Peer-led Group Aims To Help Those Suffering From Bipolar

From time to time everyone experiences emotional difficulties that impacts his or her quality of life and ability to function in everyday activities.  When symptoms occur that lead to a diagnosis of bipolar disorder or depression, family and friends can play a valuable role in providing support.

The Kempf Bipolar Wellness Center, a division of St. Mary’s Health, offers a bipolar support group for anyone suffering or assisting loved ones with this serious but treatable mental illness. Meetings are held on the 3rd floor of the St. Mary’s Rehabilitation Institute from 7 to 8:30 p.m. CT on the first and third Wednesdays of each month.  The group welcomes members with bipolar disorder as well as their family and friends. Often the family members will attend without the patient until they can get him or her to agree to join.

Heather Dunn, Community Education manager at St. Mary’s Health, emphasizes the role supportive loved ones can play when helping patients with accountability and monitoring. “They are able to recognize signs and symptoms that occur when medications are no longer effective and need adjusting,” Dunn said. “With a strong support system in place patients can proactively manage their bipolar diagnosis. That is the ultimate goal of our group.”

The peer-led group aims to help people maintain better mental health by providing an opportunity to share experiences and ideas and get support from others who may have experienced similar situations. A behavior health nurse is present to answer any medical concerns patients or family members may have. JoEllen Sobotka, a registered nurse who works directly with the support group, said they work to change the stigma against patients with mental illness.

“Society has begun to speak more openly regarding mental illness but there is much room for improvement,” Sobotka said. “Education is the key to improving this problem.”

Dunn agrees that the stigma that mental illness is something one should hide exists in our society today. “We hear many myths that patients with bipolar disorder and other behavioral health issues should just pull themselves together, or that they are just attention seeking,” Dunn said. “Another common myth is that good nutrition and the power of positive thinking can effectively treat bipolar or severe depression. Most people do not understand the illness.”  

Bipolar disorder often emerges in early adolescence or adulthood and impacts as many as 5.7 million adults. Signs of bipolar include extreme changes in mood, energy and behavior. Early intervention and professional medical treatment offer the best chances for children and adults with bipolar disorder to achieve stability. In additional to providing bipolar support services, St. Mary’s also offers expert pediatric psychological resources through the Center for Children.

The Center provides services for a wide range of children’s psychological and medical difficulties.  A resource center designed to help parents access qualified specialists in the community, navigate insurance issues, and be connected with community resources.  

The meetings are free, and no pre-registration is required. Support groups do not take the place of professional treatment but can help patients maintain better mental health. For more information, please call 812-485-4934.