Join us for the biggest bipolar disorder Q&A event on the internet!
For over 48 hours on March 30th 2023, the CREST.BD network will be holding our 5th annual “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) on Reddit in honour of World Bipolar Day. This year, we’ve gathered our largest panel of bipolar disorder experts from around the world to answer all your questions!
Date: March 30, 2023 – World Bipolar Day → Add to your calendar
Starting time: 10:00AM PST, 1:00PM EST → continues for over 48 hours!
Where to ask questions: r/IAmA on Reddit → reddit.com/r/IAmA
This AMA is taking place at r/IAmA on Reddit! It’s a platform for question and answer events, where anyone with a Reddit account can ask a question. Our past World Bipolar Day AMAs have hosted meaningful discussions not only between panelists and individuals with bipolar disorder, but also with people within the bipolar disorder community such as family, friends, and healthcare providers. Our diverse team of researchers, clinicians, and people who live with bipolar disorder will answer your questions on all things bipolar disorder from our u/CREST_BD Reddit account.
To ask questions to our panelists, find our AMA on reddit.com/r/IAmA when the event starts. Our panelists will be online for over 48 hours!
More than 60 expert panelists
As of March 22nd, 66 bipolar disorder experts from 12 countries have confirmed their participation as panelists for this event! Read more below about who will be answering your questions on World Bipolar Day:
Alessandra Torresani 🇺🇸
Actress & Mental Health Advocate, Lived Experience
talkBD.live/alessandra
@alessandratorresani
@emotionalsupportpod
imdb.com
I’m an actress and mental health advocate. I’ve appeared on the Big Bang Theory, American Horror Story, and Caprica! I’m also an ambassador for the National Alliance on Mental Health, and I host the EmotionAL Support podcast, where I talk with guests about mental health to break through stigma!
Alex Emmerton 🇨🇦
Peer Researcher, Lived Experience
I live well with Bipolar 1 and have recently become involved with CREST.BD in a peer research capacity. I love spending time with my partner and friends who help keep me grounded and generally in good spirits. I also enjoy exercising, playing video games, writing, and following Combat Sports!
Anne Van Willigen 🇺🇸
Librarian & Peer Researcher, Lived Experience
I have over forty years lived experience with BD. I am dedicated to aging well with bipolar and use Dialectical Behavior Therapy, yoga and mindfulness and dark therapy to do so.
Dr. Annemiek Dols 🇳🇱
Psychiatrist & Researcher
Annemiek Dols is a psychiatrist working in the Netherlands. She does research on aging in bipolar disorder with a focus on cognitive and physical health. Next to that, she has set up several psychotherapies trials in older age bipolar disorder, as she believes that empowerment is most important. She is co-Chair of the International Society for Bipolar Disorders Older Adult Bipolar Disorder Task Force, and helps to lead a global study combining data on late-life bipolar disorder from studies across the world (GAGE-BD).
Dr. Benjamin Goldstein 🇨🇦
Child-Adolescent Psychiatrist
talkBD.live/ben
@bengoldstein73
camh.ca
My career as a psychiatrist and researcher focuses on bipolar disorder in youth. The primary theme of my research is the link between bipolar disorder and cardiovascular health, which has implications for research, treatment, and stigma-reduction. In terms of treatment research, my group focuses on DBT, exercise, and nitrous oxide.
Catherine Simmons 🇨🇦
Peer Researcher, Lived Experience
crestbd.ca/catherine
Catherine has 23 years experience of living through the ups and downs of bipolar disorder. She is currently living well following her last manic/psychotic episode in 2018, and happy to be involved in this AMA.
Dr. Chris Gorman 🇨🇦
Psychiatrist
@drchrisgorman1
I’m a psychiatrist with a special interest in Bipolar Disorders, and Clinical Professor at UBC Dept. Of Psychiatry, Vancouver, BC. My current work is with the Vancouver General Hospital Psychiatry Outpatient Service and as a Community Advisor for CREST.BD.
