On its front page, the Boston Globe (4/27, A1, Landergan) reports that the first episode of bipolar disorder (BD) in young adults may be triggered by “the late nights, flexible schedule, and socialization of college, with more than 50 percent of all cases starting between the ages of 15 and 25, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.” Even though some institutions of higher education do offer “a variety of services for afflicted students,” many “believe the help is not enough. They say that these young people can feel a deep stigma if others find out about their disorder and that few of the students’ peers have a real understanding of their affliction.” The Globe points out that medications taken for BD may cause weight gain and other side effects that are distressing for young adults. The Globe also explains how BD makes it difficult, albeit not impossible, for students to finish their course of study.
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— “College students vulnerable to bipolar disorder,”Katherine Landergan , The Boston Globe, April 27, 2012.