This is a short video about bipolar disorder (manic depression) and suicide. Increasingly people are given electroshock therapy to treat their suicidal ideations (ideas of suicide).  Electroshock therapy or ECT is a controversial and frightening looking treatment. Many question its effectiveness.

Just came across this article/press release showing a link between successful medical treatment and psychoeducation... gee, whould would have thought... That's why these bipolar disorder videos are onlne/

An excerpt from the article is below:
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TITLE: New Treatment Model for Bipolar Disorder Shows Promise

...Developed by Bauer and colleagues, the model brings together psychiatrists and nurses as a team to treat the patients.
Psychiatrists monitored symptoms and handled medications. Nurse care coordinators worked with veterans during group
education sessions.
During the weekly group sessions, nurses discussed topics such as medication side effects and early warning signs for
symptoms, which in bipolar disorder range from racing speech, bursts of optimism and impulsive behavior during manic
episodes to fatigue, social withdrawal and suicidal thoughts during depressive episodes. During the sessions, patients
discussed coping skills, got feedback from the group and created personal action plans.
The intervention was tested for three years. The results: Under the new model, patients saw a significant reduction in
symptoms, including five fewer weeks experiencing mania during the three-year study period. Patients also felt happier
and healthier, reporting more productive time at work, better relationships with family, and more satisfaction with their
care.
The new model was less expensive - an average of $61,398 for three years of direct bipolar disorder treatment costs
compared with $64,379 for usual care - although the difference was not statistically significant...
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Full text and source: http://www.emaxhealth.com/112/6963.html

Welcome to Episode 8 of the BipolarHelp video series. Today we are going to watch part 1 of an interview with Madonna. Madonna has Bipolar Disorder. She talks about what her mania and depression is like. This interview runs approximately 7 minutes. .mp3 audio (8mB).

Welcome to Episode 8 of the BipolarHelp video series. Today we are going to watch part 1 of an interview with Madonna. Madonna has Bipolar Disorder. She talks about what her mania and depression is like. This interview runs approximately 7 minutes. Quicktime Video 14mb.

Lithium 101. This short program is about the element Lithium. Lithium 101 has lots of little known facts and information about this widley used metal. From atom bombs to mental illness, lithium has many interesting uses in everyday life. This short educational film runs approximately 7 minutes. (.mp3) 8mB

Lithium 101 . This short film is about the element Lithium. Lithium 101 has lots of little known facts and information about this widley used metal. From atom bombs to mental illness, lithium has many interesting uses in everyday life. This short educational film runs approximately 7 minutes. Quicktime (.mov) 16mB

Bipolar Help Video Project Update Hi Everyone, Just an update on the project. We just completed 3-more interviews today and we are editing them. The new interviews should be posted in the next 5 or so days.

Bipolar Help Video Project Update Hi Everyone, Just an update on the project. We just completed 3-more interviews today and we are editing them. The new interviews should be posted in the next 5 or so days.

Episode 6: An interview with Alex (Audio). Alex is an Air Force Veteran with Bipolar Disorder. She discusses the effect support from friends and family has on her illness. This interview runs approximately 9 minutes.

Episode 6: An interview with Alex (Video). Alex is an Air Force Veteran with Bipolar Disorder. She discusses the effect support from friends and family has on her illness. This interview runs approximately 9 minutes.