Bipolar treatment options

I am new to this community and i am looking for a few answers. Im going to go out and say that these questions are not for me but for a close friend that suffers from a bipolar disorder.

She just recently had what i would call a very severe depression related episode with strong thoughts of suicide and feelings of worthlessness. I talked her through it all and i feel shes just barely hanging on by a thread. She also has a history of substance abuse to help her cope with her life and has gotten into some pretty heavy stuff in addition to some self mutilation or "cutting." She comes from a broken home and isnt independent on her own and turns to me for help. I am very concerned about her physical and mental health and am at a loss as to what course of action i should take to help her and im seeking this communities advice.

To the best of my knowledge she has seeked little to no professional treatment at all. I am coming from the los angeles / orange county california area if any of you can recommend any support groups or clinics within this area that i can get in contact with to help her out i would greatly appreciate it.

I wish I could help you, but I live across the country. Anyway, she needs to see somebody right away and start taking the "right kind of drugs"
I hope everything works out ok for you and her!
~hugs~

I think it is great that you are helping your friend...it can be so hard for someone to do what they need to do to start getting better. Thanks for caring enough to be will ing to help her.

For support groups, go to www.nami.org and www.DBSAlliance.org. You can find support groups in your area. They will have plenty of resources handy to help your friend, as well as a lot of support and advice.

Hope this helps,

DJ

DBSAlliance & NAMI have been very helpful to me. We share info. on providers & medications & offer support. The mental health assoc. in your area may be helpful, too. I go to a fantastic support group for depression/bipolar through them. They also have groups for teens, schizophrenia, grieving people, etc.

Thank you guys for your help. ill go check out those sites and look for something in my area. I only hope that she wont reject my suggestions to joining one of these groups.