First proclamation in support of Mental Health initiative in the state of Tennessee issued

New Safe 'til Stable Program, is a preventative care measure for bipolar disorder

On November 9, 2009, Honorable Speaker of the Senate Ron Ramsey, and Honorable Senator Mark Norris issued the first proclamation in support of a Mental Health initiative in the state of Tennessee. This is a major breakthrough to benefit people living with bipolar disorder in the State of Tennessee, and support The Brilliance in Bipolar Initiative.

The National Bipolar Foundation (NBPF) was founded, in 2007 by Marc Kullman, in order to reduce stigma, educate, and seek affordable healthcare for those people living with bipolar disorder. A National Awareness Initiative has been launched to spread awareness through press releases, press conferences, proclamations, influential people, and its online campaign through social media networking. The MedicAlert Foundation, founded in 1956, is the leader in providing identification and emergency medical information. Together both foundations have developed a program that will prevent the misdirection, misdiagnosis, and mistreatments of people living with bipolar disorder.

Bipolar disorder is said to affect at least 1 in 100 people, including their family and friends, and some say as many as 1 in 25, including undiagnosed cases. This cooperative effort between NBPF and the MedicAlert Foundation will have widespread impact on our society. Children, adolescents and adults living with bipolar disorder who are involved in accidents and unable to speak for themselves, will have the MedicAlert Emergency Services speaking for them; informing hospital staff and medical providers of their diagnoses and current medications in order to avoid potential dangerous withdrawal and the acute onset of instability in regards to any symptoms of bipolar disorder. Another major benefit of the program is that when a person living with bipolar disorder finds themselves in an unforeseen incident, responders will react in an appropriate manner, thus given the opportunity to defuse the situation or transport the person to an appropriate facility. The implementation of this program immediately creates jail diversion benefiting all of society. The "Safe 'til" Stable program will benefit individuals wearing the identification jewelry, reduce stress on their families and friends, and ultimately reduce the cost of their care for all taxpayers.

SOURCE National Bipolar Foundation