Susan’s Story

I am the mother of a son with Bipolar. He is 13 and has spent the last  2 years living in a wonderful psychiatric facility where he is accepted, appreciated, and understood. Medication management has been very difficult, but at least he is safe and receiving the time and attention his illness requires. In time we will find a good medication regime for him and he will learn how to manage his illness as an adult. I have every expectation that he will be able to live a happy and functional life. That goal will be much easier if he has the acceptance, understanding, and support of the community. Right now he feels let down, judged, isolated and criticized by the local school sytem and the community, but I am working hard to change that for him. I wish very much that treatment could be closer to home, but his safety and ability to be functional are my priorities. My bother had bipolar as well only he did not have a positive outcome. When he stopped taking medication and took his own life back in 1991 my family experienced very little in the way of support or empathy for the tragedy that had just occured in our lives. His illness was not accepted and no one wanted to talk about it. I want better for my son. We have to change the stigma, before any real change will happen in schools and communities. These children (and adults) deserve to be understood and seen for the people they are, not the problems and concerns their illness causes.