“Touching, accurate, informative and educational…We were so impressed with her that we

recommended her as the keynote for another association's annual conference.”

- Patricia Holland, Senior Associate, Technical Assistance Collaborative (TAC), Boston

Victoria Maxwell (BFA/BPP*) is one of North America’s most sought-after

speakers and educators on the ‘lived’ experience of mental illness and recov-

ery, return to work and reducing mental illness’s powerful stigma. She is the

first in Canada & the U.S.A. to use the ‘lived’ experience of mental

illness to disseminate scientific research and transfer knowledge into

action at the international level through theatre.

Her most recent show, That’s Just Crazy Talk, has been the focus of a

research study measuring the potential of a lived-experience theatre piece to

improve attitudes towards mental illness. Research results show significant

reduction in stigma and increased belief in recovery from psychiatric

illness. (See last two pages of this kit for more information)

At the age of 25, Victoria was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, anxiety and

psychosis. For 5 years she refused to accept this and in turn was in and out of

the hospital. Finally after acknowledging her disorders, with the help of her

family and a good psychiatrist, she became proactive in her recovery.

Awards and Honors

An award-winning actress playwright with over 20 years experience, Victoria has worked alongside David

Duchovny, John Travolta and Johnny Depp, among others. Since 2001, she has written and performed her

four, critically acclaimed one-person shows about living with mental illness throughout North America and

internationally. Her plays and other efforts have collectively won or been nominated for 11 awards,

including the Entertainment Industries Council PRISM Commendation Award, SAMHSA Voice Award,

Moondance International Film Festival award for best foreign stage play, finalist at the Canadian National

Playwriting Competition, being named one of Top Ten Entrepreneurs with Disabilities.

Using her theatre background, personal experience of psychiatric illness and professional knowledge as a

mental health worker, Victoria gives a unique, irreverently funny and powerful ‘insider’s’ perspective of

mental illness. Victoria crafts each play and workshop to intentionally ignite dialogue, raise awareness, dis-

mantle stigma and shame, inspire hope, and help families and individuals reach out for help. Further, her

work assists health professionals and employers gain a better understanding of this very taboo subject. She

has presented over 600 shows and 500 workshops to more than 65,000 people in 4 countries.

*Bachelor of Fine Arts / Bi-Polar Princess

Victoria Maxwell BFA, BPP* Mental Health Speaker, Educator, Actor and Writer

Areas of Expertise

· Lived Experience of Mental Illness and Recovery · Students and Mental Illness

· Stigma Reduction · Accommodation, Mental Illness & Workplace

· Psychiatric Disability Wellness Tools · Maximizing Recovery and Treatment Plans

· Client & Patient/Healthcare Provider Relationship · Disclosure and Mental Illness

- 1 -

“Exceptional and very funny. The response to your performance has been over the top with

high ratings and lots of individuals asking when you are doing a return engagement ”

- Dale Hall, Diversity, Equity & Human Rights Services, George Brown College

In 2007, Victoria became a founding member of the Collaborative RESearch

Team to study psychosocial issues in Bipolar Disorder (CREST.BD), an

international, multidisciplinary research team dedicated to both fundamental

research and knowledge translation.

Publishing and Media

In addition to her acting and research, Victoria has numerous publishing cred-

its that reveal her keen ability to gear positive messaging to diverse audi-

ences. Her Psychology Today blog, Crazy for Life: Escapades of a Bipolar Prin-

cess was named by Psych Central as one of the top ten bipolar blogs on the

web. She has numerous authorship credits in academic peer reviewed publi-

cations^, was a co-investigator on the Mental Health Commission of Can-

ada’s Police Research Project, and been featured in the documentaries

‘Living with Depression’ and ‘She Talks Crazy Talk’.

Her work continues to garner North American media interest, an indication of

the growing respect of her message in the public domain: she is a frequent

guest on radio and television and her work has been profiled and quoted in

the Globe & Mail, Chatelaine Magazine, the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal.

Victoria is a charismatic keynoter and performer whose honest, often hilariously irreverent approach to her

own experiences disarms the prejudices often associated with mental illness, even as she provides crucial

information on how to deal with it openly and effectively, in the workplace and elsewhere.

