In a recent BBC article, Charlotte Walker, creator of the Purple Persuasion blog, discusses how to care for one's mental health during the holiday season.  Walker has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and she herself recently faced a mental health crisis in the weeks leading up to December 25th.  While she helps make readers aware of the fact that this festive time of year often brings with it extra stresses and worries for those with mental illnesses as many feel that "depression and Christmas just don't go", she also encourages those of us with mental health concerns to let go of the desire for that picture perfect Christmas.  Walker also goes on to share with readers her plans for a low-key Christmas that still embraces the joyful time of year but is more fitting for someone recovering from a psychiatric crisis.

"And finally, I'm trying to count my blessings. It's something I usually hate being advised to do, but this year I think there might be something in it. True, it would be nice if I could feel a little more seasonal joy but I am fortunate - I have friends who will have to rely on food banks if they're going to have any dinner at all, and I know of people who have no choice but to spend Christmas day alone. So I may not be as well as I would like but without excellent crisis care, I could have been spending the festive fortnight in hospital."

http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-ouch-30433361

Put your knowledge and skills to the test with the case of a 68 year old man who was brought in to an ED by the police who found him in his car, nearly naked, and quite confused.  The man's wife reports that he has experienced marked personality and behaviour changes over the last three months including going on large spending sprees, becoming threatening to his spouse who had to get a restraining order, and exhibiting delusions and auditory hallucinations.

He has had a significant criminal history, a history of alcohol abuse, and was hospitalized in a psychiatric institution three years ago.  The healthcare team notice signs of mania, psychosis and delirium, and his MoCA on admission scores a 5/30 ...

Can you determine the diagnosis or come up with a treatment plan?

"Confused, and nearly naked after going on spending sprees" by Matthew J Davis, Alexander de Nesnera and David G Folks (Current Psychiatry)

Quite often, individuals diagnosed with a mood disorder like depression or bipolar disorder, are often asked by their healthcare team questions like "How have you been feeling since the last visit?", "When was the last time you remember feeling yourself?", among countless other more specific questions about their moods and how they've waxed and waned over time.

While many try and simply remember their mood patterns and shifts, it can be challenging to accurately keep track of one's feelings and emotions, which are important for healthcare professionals to be aware of as such information can influence medications and therapy strategies.

Fortunately, there are a variety of new apps entering the market that are specifically designed to better assist those with mental health conditions monitor their emotional highs and lows.  Not only do they allow users to quickly and easily keep track of their feelings and how they change over time, but the hope is that one comes to better understand their disorder.   "Over time, the user may discover patterns or certain triggers that always precede a negative or positive episode. Becoming aware of mood patterns allows a person to learn more about their illness and begin to take positive steps to steer their emotions toward a stable and happier life."

To find out more about some of these new apps, check out the article, "Mood Tracking Applications for People with Bipolar Disorder" or find them on iTunes:

• Moody Me - https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/moody-me-mood-diary-tracker/id411567371?mt=8
• T2 Mood Tracker - https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/t2-mood-tracker/id428373825?mt=8
• Moodtrack.com - https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/moodtrack-diary-private-mood/id545536364?mt=8

George Stroumboulopoulos has interviewed numerous well-known public figures and celebrities (actors, musicians, authors) on his show over the years, many of whom have opened up about mental health and shared their own personal battles with mental illnesses, including bipolar disorder and depression, to help raise awareness and end stigma.

Check out "Let's Talk: Mental Health" to watch some of these powerful clips and hear Matthew Good, Stephen Fry, Margaret Trudeau, Rick Springfield, Clara Hughes, Michael Landsberg and others speak out about mental health.

Dese'Rae Stage, is a photographer, writer, and a suicide awareness advocate. More than that though, she's personally experienced bipolar disorder, self-injury and a suicide attempt, in addition to experiencing the grief and loss following loved ones passing from suicide. Based on her experiences with mental health, particularly in witnessing firsthand the #stigma, shame, and secretiveness that goes along with mental illness and suicide, as well as finding mental health resources lacking for suicide attempt survivors, Dese'Rae felt something needed to be done. So, this past December, she created an initiative called Live Through This, a growing collection of portraits and stories of suicide attempt survivors.

"The intention of Live Through This is to show that everyone is susceptible to depression and suicidal thoughts by sharing portraits and stories of real attempt survivors—people who look just like you. These feelings could affect your mom, your partner, or your brother, and the fear of talking about it can be a killer.

Historically, suicide attempt survivors, in particular, have spoken under conditions of anonymity in order to save them from being discriminated against. The silence and shame created in that act are dangerous. Live Through This encourages survivors to own their experiences publicly—using both their full names and likenesses—and thereby works to strip the issue of anonymity and raise awareness by, simply, talking about it. It's the first known project of its kind, exploring a world that has remained a taboo for far too long" (livethrougthis.org)

Live Though This is a project worth checking out. It aims to not only increase awareness and provide hope for those struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts, but also has the potential to teach us immensely about #mentalhealth. The project "asks you to look into their [the survivors'] eyes, to see their humanity, to find empathy" (livethroughthis.org) and perhaps by doing so we can better understand these experiences and provide better support.

More information about the project can be found here:

• Live Through This
• "Suicide Survivors Help To Shape Prevention Efforts" by David Crary (AP)