I was told “not to aim high” after being accurately diagnosed with manic-depression (bipolar disorder, type 1), at age 17.........52 years ago. After crying, I swore to myself that I would succeed in spite of having a serious mental illness & I did:
WORK EXPERIENCE RESUMÈ
1. Information Systems Manager (computer and/or manual information systems):
Unemployment Insurance Commission, Statistics Canada (labour information), & Labour Canada, Ottawa
- RCMP security clearance to ‘Secret’.
Private industry, Montreal & British Columbia (B.C.)
- information systems manager with staff of sixteen(16) programmers & analysts in computer and/or manual information systems development, maintenance & technical support (software & hardware);
- development & maintenance of personnel, payroll, financial, inventory control, R & D, etc. systems;
- project & personnel management, policies setting, budgeting, scheduling, allocating resources, & establishing education programs for my staff, users & executives;
- labour negotiations between managements & union members;
- answered queries from federal & internal auditors.
Consultant to the B.C. Ministry of Health
- completed feasibility study for implementation of patient information management computer and/or manual systems into all teaching hospitals, in the province;
- requested & reviewed specifications from all manufacturers of hospital systems, in North America;
- the pilot project was at Lions Gate Hospital, during which I consulted with Vancouver General, Royal Columbian, Royal Jubilee & Royal Inland hospitals, where initial hospital systems were to transfer to;
- systems analysis of all 18 departments’ manual procedures & systems;
- documented preliminary specifications identifying modifications to the IBM hospital computer systems’ programs to meet B.C. hospitals’ requirements (I went to Bethesda, MD, to assess their systems);
- defined outstanding issues with priorities & my recommendations to review & resolve with department heads, hospital administrators, Ministry of Health representatives, & IBM Western Canada manager;
- planned a phased implementation to minimize disruption to hospital operations/staff & to achieve the highest return on investment.
2. Certified tax accountant: good with figures.
3. Part-time paid jobs working with the public:
- substitute teacher at Glebe Collegiate high school (English, history, geography & home economics);
- cashier at I.G.A. (before UPC scanners);
- sales clerk / cashier at retail department stores & shops;
- doorperson & cocktail waitress at the Carleton University pub;
- skydiving instructor / senior parachute rigger / expert licensed exhibition jumper / competitions judge.
improve their lives, by providing them with hope & alternative options to continuing to commit crimes.
5. Mental Health Advocate to help improve the mental well-being & quality of life of patients, consumers*, family members, & mental health professionals & also try to reduce the stigma of mental illnesses;
Positions held (I am a strong proponent of teamwork):
- Mood Disorders Assoc. of B.C. (M.D.A.): president, director, facilitator of support groups for consumers / family members / friends / mental health professionals, writing articles for M.D.A. newsletters, 24/7 crisis line counsellor, working in partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Assoc.- B.C. Branch, the B.C. Schizophrenia Society, & representatives of Mental Health Teams & I also setup & facilitated the first M.D.A. in-patient support group, in the province;
- Provincial Mental Health Consumer Advisory Council of B.C.: chairperson, representative for the consumers in Vancouver, working in partnership with the Provincial Mental Health Family Advisory Council of B.C., & I also setup & maintained a network with all B.C. health regional. consumer reps;
- Provincial Mental Health Advisory Council of B.C.: member & executive member reporting to the B.C. Deputy Minister of Health, including my input to a B.C. 10-year Strategic Plan for Mental Health
- World Health Organisation (W.H.O.) - Mental Health Research Project, B.C.: executive member.
I did a lot of research into mental illnesses / health, primarily mood disorders, & educated the public:
- giving public speaking presentations on CBC radio across Canada, Rogers Cablevision TV in B.C. & other parts of Canada, & to many diverse groups throughout B.C. (i.e. students, bus drivers);
- being quoted in McLean’s magazine, Vancouver Sun, Vancouver Province & other newspapers.
- Walking club member, on the entertainment committee, to plan fun social events & volunteer at them.
6. Primary caregiver, for over 18 years, to three(3) immediate family members with mental illnesses:
- a parent & sibling diagnosed with bipolar disorders & a sibling with heroin/opioid/cannabis addictions.
* Note: In B.C., a “Consumer” is a person with a mental illness who avails oneself of mental health services.
I've been fine for quite a while, living in my own home with a tenant renting my basement suite. I enjoy the relationships with my close family members & good friends. I'm independent & drive my own vehicle. Before the pandemic, I was doing volunteer work & loving it. Life is good especially when I live in the present & look forward to the future!
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