Those who need support dealing with bi-polar disorder can find relief confidentially.

A group now offered by the NIU Women’s Resource Center meets every other Thursday and is designed to help those who need information about the disorder.

The group originally started in January 2002, but was discontinued because of low attendance rates.

Meetings resumed once again this semester, and on average, three to five people attend each session, said Marianne Tomlinson, a licensed professional counselor at the center.

“We want people to realize they aren’t the only ones who deal with [problems],” Tomlinson said. “There is a huge stigma that goes with any mental illness and it’s hard for people to accept they have a mental illness.”

Bi-polar disorder, also known as manic depressive illness, is characterized by radical shifts in a person’s mood and energy levels, according to the National Institute of Mental Health Web site.

The purpose of the group on campus is to inform attendees.

“Education is the key to dealing with this disorder, both for those with the disorder and those who are around them,” Tomlinson said.

There are a number of support groups that address other mental health issues.

Rita Reynolds, a graduate assistant, also heads an anger management group that hosts guest speakers.

“[Anger Issues] is a group for anybody who’s interested in talking about anger issues and perhaps it will give them some ways to deal with their anger in a different way,” Reynolds said.

The next lecture, entitled “Who Pulls Your Strings?” is scheduled for Tuesday.

Kathy Hotelling, director of counseling and student development, said the use of support groups and similar therapy methods is an effective way of dealing with a mental disorder.

“These are problems that can be effectively dealt with through therapy and medicine, which is how to deal with it in a healthy manner,” Hotelling said. “A significant amount of adolescents go through a major depressive disorder. It’s out of our hands if we develop a disorder – what’s in our scope is how we deal with the disorder.”

Despite such efforts, some students do not believe mental-health support groups will have a high attendance rate.

“I don’t think a lot of people would go, either because they’re too embarrassed or they just don’t like to talk about it,” said Johannis Rosario, a freshman mechanical engineering major.

Students who are interested in a confidential meeting with an on-campus counselor can visit the Counseling and Student Development office in the Campus Life Building, Room 200.