Bipolar disorder sufferer aims to tackle stigma of mental illness with support group

A BIPOLAR disorder sufferer hopes to lift the stigma put on parents with mental health issues by setting up the area's first support group.

Robert Palmer, of Cleethorpes, knows all too well the challenges of bringing up a child while fighting your own health battles.

SUPPORT: Bipolar disorder sufferer Robert Palmer, of Cleethorpes, has set up a website and support group called Parents First to bring together parents living with a mental illness. Picture: Michelle Adamson. Buy photos at www.thisisphotosales.co.uk/grimsby or by contacting 08444 060910

He has suffered from bipolar disorder for the past 14 years, while bringing up his disabled 12-year-old son Morgan.

Now 53, Robert wants other parents living with a mental health problem to feel included within society and to be able to share their experiences with others like themselves.

Bipolar disorder is an illness that involves episodes of serious mania and depression.

These can be severe mood swings accompanied by changes in emotions, thoughts, behaviours, physical health and the way you function on a day to day basis.

It typically begins in adolescence or early adulthood, but can sometimes start in early childhood or as late as 40 or 50.

However, once diagnosed, it is usually a life-long condition.

Robert has already created the Parents First website, which is currently the only dedicated online support group for parents who are mentally ill.

And it has proved to be such a success, that Robert has decided to try and establish a support group within North East Lincolnshire that would meet on a monthly basis.

Robert said: "You can pick your child up from school and chat to the other parents there about having a bad back, but having a mental illness is a taboo subject.

"I want to lift the stigma surrounding mental illnesses and the misrepresentation that people living with it to are violent or unfit.

"I am a single dad and primary care giver to my disabled son. I would like to think I am a good father, even with my illness, but my greatest fear is that he will be taken away from me.

"I guess this is a fear and concern I share with most parents in my situation."

At the time when Robert was diagnosed with bipolar disorder 14 years ago, he was self harming and was eventually sectioned under the Mental Health Act.

However, this is a thing of the past and he now takes three lots of medication a day to control his condition.

A community psychiatric nurse visits Robert at home every three weeks and he will see his consultant psychiatrist at Weelsby View Health Centre, Ladysmith Road, Grimsby, every three months.

Robert said: "With bipolar my mood swings change dramatically and I can go from extremely happy one day to crashing depression the next.

"Thankfully for me, these changes happen slowly over a 24-hour period but, for some people, they can change within the hour.

"With first-hand experience on coping with a mental illness while bringing up a child, I feel I am in the best position to set up a support group.

"I have approached various mental health organisations and some are willing to offer me a space where I could hold these monthly meetings.

"I just hope there are people out there who can relate to my situation and would want to join a group catered for them.

"If this is successful then I would also be looking for guest speakers on mental health to attend the monthly meetings."







Find out more

Anyone interested in attending a monthly support group, call Robert on 01472 690969. Alternatively you can check out Robert's online support group for more information, visit www.parentsfirst.org.uk