Resources
Money, advocacy, benefits, other mental health services & resources, watch or read.
Money and debt
With exorbitant spending being a feature of mania, its no wonder that many of us with bipolar face money worries. Here are some resources that can help you through.
Guide on applying for social housing
To apply for a home in Edinburgh the first thing you need to do is register with EdIndex. This is the housing register used by the Council and 17 Housing Associations/ Co-operatives. You only need to complete one application form to register for housing with all the landlords.
Advocacy, benefits & legal advice
Approximately 50% of people living with bipolar are prevented from working by their condition. Advocacy services stand by your side helping you navigate complex benefits such as PIP. We also list some other services around rights and the law.
AdvoCard
Independent Advocacy is a way to help people have a stronger voice and to have as much control as possible over their own lives. As an independent charity AdvoCard is separate from organisations that provide other types of services. We are not part of the Council, the NHS, or the Scottish Government, though they fund some of our services.
Legal Services Agency
Legal Services Agency (LSA) is a Scottish Law Centre and Charity committed to defending legal rights and using the law to effect social change.
We do this primarily through providing legal advice, assistance and representation to those who need it most. We believe that everyone is entitled to specialist legal advice when they need it and to have the right expert on their side when things go wrong.
gov.uk: Guidance - Mental health and wellbeing abroad
This guidance explains some differences in laws and practices in other countries as they relate to mental health.
Factors that affect your mental health during travel: Your mental and physical health before and during a trip usually affect how well you cope with travel.
Carer Support Payment
Social Security Scotland's Carer Support Payment replaces Carer's Allowance for people in Lothian from 4th November 2024. If you already get Carer's Allowance, you don't need to apply as your award will transfer automatically. You may be eligible if you: a) are 16 or over; b) provide 35 hours or more of unpaid care a week to someone of any age who is getting certain disability benefits; and c) earn £151 per week or less on average after some deductions.
Other mental health services & resources
NHS Lothian | Mental Health Information Station
The Mental Health Information Station is open for walk in visits at the Walpole Hall every Thursday 10.30 am to 3.00 pm. Visitors with mental health issues can drop in without an appointment and receive support and guidance on the day from mental health professionals.
Scottish Men's Sheds Association
The Scottish Men’s Sheds Association’s sole focus is supporting Scotland’s Shedders and their supporters to create Men’s Sheds in their community to benefit their health and wellbeing across Scotland. If you need help, inspiration or just a chat, you have come to the right place.
Watch or read
Too much screen time or social media can negatively impact your mental health. We list local libraries where you can relax with a good book for free. But if you prefer chilling with a video, we've also got you covered.
Harvard Doctor Chris Palmer Recommends Diet for Mental Disorders
Mikhaila Peterson spoke with Dr. Chris Palmer. Dr. Palmer has worked in psychiatry for over 23 years and currently serves as an assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. He just released a new book “Brain Energy” which outlines the role of ketogenic diets as an effective treatment for mood disorders.
We discussed his background and experience with conventional psychiatry as well as the effectiveness of diet, specifically a ketogenic or low-carb diet, for treating the symptoms of mood disorders and their root causes.
TEDx Talks | Finding balance in bipolar | Ellen Forney
Ellen Forney is a passionate storyteller and artist who turned her bipolar diagnosis into a platform of hope for anyone struggling with mental health issues. In this moving and generous talk, Ellen uses both words and pictures — her own comics —to share the story of how she maintained her creativity while managing her illness and shares the system she developed for achieving balance and keeping it.
Bipolar Disorder and Co-Occurring Borderline Personality Disorder - Dr. Christina M. Temes
The focus of this webinar is the co-occurrence of bipolar disorder (BD) and borderline personality disorder (BPD). Although these conditions represent distinct diagnostic entities, existing research suggests that approximately 20% of individuals with BD meet criteria for comorbid BPD. However, there are no current guidelines regarding which treatments work best for this group.