Dr. David Miklowitz 🇺🇸
Psychologist and Researcher
UCLA Child and Adolescent Mood Disorders Program
The Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide
David Miklowitz Ph.D. is Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry at the UCLA Semel Institute in Los Angeles, CA. His work focuses on psychosocial interventions for youth and young adult with bipolar disorder, and illness management techniques.
Elysha Ringin 🇦🇺
Neuropsychiatry PhD Candidate
@ElyshaRingin
I’m a final year PhD candidate at the Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre in Melbourne, Australia. I’m interested in the link between vascular risk factors and cognition in BD, with a particular interest in lifestyle risk factors like physical activity and sedentary behaviour.
Dr. Emma Morton 🇦🇺
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Psychologist
talkBD.live/emma
@morton_emm
I am a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at UBC Psychiatry, as well as a psychologist. My research focuses on improving quality of life in serious mental health conditions, psychological interventions, and digital mental health tools.
Dr. Eric Youngstrom 🇺🇸
Psychologist, Professor, Resource Sharing Advocate
hgaps.org
ericyoungstrom.web.unc.edu
I am a professor of psychology and neuroscience who teaches at the University of North Carolina and Korea University in Seoul. My extended family has had many members affected by mood disorder. I am passionate about sharing information and resources, and co-founded and direct Helping Give Away Psychological Science — a charity dedicated to bringing the best mental health information and tools to the people who would benefit.
Dr. Erin Michalak 🇨🇦
Researcher & CREST.BD founder
talkBD.live/erin
@erin_michalak
I’m the founder and Network Lead of CREST.BD, and Professor at UBC Psychiatry. My work focuses on enhancing quality of life and reducing stigma for people living with bipolar disorder.
Evelyn Anne Clausen 🇺🇸
Writer & Artist, Lived Experience
I began experiencing symptoms of bipolar disorder as a teenager and was eventually diagnosed Bipolar 1 with psychosis. I’m a former music critic and website designer, current writer and artist living in the southern Appalachian Mountains. I believe that sharing our stories is the first step towards ending stigma and finding peace. No one is alone.
Dr. Fabiano Gomes 🇨🇦
Psychiatrist
@fagomes1981
I am an academic psychiatrist with a special interest in bipolar disorder. I am an assistant professor at McMaster University, Canada, where I work with people living with mood disorders to promote their stability and quality of life.
Georgia Caruana 🇦🇺
Neuropsychiatry PhD Candidate
@georgiacaruana
I am a final year PhD Candidate at the Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre in Melbourne, Australia. My research explores inter-relationships between brain structure, cognition and life stress in bipolar disorder. I am super passionate about multidisciplinary research and empowering lived experiences voices in our study designs.
Glorianna Jagfeld 🇬🇧
Mental Health PhD Student
@glorisonne
lancaster.ac.uk
I’m a PhD student in mental health research at the Spectrum Centre for Mental Health Research in Lancaster, UK. My (almost completed) PhD project looked at personal recovery in bipolar disorder. As part of this, I also analysed Reddit posts using natural language processing methods.
Maj. Gen. Gregg Martin 🇺🇸
U.S. Army retired, Mental Health Advocate, Lived Experience
talkBD.live/gregg
generalgreggmartin.com
36-year Army combat veteran, retired 2-star general, and bipolar type I survivor & thriver. Formerly President of National Defense University, am a qualified Airborne-Ranger-Engineer and Strategist. A graduate of West Point and MIT (PhD), my forthcoming book is entitled “Bipolar General: My Forever War with Mental Illness” (PREORDER ) , published by the US Naval Institute Press.
Dr. Guillermo Perez Algorta 🇬🇧
Senior Lecturer in Mental Health
crestbd.ca/guillermo
lancaster.ac.uk
Clinical psychology researcher, with international experience working in bipolar disorder. I am interested in assessment, rhythms and sleep, and risk taking behaviors and decision making.
Dr. Heather O’Brien 🇨🇦
Researcher
crestbd.ca/heather
iSchool.ubc.ca
I work at the School of Information at UBC. I have spent my career researching user engagement, specifically what makes people want to use a technology and how technologies support people’s goals. I am working with the CREST.BD team on the development of the PolarUs app to support health self-management for people living with BD.
