Support is Key

Whether someone is bipolar, or is the caretaker of someone suffering from the disease, there is support for bipolar disorder in a variety of areas. Both the patient and the caregiver need someone to talk to, generally on a regular or weekly basis. While the condition cannot be cured, it can be treated; it can also be managed by channeling stress to various constructive outlets.

Local Support

Many medical and mental health facilities offer group or individual support for bipolar disorder. Check local newspapers for listings of weekly or monthly meetings; if you can’t find any, call local hospitals to see what support meetings or education is offered to the community. These are most often free of charge; if not, there may be a nominal fee.

Online Support

Since so many people have access to the Internet, there is no question that the search phrase “online bipolar support groups” results in 10,700,000 links. Many links offer support for bipolar disorder from patients and medical professionals. Some are local, so it is suggested you include your city or state in the search line, to further filter out those sites catering to specific regional or diagnosis areas. In addition, many mental health sites have pages addressing specific disorders.

Mental Health Facilities

If patients have limited funds, there are usually community mental health facilities that provide support for bipolar disorder under the auspices of the low-income programs in the city or state. Medicaid may pay for some or all of the fees; Medicare generally pays 50 percent for outpatient care, although there may be restrictions based income criteria.

Public Hospitals and Health Care Facilities

Most public hospitals have mental health wards, and are bound to admit patients regardless of their ability to pay—this includes support for bipolar disorder in emergency situations. While this may only be a temporary solution, it is often all that is needed in order to quality for additional care under urgent need status.

Drug Manufacturers

Many drug manufacturers of depression-controlling substances support their own website with information, bulletin boards, message boards, and online support for bipolar disorder. Search “drug therapy for bipolar” on Google, and you’ll find over 8,000,000 articles, including those by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). You’ll also find information on clinical trials and experimental drug therapies being studied conducted by various institutes and hospitals around the country.

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