What Educators Should Know

Bipolar disorder — also called manic depression, manic-depressive disorder, manic-depressive illness, and bipolar affective disorder —affects how the brain works, causing shifts in a person's moods, energy levels, and behavior. People with the disorder go through episodes of low-energy depression and high-energy mania.

By understanding their challenges and supporting their needs, educators can help students with bipolar disorder do their best in school.

Challenges for Students With Bipolar Disorder

Students with bipolar disorder might:

• have extreme mood swings, ranging from periods of high energy to episodes of sadness and fatigue (tiredness)
• act withdrawn, irritable, moody, depressed, or anxious
• have trouble staying focused or on task
• have grades that go up and down depending on whether they feel motivated or unmotivated in school
• show impulsive behaviors, such as speaking out of turn or making sudden, unplanned decisions
• struggle with social interactions due to mood shifts or trouble with social skills

What Educators Can Do

Talk to your student and their parents about special instructions, such as whether the student:

• needs to sit up front in the classroom to help them pay attention
• has to take medicines during the day
• will need to miss class time and assignments due to medical visits
• needs an individualized education program (IEP), 504 education plan, or behavior intervention plan
• needs any support from the school counselor or school nurse

It also can help to:

• Plan and agree on a "safe place" with your student — a place they can go if they feel overwhelmed or just need to relax. You also can agree on a "safe person" (such as the school counselor) your student can talk to. When your student needs to go to the safe place or talk with the safe person, let them leave without drawing attention to it.
• Ask if the student needs a plan to deal with side effects from medicines, such as sleepiness, thirst, needing to pee often, or hunger.
• Know what to do if your student has signs of mania, such as being very active and unable to sit still, talking very fast, or making impulsive decisions. 
• Know what to do if your student has signs of depression, such as seeming sad, angry, worried, or anxious, or talking about suicide.

Other reminders:

• Students with bipolar disorder do best in a structured environment with a consistent daily routine. Try your best to provide a consistent schedule. 
• Focus on the student’s strengths in the classroom and offer praise for positive behaviors.
• Help build your student’s confidence by recognizing and appreciating their strengths — in math, sports, drama, art, or whatever else they enjoy. 
• Provide support. If you think your student is feeling upset, talk to them and their family about counseling options in school or in the community. Some school districts don’t require parents’ permission for a student to see a counselor at school while others do. Check your local school district’s policies.