Delays to diagnosis can lead people with bipolar to reach crisis point, but mental health nurses in general practice can help spot warning signs
People with bipolar wait for an average of 9.5 years to get a diagnosis, according to the charity Bipolar UK. Waiting for a diagnosis can be distressing and the risk of suicide is high during this time, affecting more than 39% for those who wait between five and ten years for a diagnosis from the time they report their initial symptoms.
Mental Health Practice. 27, 2, 6-7. doi: 10.7748/mhp.27.2.6.s2
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