Mood disorders are moods experienced outside of the normal range, longer in duration with severe symptoms and where mood and emotions are not under the individual’s control. They include major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder;
- Major depressive disorder occurs over a period of at least two weeks during which there is either depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure in nearly all activities, accompanied by other symptoms such as insomnia and change in appetite (and weight gain or loss), energy and concentration, inappropriate feelings of guilt and worthlessness, reoccurring thoughts of death (suicidal thoughts)
- Seasonal patterns of depression, formerly known as Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD, are indicated when there is a relationship between the onset of major depressive episodes and a particular time of year. This must occur over 2 years in which depressive symptoms are not experienced in non-seasonal periods
- Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder characterized by manic episodes of abnormally and persistently elevated, expansive or irritable mood, usually occurring separate from and in addition to episodes of major depression (there is very little written on bipolar disorder in athlete populations). During the depressive stage of bipolar disorder, several of the listed symptoms below will exist but can last for days, weeks or years before the manic stage where there is elevated mood, grandiose ideas and irritability, rapid thinking and speech, lack of inhibitions or insight and this too can last for days or months
Event Description
Joanna (Jo) Irvine, Registered Dietitian, obtained her undergraduate degree in nutrition from the UBC and is also a graduate of the specialized Sport Nutrition program from the International Olympic Committee. Over the past several years she has been working with the Canadian Sport Institute Pacific providing nutrition support to a variety of teams including Canada Soccer, Cycling Canada, and Swimming Canada to help optimize athletes’ performance during both training and competition. Aside from her passion for work and drive to stay current with sport nutrition research, Jo enjoys being active and outdoors with her very energetic family.
Born in Vancouver, Canada, Sean Hayes was a competitive ski racer in his early teens. He brought his love of sports to the streets, where he picked up a skateboard and landed his first sponsor at 16. Sean traveled the world competing and doing demonstrations, as well being featured in many magazine interviews and cover shots. His keen interest in sports led him to enroll in the Sports Science program at Douglas College while recovering from a surgery. During this time he also took on the role Team Manager for DC Shoes (canada). 
Danelle holds a PhD in Social Psychology and an MA in Sport Psychology from The University of Ottawa, as well as BSc in Psychology and a BA in French from the University of Washington. For her doctorate, Danelle looked at how coaches and athletes communicate about training in endurance sport and how such communication affects athletes’ self-determined motivation. 
Currently In her fourth year as the Canadian Sport School Victoria Lead Coach, Jennifer has a strong coaching background that involves working with athletes at various levels: Youth, NCAA, CIS, Professional, and Olympic including a NCAA and World Champion. She has a BA from the University of California at Berkeley where she double-majored in American Studies and French while competing in NCAA Division I Track & Field. Her passion is working with high school and young elite athletes to help give them a strong foundation for success at the next level.
Sharleen has been supporting elite and aspiring performers through her work as a mental performance consultant for 20 years. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from University of Waterloo and a Masters of Science in Applied Sport Psychology from University of Idaho before completing her Doctorate in Sport & Exercise Psychology from the University of British Columbia. Sharleen is a professional member of the Canadian Sport Psychology Association.
Ethan Carmichael Denum, 19, of Coquitlam, BC, passed away surrounded by family and friends on Saturday January 7, 2017, after a year-long battle with cancer. As a baby, he was eager to make an appearance and entered the world seven weeks early on January 29, 1997, at Royal Columbian Hospital. He had a short, but meaningful and accomplished life. If he wasn’t at the pool playing or refereeing water polo, he could be found travelling the world with his family, playing his favourite video games, eating or cooking in someone’s kitchen, or filling screens with an endless number of witty posts on social media. Perhaps his most notable accomplishment was the network of good friends he nurtured, many of whom the Denums consider family. We will miss his extra big hugs, fierce loyalty, positive attitude, and his unlimited capacity to love – this, above all, was his greatest gift.