Is bipolar more difficult for some people to understand because they don't have any experience with the disorder? Do they struggle because medical jargon confuses them? Or do some people choose to ignore what's happening to those around them? What if a spouse fails to learn about the very disorder his wife has, instead of absorbing as much information as possible to better understand what she deals with each day?

Information on bipolar is easy to find. The National Institute of Mental Health and the American Psychological Association (APA) are excellent sources. Family physicians, local libraries, mental health hotlines . . .

Support someone with a mental illness by learning about the disorder affecting them.