Bipolar Disorder Community Resources

If you have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, you may be wondering where to turn for help. While the standard treatment is usually medicine and psychotherapy, you can also use resources in your community to add to the benefits you get from your visits to the doctor or therapist. Surrounding yourself with your choice of services and support puts you in the driver's seat and helps you take care of yourself and live a vital, purposeful life.

Providers and Agencies

• Mental health care providers and agencies offer many resources for care of people with bipolar disorder. Psychiatry, psychotherapy, group therapy and sometimes other special programs such as supported employment, ACT (Assertive Community Treatment), Mobile Crisis Intervention or WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Planning) can make it easier to cope with your illness. Depending on the level of illness, your health insurance and your income level, the public mental health system may be able to provide these services or others designed to keep people with bipolar disorder healthy in the community. To find out more, contact your state's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. First go to the Center for Disease Control's website, cdc.gov/mmwr/international/relres.html, and then click on your state in the drop-down menu under the map.
  If you don't want or aren't eligible for public mental health services, the Mental Health Association's fact sheet, "How do I find treatment?" available at nmha.org/go/go/find_therapy, can help you find a private psychiatrist or psychotherapist.

Peer Support

• Attending a support group or class run by other people with mental illness is an easy way to get connected to a community that understands. The National Alliance on Mental Illness, at nami.org, for example, offers several consumer-driven programs for people with mental illness that provide education and support. Drop-in centers provide a place for people with severe mental illness to get together and try new hobbies or activities. You can also try contacting the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance at dbsalliance.org, local hospitals or your treatment provider to find out about other support groups.

Family and Friends

• Surround yourself with people who are sympathetic and help you keep up a sense of hope. Different people can help you with different aspects of your life and illness---one person may be especially helpful to talk to in a crisis, while another might be better to take to the movies. It might be best to avoid people who make you feel worse.

Faith

• For the spiritual person, faith practices and groups provide comfort and a way to understand and cope with your disorder. Call your faith leader to let her know you're looking for support. If you have trouble finding sympathy and understanding in your current place of worship, consider looking at other local organizations that complement your beliefs.

Work and Volunteering

• Many people with mental illness find the sense of purpose that comes with work fulfilling and reassuring. If you can't hold down a job because of disability, or can't find employment, consider looking for a volunteer position, perhaps with a local advocacy organization such as NAMI.

Crisis Hotline

• These hotlines provide immediate support and information about mental health and other services that your community offers. Visit the Suicide Hotline site, suicidehotlines.com, to find ones in your area.