For more than ten years, she has assisted health professionals, individuals, families, executives, college staff

and students recognize and understand mental illness, implement successful recovery and management tools

and identify effective accommodations for mental illness in the workplace. Most popular packages combine

a solo show with a post performance question and answer period as an opening or closing keynote with a

customized breakout session. Wilderness Tips for the Comeback Trail: Helping Clients Reclaim Joy and

Balance and Ready, Set Recognize: Detecting Mental Illness & Supporting Recovery are in demand for

events throughout North America. More importantly, they offer tools and hope to build wellness and reduce

stigma of this, one of the very last taboos.

*Bachelor of Fine Arts / Bi-Polar Princess

“Transformational! Victoria and her performances create willingness in people to talk about mental

illness and actively reach out for help. She has become a tool to further shift the direction of our or-

ganization towards recovery and reach people we could not otherwise reach.”

- Noel Clark, CEO, Carlsbad Mental Health Center

- 2 -

Victoria Maxwell BFA, BPP* Mental Health Speaker, Educator, Actor and Writer

For more information, please call toll free: 1-866-885-7465

or email victoria@victoriamaxwell.com or visit www.victoriamaxwell.com

A True Story about Mental Illness, Secrets, and Family

Part of a 2 year Research Study measuring improvements in attitudes towards mental illness*

Nominated for a 2012 Voice/SAMHSA Award and a 2012 Transforming Lives Award

“Kudos to Victoria, the researchers

& funders for breaking down barri-

ers, rejecting & defying stigma.”

- That’s Just Crazy Talk

Audience Member

“This is just what we had hoped

for...you educated beyond what can

be done in the classroom. Definitely

the highlight of graduation week.”

- Tom Grant, Chair, University of BC,

Occupational Therapy Conference

“ 4 out of 4 stars

Outstanding, Bravo!”

- National Council for Community

Behavioral Healthcare

“Poignant & profound. Victoria

is a gifted actor and comic.”

- That’s Just Crazy Talk

Audience Member

Written & Performed by Victoria Maxwell

Directed by Rachel Peake

That’s Just Crazy Talk describes one woman’s journey of coming to terms with mental illness within herself

and in her family. An intimate, yet universal story exploring the judgment we face not only from others, but

from ourselves and the mysteries of family secrets. This funny and achingly truthful play both entertains and

educates, exploding stigmas and portraying the love and resilience it takes to stay together as a family in the

midst of illness and the beauty that can result when we face our demons.

*Unique to this show, ‘That’s Just Crazy Talk’ is the focus of a research study measuring the potential of a lived

experience theatre piece to shift attitudes towards mental illness, a 2-year project of the Collaborative RESearch

Team (CREST.BD) supported by the Canadian Institutes for Health Research. CREST.BD is a multidisciplinary

research team dedicated to both fundamental research and knowledge translation.

Findings from the study demonstrate the show is effective in increasing hope for consumers, reducing stigma

and improving attitudes about potential for recovery from mental illness for health professionals. Victo-

ria’s talent for performing and her personal stories have the unique ability to change attitudes about mental ill-

ness. *For further details please see pages of this information kit.

“Thank you again for your performance. We’ve had great feedback.

You instilled hope in the audience...your work is inspirational.” - Dr. Patrick White, President of Alberta Medical Association, Past President of Canadian Psychiatric Association

- 3 -

For more information, please call toll free: 1-866-885-7465

or email victoria@victoriamaxwell.com or visit www.victoriamaxwell.com

That’s Just Crazy Talk

The One-Woman Hit Show about Living with Mental Illness

2007 Entertainment Industries Council PRISM Award Nominee

Winner of Solo Collective’s Canadian National Emerging Playwright’s Award

Winner of the Gordon Armstrong Theater Award

Finalist in the Canadian National Playwriting Competition

The Hit Stage

Play that takes a

Naked Look at

Mental Illness!

“Artistically marvelous…

the writing poetic, the delivery

superb.”

- Karen Freeborn, President and

Artistic Director, Moonstone Theatre

“Simply phenomenal.

One minute, people were

rocking with belly-laughs,

the next they were reaching

for Kleenex.”

