Chrisa is an eCommerce marketing professional, blogger and mental health advocate specializing in providing education and support for parents of children diagnosed with serious mental health conditions. Chrisa began her journey into the world of childhood onset bipolar disorder when her middle child, Timothy, was diagnosed with Emotional Disorder Not Otherwise Specified at age 8, Bipolar Disorder Type 1 at the age of 11, and Schizoaffective Disorder Bipolar Type at the age of 14.
Chrisa began blogging when her therapist suggested she journal her feelings and thoughts about raising a child with a severe mental health condition. Her blog, The Mindstorm, catalogs the day-to-day triumphs and tribulations of raising Timothy, as well as articles on fighting mental health stigma, navigating the Special Education system, sibling issues, and parental self-care. Her blog reaches nearly 1, 600 readers a week, and has received several acknowledgements, including the Wellsphere Top Health Blogger Award, Mental Health Hero Award, Most Touching Blog from WEGO Health, and it was named one of the Top50 Blogs for Special Needs Teachers by OnlineUniversities.com. During May Mental Health Month in 2011, Chrisa was honored by Chato B. Stewart, a cartoonist and contributor to PsychCentral, as a Mental Health Hero for her advocacy for children’s mental health and her fight against the stigma so many with mental health conditions face.
In addition to writing her blog, Chrisa is also a volunteer support group moderator and blogger for the Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation, blogger for BringChange2Mind, and has appeared on Blog Talk Radio for HealthyPlace.com and The Coffee Klatch, an online community for parents raising children with special needs, and is a regular contributor to WEGO Health . You can follow Chrisa on twitter @ Chrisa_Hickey and follow The Mindstorm on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TheMindstorm.