Support group set up for people with bipolar disorder

Pune: Life is all about highs and lows, but when one has mood swings from one extreme to the other, indulges in self-destructive behaviour and is a constant source of stress for family and friends, it is likely they may be suffering from bipolar disorder. To help people understand the mental health condition and seek advice, a team of mental health professionals have set up a bipolar support group called Samtol.Viren Rajput, the founder of Samtol (which translates to ‘balance’) who also volunteers with the Connecting Trust NGO that runs suicide prevention helplines, has been struggling with the condition for the last 30 years. “In the 90s, it wasn’t so easy to access the volume of information we can today. For the first two years after my diagnosis, there was utter chaos. I sought treatment from a psychiatrist and have been able to manage my life. But many people don’t know how to gauge very high highs or very low lows, so we have formed this group for people to come and share their experiences.” The first meeting of the support group will be held at Nivara Old Age Home, opposite SN Joshi Hall, in Shivajinagar on January 11, from 4-7pm. According to India’s National Mental Health Survey in 2016, one in 150 people live with bipolar disorder, with 70% of them untreated. With over 10 million cases diagnosed every year, bipolar disorder involves ranging from depressive lows with fatigue, low motivation, loss of interest and suicidal thoughts, to manic highs inducing a reduced need for sleep and loss of touch with reality.