Self-management and community-based research take centre stage

In 1997, while attending university, Michael Crane was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. In recent years he has been working to try and find new and progressive ways to help others who have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, their families and friends, and people who work in the field of mental health.

Michael is a member of the Collaborative RESearch Team—CREST.BD— which studies psychosocial issues in Bipolar Disorder. CREST.BD is a team of researchers, clinicians, and consumers dedicated to developing knowledge about bipolar disorder using a community-based research approach.

Michael has not only been working as a community researcher, he has also been attending conferences, sitting on committees, and is training for peer support work. He’ll be in Nanaimo on Tuesday March 23rd as the keynote speaker for a public forum called Taking Care of Business: Being An Active Participant.

We speak with Michael Crane about his personal experiences with bipolar disorder and about his work in the community (part one) and find out more about an upcoming workshop in Nanaimo (part two).

(Part One)   187_march 18_2010_sm

(Part Two)   188_march 18_2010_sm