Depression & Bipolar Disorder

• Unipolar Affective Disorder (Depression) and Bipolar Affective Disorder (Manic-Depression) are disorders affecting mood and emotion
• Depressive Illness is characterized by a pervasive sadness far worse than the ordinary “blues”
• Bipolar Disorder is characterized by cyclic periods of depression and mania
• Both illnesses are often accompanied by anxiety and other disorders
• Mood disorders are caused by a variety of biological, psychological, interpersonal, and genetic factors
• Although there is no known cure for either illness, most people can be helped with medication and/or some form of psychotherapy
• It is conservatively estimated that 1.5% of the population have had Bipolar Disorder and that 10% have had Unipolar Disorder.  Over 80% of those affected will go untreated
• 15% of people who have a significant mood disorder commit suicide

The Mood Disorders Support Group of Guelph receives ongoing funding from: