Catherine Zeta-Jones receives treatment for bipolar disorder
Actress Catherine Zeta-Jones has had treatment for bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression. The Chief Executive of Rethink Mental Illness tells Channel 4 News her openness will help others.
The actress’s publicist, Cece Yorke, said: “After dealing with the stress of the past year, Catherine made the decision to check in to a mental health facility for a brief stay to treat her Bipolar II Disorder.
“She’s feeling great and looking forward to starting work this week on her two upcoming films.”
Hundreds of people today with the same condition will be thinking: ‘If Catherine Zeta-Jones has spoken about it, perhaps I can be open and talk to my boss, my family.’ Rethink Chief Executive, Paul Jenkins
People magazine, quoting an unnamed source, said Ms Zeta Jones, 41, had spent five days in an unidentified facility. It is not clear when the actress, star of films including Chicago, had the treatment or when she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, more commonly known as manic depression.
Stress
Her husband, fellow actor Michael Douglas, had chemotherapy last year for advanced throat cancer but said in January his tumour was gone. The pair have two children.
'Massive favour' for others
Paul Jenkins, the Chief Executive of Rethink Mental Illness, told Channel 4 News that Catherine Zeta-Jones' openness would help others with the condition.
"It will help immensely," he said. "One of the defining things of suffering with a mental illness is that people so often are not comfortable talking about it because of the stigma around it.
"Hundreds of people today with the same condition will be thinking: 'If Catherine Zeta-Jones has spoken about it, perhaps I can be open and talk to my boss, my family.' And in our experience, when people are open about it, that makes it easier to deal with it.
"We wish all the best to Catherine and her family in dealing with this. She has done other people with the condition a massive favour by talking about it."
Last year, Mr Douglas’s son Cameron, from a previous marriage, was sentenced to prison on drug charges.
In February this year Ms Zeta-Jones was awarded a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) medal by Prince Charles for her services to charity and the film industry.
Bipolar
Bipolar disorder is a mental illness marked by sharp mood swings and erratic behaviour. Bipolar II is a milder form, according to experts, and is marked by less manic “up” moods and more depressive episodes.
The pattern varies between people. Some people only have a couple of episodes in their lifetime while others may experience many episodes.
According to the NHS, it is a relatively common condition – around one person in every 100 is diagnosed with the condition. Men and women from all backgrounds can develop the disorder, although it often develops when people are between 18-24 years of age.
Paul Jenkins, Chief Executive of Rethink Mental Illness, told Channel 4 News that stress could bring on bipolar disorder.
“As with most mental illness, it’s a combination – there are some genetic factors but stress can bring it out,” he said.
“It is very common – and can either be brought on by stress or stress can exacerbate the condition. By its nature, bipolar is episodic.”
He added: “We wish all the best to Catherine and her family in dealing with this. She has done other people with the condition a massive favour by talking about it.”