By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
SOME people may not know they have bipolar disorder because they’ve never been diagnosed.
Loved ones may also battle because they don’t understand the intricacies of the illness.
This week a community information night, convened at Berwick Healthcare by the Melbourne Bipolar Network (MBN), started to address these issues.
The night was organised by Ray Farrelly, a volunteer from the Melbourne Bipolar Network, which has a support group that meets in Berwick monthly.
Moderated by Emma Higgins, a Learning and Development Consultant from Mind Australia, the inaugural Berwick information night included presentations from Psychotropic Drug Advisory Service pharmacist Christine Culhane, Grow Clinic founder and perinatal psychiatrist Adaobi Udechuku and Eastern Health Peer Support co-ordinator Paula Kelly.
Bipolar disorder can be traumatic for the friends and family of those with the illness, which can result in episodes of depression and mania and induce a multitude of stresses.
Mr Farrelly said there were more than 3000 people in the City of Casey who suffered from bipolar disorder – 1500 of those reportedly undiagnosed.
“Melbourne’s got 55,000-plus people with bipolar disorder and half of them are undiagnosed, so the focus on an evening like this is the undiagnosed and their families and carers,” he said.
“So we’re hoping to get the sort of people who we don’t normally see.
“If we can get them down here, it’s going to help the lousy situation.”
Ms Higgins spoke in detail about the Mind Australia Recovery College, and how healthy discussions of mental illness help break down any stigmas.
“Facilitators like me have lived experience and we’re able to have robust discussions,” she told the room.
“It’s transformational education and insight moments.
“People can be open about what they’re dealing with … in those open conversations people can often have moments of insight – those lightbulb moments.”
Mr Farrelly, who suffers from bipolar, has worked in the mental health sector for more than decade and is passionate about helping others through education and discussion.
“I had a lot of people help me on my journey, and I started getting involved in the mental health sector,” he said.
“My motivation is to help people.”
The Melbourne Bipolar Network is a non-profit charity set up in 2008 and run by volunteers, which organises a support group at Berwick Healthcare on the first Tuesday of every month.
For more information, visit the Melbourne Bipolar Network website at www.mbpn.org.au.
Those in need of immediate assistance can phone Lifeline on 13 11 14.
