Welcome to Bipolar Support Group .net!

Bipolar Disorder Facts:

• Bipolar disorder affects roughly 1.2 to 2.6 % of the population.
• The median age of onset for bipolar disorders is 25 years.
• Individuals with bipolar disorder face up to ten years of coping with symptoms before getting an accurate diagnosis, with only one in four receiving an accurate diagnosis in less than three years.
• An equal number of men and women develop bipolar illness. It is found in all races, social classes, and ages.
• A gender bias exists in the diagnosis of bipolar disorder: women are far more likely to be misdiagnosed wtih depression and men are far more likely to be misdiagnosed with schizophrenia.
• More than two-thirds of people with bipolar disorder have at least one close relative with the illness or with unipolar major depression, indicating that the disease has a heritable component.
• Bipolar disorder is the sixth leading cause of disability in the world.
• Bipolar disorder results in 9.2 years reduction in expected life span, and as many as one in five patients with bipolar disorder completes suicide.
• Participation in a DBSA patient-to-patient support group improved treatment compliance by almost 86% and reduced in-patient hopitalization.
• Bipolar individuals who report high levels of satisfaction with their treatment and treatment provider have a much more positive outlook about their illness and their ability to cope with it.

 Our Support Group

 The Bipolar Support Group is a community oriented website made by bipolars for bipolars (and their friends and family).   With a user base of all ages from all over the world, we foster a tolerant, supportive, and reality-checking atmosphere.

 Our features include:

• Chat room
  
• Optional Email Annoucement List
  
•  Expanded Personal Profiles with "Friend" options
• Community submitted links
• A comprehensive and friendly forum
• No advertisements.  Ever.  This isn't about money, it's about support.

Thank you for joining us!  --The management