TMC PULSE

t m c » p u l s e | m a y 2 0 1 6 15 MENTA L HEA LTH and BIPOL A R DISOR DER Statistics* * According to data from the National Institute of Mental Health and National Alliance on Mental Illness American adults are affected by mental illness, including bipolar disorder, major depression, anxiety and schizophrenia. Approximately 4 3 .8 M I L L ION (O R O N E I N F I V E) of the U.S. adult population have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Approximately 5.7 M I L L ION but it can start in early childhood or late in adulthood. The average age of bipolar disorder onset is 2 5 Y E A R S OL D, population is diagnosed with bipolar disorder each year. 2 .6% of the U. S. leading cause of disability in the world. SI X T H chance of passing it along to their kids. If both parents have bipolar disorder, the chances jump to 50 to 75 percent. If one parent has bipolar disorder, there is a 1 5 to 30 % Bipolar disorder is H E R E DI TA RY. People who have relatives with bipolar disorder have a 10 to 15 percent chance of developing it. diagnosed with bipolar disorder, she is also a part of the larger mental health community. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 43.8 million American adults—nearly one in five people over age 18—experience some form of a mental illness, whether it is bipolar disorder, major depression, anxiety or schizophrenia. Although there continues to be neg- ative judgments and social bias around mental illness, those living with a con- dition, their loved ones and the medical community are gaining momentum in dismantling the stigma attached to it. "People being open about their mental illness is one thing that can really combat the stigma, and we notice that," said Neil Puri, M.D., staff psychia- trist at the Menninger Clinic and assis- tant professor of psychiatry at Baylor College of Medicine. "As more and more people become open about their depression, about their bipolar disorder, about their anxiety in the media, more attention gets paid to people's mental illness. "[As TMC doctors,] we don't speak of mental illness in terms of stigma. We help patients get better access to care and help embrace it as a disorder that can be treated," he said. "We need to be shepherds of decreasing stigma, as well—even by recognizing the bias amongst physicians toward patients and mental health disorders." While Virginia Woolf, Vincent van Gogh and Sylvia Plath are recog- nizable historical figures thought to have had bipolar disorder, numerous celebrities—including Demi Lovato, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Carrie Fisher and recently deceased mental health advocate Patty Duke—have publicly discussed their illnesses and used their celebrity statuses to open up the conversation for mental health awareness. The prevalence of social media provides a platform to share personal experiences and journeys, engaging the public in an open dialogue about problems that historically have been kept secret. Their stories force people to acknowledge the existence of mental illness and talk about the real issues that affect a great deal of people rather than suffering in uncomfortable silence. "Talking about [mental health] is probably the most important thing, but a lot of celebrities now talk about mental illness, so that makes it easier," said pediatric psychiatrist Iram Kazimi, M.D., residency training director and assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at McGovern Medical School. "We know that ado- lescents tend to look up to people who have a certain status—like celebrities and stars—and that has been really helpful in helping kids think it's not that bad." Previous studies have shown correlations between mental health and creativity and, although there is no evidence to support a direct link between the two, Kazimi said her pedi- atric patients have a myriad of talent— enough so to be famous in their own right and to potentially help others like them in the future. "I never tell my kids to idolize any- body because it's so different," Kazimi said. "For those kids, I tell them, 'You're going to be your own celebrity. You're going to make your own mark.' We really try to encourage that because, gosh, sometimes the kids we see are rapping better than any rapper I've ever seen. Some are artists like you've never imagined. I tell them to think about what it was like for them when they started their journey [because] they might be able to help someone else." Diagnosing patients with mental illness early on and getting them on the proper medication regimen can greatly improve their chances for better quality of life, but Shulak said recovery is possi- ble for everyone. "It just takes a lot of education, a lot of patience, and being in a support system with your family, friends, doc- tors and the community and applying that to your life so you can get better," Shulak said. "Everybody wants you to get better, so they'll all be there for you if you ask for help." Bipolar disorder is the

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