- Patrick Buchannon,

General Manager,

New Chelsea Society

Written and performed by Victoria Maxwell BFA, BPP*

Directed by Rondel Reynoldson

Talk about a walk on the wild side…Crazy for Life, is a ‘tour-de-force’ one-woman show of Victoria Maxwell’s

roller-coaster ride with bi-polar disorder. A brave, funny, and compelling look at experiencing, surviving, and

coming to terms with mental illness. Actor/writer/educator Victoria Maxwell (Crazy for Life Co.) takes us

‘round the bend, and back again: from meditation groups to hospital psych wards, from black depressions to

manic highs and psychedelic psychoses. Most memorable moment: joyfully running down the street… naked…

in posh Point Grey, playing hide n’ seek with the Divine.

“Authentic…honest…with a transformative ending that will move every heart.”

- Aaron Bushkowsky, award-winning playwright of Strangers Among Us and The Waterhead

Directed by Rondel Reynoldson (White Trash Blue Eyes), Crazy for Life both entertains and educates, explod-

ing stigmas, myths and revealing glimpses of one face of psychiatric illness. But at its’ essence, the play is a

celebration of the richness of life, the strength of the human spirit and the power of the human heart.

So get ready! Get excited! And get…Crazy for Life!

- 4 -

For more information, please call toll free: 1-866-885-7465

or email victoria@victoriamaxwell.com or visit www.victoriamaxwell.com

Crazy for Life

The Highly Anticipated Show About Returning to Work & Mental Illness

Winner of the 2009 Moondance International Film Festival Award for Best One Act Stage Play

“The comments about your performance were spectacular. We are so grateful to have been

able to hear your message. We will definitely have you back next year!!!”

- Linda Alderson, Manager, Rehabilitation Mental Health Services, Nova Scotia

Funny, You Don’t Look Crazy is the much anticipated ‘sister’ show to Victoria Maxwell’s hit Crazy for

Life. Directed by Johnna Wright, this high energy, irreverent solo show is the 2nd instalment of her bipolar

escapades, capturing the world of work before, during and after bipolar disorder, anxiety and psychosis.

Follow her mad dash from acting with John Travolta to cashiering at Safeway to wearing backless hospital

greens, to participating in vocational rehab with job coaches and back into employment again.

Like her previous show, this true life story both inspires and informs, giving a unique ‘insider’s’ perspective

of the often wacky and worrisome journey of returning to work after a diagnosis of mental illness. At its

core, this deeply personal play reflects a universal story: the resiliency in each and every one of us despite

the challenges we face, and the literally vital role love, hope, and support plays in our lives.

Audience members walk away enlightened and entertained, holding an expanded vision not of what’s

improbable, but instead of what is possible.

“Victoria takes the painful reality of living with mental illnesses and turns it

into something we can understand, laugh with her about and come

away feeling empowered and ready to take action. Brava!” - Sue Bergeson, VP Consumer Affairs at OptumHealth Behavioral Solutions

- 5 -

Call Crazy for Life Co. toll free: 1-866-885-7465

or email victoria@victoriamaxwell.com or visit www.victoriamaxwell.com

Funny, You Don't Look Crazy

Victoria Maxwell Returns with a Solo Show about Love, Dating & Mental Illness

“Fantastically powerful...wonderful blend of reality, comedy and poignancy

conveying the very human perspective of mental illness and how recovery can look.”

- Dr. Rivian Weinerman, Head of Collaborative Care Psychiatry Vancouver Island Health Authority

“Excellent! Victoria inspires behavioral health providers to become more recovery-focused.

Strongly recommend this presentation.”

- National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare

Head Over Heels is Victoria Maxwell’s third solo show which follows her in her dating disasters and roman-

tic relationships in and out of the psych ward. Join her on this rambunctious ride of unexpected twists and

awkward situations: from how to tell a date you have a mental illness, to the pros and cons of dating some-

one from the psych ward.

Directed by Rachel Peake, this funny and achingly truthful play reveals the hilarity that ensues from high

flying manias but also uncovers the profound pain of loosing relationships not only with others but with one-

self. It is a story centered on what we all wish for (yet may never admit): the desire to love and to be loved

and to feel we belong – no matter what.

Like her previous plays Crazy for Life and Funny...You Don't Look Crazy, Head Over Heels looks at both

the light and dark side of living with a bipolar disorder, anxiety and psychosis. It describes one woman’s

do’s and don’ts in the game of dating and romance while living with mental illness, and shows us how to be

comfortable in our own skin and to share that uniqueness with others.

