Content warning: in this episode we’ll be discussing suicide. If this could be at all upsetting, please stop here and maybe give another episode a try. We’ve included links to resources and information below, if you’re looking for support at the moment.

In this episode, we meet with Professor Tania Gergel and Professor Ian Jones to discuss the increased risk of suicide for people living with bipolar disorder, and what research is needed in this area.

A difficult but important topic, suicidal thinking is a recognised symptom of bipolar. Globally, approximately 15-20% of people with bipolar disorder die by suicide, with another 30-60% making at least one attempt. Attempts amongst those with bipolar experiencing suicidal episodes are also more lethal than attempts among the general population.

Tania is the director of research at Bipolar UK, and has various other roles, including being an Honorary Visiting Professor in the Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences at Cardiff University and national lead for bipolar in NCMH. A key focus of her research has been on severe mental health conditions and advance choice documents, which are also known as living wills, a legal document that explains your wishes for medical care if you can’t make decisions for yourself.

• You can find another Piece of Mind episode where we sat down with Tania to discuss ACDs in more detail if you’d like to hear more.

Ian is a professor of perinatal psychiatry for the Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neuroscience at Cardiff University, and, at the time of recording, director of NCMH (Ian has since retired and Professor Jon Bisson has now stepped into his rather large shoes). His research interests relate to bipolar spectrum disorders, in particular the relationship of mood disorders to childbirth. Ian is also a psychiatrist within the Cardiff and Vale University Health board and Ian’s clinical focus is on women at high risk of severe episodes after having a baby, also referred to as “postpartum”. He was also the director of the Bipolar Education Programme Cymru a group programme which received the British Medical Journal award for innovation in medicine in 2014.

Resources

If you or someone you know is in crisis, please contact the Samaritans on 116 123 or text FRONTLINE to 85258. In an emergency, please call 999. You can also access crisis support through your General Practitioner (GP).

• Bipolar UK Research Community - join as someone living with bipolar or if you're supporting someone with bipolar: https://www.bipolaruk.org/research-partnerships
• NCMH Research Community - open to everyone over the age of 16: https://www.ncmh.info/help-with-research/
• Bipolar Education Programme Cymru (BEPC) - free online recordings: https://www.ncmh.info/resources/covid19-resources/bepc/
• Advanced Choice Documents podcast episode with Tania: https://shows.acast.com/piece-of-mind/episodes/minisode-have-your-voice-heard-in-mental-healthcare-decision

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.