Here’s a list of reliable sources of information for people with bipolar disorder.  These sources offer a wealth of information, support, and community for individuals seeking to understand and manage bipolar disorder effectively:

1. National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH):
   • Website: NIMH
   • Description: NIMH provides comprehensive and up-to-date information on bipolar disorder, including symptoms, treatments, research updates, and resources for individuals and families.
2. Mayo Clinic:
   • Website: Mayo Clinic – Bipolar Disorder
   • Description: Mayo Clinic offers extensive information on bipolar disorder, including symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment options, and lifestyle and coping strategies.
3. National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI):
   • Website: NAMI – Bipolar Disorder
   • Description: NAMI provides educational resources, support groups, and advocacy for individuals and families affected by mental health conditions, including bipolar disorder.
4. PsychCentral:
   • Website: PsychCentral – Bipolar Disorder
   • Description: PsychCentral offers in-depth articles, guides, and resources on bipolar disorder, covering symptoms, treatments, medications, and living with the condition.
5. Mind (UK-based, but applicable information):
   • Website: Mind – Bipolar Disorder
   • Description: Mind provides reliable information and support for people in the UK and beyond, covering various aspects of bipolar disorder, including symptoms, treatments, and support options.
6. Bipolar Australia:
   • Website: Bipolar Australia
   • Description: Bipolar Australia offers information specific to the Australian context, including resources, support services, and personal stories related to bipolar disorder.
7. International Bipolar Foundation:
   • Website: International Bipolar Foundation
   • Description: IBPF provides education, advocacy, and support for individuals living with bipolar disorder worldwide. They offer resources, webinars, and community forums.
8. HealthyPlace:
   • Website: HealthyPlace – Bipolar Disorder
   • Description: HealthyPlace features articles, blogs, and videos on bipolar disorder, covering topics such as symptoms, treatment options, self-help strategies, and personal experiences.

Global Research Institutes:

These institutes are recognized for their contributions to advancing our understanding of bipolar disorder through rigorous scientific research and clinical studies. They play a crucial role in shaping treatment strategies and improving outcomes for individuals living with bipolar disorder:

1. Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research at Broad Institute (USA)
   • Website: Broad Institute – Stanley Center
   • Description: Conducts genetic and genomic research to understand the causes of psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder.
2. National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) (USA)
   • Website: NIMH
   • Description: Leads research efforts in the United States to understand, diagnose, and treat mental illnesses, including bipolar disorder.
3. The Royal College of Psychiatrists (UK)
   • Website: Royal College of Psychiatrists
   • Description: Promotes research, education, and training in psychiatry, including studies on bipolar disorder.
4. Oxford University Department of Psychiatry (UK)
   • Website: Oxford Psychiatry
   • Description: Engages in research on the neuroscience and treatment of psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder.
5. University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) – Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior (USA)
   • Website: UCLA Semel Institute
   • Description: Conducts research in neuroscience and psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder.
6. University of Toronto – Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) (Canada)
   • Website: CAMH
   • Description: Focuses on research, education, and clinical care for mental health disorders, including bipolar disorder.
7. Karolinska Institute (Sweden)
   • Website: Karolinska Institute
   • Description: Conducts research in medicine, neuroscience, and psychiatry, with studies on bipolar disorder.
8. Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry (Germany)
   • Website: Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry
   • Description: Engages in psychiatric research, including molecular genetics and neuroimaging studies relevant to bipolar disorder.
9. University of Melbourne – Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health (Australia)
   • Website: Florey Institute
   • Description: Conducts research on brain disorders, including bipolar disorder, with a focus on neuroscience and mental health.
10. University of Pittsburgh – Department of Psychiatry (USA)
    • Website: Pitt Psychiatry
    • Description: Engages in research on mental health disorders, including bipolar disorder, with a focus on neuroscience and clinical trials.

Professional bodies

Organisations dedicated to Bipolar Disorder around the world:

1. International Society for Bipolar Disorders (ISBD)
   • Website: isbd.org
2. European Network of Bipolar Research Expert Centres (ENBREC)
   • Website: enbrec.net
3. Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments (CANMAT)
   • Website: canmat.org
4. Australian and New Zealand Society of Bipolar and Depressive Disorders (ANZBDP)
   • Website: anzbdp.org
5. Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA)
   • Website: dbsalliance.org
6. National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
   • Website: nami.org
7. The Black Dog Institute (Australia)
   • Website: blackdoginstitute.org.au
8. Mood Disorders Society of Canada
   • Website: mdsc.ca
9. Bipolar UK
   • Website: bipolaruk.org

Other useful sites

• bpHope Magazine   A wonderful online magazine full of wonderful stories, blogs, informative videos and research updates. Be sure to subscribe.

Books

Check out the International Bipolar Foundation’s Recommended Reading List:

1. Louisa G. Sylvia, Ph.D. and Andrew A. Nierenberg, M.D., The Wellness Workbook for Bipolar Disorder (Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications, 2015).
2. David D. Burns, M.D., The Feeling Good Handbook, revised ed. (New York: Plume, 1999).
3. Thilo Deckersbach, Ph.D., Britta Hölzel, Ph.D, Lori Eisner, Ph.D., Sara W. Lazar, and Andrew A. Nierenberg, M.D., Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Bipolar Disorder (New York: Guilford Press, 2014).
4. S. Nassir Ghaemi, M.D., Mood Disorders: A Practical Guide, 2nd edition (Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer, 2008).
5. Kay Redfield Jamison, An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness (New York: Vintage, 1997).
6. William J. Knaus, Ed.D., and Albert Ellis, Ph.D., The Cognitive Behavioral Workbook for Depression: A Step-by-Step Program, 2nd edition (Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications, 2012).
7. Stephanie McMurrich Roberts, Ph.D., Louisa Grandin Sylvia, Ph.D., and Noreen A. Reilly-Harrington, Ph.D., The Bipolar II Disorder Workbook (Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications, 2013).
8. David J. Miklowitz, Ph.D., The Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide: What You and Your Family Need to Know, 3rd edition (New York: Guilford Press, 2018).
9. Susan J. Noonan, M.D., M.P.H., Managing Your Depression: What You Can Do to Feel Better (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2013).
10. Phelps J. and Aiken, Chris., Bipolar, Not so Much. Understanding Your Mood Swings and Depression. (W.W. Norton & Co, 2017).
11. William Styron, Darkness Visible: A Memoir of Madness (New York: Random House, 1990).
12. Mark Williams, John Teasdale, Zindel Segal, and Jon Kabat-Zinn, The Mindful Way Through Depression: Freeing Yourself From Chronic Unhappiness (New York: Guilford Press, 2007).
13. James Phelps. A Spectrum Approach to Mood Disorders. (New York: W.W. Norton & Co, 2016).
14. William Marchand. Mindfulness for Bipolar Disorder – How Mindfulness and Neuroscience Can Help You Manage Your Bipolar Symptoms. (Oakland: New Harbinger, 2015).
15. Monica Ramirez Basco. The Bipolar Workbook – Tools for Controlling Your Mood Swings. 2nd Ed. (New York: Guilford Press, 2015).
16. Kerrie Eyers and Gordon Parker. Mastering Bipolar Disorder: An Insider’s Guide to Managing Mood Swings and Finding Balance. (Sydney: Allen & Unwin, 2009).