ACCORDING to the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (Sadag), between 3% and 4% of the population suffers from bipolar disorder. That’s about 2-million South Africans. The National Institute of Mental Health in the US defines bipolar disorder, sometimes referred to as manic-depressive disorder, as "characterised by dramatic shifts in mood, energy, and activity levels that affect a person’s ability to carry out day-to-day tasks. These shifts in mood and energy levels are more severe than the normal ups and downs that are experienced by everyone." US mental health organisation Mental Illness Policy Org says "Suicide is the number one cause of premature death among people with bipolar disorder, with 15%-17% taking their own lives, as a result of negative symptoms that come from untreated illness." "The highest, biggest, quickest, can’t keep up with it all, can do it all, from can’t possibly fail to irritation to rage, and finally to the lowest, murky chamber of hell where the da...
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