Undiagnosed, Untreated Bipolar Disorder in Women in their Late 40s Can Lead to Increased Risk of Suicide
June 14 2018 - 2:15PM
Business Wire
Women are most at risk for developing bipolar disorder at two
key stages of their lives: in their later teenage years and when
they reach their late 40s, when the risk of suicide may
increase.
“Although less common than early onset bipolar disorder, the
incidence of bipolar disorder in women in their late 40s may be
related to hormonal changes and, if left undiagnosed and untreated,
can lead to an increased risk of suicide,” said David Chu, M.D., a
psychiatrist and medical director of the inpatient psychiatric
program at Southern California Hospital at Culver City.
The recent deaths by suicide of 55-year-old fashion designer
Kate Spade and 61-year-old celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain have
cast a spotlight on mental health issues. In a statement to the New
York Times after her death, Spade’s husband Andy said she had been
“actively seeking help for depression and anxiety over the last
five years, seeing a doctor on a regular basis and taking
medication for both depression and anxiety.”
“As a society, we have a tendency to keep quiet about mental
health issues, but it’s critical that we address these issues
openly and compassionately,” Dr. Chu said.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, bipolar
disorder affects approximately 5.7 million adult Americans, or
about 2.6 percent of the U.S. population age 18 and older every
year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports
that suicide was the 10th leading cause of death overall in the
U.S. in 2016, claiming the lives of nearly 45,000 people. Many of
these lives can be saved if symptoms are discovered and addressed
early enough. While proper medical treatment is necessary to help
those at risk, it is just one of the many steps of suicide
prevention. Knowledge and recognition of suicidal signals are key
elements in prevention and are things that everyone can and should
take part in.
If a loved one is considering suicide:
- Do not leave him or her alone
- Try to get your loved one to seek
immediate help from a doctor or the nearest hospital emergency
room, or call 911
- Remove access to firearms or other
potential tools for suicide, including medications
About Southern California Hospital at Culver City
Opened as an eight-bed clinic in 1925, Southern California
Hospital at Culver City (SCH-CC) has dedicated itself to providing
quality care to the culturally diverse populations of the Culver
City and West Los Angeles communities. SCH-CC is a general acute
care hospital that utilizes many of the latest medical treatments
and technologies. The hospital offers a wide range of inpatient and
outpatient acute care services, including an orthopedic and spine
center, cardiovascular services, metabolic and bariatric surgery,
acute rehabilitation, sub-acute care, psychiatric care and chemical
dependency programs. Additionally, SCH-CC operates a 24-hour
emergency services center, which serves as a paramedic receiving
station and is staffed by board-certified emergency physicians and
nurse specialists.
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Southern California Hospital at Culver CityGary Hopkins(805)
705-2586gary@blancohopkins.com