What is Bipolar?

Sometimes known as Manic Depression, Bipolar Disorder is a severe mental health illness characterised by significant mood swings including manic highs and depressive lows.
 
The majority of bipolar individuals experience alternating episodes of mania and depression. In between episodes sufferers may have long periods of stable functioning.
 
Mania (High) - someone experiencing mania may not recognise it is happening. Incoherent, rapid or dijoinyted thinking or being easily distracted are the common features of an episode of mania. Other symptoms may include aggression, paranoia and hallucinations affecting vision or preception. Grandiose delusions or ideas can occur where the sense of identity and self are distorted. Sometimes the term psychosis (losing touch with reality) is used to describe these symptoms when they are severe. Hypomania is a less severe from of mania.
 
Depression (Low) - Most people who have bipolar will experience severe depression at some time. Usually this will follow an episode of mania or hypomania

 

Bipolar Facts & Figures

  • 1% to 2% of the population experiences a lifetime prevalence of bipolar disorder 
  • Bipolar disorders are estimated to affect up to 254 million worldwide and 2.4 million people in the UK (Source: Bipolar Foundation, of which Stephen Fry is Patron) 
  • Recent research suggests that as many as 5% of the population are on the bipolar spectrum
  • The World Health Organisation has identified bipolar as one of the top causes of lost years of life and health in 15 to 44 year olds, ranking above war, violence and schizophrenia
  • It takes an average of 10.5 years to receive a correct diagnosis for bipolar in the UK
  • Bipolar increases the risk of suicide by up to 20 times

 

 Is there a cause? Is there a cure? 

Although much progress has been made in understanding bipolar disorder and how it can be managed, research has still not led to either a consensus on the cause or a cure. Some research suggests that there is, if not a known genetic link, then certainly an inherited predisposition to developing bipolar disorder. It is also known that stressful life events may often precede an episode of mania, hypomania or depression.  

 

How is the illness managed? 

Bipolar UK believe that a majority of people with bipolar can effectively manage their illness through a combination of different approaches including mood stabilising medication, behavioural therapies and self management. The charity organises self management training and has volunteer-led self-help groups throughout the UK. They are also involved in a number of ground breaking projects to encourage young people to seek help earlier and thus reduce the time it takes to diagnose the illness. The project that Explore Bipolar is supporting is a fantastic pioneering project called Bipolar Link which supports patients and staff in psychiatric units and in the community - please click through to Our Fundraising for more info on the project.

 

No Health Without Mental Health

As well as raising awareness of Bipolar Disorder, we want to highlight the prevalance of mental illness in society. There is sill a real stigma attached to all mental illness; it really is one of life's great taboos - a much misunderstood subject which so many are afraid of. Because of this it is so often swept under the carpet, and thus is not always diagnosed properly or treated as effectively as it should be. Here are a few facts & figures that certainly focus the mind:

  • About 10% of children have a mental health problem at any one time
  • 50% of those with mental health problems first experience symptoms before the age of 14; 75% before their mid twenties
  • At least 1 in 4 people experience a mental health problem at some point in their life
  • Mental ill health represents up to 23% of the total burden of ill health in the UK - the largest single cause of illness
  • Depression affects 1 in 5 older people
  • Self-harm statistics for the UK show one of the highest rates in Europe: 400 per 100,000 population
  • Only 1 in 10 prisoners has no mental disorder

 

The Government's No Health Without Mental Health strategy outlines how a new emphasis on early intervention and prevention will help tackle the underlying causes of mental ill-health. It sets out how the Government will work with the NHS, local government and the third sector to help people recover and challenge stigma. 

The Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: "The evidence is clear: mental health needs to be addressed with the same urgency as physical health. We need to end the stigma attached to mental illness, to set an example by talking about the issue openly and candidly and ensure everyone can access the support and information they need''.

 "The strategy today shows how we will put people at the heart of everything we do, from a new focus on early intervention to increased funding for psychological therapy, so that everyone has a fair opportunity to get their lives back on track."
 
Those looking for professional support to help them manage the illness, or general advice about counselling may be interested in the Counselling Directory at www.counselling-directory.org.uk/bipolar.html


 (SOURCES: Mental Health Foundation (MHF) www.mentalhealth.org.uk and The Department of Health www.dh.gov.uk Mental Health Strategy - Feb 2011)

Additional information