This blog is here to help those who are suffering from Bipolar and their relatives with resources, advice, support and insights into all the legal and other issues surrounding living with Bipolar. I’m a Mom who has been diagnosed with Bipolar Affective Disorder. I have three young children, one of whom has a physical disability. I am a UK lawyer too (although my advice on this blog is not intended to be taken as formal legal advice by any of the readers).

This blog came about due to my High Court battle for care of my children. The case revolved around my Bipolar condition and hence my ability to look my  children due to the nature of my condition. I wish to share my experience and learnings with any of you who are going through the same kind of custody issues as I feel strongly that my own case and those generally of parents with mental health problems are surrounded by prejudice, stigma and mental health discrimination. 

Then there is the issue of child and spousal maintenance where one parent suffers with Bipolar so the legal framework and other issues are also included in this blog.

Living with this condition has also thrown up legal issues surrounding Bipolar in many areas of life eg driving, life insurance, travel insurance, disclosure of medical records, employment issues, discrimination issues, neuroscience projects, diagnosis and ongoing treatment of Bipolar amongst others.

I am looking for support from others who have Bipolar, or from Mental Health professionals, lawyers or campaigners or politicians who may wish to become involved in the remit I have set myself ie to challenge the judiciary in their approach to Family law cases involving a parent with mental health problems. I aim to highlight the inadequacies in the current law as to how Courts should assess whether or not a person with Bipolar can parent their children and to propose amendments and set out a set of guidelines for the Judiciary to follow.

I also aim to highlight other issues of Mental Health discrimination in other areas eg employment, insurance, driving, education and so on.

I also wish to provide support and resources for those of us who are trying our hardest to care for our children, notwithstanding our own struggles with our illness.

 

Please note: The Children’s Act 1989 stipulates that confidentiality regarding the names of all parties concerned must be upheld, so there are no details in this blog of names or other details in the hope that the children’s identity remians confidential.