Meeting Details

Apologies for the incorrect dates printed in the last Newsletter!

26th October – General discussion, including about how we want to update the video.

30th  November – Speaker: to be confirmed

December – No meeting, Merry Christmas!

January 25th  – TBA

All meetings are at St Cuthbert’s Church Hall, Market Place,  Darlington and take place from 7 – 9 pm.

On the Management of Spoons

Ok, more than a few of you will have looked at this title and said ‘Huh?’  So, allow me to explain myself. ‘Spoon theory’ is one woman’s attempt to describe the experience of living with hidden illnesses and disabilities – in her case, Lupus.  But the theory can be just as easily be applied to mental illnesses.

DVD News

Production of the updated ‘Not So Manic Now’ DVD is now under way as it has been re-digitised from the VHS video and ‘sliced’ for editing in order to update the logos and contact details etc. Last month we discussed whether or not we wanted to film an entirely new section looking at how things have changed over the last 12 years.
My own thoughts are that it would be good to look at developments in medication and treatment, plus I think it would be a good idea to interview the public -  as happened in 1997 – to see how public perceptions of manic depression/Bipolar disorder have changed. Bring your thoughts and ideas along to the next meeting.

October ’09 Newsletter

September saw us move our meetings from Darlington Mind to St Cuthbert’s Church Hall, and I for one was relieved to find that we still had tea and coffee making facilities – plus cake and biscuits. All in all, I think the group’s impression of our new meeting space was favourable – if you have any concerns, let us know.
Our visiting speaker was Michelle McMeekin, the author of Poles Apart which is a memoir of her experience of Bipolar Disorder. The group found her talk both interesting and informative and hope to see her again in the near future, as she lives locally.  Some members continued on to the karaoke in the nearest pub (The Nag’s Head, if you’re interested…)
Hope to see you all at the October meeting.

Book review of “Poles Apart” by Michelle McMeekin

One of the best autobiographies of bipolar illness I have read, partly because I could relate to a lot of the experiences she went through.

From becoming unwell in her teens and struggling to work whilst suffering with this illness, to experiencing time in a psychiatric hospital & coping with the delusion of imminent death. Also as she lives locally it made it even more real.

It is written in a very easy to read way, plus it is relatively short and would appeal to anyone with an interest in mental illness not just bipolar.

By Jane Fell.

Change of venue for MDF Darlington

Sadly July’s barbecue was our last meeting at Mind. However, Gary Emerson the CEO of Darlington Mind has kindly offered to pay for a year’s room hire for the group. From now on we will be meeting on the last Monday of the month at:

St. Cuthbert’s Church Hall
The Market Place
Darlington
DL1 5QG