  Northside Tavern was wall to wall with people who were enjoying the tunes and sharing stories about Sean.    To continue research necessary to fulfill our mission, we rely on the generosity of individual donors. Consider being a donor on a regular basis at whatever level you can afford. There is no amount too small, and thank you, as always, for supporting the Sean Costello Memorial Fund.  You can easily donate here. IT'S EASY TO SUPPORT OUR CAUSE! GoodSearch and GoodShop allow you to support the Fund with just one click! Each time you search the Internet or shop online at a participating store, a donation will be made to The Sean Costello Memorial Fund for Bipolar Research at no cost to you! CLICK HERE TO ADD THE FUND'S TOOLBAR TO YOUR BROWSER TO BEGIN SUPPORTING THE FUND EVERY TIME YOU SEARCH THE INTERNET OR SHOP ONLINE. Thank you for your support!
HOW YOU CAN HELP: 1. Become a member of the Fund's Facebook Cause page, and invite all of your Facebook friends to join too! 2. Support musicians who donate their time to the Fund through concert ticket and cd purchases. Most of the musicians who have given of their time to The Sean Costello Memorial Fund have done so at no cost. 3. Become patrons of businesses such as Datadirect, NoizePro, Fat Matt's Rib Shack, Tumbleweeds Music and Boutique Shop, D.B.A. Barbeque, and Northside Tavern - businesses who continually support the Fund. 4. In Sean's memory, we hope you will share his music with your family, friends and colleagues. Thank you!