Memphis Mayor Endorses National Bipolar Foundation

Forward thinking Mayor A.C. Wharton, sees Benefit in New Safe 'til Stable
Program

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Nov. 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Memphis Mayor, A.C. Wharton
stands up for the outstanding Memphis-based National Bipolar Foundation; a
press conference is to be hosted by University of Tennessee Health & Science
Center on November 17th at 2pm at the Student Center at 800 Madison in Room
305. The National Bipolar Foundation has been in the national spotlight during
the past few weeks for its initiative in cooperation with the MedicAlert
Foundation. A major breakthrough to benefit people living with Bipolar
disorder has been developed for the first time ever. The cooperative venture
has produced a preventative care program called "Safe 'til Stable." It
provides vital medical information to emergency responders in time of need
through our live 24-hour emergency response service. In a medical emergency,
this can help reduce the trauma experienced by individuals impacted with
bipolar disorder. If an individual experiences an event, first responders on
the scene (e.g., law enforcement, emergency services personnel, etc.) will
look for a medical ID with the "MEDIC ALERT" symbol. The "Safe 'til Stable"
program is a milestone; in that, those with bipolar disorder will have a voice
in times when they cannot speak for themselves, will be properly routed in
times of emergency providing a sense of security for the individual and those
close to them.

The National Bipolar Foundation (NBPF) was founded in 2007 by Marc Kullman in
order to reduce stigma, educate, and seek affordable healthcare for those
people living with bipolar disorder. A National Awareness Initiative has been
launched to spread awareness through press releases, press conferences,
proclamations, influential people, and its online campaign through social
media networking. The MedicAlert Foundation, founded in 1956, is the leader in
providing identification and emergency medical information. Together both
foundations have developed a program that will prevent the misdirection,
misdiagnosis, and mistreatments of participants; saving precious time and
dollars.

Mayor Wharton is credited with the creation of the Jericho Project, whose
mission is to help those living with mental illness out of the criminal
justice system and on the road to recovery. The Mayor's forward thinking
program addresses mental illness and seeks to route cases from the courts to
the hospitals. In the end, the Mayor's program serves everyone well. First, a
person that finds themselves arrested and suffering with mental illness has an
opportunity to get regulated prior to sentencing. Secondly, it helps reduce
the burden on our penal justice system, and ultimately will save dollars for
all tax payers. The "Safe 'til Stable" program provides critical information
that first responders will use to determine the routing of certain people who
find themselves approached by law enforcement. All involved with the Jericho
Project, the National Bipolar Foundation and the MedicAlert Foundation
recognize the "Safe 'til Stable" program as a logical progression to properly
assessing situations that may revolve around law enforcement. Other
supporters who will be in attendance are Michael Labonte of the Memphis Crisis
Center, Dr. James Greene, Chairman of the University of Tennessee Department
of Psychiatry, and Dr. Kennard Brown, Vice Chancellor at UT Health & Science
Center.

www.nationalbipolarfoundation.org

SOURCE National Bipolar Foundation

Ramesh Srinivasan, MedicAlert Foundation, +1-209-669-2407,
rsrinivasan@medicalert.org; or Marc Kullman, National Bipolar Foundation,
+1-901-830-5004, marckullman@comcast.net