People with bipolar II disorder could be at higher risk of death from both natural and unnatural causes

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2026-04-08 01:00

Australia; International; VIC

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***This media release contains information some readers may find distressing as it refers to data about mental health, suicide and self-harm. If you or anyone you know needs help, support is available now. Call Lifeline (Aus) on 131 114 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636, or Lifeline (NZ) on 0800 543 354. ***

Those with bipolar II disorder could be at risk of premature death from many causes, according to Aussie and international researchers. The team looked at Taiwanese data from over 11,000 people with bipolar II disorder, which is often considered less intense than bipolar I but tends to have frequent and longer depressive episodes. Even after accounting for shared familial factors and comparing to bipolar I, the team found bipolar II patients had a higher risk of death from both natural and unnatural causes (such as suicide) when compared to those without bipolar II disorder. The team says their findings indicate a need for stronger monitoring, care, and early treatment for those with bipolar II disorder.