The Findings of the Bipolar Commission Key findings include: More than a million people live with bipolar in the UK More than five million friends and family are significantly affected by a loved one’s bipolar After first telling a healthcare professional about symptoms, it takes an average of 9.5 years to get a diagnosis of bipolar Bipolar costs the UK economy £20 billion a year – 17% of the burden of disease for mental illness Someone with bipolar takes their own life every day 10% of our community said they had attempted to take their own life in the last six months More than half of people with bipolar have been hospitalised due to their bipolar 44% of people with bipolar are obese People with bipolar die 10-15 years earlier than the general population June 2023 Bipolar UK presented the findings of the Bipolar Commission in Wales at a lunchtime reception at the National Centre for Mental Health in Cardiff on 6 June 2023. The Commission revealed that the healthcare system in Wales is failing the 50,000+ people living with bipolar, resulting in an average diagnosis delay of 11.9 years from first telling a clinician about symptoms. The average diagnosis time in the UK is 9.5 years. Read about the Bipolar Commission's key findings in Wales here November 2022 Bipolar UK presented the full Bipolar Commission report at a parliamentary reception on 8 November 2022. This 'Bipolar Minds Matter' report calls for an immediate restructure of the healthcare system that is failing millions affected by bipolar, and puts forward the case for developing a dedicated care pathway so that people with bipolar can have access to specialist treatment and continuity of support over a lifetime. The full report includes the Bipolar Commissions recommendation's and two appendices: 'The impact of bipolar on women' written by Dr Clare Dolman and 'The economic impact of bipolar' written by Professor Paul McCrone. Read a summary of the 'Bipolar Minds Matter' report Read the full 'Bipolar Minds Matter' report March 2022 Bipolar UK presented a second report on the findings of the Bipolar Commission on World Bipolar Day (30 March) at the annual online conference. The second report 'Hidden in Plain Sight' focuses on the lived experience of the bipolar community to paint a comprehensive picture of what it’s like living with bipolar in the UK today. What’s the journey to diagnosis? What are the treatments? What impact does the condition have on physical health? Which services are working well – and which aren’t? What’s the link between bipolar and suicide? Read a summary of the 'Hidden in Plain Sight' report Read the full 'Hidden in Plain Sight' report October 2021 Bipolar UK presented the early findings of the Bipolar Commission at a parliamentary reception on 21 October 2021. The first report 'Bipolar Diagnosis Matters' focuses on what bipolar is, what triggers it, how long it takes to get a diagnosis, the impact of a delay in diagnosis and the risks of living with the condition. Read a summary of the 'Bipolar Diagnosis Matters' report Read the full 'Bipolar Diagnosis Matters' report Sign our petition asking for faster bipolar diagnosis Last updated: 14 June 2023 Manage Cookie Preferences