Award-winning educator Dr. Steven Barnes (University of British Columbia, Vancouver) and Kaleidoscope President Tracy Windsor discuss various tips on how to do well as a student with mental health challenges. 

Hosted by Dr. Emma Morton.  

Dr. Steven J. Barnes is well-regarded for his work related to online learning technologies, student mental health and wellbeing, and bipolar disorder. Steven is deputy co-lead of the CREST.BD, a BD research and knowledge exchange network which received the 2018 CIHR Gold Leaf Prize for Patient Engagement, Canada’s most prestigious recognition for patient engagement in research across all health disciplines. Steven is the recipient of multiple institutional awards for his teaching, including the Killam Teaching Prize. He is also the recipient of the 3M National Teaching Fellowship, the top national award given for teaching in any discipline in any postsecondary institution in Canada. He is also an accomplished author, having published in the fields of epileptology, neurophysiology, student mental health, digital mental health, bipolar disorder, and behavioural neuroscience. He is the co-author of a prominent textbook for the field of behavioural neuroscience, Biopsychology 11th Edition (Pearson). Beyond being a prominent educator, researcher, and author, Steven is also an accomplished artist. He has produced myriad stop-motion animations, interactive and electronic artworks, oil paintings, and acrylic paintings.

Tracy Windsor was diagnosed with bipolar disorder type 1 with psychotic features at the end of her 2nd year of studying at SFU. This diagnosis completely changed the trajectory of Tracy’s life, as she spent the next few years in and out of hospital and learning how to improve her mental health. After attending some peer support groups, Tracy sought out more opportunities to get involved in peer-led initiatives, including the Kaleidoscope Mental Health Support Society. Tracy found a calling in social work, and after 13 years in total, she received a Bachelor of Social Work from UBC. She is now studying for her Master of Social Work through Dalhousie University’s distance education program.

#talkBD gathers researchers, people with lived experience, healthcare providers, and top bipolar disorder experts from around the world to discuss and answer the most important questions about living with bipolar disorder. Learn more about the talkBD Bipolar Disorder Podcast and upcoming episodes at https://talkBD.live