I come from both sides. My mother had bipolar & WAS dangerous to herself & to us (her children). She, unfortunately, was not able to be helped--plus she was not exactly compliant being an alcoholic--so whose/ what's to blame? The fact IS SHE WAS DANGEROUS & I had to call the police to have her hauled away when she tried to kill my brother.

Now, I also have been dxed as bipolar I as well (thanks, Mom), but I have never been violent except against myself (suicide attempts--my mother did finally succeed in killing herself when I was a teenager--just about the time I started trying). So it would be interesting to know the way to reassure the "public" yet warn them at the same time that an unbalanced person can be dangerous.--Suzy