Bipolar disorder affects many adults in the US in a given year, although the data on its prevalence among children is patchier, and the particulars of its symptoms make diagnosis at younger ages trickier.

This problem is compounded for members of the African American community, as being diagnosed and treated for bipolar disorder is less common. This is even though there is no difference in the frequency with which the condition occurs based on racial heritage.

In this context, Black parents will be informed on the ins and outs of bipolar disorder so that they’re in a stronger position to support their children and themselves if it becomes a factor in their family unit.

What is Bipolar Disorder?

Bipolar disorder is easiest to understand in terms of extreme mood swings. A person suffering from it will experience periods of heightened energy and hyperactivity, referred to as mania, followed by periods of low energy and listlessness, referred to as depression. Effectively, it’s switching between two polar opposite mental states.

There are a number of bipolar disorder symptoms and diagnosis steps that Black parents need to know about. Here’s a quick overview of what to look out for:

Mania is detectable by:

• A surfeit of energy that results in a person being restless, talking incessantly, and having a barrage of thoughts
• Supreme happiness
• Being quick to anger
• Not requiring much sleep
• Overconfidence
• A lack of good judgment
• Aggression and paranoia

Depression is apparent through:

• Issues with appetite, whether that means not eating enough or overeating
• Problems maintaining normal sleep patterns
• Anxiety
• Detachment from normal life and routines
• Trouble concentrating
• Perpetual sadness without external causes

If you or a family member experiences any combination of these symptoms, contact a healthcare professional for further advice. Given that there is clear evidence that African Americans do not receive the same level of attention and support from the medical community for this disorder, and many others, do not be afraid to be insistent and persistent during this process.

What are the Childhood Risks?

Bipolar disorder is ranked at number six in terms of global causes of disability, since it can seriously impede a person’s ability to live normally. However, it is also generally something that comes about after childhood, and there is not yet a consensus on its prevalence among the under-18s.

One recent meta-analysis revealed that bipolar disorder remains very uncommon amongst kids, and that the distinctly defined pediatric bipolar disorder is not useful because it doesn’t match up with diagnoses of adults. Moreover, it could become overused, so further work must be done to come to firm conclusions.

What is known is that children of parents with bipolar disorder are much more likely to inherit the disorder. The chances are up to 30% for those where one parent has bipolar, and as much as 75% where both parents are already diagnosed.

Once again, the factor of racial inequality can’t be ignored in this context. Black children have a 50% smaller chance of receiving a diagnosis of a mental health condition compared with white children. A combination of unconscious bias among healthcare professionals, as well as greater stigma attached to the diagnosis of such conditions in the community, is cited as a potential cause for this state of affairs.

What Can Be Done?

Although even upper estimates for bipolar disorder’s prevalence mean it should be minimally concerning for most families, it’s necessary to be up to speed with its symptoms so that the small percentage of sufferers receive the assistance they require.

Given that it is a heritable condition, if there is a history of bipolar disorder in your family, then you need to be more vigilant for it, both in your behaviors and those of your children.

While the onset of bipolar may not occur until adulthood for most sufferers, adolescent depression is a potential indicator of its early development. So, being open with your children and regularly talking through your emotions and thoughts from a young age is sensible.

The systemic biases that stand between the Black community and the mental health support it deserves are not something you can tackle on your own. However, you do have the power to arm yourself with knowledge and fight back against the stigma that mental health conditions, including bipolar, have accrued. That way, you can ask for help when you need it, and give your family and friends a helping hand when it’s clear they’re also struggling.

Wrapping Up

Biopolar disorder has the potential to be calamitous if it is not diagnosed and treated.  With that in mind, parents must use this information to inform the steps they take. The long-term benefits of being informed and proactive about mental health conditions such as this are immense.