Finding Treatment

 A family health care provider or doctor is a good resource and can be the first stop in
searching for help. For tips for talking with your health care provider, see NIMH’s Taking
Control of Your Mental Health: Tips for Talking with Your Health Care Provider fact sheet.
 For general information on mental health and to find local treatment services, call the
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Treatment Referral
Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
 The SAMHSA website has a Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator that can
search for treatment information by address, city, or ZIP code.
 Visit NIMH’s Help for Mental Illnesses webpage for more information and resources.

For Immediate Help

If you are in crisis: Call the toll-free National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK
(8255), available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The service is available to everyone. All calls
are confidential. Contact social media outlets directly if you are concerned about a friend’s social
media updates or dial 911 in an emergency.

If you are thinking about harming yourself or thinking about suicide:

 Tell someone who can help right away.

 Call your licensed mental health professional if you are already working with one.
 Call your doctor or health care provider.
 Go to the nearest hospital emergency department or call 911.

If a loved one is considering suicide:

 Do not leave him or her alone.

 Try to get your loved one to seek immediate help from a doctor, health care provider, or
the nearest hospital emergency room or call 911.
 Remove access to firearms or other potential tools for suicide, including medications.

Coping with Bipolar Disorder

Living with bipolar disorder can be challenging, but there are ways to help make it easier for
yourself, a friend, or a loved one.

 Get treatment and stick with it—recovery takes time and it’s not easy. But treatment is
the best way to start feeling better.
 Keep medical and therapy appointments and talk with the provider about treatment
options.
 Take all medicines as directed.
 Structure activities: keep a routine for eating and sleeping, and make sure to get enough
sleep and exercise.
 Learn to recognize your mood swings and warning signs, such as decreased sleep.
 Ask for help when trying to stick with your treatment.
 Be patient; improvement takes time. Social support helps.
 Avoid misuse of alcohol and drugs.

Remember: Bipolar disorder is a lifelong illness, but long-term, ongoing treatment can help
control symptoms and enable you to live a healthy life.

Join a Study
Clinical trials are research studies that look at new ways to prevent, detect, or treat diseases and
conditions. The goal of clinical trials is to determine if a new test or treatment works and is safe.
Although individuals may benefit from being part of a clinical trial, participants should be aware
that the primary purpose of a clinical trial is to gain new scientific knowledge so that others may
be better helped in the future.

Researchers at NIMH and around the country conduct many studies with patients and healthy
volunteers. We have new and better treatment options today because of what clinical trials
uncovered years ago. Be part of tomorrow’s medical breakthroughs. Talk to your health care
provider about clinical trials, their benefits and risks, and whether one is right for you.

To learn more or find a study, visit:

 NIMH’s Clinical Trials webpage: Information about participating in clinical trials

 Clinicaltrials.gov: Current Studies on Bipolar Disorder: List of clinical trials funded by
the National Institutes of Health (NIH) being conducted across the country
 Join a Study: Bipolar Disorder – Adults: List of studies being conducted on the NIH
Campus in Bethesda, MD

Learn More
Free Brochures and Shareable Resources

 Bipolar Disorder: A brochure on bipolar disorder that offers basic information on signs
and symptoms, treatment, and finding help. Also available en español.
 Bipolar Disorder in Children and Teens: A brochure on bipolar disorder in children
and teens that offers basic information on signs and symptoms, treatment, and finding help. Also
available en español.
 Bipolar Disorder in Teens and Young Adults: Know the Signs: An infographic
presenting common signs and symptoms of bipolar disorder in teens and young adults. Also
available en español.
 Shareable Resources on Bipolar Disorder: Help support bipolar disorder awareness
and education in your community. Use these digital resources, including graphics and messages,
to spread the word about bipolar disorder.

Multimedia

 NIMH Expert Discusses Bipolar Disorder in Adolescents and Young Adults: Learn

the signs, symptoms, and treatments of bipolar disorder.

Research and Statistics

 Journal Articles: This webpage provides information on references and abstracts from
MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine).
 Treatment for Bipolar Disorder in Adults: A Systematic Review: A review from the
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality that assesses the effectiveness of medications and
other therapies for treating mania or depression symptoms and preventing relapse in adults with
bipolar disorder diagnoses.
 Bipolar Disorder Statistics: An NIMH webpage that provides information on the
prevalence of bipolar disorder among adults and adolescents.

Last Revised: January 2020