Help us reduce the diagnosis delay

Campaign with us for timely diagnosis and treatment

The Bipolar Commission found that the earlier someone with bipolar gets a diagnosis and specialist treatment, the better their outcome. Yet in the UK, after first telling a healthcare professional about their symptoms, it takes an average of nine-and-a-half years to get a diagnosis.

During this lost decade, people living with undiagnosed bipolar are at risk of losing their jobs, relationships, homes and lives.

56%

of people with bipolar don't have a diagnosis

1/5

people with bipolar take their own life

60%

of people don't get specialist treatment

One of the many reasons behind the shockingly high risk of suicide in those with bipolar may be the long delay in diagnosis.  Another key factor is that there isn’t a specialist bipolar care pathway in the UK, which would speed up diagnosis and save bipolar lives.  

How we’re making an impact

Building on the evidence base of the Bipolar Commission, we are gathering the responses to hundreds of Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to investigate how many people in the UK are being sectioned under the Mental Health Act with a diagnosis of bipolar – and what kind of care and support is available to them.

Our primary aim is to reduce the delay in diagnosis to five years within five years – and we’re working with partners, parliamentarians and policy-makers to achieve this in three stages:

  • Standardise quality data collection 
  • Adapt Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) services to incorporate bipolar 
  • Develop a dedicated bipolar care pathway

We need your help to get these recommendations written into policy and turned into reality.

Get involved

  1. Become a campaigner. Share your story with your MP and NHS Health Trust/Board
  2. Sign our petition
  3. Join our ‘campaigner’ mailing list by emailing us at bipolarcommission@bipolaruk.org

Get support

We provide free peer support calls, groups and online conversations to anyone affected by bipolar.

Get in touch here

Volunteer with us

Join us and support our mission to build a better world together for everyone affected by bipolar.

Get involved here

Fundraise for us

Why not run a marathon, walk a 5K, take on a trek or host a bake sale to support our vital work?

Read more here