Thinking Through Our Fingers: Are Artists Still Allowed to Be Neurotic?

Thinking Through Our Fingers: Are Artists Still Allowed to Be Neurotic?

Bipolar survivors

20% of people with Bipolar Disorder commit suicide

40% never function well enough to work and live with their families

20% work in low paid jobs

the other 20% recover and leave extremely productive lives

how do they do this ? what do they do to stay well ? I am visiting people with Bipolar Disorder around the world to find out how 

and hopefully help others to learn some coping mechanisms

For a couple of years now I have been working on a documentary to find out how people with Bipolar  survive and even prosper  I have traveled to Usa , Oslo, Edinburgh

- short clips here : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBqtfJyhuBI

In the documentary my primary focus will be on bipolar disorder. I have bipolar disorder myself and knows how difficult the highs and lows can be. I made this film for mad for arts/ Channel 5  about my own experience of Bipolar II:  https://vimeo.com/42553764

To fight Stigma and to get more knowledge out to the regular population about mental health is one of the reasons why making this film is so important to me. I think the stigma and the lack of understanding in some instances can lead to suicide, and suicide has become a global epidemic.

International partners and funding

I am currently working on trying to fund the project both through crowd funding, but also by applying to grants from organizations and support from individuals with interest in mental health. Right now I already have several international partners, among them writer Andy Behrman from Los Angeles @Electroboyusa

Toby from Oslo is a writer, and has is own blog through the University of Oslo he had an article in Dagbladet shared over 1700 times on Facebook

You can read his blog here: http://uv-blog.uio.no/wpmu/torbjorn

 In the Summer of 2014, I am riding from Manchester to Edinburgh to raise money for SAMH and the film . Cycling keeps me well , exercise is vital for good mental health 

Hopefully my bike trip will achieve some media coverage

I hope to the premier a version on world mental health day, the 10th of October 2014.

@joemoonblue  @torbrjnhaugen +47 91793720