Consumer Advisory Board

I am a 49-year-old Bipolar woman in recovery from Alcoholism. I have a 19-year-old son who was diagnosed at age 5 with BP with schizoaffective disorder who is also on the autism spectrum . I also have an 18-year-old son with ADD and Depression. Their father, who committed suicide, also suffered from BP and substance abuse.

Currently I am completing my studies for my CAADAC Certification as a Drug and Alcohol Counselor and am doing my internship with adolescents with Dual Diagnosis.

Sam was born on January 28, 1994. He is oldest of three boys. He was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at age 7 after several years of misdiagnosis. He has always dealt with his diagnosis head on and has been very outspoken about the fact that he has a mental illness. When asked how Sam feels about having bipolar disorder, he says,”I try to refer to my bpd as a gift rather than a disability. Without it, I wouldn’t be who I am today.

Courtland (Court) Reed is in 10th grade at The Winston School. His hobbies include X-Box, air soft, hunting, and he has an Irish Setter named Cinnamon. Court was symptomatic since age 4 and diagnosed with bipolar disorder at age 7. In addition to the bipolar disorder, Court has several learning disabilities.

Born and raised in NYC, NY, Teri Hoggard came to California on Christmas Day in 1990 with dreams of grandeur. Producer, Director of Health Promotions and Disease Prevention, and Associate Dean of Admissions were just some of the career titles she held. Then all at once everything seemed to come to a screaming halt.

A powerful, honest, and intimate presenter, Kevin Hines has been featured in the film The Bridge, on Larry King Live, 20/20, Anderson Cooper 360, Good Morning America, and many more national and international print, radio, film, and television media outlets. He has written articles about the prevention of suicide and America’s mental health in the Santa Barbara Independent, and the San Francisco Medical Magazine, and the Santa Barbara Daily Sound. He is in the progress of writing his Autobiography-”Chronicles of A Psychotic Mind”