How to Persuade Someone Who Is Bipolar to Get Help

According to the the National Institute of Mental Health, "Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a serious medical illness that causes shifts in a person's mood, energy and ability to function. Different from the normal ups and downs that everyone goes through, the symptoms of bipolar disorder are severe."

Although trying to persuade a person who is suffering from bipolar disorder to get the help that he needs will not be easy, it can be done if appropriate measures are taken. In certain circumstance, you may even need to do an intervention.

Things You'll Need

• An intervention
• A friend
• A psychiatrist
• A family member

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Instructions

How to Persuade Someone Who is Biploar to Get Help

• 1

  In order to help someone whom you think is bipolar, you need to realize that attempting to convince a person that they need help can either elicit a terrible reaction or a positive result, in which the person agrees to seek help.

  Determine who has the best relationship with this person, whether it be a mentor, a member of the clergy, a friend or a family member. Have that person try to talk the person who is suffering from bipolar disorder into getting help by explaining to her that seeing a psychiatrist can make her feel better, and that medication can manage the mood swings.

• 2

  If the person who suffers from bipolar disorder is a person of faith, and is Catholic, you can go to the church and meet with a priest and explain to the priest that you would like him to talk to this person about getting help. If the person is from another religion, you can do the same.

• 3

  Find a psychiatrist who specializes in bipolar disorder near the area where the suffering person lives. Get referrals for a psychiatrist from a doctor, a nurse, a family member or friends. You can also find one through the Mental Health Services locator on the following link: http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/databases.

• 4

  Have the designated person set up an appointment with a psychiatrist and accompany the bipolar sufferer to the appointment.

• 5

  If after attempting all the above steps, you still have not been able to convince the person that he needs help, then you must do an intervention using those whom the person with bipolar disorde respects and likes, mediated by an experienced psychiatrist.