Dr. Ivan Torres 🇨🇦
Clinical Neuropsychologist
talkBD.live/ivan
crestbd.ca/ivan
I’m a clinical neuropsychologist and clinical professor at UBC Psychiatry, and an investigator within BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services. My work involves the study of cognitive functioning in bipolar disorder and psychosis and its impact on daily functioning.
Jeff Brozena 🇺🇸
Human-computer Interaction/Digital Health PhD Student, Lived Experience
@brozena
brozena.net
I’m a graduate student with lived experience working towards a PhD in informatics. I’m focused on how digital health and fintech APIs can help support the financial stability of individuals living with BD. Before graduate school, I worked on the provider side of healthcare doing digital transformations in high-volume Medicaid pediatric groups.
Dra. Joanna Jiménez Pavón 🇲🇽
Mood Disorders Psychiatrist
@bipolarologa
I am a psychiatrist specializing in mood disorders, currently working in the Department of Affective Disorders of the National Institute of Psychiatry in Mexico. In addition, I collaborate with the Broad Institute and the Stanley Center, where I investigate the treatment response, chronobiology, and genetics of bipolar disorder in Latin Americans. I like video games, board games, and cats.
Dr. June Gruber 🇺🇸
Psychologist & Researcher
gruberpeplab.com
June Gruber is a professor and researcher who conducts research on emotions and bipolar disorder. She is interested in better understanding experiences of positive emotion and general mental well-being, and has done recent work on young adults at risk for bipolar disorders.
Dr. Kamyar Keramatian 🇨🇦
Psychiatrist & Researcher
crestbd.ca/kamyar
I am an adolescent and adult psychiatrist and a clinical assistant professor in the department of psychiatry at the University of British Columbia. My research is focused on early interventions in bipolar disorder.
Dr. Katie Douglas 🇳🇿
Psychologist & Researcher
@KMD_research
otago.ac.nz
Katie is a Clinical Psychologist and researcher at the University of Otago in New Zealand. Her research focuses on development of psychological and cognitive interventions to help longer-term recovery and functioning for people with depression and bipolar disorder.
Leslie Robertson 🇺🇸
Marketer, Peer Researcher, Lived Experience
I’m a digital marketer by trade and all-around creative with lived experience with bipolar disorder. I am a huge proponent of active movement (bonus for outside!) and journaling without a filter. HUGE data nerd—I make infographics out of almost everything (as a hobby!), including my power walking data.
Dr. Lisa O’Donnell 🇺🇸
Cognitive Therapist, Social Worker
talkBD.live/lisa
crestbd.ca/lisa
Lisa O’Donnell is an assistant professor and her work focuses on improving work outcomes for individuals living with bipolar disorder.
Louise Dwerryhouse 🇨🇦
Retired Social Worker, Mental Health Blogger, Lived Experience
talkBD.live/louise
Facebook
crestbd.ca/louise
In my free time I do some sort of physical activity every day, dabble in abstract painting and write short stories. None have been published to date, but this does not keep me from trying.
Mansoor Nathani 🇨🇦
Technology Enthusiast, Lived Experience
LinkedIn
I work for the 2nd largest domain registrar in the world specializing in Web Hosting, Email, Domains and DNS. My lived experience with bipolar disorder goes back over 20 years.
Natasha Reaney 🇨🇦
Counsellor, Lived Experience
crestbd.ca/natasha
I have bipolar disorder and I live a rich and full life. I work full-time as a team lead and counsellor with several mental health and substance use services with my local health authority. I’m passionate and outspoken about my experiences with mental health and often won’t shut up about them if given the opportunity.
Dr. Nigila Ravichandran 🇸🇬
Psychiatrist
talkBD.live/nigila
crestbd.ca/nigila
Dr. Nigila is primarily a clinician caring for her patients with mental health conditions, particularly attending to patients presenting in crisis to the emergency department of a psychiatry hospital. In addition, she is an academician and is an Adjunct Assistant Professor teaching younger generations of medical staff on psychiatric management. She is passionate about taking mental wellness into the community and speaks frequently on broadcasting media like radio, television, webinars, in public forums, in regional and international conferences and believes that adequate information and education on mental health awareness will take mental health into further depths in the society.