- 6 -

Call Crazy for Life Co. toll free: 1-866-885-7465

or email victoria@victoriamaxwell.com or visit www.victoriamaxwell.com

Head Over Heels

Excellent…terrific speaker …Victoria is outstanding. The mixed audience (psychiatrists, health

professionals, residents, students) enjoyed the show and the insights revealed.

-Dr. Raymond W. Lam, Head of Clinical Neuroscience & Director UBC Mood Disorder Clinic

An excellent, rare writer who brings words to such vivid life on stage…

irresistible stage presence, humor and acting ability. - David Roche, International Humorist, California

Victoria’s presentations are incredibly enlightening…recommended at the highest level.

- Dr. Harry Karlinsky, Director, Continuing Medical Education, Psychiatry, University of BC

You really made many people inspired and impressed. We received excellent feedback from our survey.

- Jeanie Whitecraft, Director, Nat’l Technical Assistance, Institute for Recovery and Community Integration

Of the all the presentations, yours was the highest ranked…you have a gift that’s rare & appreciated. - Carol Redston, Psychiatry, UBC, Conference Co-orndinator, Vancouver Hospital & Health Sciences

Fantastic workshop… the participants all fell in love with Victoria! She inspired many folks.

- Wayne McNiven, Head of Community/Career Education, Vancouver Community College

One of the brightest stars at the UK festival…passionate, mesmerizing and empowering.

- Moya Harris, Executive Director, Equata Company, London, England

Victoria is magic…the response was unprecedented. All sold-out shows. We are still

receiving calls about the power of those performances…a leader in mental health education.

- Katie Hughes, Executive Director, Canadian Mental Health Association, Vancouver

Loved it...funny, beautiful and profound... a show for everyone.

- Phil Patston, President/Founder, International Guild of Disabled Artists, New Zealand

Victoria is an inspiration, giving hope to all.

- Rafe Mair, Broadcaster/Author, Vancouver

By popular demand, we opted to add a performance to our already tight schedule.

We were not disappointed. It educates and entertains. Great!

- Geoff McMurchy, Artistic Director, KickstART! Festival, Courage to Comeback Award

Smart, wry and full of wonderful imagery. The end is a knockout.

- Frank Moher, Director and Governor-General’s Award Nominee, Vancouver

Excellent! Vulnerable, insightful, intimate and honest.

- Stacy Sprague, Director of Vancouver Hospital, Employee & Family Assistance Program

Wonderful…the staff keeps telling me it was the best education they ever had. They want more!

-Theresa Castro, Psychiatric Nurse, BC Housing Commission, Victoria

- 7 -

What’s All The Buzz About?

Keynote Performances

That’s Just Crazy Talk ~ A story about mental illness, secrets and family

Crazy for Life ~ A true-life story of living with mental illness, DVDs available for bulk orders

Funny, You Don’t Look Crazy ~ The sister show to Crazy for Life about returning to work.

Head Over Heels ~ A true story about love, dating and mental illness

Educational Programs

Wilderness Tips for the Comeback Trail: Helping Your Clients Reclaiming Joy & Balance Ready, Set, Recognize: Detecting Mental Illness & Supporting Recovery

Surviving Stigma: Unearth Stigma To Improve Recovery On The Road Again: Accommodating Mental Illness at Work

Meaning Out of Madness & Trauma: Looking Back & Moving Forward Improving Outcomes: Recovery, Motivation & Personal Medicine

Keynotes and programs are customized to accommodate time limits, audiences & specific event goals.

Keynote performances & workshops are eligible for Continuing Education Units for a broad range of

professions, including CME and CE units for both the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of

Canada and the American Medical Association (AMA) as well as for other organizations.

Detailed learning objectives and further information upon request.

“You were wonderful! We are getting rave reviews about you and the special tone you set.

It’s a gift to us that you’re willing to risk so much in order to share your experience.

Our spirits were nourished.”

- Ed Murphy, Executive Director, The Supportive Housing Association of New Jersey

“Exceptionally engaging, thought-provoking and irreverently funny...the expertise and experience she

imparts translates into good business sense… an important element in the wellness initiatives our

company takes pride in offering our employees and their families.”

