Renowned North Vancouver psychiatrist Dr. Paul E. Termansen comes to Gelato Carina Tuesday (March 30) to present a vivid portrayal of bipolar disorder in the documentary Not Just a Bad Day - Living with Bipolar Disorder.
Termansen has shown the film at festivals and community events - earning a Silver Chris Award at the Columbus International Film and Video Festival in the U.S. - and says it always encourages open discussion on the issues surrounding bipolar disorder.
"My hope was that the film would be used as a beginning point for dialogue and allow people to share their experiences and ask questions," he said.
Funded by the Sutherland Foundation, the film follows a year in the life of four of Termansen's patients as they struggle through different phases of the illness. Although each patient is very different, their stories encapsulate the challenges faced by many bipolar patients and their families.
One of the featured subjects is Mike, a young man in he midst of a manic episode. He's off his medications, he's been snorting cocaine and living it up in Whistler. His mother is afraid of him and his girlfriend is desperate for him to seek help, yet Mike feels on top of the world. As depression descends on Mike, the film focuses on his attempts to pull his life back together.
In another story, Erin, a young mother who lives in Squamish, struggles with a new baby and a recent diagnosis of bipolar disorder.
She wants another child and so refuses medications but her crushing depression threatens to derail her fragile family life.
Then there's Martha, a woman coming out of depression and dealing with the loss of her teaching job and 20 year marriage, and Mary-Jane, a survivor who has successfully managed her illness for over a decade after many years of repeated relapse. Despite the fact that she suffers from the most severe form of the disease, she is able to successfully hold down a job.
Some of the film participants will also be on hand to discuss the disorder.
Catch Not Just a Bad Day - Living with Bipolar Disorder Tuesday (March 30) from 7 to 9 p.m. at Gelato Carina on Cleveland Avenue.
