If your GP thinks you may have bipolar disorder, they'll usually refer you to a community mental health team (CMHT).
A CMHT can include:
- social workers
- community mental health nurses who specialise in mental health difficulties
- pharmacists
- counsellors and psychotherapists
- psychologists and psychiatrists - the psychiatrist is usually the senior doctor in the team
- occupational therapists
If your GP or a family member is worried you are at risk of harming yourself you'll be referred as an emergency.
If you're worried about someone else
If you are worried about a friend or family member, explain the reasons for your concern and encourage them to see their GP. It can be helpful for the person and the GP if a friend or family member accompanies them to an appointment.
Specialist assessment
The psychiatrist will ask you a few questions to find out if you have bipolar disorder.
If you do have bipolar disorder, they'll decide what treatments are the best ones for you.
The psychiatrist will ask you:
- about your symptoms and when you first experienced them
- about how you feel before and during an episode of mania or depression
- if you have thoughts about harming yourself
- about your health and family history
- if any of your relatives have had bipolar disorder
More tests
Depending on your symptoms, you may need tests to see if you have a health condition such as an underactive thyroid or overactive thyroid.
You may also need to have a brain scan.
If you have bipolar disorder, you'll need to visit your GP regularly for a physical health check. This is to monitor any effect medicine may have on your kidneys or thyroid.
Planning your treatment
If you are diagnosed with bipolar disorder, it's important to talk to your care team. It will help you to be involved in decisions about your treatment and care.
You don't have to follow your treatment plan by law in Ireland. But it's still helpful to think about what kind of treatment you would prefer if you become unwell again.
If your symptoms become severe you may not be able to make an informed decision about your care, or communicate your needs. If this happens, it may be possible to draw up an advanced directive.
Making an advanced directive
This is a set of written instructions which you draw up before your symptoms get worse. You can decide what type of treatment and help you want (or do not want) in the future. When you put this in writing it's called an advanced directive.
People caring for you can use it if you can no longer make decisions about your care. This might happen if your symptoms get worse.
Your GP or care team can give you further help and advice.
Content supplied by the NHS and adapted for Ireland by the HSE