- Shayne Ramsay, CEO, BC Housing

- 8 -

Keynotes and Programs

“Wonderful…we’ve received enormous amounts of positive feedback…

I haven't seen our participants this excited at our conferences ever!”

David Wardle, CEO, REES Network

A personalized eWelcome/Announcement by Victoria, available for you to upload to your website or for use in a

promotional email. A great idea to promote your event!

A DVD signing session after the presentations.

Special bulk order rates for reprints of Victoria’s DVDs.

If a luncheon or social event is held, Victoria can be in attendance to play an informal role at the event.

‘Meet and Greet’ with photo opportunities after the engagement.

Victoria is available to media prior to the event; she has extensive experience in TV, radio and print interviews.

Broadcast quality footage of shows, headshots and show excerpts are available for media use.

PDF file of posters, announcements and theatre program templates are available for use by the event organizers.

DVD of Crazy for Life or That’s Just Crazy Talk will be donated to the organizers for library use or door prize.

A reprint of one of Victoria’s articles on a mental health topic relevant to the events for the attendee’s package or

the organizers newsletter for the month prior or after the engagement will also be made available. Complete topic

and title list available upon request.

A ‘Q & A’ following shows and programs.

Activities not listed above are possible pending further discussion and mutual agreement.

Requested services must be confirmed and arranged at least three weeks prior to engagement.

Please note that although we will do our best to accommodate your requests we are unable to guarantee them.

- 9 -

For information, call Crazy for Life Co. toll free: 1-866-885-7465

or email victoria@victoriamaxwell.com or visit www.victoriamaxwell.com

Value Added Options

Allies Inc.

AstraZeneca Inc.

Boggs Center of New Jersey

British Columbia Housing Commission

Business Leadership Network

Canadian Psychiatric Association

Canadian Mental Health Association – Nation-Wide

Canadian Association of Rehabilitation Professionals

Care Plus Foundation

Care Plus of New Jersey Inc.

Clark College, Washington

Collaborative Support Programs of New Jersey

Columbia River Mental Health Services, Washington

Department of Defence

Depression Bipolar Support Alliance

Diversity Works Co., New Zealand

Early Psychosis Intervention Program

Equata England Incorporated, U.K

Governor's Conference for People with Disabilities

Idaho Department of Health & Welfare

Supportive Housing Association of New Jersey Idaho Office of Consumer Affairs & Technical Assistance

South West Regional Behavioral Health Conference Janssen Ortho Incorporated

University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey Jefferson Mental Health Services

University of BC, Department of Psychiatry Lundbeck Pharmaceuticals

University Mood Disorders Clinic, UBC Hospital Mountain States Group of Idaho

US Psychosocial Rehabilitation Association New Directions of Delaware

Van. Hospital and Health Sciences Center New Mexico Department of Health

Van. Hospital Employee Assistance Program New Zealand Mental Health Commission

Washington Community Mental Health Council Organization of Bi-polar and Affective Disorders of Calgary

Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Worldwide Pennsylvania Community Care Behavioral Health

- 10 -

Partial Client List

Did you know…?

1 in 5 Americans or 44.3 million people have or will have a mental illness during his or her lifetime;

the other 4 are indirectly affected by the illness of a friend, family member or colleague.

Mental illnesses affect people of all ages, income and educational levels, and cultures.

An American dies by suicide every 17 minutes; this ‘statistic’ doesn’t include the many more who attempt

suicide.

Mental illnesses are caused by complex interplay of genetic, biological, personality, environmental factors.

In developed countries, mental illnesses (depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive

disorder) account for four of the 10 leading causes of disability.

The economic cost of untreated mental illness in the United States is more than 100 billion dollars each

year (disability claims, unemployment insurance, lost productivity etc.)

Depression is the fastest growing category of disability claim, overtaking cardiovascular disease.

For the first time mental or emotional problems at work exceed physical causes as the primary reason for

worker absenteeism.

Yet…

80% of the time chronic depression can be treated successfully. But only 50% will seek treatment.

The stigma attached to mental illness creates a serious barrier not only to diagnosis and treatment but also to

acceptance in the community.

A company saves approximately $10,000/year for every employee treated for depression.

