Parenting and Mental Illness: Author Ayelet Waldman to Speak at Benefit Event Thursday

Living with a mental illness can be a hard and emotional journey.

As Ayelet Waldman will tell you, trying to raise a child while living with a mental illness can add a whole new slew of challenges to an already difficult time.

On Thursday, Waldman will share her experiences as a parent trying to raise a child while living with bipolar disorder, as she speaks at the Circle of Support Breakfast to benefit Palo Alto-based Family and Children Services. Waldman is The New York Times bestselling author of Monkey Bars and Mood Swings: The Journey of A Bipolar Mother, among many other popular books on the topic of parenting.

The event will also honor Dr. Victor G. Carrion, an associate professor at the , director of the Stanford Early Life Stress Research Program and a member of the faculty at the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford. His research has focused on understanding how early life stress, such as a traumatic experience, can alter behavior and emotion, and the role of brain structure and function in these findings.

Proceeds from the Circle of Support Breakfast will benefit Family and Children Services, which works within the Palo Alto and surrounding communities to provide counseling and prevention programs for children, teens and adults. Family and Children Services provides a circle of counseling, caring and support, particularly for those who might not otherwise be able to afford care.

Maryanne McGlothlin, director of development for Family and Children Services, says the event will be a powerful one to attend, even for those who don’t suffer from a mental health condition or know someone who does, or even for those who are not parents.

“I think in the Palo Alto area, especially in light of [recent events such as the] teen suicides and all the attention around the mental health of our children, that we have become very conscious about the issues of mental health,” she said. “We’re all trying to understand what’s going on, and I think it’s something that really affects all of us, even if we don’t have children in the schools, or don’t know anyone directly affected. We’re still part of a community and it’s important to support resources that are addressing these needs, and that are making our community healthier.”

McGlothlin said the breakfast promises to be a fun event, as well.

“Ayelet Waldman is a very entertaining speaker in general, so I think people who come will learn about an issue that’s becoming important to understand, but in a very entertaining way,” she said. “It won’t be a lecture—it will be a fun and gentle way to learn about the issues of bipolar disorder and other mental health conditions.”

She added that, especially in light of all the attention of the mental health of our teens, the information will be beneficial in learning to spot the signs of mental illness early.

“It’s really important to reach people will mental illnesses earlier, rather than later,” she said. “The proceeds from this event will help us reach more youth and families earlier, when we can be of more help.”

The Circle of Support Breakfast will take place at the , 4290 El Camino Real in Palo Alto. Tickets are $75 and may be purchased by phone or online. For more information or to register, contact Jodi Corwin at 650-543-5412 or jcorwin@fcservices.org, or visit fcservices.org. Pre-registration is required to attend.