You've Asked, and The Balanced Mind Foundation Delivers!
by Nanci Schiman, MSW
The Balanced Mind Foundation Program Manager
Nanci Schiman, The Balanced Mind Foundation
Program Manager
I have good news regarding many of your comments and suggestions in our recent survey; many of your requests are already being met! While our new website will make it easier for you to find these answers, I’ve outlined some tips below so you can find help immediately.
Support
Q: Is there someone in my area with whom I can talk?
A: Contact the Family Response Team online or by calling (847) 492-8519. You will be contacted by someone in your area or someone who has experience in your area of concern. If you leave a phone message, please speak slowly and clearly and repeat your phone number so we are sure to be able to connect with you.
Q: Could you provide a place where people can share the joy of stability and successful treatment?
A: Join our Stability Support Group! This online group is a place for parents with children who are currently stable. Stability brings with it a whole set of new ‘challenges’ and new issues. What do we share about our child’s diagnosis with school personnel and others? How do we handle parties and sleepovers? Should we make changes to the IEP? Connect with other parents to ask questions or to just celebrate the success of each good day. Join today.
Q: We need more resources for parents of transition age children (18-24).
A: The Balanced Mind Foundation has three online support groups just for parents of young adults in this general age range. Connect with other parents on issues such as independent living, college, community college, employment, insurance and more. And, The Balanced Mind Foundation has three online support groups for parents raising teens with a mood disorder. For those with very young children, we have a very young group. Go to The Balanced Mind Foundation's teen site, http://www.thebalancedmind.org/flipswitch for more information and resources geared to teens and their parents.
Q: Could you provide a list of recommended books? There are so many out there!
A: If you haven’t visited the The Balanced Mind Foundation online bookstore lately, you’re in for a real treat. Newly reorganized, you can find books for parents, children, educators and much more.
Chat
Q: Please record the expert chat sessions, I rarely can attend at the scheduled times.
A: Each new expert chat is transcribed and posted here. You will never miss a chat at The Balanced Mind Foundation!
Q: I can’t attend the evening parent chats, can you offer any in the mornings?
A: Many of you responded to our survey saying you’d like a morning chat time. In response we are moving our Tuesday chat back one hour to 8 AM ET, 9 AM MT, 10 AM CT and 11 AM ET. See our full chat schedule here.
Q: Sometimes the chat rooms are too, well, "chatty" with parents talking about all sorts of things that don’t relate to bipolar disorder.
A: We are pleased to share that the "Giggles" chat room is back. This is a room for parents who are looking for a break and want to talk about anything BUT bipolar disorder. Come and hang out, share a few laughs and just get away from the world of BP. Parents who want to get information and support can enter the Parent Chat Room for a more focused discussion.