Despite the illness, 69% of individuals with bipolar disorder are employed

Various U.S. corporate wellness programs reduced ST & LT disability claims by 42% between ‘99-‘01.

Telus states an overall return on investment of $3 for every $1 invested in wellness strategies.

Anti-depressants are not addictive or habit forming; they do not create a high and are not a ‘crutch’ or a short

cut; they are most often and best used in combination with other treatment approaches such as cognitive

behavioral therapy and counseling.

1 BC Stats, Bottom Line Conference ‘02, Canadian Mental Health Assoc, Global Business & Economic Roundtable on Addictions & Mental

Health, Health Canada, NQI - Vancouver Airport Case Study ‘02, Stats Can ’04, Vancouver Coastal Health, Wellness Matters Co.

- 11 -

To request full program outlines or to book a workshop, keynote or performance,

please call toll free 1-866-885-7465 or e-mail victoria@victoriamaxwell.com or visit www.victoriamaxwell.com

Mental Illness: Facts and Stats¹

A group of researchers are engaging in a new study to explore the impacts

of a theatrical performance on attitudes toward mental health issues. The re-

search focuses on Victoria Maxwell's anticipated new stage play, That's Just

Crazy Talk, which is based on her lived experiences with bipolar disorder.

The play is both written and performed by Victoria, who is an acclaimed ac-

tress and mental health educator. Like Victoria Maxwell’s previous solo

shows (Crazy for Life, Head Over Heels), That's Just Crazy Talk looks at

both the light and dark side of living with bipolar disorder, anxiety and psy-

chosis. It describes one woman’s journey of coming to terms with mental ill-

ness within herself and in her family. This achingly truthful play both enter-

tains and educates by exploding stigmas and portraying the love and resilience

it takes to stay together as a family in the midst of illness. It also reveals the

beauty that can result when we face our demons.

The play is one component of a research study, which explores the impact of

theatre on knowledge and attitudes towards people with mental illness.

Funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the first perform-

ances of That’s Just Crazy Talk in Vancouver and Toronto in July 2011

were the culmination of several years of preparation by principal investiga-

tors Erin Michalak, Ph,D. and Sagar V. Parikh, MD, FRCPC with part-

ners, the Collaborative RESearch Team to study Bipolar Disorder

(CREST.BD), the Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments

(CANMAT), the University of Toronto Department of Psychiatry and the

University of British Columbia Department of Psychiatry. Co-investigators on

the study include Jehannine Austin, Ph.D., Rachelle Hole, Ph.D., Mark Lau,

Ph.D., James Livingston, Ph.D., Victoria Maxwell, Roumen Milev,

M.D., Ph.D., Barbara Pesut, Ph.D., and Melinda Suto, Ph.D.

The research component involved people living with bipolar disorder

and healthcare providers. Participation involved watching the play and

completing pre- and post- performance surveys. A 20-minute question and

answer period with the actress followed the performance. Participants to date

have included 89 healthcare providers, 81 people with BD and 3 individuals

who identified as both, plus more than 350 general audience members. Pilot

quantitative data is being analysed and preliminary results show that the play

has the potential to affect stigma.

A DVD of the performance has been produced, and 1000 copies will be

available for distribution by mid 2012. Future activities for ‘That’s Just Crazy

Talk’ will include additional (non-research) performances across Canada and

DVD-screenings of the live performance, which will be provided as a knowl-

edge translation resource.

Full details on the research and the performance are available via the

CREST.BD website: www.crestbd.ca.

Innovative new research study in Bipolar disorder explores the

impact of theatre on mental health issues

1

Using Theatre to Address Mental Illness Stigma:

Preliminary Results of A Bipolar Disorder Knowledge Translation Study

Erin Michalak, Ph.D1; Sagar Parikh, M.D.2; Victoria Maxwell3; James Livingston, Ph.D.4; Vytas Velyvis, M.A.5; Rachelle Hole, Ph.D. 1 ,

Sharon Hou, B.A.1, CREST.BD (1UBC, 2U of T, 3Crazy for Life Co., 4B.C. Mental Health & Addiction Services, 5Ontario Shores)

Introduction Mental illness stigma is a significant barrier to quality of life

in people with bipolar disorder (BD, 1, 2). Both use of the creative arts

and direct- contact based approaches have been demonstrated as effective

methods for reducing stigma (3,4). As part of a ‘knowledge to action’

study funded by the federal health research funding agency (CIHR) we

supported the development, dissemination, and evaluation of a theatrical

performance by an established playwright and actress Victoria Maxwell

(who lives with BD) to illustrate how internalized and public stigma mani-

fest. We were interested in knowing whether the intervention we pro-

duced was valid (i.e. does first-person narrative hold meaning for a wider

audience) and whether it had perceived or actual impact on stigma.