Patrick Boruett 🇰🇪
Pharmacist, Founder of Bipolar Heroes Foundation, Lived Experience
LinkedIn
Facebook
I am a pharmacist with lived experience of Bipolar Disorder. I’m the team leader of Bipolar Heroes Foundation based in Kenya. I got my diagnosis 12 years ago and have experienced ups and downs during this journey. I advocate for sharing of experiences through storytelling to raise awareness, help one another, and reduce stigma towards mental health.
Dr. Paula Villela Nunes 🇧🇷
Psychiatrist & Counsellor
LinkedIn
I’m a psychiatrist, researcher and Professor of Psychiatry at the University of São Paulo – Brazil. My work focuses on old age psychiatry and care partners of people living with bipolar disorder.
Dr. Rebekah Huber 🇺🇸
Psychologist & Researcher
@RebekahHuberPhD
I’m a licensed psychologist and a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Utah School of Medicine. My research aims to identify risk factors for suicide with a specific focus on youth with bipolar disorder.
Ryan Jarman 🇨🇦
Mental Health Advocate, Lived Experience
ryanjarmanmusic.bandcamp.com
I’m a musician, photographer and advocate. I’ve spent many years working in frontline trans health advocacy, disability, mental health, substance use, harm reduction & homelessness – all areas I have lived experience in. I now work as an Employment & Assistance Worker with the Ministry of Social Development & Poverty Reduction. I was diagnosed with bipolar type 2 in 2004 and am living well!
Dr. Sagar Parikh 🇺🇸
Psychiatrist & Researcher
crestbd.ca/sagar
medicine.umich.edu
As a clinician, I provide medication, psychotherapy, TMS, digital mental health tools, and ketamine for mood disorders. In addition to being a passionate educator in bipolar disorder, my research includes novel treatments, biomarkers, health system improvement, and educational research.
Prof. Samson Tse 🇭🇰
Professor in Mental Health & Counsellor
crestbd.ca/samson
hku.hk
I’m a Professor with a special interest in psychosocial management of bipolar disorders. I’m a founding member of CREST.BD, a friend and supporter of loved ones with mental health challenges.
Sara Schley 🇺🇸
Author, Filmmaker, Speaker, Lived Experience
saraschley.com
@brainstormthefilm
LinkedIn
I’m an author, filmmaker, and coach. I started my sustainability consulting business 30 years ago and have worked with hundreds of companies worldwide. I’ve also been living with bipolar II for over forty years. I’m presently making a documentary film with a stellar team to shine a spotlight on the bipolar spectrum.
Dr. Sarah H. Sperry 🇺🇸
Clinical Psychologist & Researcher
@DrSarahSperry
sperry.lab.medicine.umich.edu
I am an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of Michigan where I serve as the Associate Director of the Heinz C. Prechter Bipolar Research Program. My research and clinical work focuses on understanding and developing targeted interventions for emotion dysregulation, sleep disturbances, and co-occurring alcohol and substance use in individuals with bipolar disorder.
Dr. Tamsyn Van Rheenen 🇦🇺
Researcher
@TamsynVR
tamsynvanrheenen.com
I’m a Principal Research Fellow/Associate Professor at the Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre and the University of Melbourne in Australia. I lead the Mood and Psychosis Spectrum Research Group, and my research is focused on better understanding the cognitive symptoms of bipolar disorder and related conditions.
Tera Armel 🇨🇦
Mental Health Advocate, Lived Experience
talkBD.live/tera
I am a first year medical student at Queen’s University and was originally diagnosed with bipolar disorder in Grade 12. I have since become a dedicated mental health advocate and am grateful to have worked with amazing organizations including Jack.org, Step Above Stigma and the Centre for Youth Bipolar Disorder at CAMH. I hope to empower others by showing them that mental illness does not limit what they can achieve!
