Bipolar Disorder: Health Issues, Social Changes and Role of Media

Pradeep Kumar1,2, Priyanka Singh1,2, Abid Rizvi3 and Prashanta Kumar Pal2
1.Institute of Business Management, Mangalayatan University, Beswan, AligarhMathura Road, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India 2.Institute of Biomedical Education and Research, Mangalayatan University, Beswan, Aligarh-Mathura Road, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India. 3. Department of Psychiatry, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India. E-mail: pradeep2007ebt020@gmail.com

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introduction

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks. The elevated moods are clinically referred to as mania. Individuals who experience manic episodes also commonly experience depressive episodes, or symptoms, or a mixed state in which features of both mania and depression are present at the same time.

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SYMPTOMS OF BIPOLAR DISORDER

SYMPTOMS OF MANIA OR A MANIC EPISODE INCLUDE: Mood Changes:

A long period of feeling "high," or an overly happy or outgoing mood. Extremely irritable mood, agitation, feeling "jumpy" or "wired." Talking very fast, jumping from one idea to

Behavioural Changes:

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Less Sleep. Having an unrealistic belief in one's abilities. Behaving impulsively and taking part in a lot of pleasurable, high-risk behaviours, such as impulsive sex, and impulsive business investments.

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SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION OR A DEPRESSIVE EPISODE INCLUDE:
Mood Changes:

A long period of feeling worried or empty. Loss of interest in activities once enjoyed, including sex. Behavioural Changes: Feeling tired or "slowed down". Having problems in concentrating, remembering, and making decisions.
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Being restless or irritable.

BIPOLAR DISORDER AND CHALENGES WITHIN SOCIETY

Like other serious illnesses, bipolar disorder can be difficult for spouses, family members, friends, and other caregivers. Relatives and friends often have to cope with the persons serious behavioural problems, such as wild spending sprees during mania, extreme withdrawal during depression, poor work or school performance.

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SOME STATISTICS

The WHO estimates that depression will be the number one cause of disability in both the developed and developing worlds by 2030. Mood disorders (i.e. depression and bipolar disorder) are overall more prevalent among people in the 3544 age group, while for women they are much more prevalent in the 1824 age group. In US, the average age of onset for anxiety disorders (age 11) was found to be much earlier than for substance use disorders (age 20) and mood disorders (age 30).
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The level of pain, suffering, disability and death associated with bipolar disorder is greater than that for ovarian cancer, rheumatoid arthritis or AIDS.

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ROLE OF MASS MEDIA AND HEALTH PROMOTION

Media should aware the society about a particular problem or issue related to this disorder. The media's characterization of bipolar disorder helps educate the public in a positive manner or distort perceptions of illness. The media can raise awareness of bipolar disorder through movies and TV program. Unfamiliar social surroundings may be unable to distinguish between actual bipolar symptoms and the film industry's tendency to take liberty with the facts. 4/13/12

The community mobilization barriers to behaviour change.

campaigns

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The stories can help generate to buzz about the issues of bipolar disorder like nukkard natak (street plays) can be brought under video coverage for reaching out to larger masses in rural areas in a district. Training partners around the world to tackle important issues in their community using a blend of Entertainment-Education (E-E) storytelling, interactive talk shows and Community Mobilization Campaigns for bipolar and psyiacratic disorder.

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Empowering masses with knowledge through radio channel and health channels by experts through peer-topeer learning and knowledge sharing. Through awareness projects in print or video etc, media can positively influence patient, people around (at home and workplace) and legal structures and labour laws for support for the cause of people affected with bipolar disorder directly or indirectly. The talk shows let listeners learn more.

Media can have impact on work, relationship and possibility.

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Effectiveness and success of media in awareness projects can surely be enhanced by use of vernacular languages or local dialects. Programs like talk shows, conferencing, reality shows, documentaries, can be specially designed for the purpose can be media sponsored/ aired. Radio FM channels and community radio programmes can also play vital role and can be aimed towards the cause.

There is a society through which Human resource management system should be sensitive to Bipolar disorder.
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Media can publish the health related advertisement free of cost. It is an appeal that there should be simple projects with media for the people around to understand better. It can influence patient, friends, colleges etc.

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