On Tuesday 30 March at the Bipolar UK annual conference, Bipolar UK launched the Bipolar Commission - our year long inquiry to inform and improve the care and treatment of people living with bipolar. Estimates suggest that people diagnosed with bipolar disorder account for between 10% and 55% of all suicides in the UK, which means that at least two people with bipolar die by suicide every day. We want to see a reduction in suicides and better lives for people living with bipolar disorder. With this Commission, we hope to encourage more awareness and research to help to achieve these goals.

 

Over the coming year we will be inviting you to submit evidence on different themes in two ways: through online surveys and independently through email. Today, we are asking for your experiences and views about receiving a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. The easiest way to participate in the call for evidence is by completing our survey. 

 

 

These are a few of the questions we are asking: 

  

 

Due to COVID-19, we cannot normally accept survey responses by post. However, if you cannot use the online survey, please email bipolarcommission@bipolaruk.org  for a copy of the survey in word format.

 

We also welcome written submissions on this topic from individuals or organisations who have expertise in bipolar disorder: including researchers and third-sector organisations, as well as people with lived experience, families and carers. 

 

We are looking for personal testimonies, academic studies (both UK and international) and grey literature (which can be used externally). To keep our recommendations focused please keep the submissions to 500 words maximum. We would though welcome links to supporting documents. Please send your submission as a word document by email to bipolarcommission@bipolaruk.org.

 

Over the coming year, we will be seeking your views about different aspects of bipolar disorder. This one is about diagnosis; the next one will focus on your experiences of services.