Hello and welcome to the Australian Bipolar Schizoaffective Support Network (ABSSN)!

The aim of ABSSN is to provide a free, safe and supportive place for those of us who are bipolar or schizoaffective.   The symbol for ABSSN is the magnolia flower, which represents dignity and perseverance and the group was started as an expansion of the online Aussie Bipolar’s group, which began on myspace in November 2006.

MENTAL HEALTH WEEK 2008 - October 6 - 12

ABSSN Mental Health Week Events:

PICNIC IN THE PARK! - Official Mental Health Week Event

Date: Friday October 10, 2008 (World Mental Health Day)
Time: 12 - 3pm
Cost: Free!

Grab your mates and bring your lunch to the Flagstaff Gardens(Melbourne CBD)for a picnic to show your support for World Mental Health Day.

HOW TO GET THERE:

Take tram (48, 70, 75, City Circle) from Flinders Street to La Trobe Street and then tram (55) from La Trobe Street or take a train to Flagstaff Station on the city loop.

Melway Ref - 2F A2

For more info contact Bec on 0404 249 331 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

ABSSN FAMILY DAY AND SAUSAGE SIZZLE! - Official mental health week event 

This event has been cancelled due to lack of sponsorship.

Katrine is jumping out of a plane to raise awareness for mental illness!

On October 11th 2008 Katrine Williams will be doing a tandem skydive to raise money for the UK mental health organisation Mind. 

Please show your support for Katrine and help her raise much needed funds by visiting the following link: http://justgiving.co.uk/katrinewilliams

If you would like to run, help organise or simply attend an ABSSN support group meeting, then please contact me for details.  We are aiming to have a Melbourne group up and running within the next few months and would love to have as many people involved as possible. 

ABSSN is also looking for people who wish to donate their time and write articles for the site.  The different categories can be seen to the left and those who are interested can write as many or as few articles as they like.  Articles can be sent to the email addresses below, and full credit will be given to the authors.

In other news, World Mental Health Day is October 10th this year, ABSSN is excited to be hosting the sausage sizzle and we're busy designing brochures and info packs to hand out to people as well as showcasing work of people involved with the group - things such as photography, paintings, samples of writing etc.  Please contact me if you would like to be involved with this.  In the next few months we hope to be selling Self Injury Awareness ribbons and wristbands, as well as green bipolar and schizoaffective ones.  The profits made on these items will go to expanding and advertising ABSSN so we can provide a support network to as many people as possible!

Our forum is now up and running, so feel free to drop in and say hello, or to browse through the different sections for some coping tips. 

We also have a new mission in raising awareness of mental illness called Candleproject that is about to go up, please take the time to read the information about it here and send it to your email contacts so we can reach our goal of 1 million candles.

If you have any enquiries, feedback, or wish to participate in any of the above mentioned activities then please email me at either This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .  I can also be found on Windows Live Messenger at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .   

Thank you for being part of ABSSN,

Bec

COMING SOON!

It is a sad fact that many of the estimated 222 million individuals living with bipolar disorder and 51 million living with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disoder worldwide, suffer in silence.  Inspired details the stories of numerous survivors who have overcome the limitations of their illnesses to live their best lives and achieve their dreams.  Inspired is a deeply moving collection that bears testimony to the human spirit.  No matter how hard or high the mountain is to climb, it can be done!  This is one of the truly important books of our time with the potential to bring hope, peace and inspiration to millions. 

ABSSN is proud to support and be a part of this project and encourages you to purchase a copy; proceeds will go to SANE and part will be put towards starting an ABSSN trust so we can be one step closer to turning this group and site into a mental health foundation we can all be proud of and one that will continue to provide free support and resources for all those who are diagnosed with bipolar or schizoaffective disorder.

Once Inspired is released, ABSSN will be providing a link where you can purchase this motivational piece.  If you would like to share your story with the writer you can contact me at the above addresses and I will forward the message on.  The sort of information needed is, in your own words:
When did you first become aware of the condition? What did you go through or experience due to the condition? What strategies worked for you to achieve a level of recovery? How has your life changed? Tell us a little about your life now and finally, any advice/wisdom/messages to share with others who are currently struggling with the same illness? If you do have a success story to share, you could write it down on a few pages (this can be as long and as extensive as you like - the more information the better really) and email it to one of the above addresses where it will be forwarded on.

 If you would like to help us advertise ABSSN on your webpage please use the above image.  Thank you!

IMPORTANT:

ABSSN IS A SUPPORT NETWORK HOWEVER WE DO NOT REPLACE HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM AND CANNOT BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR A PERSONS ACTIONS. ABSSN AND ITS USERS MAY NOT BE MENTAL HEALTH OR HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS. THE OPINIONS OF USERS ARE THEIRS ALONE AND ARE NOT ENDORSED BY ABSSN.

IF YOU ARE FEELING SUICIDAL OR FEEL YOU MAY HARM YOURSELF IN ANY WAY THEN GO TO THE NEAREST EMERGENCY ROOM IMMEDIATELY OR CALL LIFELINE ON 13 11 14.