About Bipolar Support Canterbury
The experience of mental illness can have a significant cost to individuals, their families, employers and the communities we live in. People with Bipolar / Manic Depression can learn to manage their mood swings effectively, given the necessary tools that promote wellness to lead rewarding and satisfying lives. Providing individuals with information and the tools for self-care allows people to take greater personal responsibility in the long term and to move forward with confidence.

Bipolar Support Canterbury began in 1983 as The Manic Depressive Society. We were started by a group of people living with the disorder, their families and with the support of health professionals because they saw the benefit of providing mutual support and good information about the disorder to others in the same situation as themselves.

Over the last 20 years, the organisation has grown slowly from a small group of committed volunteers to now having five paid staff alongside the volunteer workforce. We remain passionate about people having the information and support they need so that they can take responsibility for their own lives, both as a person with the diagnosis or as a family member.

We provide information about the disorder, run peer support groups, offer a one to one support service and run education and information sessions. Our focus is on the needs of people within Christchurch city but we do send our pamphlets (link to pamphlets page) out within New Zealand.

We are an Incorporated Society that is governed by a Board who is elected annually by the membership of the Society. It is the Board’s role to provide the overall direction to the organisation. As part of our commitment to peer support the majority of Board Members have had their lives affected by Bipolar Disorder.

We have a Manager who has responsibility for the day to day running of our services and the staff both paid and voluntary who provide our services.  We have four part time peer support workers and a part time Office Administrator. Volunteers are an essential part of our organisation; from the people who give their time to the committee, to support group facilitators, to those who create and send out the newsletter.

Our office can be found at 221 Gloucester St, 2nd Floor where we are housed with other small Not for Profit mental health organisations. You are welcome to visit us, just telephone first to make sure one of us is here to meet with you. The Mental Health Education and Resource Centre has a library on the same floor that is open to the public. www.mherc.org.nz

We always welcome donations and bequests to support the work that we do. Please contact us in person or by telephone if you would like to help us in this way.

Sponsors & Members
Bipolar Support Canterbury is based in Christchurch and aims to provide support to all individuals and families who are affected by Bipolar Disorder. Your sponsorship will help us to do this. Would you like to become a sponsor or a member?

Information Resources
We have built up a range of information resources. These are available to individuals, organisations and health services at the Mental Health Education and Resource Centre, 221 Gloucester Street (Cnr. Madras St.) or in our office at the same address. Please contact us to find out more.