New research conducted by the University of Toronto and published in the Journal of Affective Disorders Reports highlights that among Canadians previously diagnosed with bipolar disorder, 43% were free of all bipolar symptoms and approximately 1 in 4 (23.5%) had achieved complete mental health.
Despite these encouraging findings, those with a history of bipolar disorder were much less likely to be flourishing than their peers. Three-quarters of those without a history of bipolar disorders were in complete mental health.
The study, analyzing data from Statistics Canada’s Canadian Community Health Survey – Mental Health, compared 555 Canadians with a history of bipolar disorder to 20,530 respondents without such a history. To be considered in complete mental health, participants had to be free from any mental illness in the past year, including bipolar disorder, depression and substance use disorders or suicidal ideation. They also had to report almost daily social and psychological well-being and happiness or life satisfaction.