Hi,<\/p>\n
I read the news a lot, and so I\u2019ve read about people with mental illness, not just bipolar disorder, getting killed by the police because the police misunderstand the situation, or they just don’t know that the person has bipolar disorder (or some other mental illness). I read the headlines. I read a lot of headlines from all across the globe. I stay informed. I also post them on my website, so that you can stay informed, too. This is really important to me, because when I<\/p>\n
started bipolarcentral.com, one of the most important things to me (and it still is) was to educate people about bipolar disorder. So I put up the Bipolar News on the website as one of the ways to do that. Anyway, sometimes I’m accused of posting only bad news, and some people really, really don’t like that, and they tell me so. But I tell them that even if you were to read just your own paper, or turn on the news on your local TV station, you would see all this bad news, too. It’s just all around us, unfortunately.<\/p>\n
I just pick out the stories that apply to bipolar disorder, because those are the ones that you are interested in reading about. In my defense against those people who accuse me of only printing bad news, well, I don’t. I print all the news I can find that has to do with bipolar disorder. My intent, just like it always was, is just to inform. Unfortunately, I guess these people are kind of right. I wish there were more positive news about bipolar disorder. That’s what one of the things is about my mission is. I want people to learn more about bipolar disorder so that they will become more educated and not be so afraid of people who have the disorder. If people are more educated, they won’t be so afraid. Then, maybe, we won’t see so many tragic headlines.<\/p>\n
Speaking of sad stories, at one time there was a headline found in New Jersey that hit home for me. Yea, it was really sad. But it has a bipolar lesson to it, so I have to share it with you.<\/p>\n
Michele who works for me, her cousin’s 23-year-old son was shot and killed by the police. He had a knife, and was surrounded by a squad of police, and they just shot first. Unfortunately, what the headlines didn’t say was that Jake had bipolar disorder and was in a manic episode at<\/p>\n
the time, because he hadn’t been taking his medication. Now, you’re familiar with bipolar disorder. You do understand that, in a manic episode, your loved one is not in their right mind. They aren’t thinking rationally. Who knows if Jake even understood what was happening to him? The point was, here was this young man, surrounded by all these police, all these guns pointed at him, and he probably didn’t even know what was happening. And there was no one there to intervene on his behalf.<\/p>\n
In some types of bipolar disorder, the person can become violent during an episode. They may have hallucinations or delusions during an episode and not know what they’re doing, and it may lead to some type of violence. Even if they don’t have this type of bipolar disorder, their disorder may change somewhere down the line, and they may become violent. So whether your loved one has ever been violent before or not, you need to be aware of what to do if they ever do become that way. Even if they don’t become actually violent, there may come a time when they are so out of control and you are so afraid that you have to involve the police. Or maybe you’re not even so afraid for yourself, but for your loved one.<\/p>\n
Sometimes, in an episode, a person with bipolar disorder will threaten suicide. And you may not be able to handle it by yourself. So, in any of the cases, like I’ve mentioned, the police may need to be involved. This is the bipolar lesson I talked about earlier. There are some things you should know before you involve the police. Especially for your loved one’s sake. Because there still hasn’t been enough education in the community and in police departments to necessarily keep them from killing a person in a bipolar episode rather than just subduing them first and getting them the help they need. Probably the most important thing you need to know is<\/p>\n
this: Should you have to call the police on your loved one, STAY (if at all possible) until the police arrive, so that you can explain to them that your loved one has bipolar disorder. In many states, it will make the difference between your loved one going to the hospital or going to jail.<\/p>\n
If there is some reason you cannot stay, then make sure when you do call the police, that you tell them that they will be dealing with someone who has bipolar disorder. Again, it may mean the difference between your loved one going to the hospital or going to jail. As a supporter, I’m sure you would rather see your loved one get the help they need rather than go to jail just for being in a bipolar episode. Many times, the police will bring with them a mental health professional who will help them assess the situation and\/or your loved one’s condition. Unfortunately, Jake did not have this luxury. Had there been a mental health professional on the site, he may have stood a better chance of living.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Well, I have to go!<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Your Friend,<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Dave<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Hi,<\/p>\n
I read the news a lot, and so I\u2019ve read about people with mental illness, not just bipolar disorder, getting killed by the police because the police misunderstand the situation, or they just don’t know that the person has bipolar disorder (or some other mental illness). I read the headlines. I read a lot of headlines from all across the globe. I stay informed. I also post them on my website, so that you can stay informed,<\/p>\n