Quantitative Measures Quantitative measures were administered to par-

ticipants immediately pre and post-performance. People with BD com-

pleted the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness scale (ISMI) and the Day

Mental Illness Stigma Scale (DMISS), while healthcare providers com-

pleted the Mental Illness: Clinician’s Attitudes scale (MICA-4) and the

DMISS. Both groups also directly evaluated the play itself. Next steps

include repeating the quantitative assessments at 3 months and qualitative

interviews with consenting participants who showed significant quantita-

tive change.

Methods ‘That’s Just Crazy Talk’ premiered in Vancouver and Toronto

in July 2011. A key KT innovation is that people with BD and BD health-

care providers viewed the play and engaged in a post screening Q&A

session together.

In the performance, dramatic narrative conveys the corollaries of decades

of personal & familial mental illness, translating the narrator’s

experiences of external & internalized stigma into a vivid, often humorous

& sometimes troubled, portrait of life lived with BD.

Preliminary Findings The play is valid. Feedback was

positive across people with BD, healthcare providers and

general audience members. 98% of participants de-

scribed the event as ‘good’ or ‘excellent’.

Results show the play significantly and meaningfully

reduces stigma and increases belief of health profes-

sionals in potential for recovery from mental illness;

85% of healthcare providers thought the play could

‘change public acceptance of BD’.

The intervention impacted stigma; meaningful and sig-

nificant reductions in stigma among healthcare provid-

ers were observed and feelings of aloneness (subscale

alienation) decreased in people with BD.

The play has been presented 11 times across North America, with strong endorsement of its authenticity and

impact by individuals with BD, standing ovations, and a

strong review in the Globe and Mail.

Discussion Although drama has been used elsewhere to target mental illness stigma, this is the first initiative in BD. Pilot data indi-

cates that the play was well-received, with participants’ perceptions about the performance positive, with strong ratings of its educa-

tional and emotional impact. Significant & meaningful reductions in stigma occurred in the healthcare provider group. Mean

scores on the DMISS ‘relationship disturbance’ (concerns about BD-related disruptions to relationships); ‘hygiene’ (negative beliefs

about the appearance and physical self-care of people with BD) and ‘recovery’ (negative beliefs about the potential for recovery from

a BD) domains were significantly reduced.

Mean scores on the ‘professional efficacy’ domain (beliefs in the ability of mental health professionals to effectively treat BD)

were significantly increased post-performance and overall stigma toward people with BD as measured by the DMISS was signifi-

cantly decreased. Stigma is a powerful determinant of qualify of life in BD. Scores on alienation subscale for individuals with BD

showed significant and meaningful reductions. Here, we present one innovative method for tackling this pressing societal and

clinical issue. The study findings support the inclusion of the creative arts and contact-based approaches in strategies that seek to fos-

ter positive attitudes among healthcare providers toward people with bipolar disorder.

References Queensland Alliance for Mental Health. (2010). From Discrimination to Social Inclusion: A Review of the Literature on

Anti Stigma Initiatives in Mental Health. Retrieved 03/11, www.qldalliance.org.au/ discrimination-social-inclusion-research-report

Corrigan, P. W. (2011). Strategic Stigma Change (SSC): Five principles for social marketing campaigns to reduce stigma. Psychiatric

Services, 62(8), 824-826.

Suto, M., Livingston, J. D., Hold, R., Lapsley, S., Hale, S., & Michalak, E.E. ‘Stigma shrinks my bubble’: A community- based

research study with people who live with BD. In press, Stigma Research and Action.

Michalak, E.E., Livingston, J., Hole, R., Suto, M., Hale, S. and Haddock, C. (2011) “It’s something that I manage but it is not who I

am”. Reflections on self-management strategies and stigma in BD. Chronic Illness, 7(3) 209-224.