Social Media
I was mildly surprised to find that Twitter is a fantastic place to connect with bipolar people from all around the world. Getting to know bipolar writers and activists from all walks of life will definitely inspire you as well as expand your support network.
Regular tweet chats and updates on the latest bipolar news, blogs, and events await. A few notables include @intlbipolar, @2bipolarchicks @bipolarblogger, @imillnotcrazy, @bipolarworld, and @juliebipolar.
I’ve also found a few excellent Facebook pages over the years. The International Bipolar Foundation, BringChange2Mind, and of course NewLifeOutlook Bipolar are great places to connect and share information.
Localized Support
United States
The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance has support groups all around the country.
Canada
CREST.BD offers a series of webinars covering different topics, as well as providing other support services for bipolar patients.
United Kingdom
SANE offers a wide range of support services for mentally ill patients, including a telephone hotline and textcare.
International Help
For bipolar people living in some countries or regions, sometimes there are fewer localized bipolar-specific resources available. There are, however, still some invaluable websites and programs that we can take advantage of anywhere in the world.
The CREST.BD Bipolar Wellness Center offers webinars on various topics relating to bipolar quality-of-life. The organization is Canadian, but their online services are available to anyone.
The International Bipolar Foundation, while based in the US, does offer some of their support services internationally. I’m a big fan of their corporate anti-stigma campaign; everyone should convince local companies to adopt and support it.
International Bipolar Foundation will also email you a free PDF copy of their book “Healthy Living With Bipolar Disorder” if you’re interested. The book is available in English, Chinese, German, Italian, Spanish, and Urdu, with some additional country-specific chapters available as well.
The International Society for Bipolar Disorders has compiled a list of international organizations dealing with mental health care and bipolar disorder. Links to Dutch, German, Italian, Russian and other various organizations are included.
Books
Whether you’re looking for inspiration to help you cope or you want to acheive a better understanding of your illness (or that of a loved one), there’s a book out there for you.
One of the most notable bipolar authors is Kay Redfield Jamison. Jamison is a bipolar psychiatrist who has devoted her career to researching and writing about bipolar disorder. Her unique perspective as both a mental health professional and a patient makes for amazing reading. If you’re not familiar with her work, I suggest getting your hands on a copy of “An Unquiet Mind.” Her other books are equally fascinating.
Other good bipolar memoirs include Terri Cheney’s “Manic” and Wendy K. Williamson’s “I’m Not Crazy Just Bipolar.”
Something for Everyone
Perhaps one of the best things about a compilation like this is that there’s something – hopefully more than one something – here to suit almost anyone.
Whether you’re up for some reading, hoping to connect with others or just looking for someone to talk to, there are so many amazing tools and resources in the world today for people coping with bipolar disorder.
I know I’m thrilled to see such a diverse range of offerings as compared to five or 10 years ago, and I can’t wait to see what the future will bring.