Dr. Thomas D. Meyer 🇺🇸
Psychologist & Researcher
med.uth.edu
I started in the late 90s in Germany getting interested in psychotherapy for bipolar disorder (BD) and did there the first RCT on Cognitive Behavior Therapy for BD. I also worked closely with Prof. Angst on developing his screening measure for BD, the HCL-32. Other areas of interest have been stress, impulsivity, neurocognition but my core interest remained psychological support for individuals experiencing BD and their loved ones. Having worked in Germany, the UK, and the US, I learnt a lot about cultural differences in approaching mental health.
Dr. Thomas Richardson 🇬🇧
Clinical Psychologist, Lived Experience
talkBD.live/thomas
@DrTomRichardson
@DrTomRichardson
@DrThomasRichardson
I’m a is a clinical psychologist working as an associate professor at the University of Southampton, in the UK. I teaches and research around the psychology of bipolar disorder, and the role of psychological therapies such as CBT. I also has lived experience of bipolar disorder.
Vanessa Rajamani 🇨🇦
Social Worker & Research Coordinator
camh.ca
I am a social worker and research coordinator at the Centre for Youth Bipolar Disorder which is located at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto. I provide dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) for youth with bipolar disorder and am a DBT-Linehan Board of Certification, Certified Clinician™.
The full list
- Alessandra Torresani, 🇺🇸 Actress & Mental Health Advocate (Lives w/ bipolar)
- Alex Emmerton, 🇨🇦 Peer Researcher (Lives w/ bipolar)
- Alikah Adair, 🇺🇸 Mental Health Advocate (Lives w/ bipolar)
- Anne Van Willigen, 🇺🇸 Librarian & Peer Researcher (Lives w/ bipolar)
- Dr. Annemiek Dols, 🇳🇱 Psychiatrist & Researcher
- Dr. Benjamin Goldstein, 🇨🇦 Child-Adolescent Psychiatrist
- Catherine Simmons, 🇨🇦 Peer Researcher (Lives w/ bipolar)
- Dr. Chris Gorman, 🇨🇦 Psychiatrist
- Dr. Colin Depp, 🇺🇸 Clinician Scientist
- Dr. David Miklowitz, 🇺🇸 Psychologist & Researcher
- Elysha Ringin, 🇦🇺 Neuropsychiatry PhD Candidate
- Dr. Emma Morton, 🇦🇺 Postdoctoral Research Fellow & Psychologist
- Dr. Eric Youngstrom, 🇺🇸 Psychologist & Researcher
- Dr. Erin Michalak, 🇨🇦 Researcher & CREST.BD founder
- Evelyn Anne Clausen, 🇺🇸 Writer & Artist (Lives w/ bipolar)
- Dr. Fabiano Gomes, 🇨🇦 Psychiatrist
- Georgia Caruana, 🇦🇺 Neuropsychiatry PhD Candidate
- Glorianna Jagfeld, 🇬🇧 Mental Health PhD Student
- Prof. Greg Murray, 🇦🇺 Psychologist
- Maj. Gen. Gregg Martin, 🇺🇸 U.S. Army retired, Mental Health Advocate (Lives w/ bipolar)
- Dr. Guillermo Perez Algorta, 🇬🇧 Senior Lecturer in Mental Health
- Dr. Hailey Tremain, 🇦🇺 Psychologist & Researcher
- Dr. Heather O’Brien, 🇨🇦 Researcher
- Dr. Ivan Torres, 🇨🇦 Clinical Neuropsychologist
- Dr. Ives Cavalcante Passos, 🇧🇷 Psychiatrist
- Jeff Brozena, 🇺🇸 Digital Health PhD Student (Lives w/ bipolar)
- Dra. Joanna Jiménez Pavón, 🇲🇽 Mood Disorders Psychiatrist
- Dr. John Torous, 🇺🇸 Psychiatrist & Clinical Informaticist
