BBC Online have published this article Click Here

The documentary, part of BBC Three’s Adult Season, examines the story of N-Dubz singer, Tulisa Contostavlos and her personal account of what life is like growing up with a mother suffering from a schizo-affective disorder.

Prof Nick Craddock interview BBC Radio Wales listen Here

Living with mental illness

Professor Nick Craddock appears on BBC Three’s Adult Season

In a hard-hitting BBC documentary exploring life for a young hip-hop star growing up with a parent suffering from mental illness.

Professor Nick Craddock from the School of Medicine is featured in the BBC documentary: Tulisa: My Mum and Me.

The documentary, part of BBC Three’s Adult Season, examines the story of N-Dubz singer, Tulisa Contostavlos and her personal account of what life is like growing up with a mother suffering from a schizo-affective disorder.

Speaking during her visit to the University, Tulisa said: “Mental illness is a part of society. It doesn’t mean someone’s mad, it means they have a problem. It is good to know that people are recognising this and trying to find ways to help.”

In an attempt to explain the hereditary nature of mental illness the programme will feature Tulisa’s visit to Cardiff and her discussions with Professor Craddock.

Professor Craddock leads a major study of the causes and triggers of mood and psychotic illnesses, including schizoaffective disorder.

Professor Nick Craddock said: “Youngsters living with a parent who suffers from a mental illness can have an extremely difficult time. Often the stigma can be overwhelming and the upheaval untold.

“By making such an honest and revealing documentary like this, Tulisa’s fame can help reach a new and often untouched audience and help break the stigma that can prove so overwhelming for youngsters living with a parent who suffers from mental illness.”

Professor Craddock is leading a number of key studies and would like to hear from individuals who have experienced one or more episodes of high mood (called mania or hypomania) at any time during their life.

Volunteers will be visited at home by a researcher who will ask about their experiences and symptoms as well as taking a small blood sample. Any information given would be in strict confidence.

Further information, is available by visiting the The Bipolar Disorder Research Network: www.bdrn.org or Bipolar Disorder: Your Guide: www.bipinfo.org.

The documentary – Tulisa: My Mum and Me – will be shown on BBC Three on Tuesday August 10.

This week BDRN participant Stephen Fry receives honorary fellowship from Cardiff University. Stephen was interviewed on ITV Wales where he spoke about the importance of our research. Click here to watch the interview.

From left to right: Dr Ignasi Agell, Dr Nusrat Mir, Dr Ian Jones, Prof Heinz Grunze, Prof. Nick Craddock, Dr Ruth White, Dr Muhammad Ayub, Dr Panos Zikis, Dr Junals Puthiyarackal, Charles Shepherd & Dr Paula Brownsett (Dr Mithilesh Jha not in photograph)

Our first Clinical Research Collaborators meeting was held on the 4^th June 2010 where NHS clinicians involved with our research from across the UK met with the BDRN team at the University of Birmingham.  The NHS is a key way that potential participants hear about our research and with the help of Clinical Research Collaborators and the Mental Health Research Network many more individuals have been able to receive information about our studies in recent years.  We are extremely grateful to all of the Clinical Research Collaborators who attended the meeting and for their invaluable advice and suggestions about how to ensure that as many people with bipolar disorder as possible are given the opportunity to take part in our research.