CMHRC is thrilled to announce the launch of our new "Book Club" series for parents, caregivers, and professionals. Hosted by CMHRC Clinical Coordinator Jennifer Sevick, we'll read and discuss a variety of books on mental health issues. Best of all this new program is free and open to anyone in our community who'd like to join!

Reading and discussing books with other people can, quite simply, be a lot of fun. It also helps create a sense of community, which is so important for those living with and treating mood disorders, bipolar disorder, and Fear of Harm in children and adolescents.

For our CMHRC community it helps to reinforce that no one is alone in this struggle. Jenn agrees and told us, "The book club format helps to build a community of people who, through reading and discussing books, are able to share context, perspective, and interpretations of those books that make their content more useful." 

The first book we'll be reading is one of the most widely read and respected books on juvenile bipolar disorder: The Bipolar Child, by Demitri Papolos, MD and Janice Papolos. 

This book is an absolute must read for families struggling to figure out how to help their children. It's also a go-to text for mental health practitioners who treat children and teens. With detailed chapters on symptoms, medications, the brain, and insight into what it's like to live with this disorder, The Bipolar Child has become a staple within the community of families living with bipolar.

The Bipolar Child not only informs our understanding of juvenile bipolar, but it also empowers parents and caregivers to be better advocates for their children.

Jenn explains how reading and discussing this book with others helps prepare parents and practitioners for collaborative treatment, "The more parents read, the more prepared they are when they go talk to their providers or school. Reading about and discussing bipolar disorder helps parents collaborate, explain their positions, and feel good about the decisions being made." 

Hearing the perspectives of others is also an incredibly useful tool in understanding the information a book like this includes. "Every time I read The Bipolar Child I find new meaning and insight," says Jenn, "and having a conversation about it really helps me understand it on different levels."

This new Book Club is free and open to everyone on our community. The Bipolar Child will be  discussed over the course of 3 once-per-month sessions, each of which will tackle one section of the book:

• Tuesday February 21st 8:30pm eastern - Part 1 Diagnosis and Treatment
• Tuesday March 21st 8:30pm eastern - Part 2 Inside the Brain and Mind
• Tuesday April 18th 8:30pm eastern - Part 3 Living and Coping with Bipolar Disorder

Register once and you can attend 1, 2, or all 3 sessions depending on your availability. 

We look forward to seeing you there!

WEDNESDAY WEBINARS

Understanding Misdiagnosis & Childhood Bipolar

February 15th, 7:30pm Eastern Time

It can take an average of 10 years for kids to receive an accurate psychiatric diagnosis. Join us to learn:

• What mood disorder and bipolar disorder symptoms look like in children,
• How they differ from adult symptoms,
• Why practitioners may miss bipolar in children and teens,
• How to distinguish mood disorders from one another and from diagnoses like ADHD & DMDD.

GIVING CORNER

In Memoriam

All of us at CMHRC send our deepest condolences to our Executive Director, Elizabeth Errico, her mother, and the rest of their family on the loss of Elizabeth's father, Carmine Errico.

Through the extraordinary generosity of 

Carmine's friends and family, more than $5,800 was contributed to CMHRC in celebration of Carmine's life and work helping others. These gifts help countless children and families as they struggle with mood disorders, bipolar disorder & Fear of Harm. All of us at CMHRC are incredibly grateful for the love and support shown to our community during this painful time.

You too can honor the memory of a loved one with a gift to CMHRC, or with a dedicated "In Memoriam Gifts" gifts page, which we'll design with you to represent your family. Email fundraising@cmhrc.org for more information, or make a gift today.

Sent by ::organization::

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