Bipolar Peer Support Group

Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder characterized by someone experiencing mood states – mania or hypomania, and depression. The frequency and duration of these mood states can be different for every person, but the symptoms within them are fairly consistent.

Symptoms of Mania:

• Excessive energy, oftentimes without feeling tired or needing sleep
• Exaggerated self-confidence
• Euphoria, even when confronted with bad news
• Impulsive decision-making

Hypomania is a term used to describe manic episodes that are, generally, less severe than the symptoms of mania described above.

Symptoms of Depression:

• More often than not, feeling sad, down, or empty
• Disrupted sleep patterns
• Loss of interest in doing things you typically enjoy
• Irritability or tension
• Loss of energy
• Sense of hopelessness about the future

Learn more about bipolar disorder or take a free screening now.

People may engage with a support group at various points throughout their mental health journey. For some, groups may be a safe space to explore their mental health for the first time in a welcoming and accepting community; for others, groups function as a space for validation, troubleshooting, and celebration as they work to manage or maintain their mental health. Regardless of what point you’re at, our participants share that support groups help them to get information and resources from people who have been there; build a support network they can rely on; and talk about their mental health without judgement.

At our groups, we believe in the power of community – a group of people who hear you, understand you, and walk alongside you. There’s a lot of theories behind why support groups work, but the bottom line is this: research shows people who participate in support groups have reduced symptomology, reduced number of crises, reduced use of services, and an overall increased sense of wellbeing (Worrall et al., 2018). It’s more effective than just providing information alone (Griffiths et al., 2012), and some studies even demonstrate that participation in support groups can produce equivalent outcomes to “substantially more costly professional interventions” (Pistrang, Barker, and Humphreys, 2008). No matter what you’re hoping to get out of it, support groups have something for everyone – just ask our participants.