News Release

Printz & Associates Public Relations, Inc. 1274 W. Commerce Way Clarion, PA 16214 Kayla Bishop Public Relations Services Office: (814) 226-8873 Cell: (814) 227-3946 Fax: (814) 226-2243 k.n.bishop@eagle.clarion.edu

HOLD FOR RELEASE Monday April 7, 2014 4 p.m. or Thereafter

Increasing awareness of bipolar disorder at the Clarion Hospital CLARION, PA-The Fifth Annual Bipolar Disorder Awareness Day created by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), is being held at the Clarion Hospital on Monday April 7. The free event is held each year to minimize the 2.3 million Americans affected by the disorder. As a chronic condition, bipolar disorder requires life-long treatment. It is estimated that ten million Americans are affected with this condition. People that have bipolar disorder often go undiagnosed for ten years, says Kenneth Duckworth, a NAMI medical director and assistant professor at Harvard. Seven out of ten people tested for bipolar disorder are misdiagnosed at least once. Dr. Kasey Pickett, NAMI Bipolar Specialist states that, The key to treatment success is accurate diagnosis. -more-

2 Bipolar disorder awareness She also says, If left undiagnosed, people with this condition are at risk for self-harm. Alternating between events of mania and depression are signs that someone may have this condition. Mania can include things like increased energy, mood, and confidence, less sleep and fatigue. Depression can include things like sadness, appetite change, anxiety, social withdrawal and suicidal thoughts. The local event is holding several activities concerning bipolar disorder. Seminars are offered to increase awareness on the symptoms and impact of the condition. Mental health screenings and counseling sessions are also offered as well as informational materials. -###-