- Dr. Jorge Cabrera, 🇨🇱 Psychoanalyst
- Dr. Josh Woolley, 🇺🇸 Psychiatrist & Researcher
- Dr. Jill Murphy, 🇨🇦 Researcher
- Dr. June Gruber, 🇺🇸 Psychologist & Researcher
- Dr. Kamyar Keramatian, 🇨🇦 Psychiatrist & Researcher
- Dr. Katie Douglas, 🇳🇿 Psychologist & Researcher
- Keri Guelke, 🇨🇦 Outreach Worker & Mental Health Advocate (Lives w/ bipolar)
- Laura Lapadat, 🇨🇦 CREST.BD Trainee & Psychology PhD student
- Leslie Robertson, 🇺🇸 Marketer & Peer Researcher (Lives w/ bipolar)
- Dr. Lisa O’Donnell, 🇺🇸 Social Worker & Researcher
- Louise Dwerryhouse, 🇨🇦 Writer & Social Worker (Lives w/ bipolar)
- Dr. Madelaine Gierc, 🇨🇦 Psychologist & Researcher
- Mansoor Nathani, 🇨🇦 Technology Enthusiast (Lives w/ bipolar)
- Dr. Manuel Sánchez de Carmona, 🇲🇽 Psychiatrist
- Natasha Reaney, 🇨🇦 Counsellor (Lives w/ bipolar)
- Dr. Nigila Ravichandran, 🇸🇬 Psychiatrist
- Patrick Boruett, 🇰🇪 Mental Health Advocate (Lives w/ bipolar)
- Dr. Paula Villela Nunes, 🇧🇷 Psychiatrist & Counsellor
- Dr. Rachelle Hole, 🇨🇦 Researcher
- Dr. Raymond Lam, 🇨🇦 Psychiatrist & Researcher
- Dr. Rebekah Huber, 🇺🇸 Psychologist & Researcher
- Rosemary Hu, 🇨🇦 Poet & Educator (Lives w/ bipolar)
- Ruth Komathi, 🇸🇬 Counsellor (Lives w/ bipolar)
- Ryan Jarman, 🇨🇦 Mental Health Advocate (Lives w/ bipolar)
- Dr. Sagar Parikh, 🇺🇸 Psychiatrist
- Prof. Samson Tse, 🇭🇰 Professor in Mental Health & Counsellor
- Sara Lapsley, 🇨🇦 Researcher & Psychology PhD Candidate (Lives w/ bipolar)
- Sara Schley, 🇺🇸 Author, Filmmaker, Speaker (Lives w/ bipolar)
- Dr. Sarah H. Sperry, 🇺🇸 Researcher
- Dr. Serge Beaulieu, 🇨🇦 Psychiatrist
- Shaley Hoogendoorn, 🇨🇦 “This is Bipolar” Podcast Host (Lives w/ bipolar)
- Dr. Steven Barnes, 🇨🇦 Instructor & Artist (Lives w/ bipolar)
- Dr. Tamsyn Van Rheenen, 🇦🇺 Researcher
- Tera Armel, 🇨🇦 Mental Health Advocate (Lives w/ bipolar)
- Dr. Thomas D. Meyer, 🇺🇸 Psychologist & Researcher
- Dr. Thomas Richardson, 🇬🇧 Clinical Psychologist (Lives w/ bipolar)
- Vanessa Rajamani, 🇨🇦 Social Worker & Research Coordinator
- Virginia Marcolin, 🇨🇦 Serial Entrepreneur (Lives w/ bipolar)
- … more to be announced!
We’ll continue to announce new AMA panelists on this page leading up to World Bipolar Day!
What is World Bipolar Day?
World Bipolar Day was created with the intent to bring attention and awareness to bipolar disorders on a world stage and to end the social stigma surrounding the condition. It is celebrated every year on March 30th, the birthday of Vincent Van Gogh. World Bipolar Day is an initiative of the International Bipolar Foundation (IBPF), the Asian Network of Bipolar Disorder (ANBD) and the International Society for Bipolar Disorders (ISBD).
Past World Bipolar Day AMAs
CREST.BD has held World Bipolar Day AMAs on Reddit annually since 2019! Our 2022 World Bipolar Day AMA was our most successful event yet! There were hundreds of questions asked and answered about bipolar disorder and over 2.6 million views! We’ve taken some of the highlights from the day and published them in a blog post here.
