
Published: Mar. 28, 2025 at 8:06 PM CDT
Watch the video on the KJCT News 8 website.
Eleanor Davis, Nurse Practitioner at Porch Light Health, spoke with KJCT News about bipolar disorder and substance use and the importance of destigmatizing addiction ahead of World Bipolar Awareness Day.
KJCT News 8
Today is World Bipolar Awareness Day. It aims to raise awareness about the disorder and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health substance use. That’s often linked with mental health. A community mental health and treatment facility works to support individuals battling those challenges. Our Alex Aaley has more.
Alex Aley
According to the American Psychological Association, about half of US adults living with serious mental illness also have a substance use disorder. Eleanor Davis, a mental health counselor, Kisler, with Porch Light Health, says that bipolar disorder causes extreme mood swings, both high and low.
Eleanor Davis
The problem is that people self-medicate for either one of those situations where they want to stay up because they don’t like the depressive episodes, or they will utilize substances to bring them down from the elevated status.
Alex Aley
Davis says sometimes people don’t even realize they have bipolar disorder.
Eleanor Davis
It’s important that people get treatment for bipolar because they’re not going to use other substances. They understand what’s going on with their mind, and they’ll understand what’s going on with their body so that they’re not trying to go out and use some substance to help it that’s addictive and possibly harmful.
Alex Aley
According to Davis, Telehealth appointments have made care more accessible, especially for those in rural areas like Western Colorado.
Eleanor Davis
It’s helped because you have more access to providers because we don’t have enough counselors, we don’t have enough psychiatrist out there or medication nurse practitioners. Having Telehealth is huge so that people can actually get the treatment that they need.
Alex Aley
Davis encourages anyone experiencing extreme mood fluctuations to reach out to a mental health professional for help.
KJCT News 8
Well, Porch Light Health is a low barrier treatment facility that uses a holistic approach to help its patients. It offers walk-ins and accepts new clients weekly.





