National Bipolar Awareness Day was held on Monday 25 May to educate all communities regarding this mental illness.
The Herald visited Randfontein Care Centre and spoke to hospital manager Malik Mosesanyane, psychiatrist Dr Rabia Wadvalla and nursing manager Trudie van der Merwe about this illness.
Randfontein Care Centre, established in 1964, is a long-term rehabilitating facility for mentally ill patients. It is not a placement facility and works towards reintegrating the patients with society where they can function as stable members of the community. The centre equips the patients with skills such as reading, writing, how to budget their money, and how to reconcile with family members where relationships have gone sour due to the downward spiral this illness can cause.
Relationships with family, friends and even in their working environment can come under fire should this illness not be treated. Substance abuse can worsen a mental disorder and can lead to the manifestation of an underlying mental illness.
People with bipolar disorder and other mental illnesses are more prone to substance abuse owing to either their depressed or manic state of mind. They would do anything to feel better.
In a manic state the person’s ego is inflated, their energy levels are uncontrollable and they become very impulsive. They feel they can achieve anything and would go without sleep for a number of days. The person’s mood can elevate from depressed to manic, but also can stabilise in stages of their lives.
It is important that during this phase medication should not be discontinued because it is known that the moods can return if being triggered. Stress triggers bipolar disorder and should be prevented as far as possible.
The centre has 2 500 bedded units and the capacity of a 1 000 patients. They care for patients with various mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, psychosis and bipolar disorder, as well as severely disabled patients who can not fend for themselves.
Malik said the ideal period for rehabilitation is nine months.
Among 1 000 patients 17 per cent of them were diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and all of them are using medication such as an antidepressant combined with a mood stabiliser.
The centre does not believe in sedating patients and has activities such as gardening, leather work, sewing, sports and a library where patients can empower themselves. They also have a church service on Sundays and patients are from all races and religions.
The Department of Health supplies all funds and the centre is a non-paying facility. Patients are admitted only once they fit the criteria. Many people with bipolar disorder are very creative and intelligent. A number of actors, writers and painters are known to have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder with Sir Richard Branson and Catherine Zeta Jones being some of the best known among them.
The stigma surrounding a mental illness is very damaging to people with the disorder. They are not crazy, they simply need to take medication like all others who suffer from chronic illness.
As Bill Clinton said, “Mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of but stigma and bias shame us all”.
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