RESOURCES
Whether you are battling bipolar disorder yourself or look after someone who is, here are some resources to help you stay on top of things.The Fund advocates for greater awareness of bipolar disorder and those affected by it, and for combating the stigma and discrimination associated with the condition.
The National Institute of Mental Health’s brochure (available in English and Spanish) about bipolar disorder in adults is a good starting point to educate yourself about the condition.
Click the language of your choice to go to the NIMH website, where you can read the brochure online or download it to your desktop.
Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that can be chronic (persistent or constantly recurring) or episodic (occurring occasionally and at irregular intervals). People sometimes refer to bipolar disorder with the older terms manic-depressive disorder or manic depression.
The NIMH also publishes a brochure (available in English and Spanish) about bipolar disorder in children and teens:
Bipolar Disorder in Children and Teens
Does your child go through extreme changes in mood and behavior? Does your child get much more excited or much more irritable than other kids? Do you notice that your child goes through cycles of extreme highs and lows in mood and energy levels more often than other children? Do these mood changes affect how your child acts at school or home?
Some children and teens with these symptoms may have bipolar disorder, a mental illness that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and day-to-day functioning. With treatment, children and teens with bipolar disorder can improve over time.