Mental health conditions can be complex and can involve the co-occurrence of multiple conditions, such as psychological distress, exposure to trauma, and/or conditions such as schizophrenia, personality disorders, and bipolar disorder at the same time.
Around 3 per cent or 800,000 Australians live with a complex mental health condition and about 2.2 per cent live with a form of bipolar disorder.
In New Zealand, Stats NZ’s Wellbeing Statistics indicate that in 2021, 28 per cent of the population had poor mental wellbeing. Bipolar disorder may be more prevalent among Māori (4.6 per cent), compared to Pacific peoples (3.7 per cent) and people of European and other ethnicities (1.8 per cent).
Registered clinical psychologist and University of Otago Associate Professor Katie Douglas says bipolar disorder affects more than just people’s moods. “This condition can lead to a range of core symptoms, including disturbances in sleep patterns, impaired cognitive function (affecting memory, planning and problem-solving abilities), and significant fluctuations in energy levels,” she says.
“Furthermore, it can also trigger anxiety, substance abuse issues and a distorted perception of one’s body image. Therefore, it’s crucial that treatment providers offer holistic comprehensive care, encompassing not only medication options but psychological guidance and personalised lifestyle advice to address these interconnected aspects.
“Often in therapy, I like to talk with people about what they need to do to be able to control bipolar disorder, rather than having bipolar disorder control you. Just like moving from the passenger’s seat to the driver’s seat.”
To aid people’s long-term recovery, this can include such things as developing a sustainable routine with regularity in sleep and eating patterns, and increasing social connectedness. “Research tells us that having solid social supports, and having people we can confide in, is one of the strongest protective factors in keeping well with bipolar,” says Associate Professor Douglas.
“Further, community support groups can help people with bipolar disorder feel less alone in their struggles, as knowing that you’re talking with people who have been through similar experiences to you can be hugely valuable and normalising.”
Support groups:
sane.org
bipolarcaregivers.org
yellowbrickroad.org.nz
