Obviously, my disorder is the thing first and foremost on my mind lately, considering the trouble it's been giving me. Here are some stats on bp....

2.8 percent of the general population have bp.

BP ranks 7th on the WHO's scale ranking causes of disability.

Life expectancy of a bp person is a full 25 years shorter than that of the general population.

25% of bp people have attempted suicide.

15-20% of these attempts are lethal. BP has the highest suicide rate of any mental disorder, more than 20 times that of the general population. About 50% of all suicide attempts can be attributed to bp.

BP was named in 1896 and was first called "Manic-Depressive Insanity." The term Bi-Polar Disorder was not used until 1980.

The average age of onset is 23, the average age of proper diagnosis is 40.

The average bp person waits 10 years to seek treatment for their condition.

75% of bp sufferers have been misdiagnosed at least once.

50% of those diagnosed with bp are not receiving treatment at any given time.

50% of bp people who seek treatment discontinue their medication because of the side effects.

Odds are 60/40 that a bp person will also struggle with substance abuse.

Alcoholism rates of bp men are 3 times that of the general population.
Alcoholism rates among bp women are 7 times that of the general population.

Divorce rates of bp people are twice that of any other psychiatric disorder and three and a half times that of the general population.

Mental illness accounts for four times as many emergency room visits each year as all other maladies/accidents/illnesses combined.

50% of all bp and schizophrenic people have no health insurance.