My son’s mom has RAD, depression, alcoholism and is a pathological liar. I’d be depressed and an alcholic if I had her life and the state had taken all my kids too. I just don’t leave her alone with our son. We do fun activities like going to the zoo, movies, pumpkin patches, lake etc so they can have a good time together and everyone is happy and safe. I was happy when I no longer had to do unattended visits.

My girls birthmom is bi-polar, has depression, lies, gets in relationships with men that do not need to be around children, and many many more issues.  As a result, we do not allow her to have any contact with the girls.  Her last visit was her goodbye visit through CPS in April.  She asks to see them, but we do not feel that she is a good influence at this point in their lives.  They are almost 11 months old.  When they become adults, they can decide to what extent, if any, they want her in their lives.

Our son’s birthmother is diagnosed as schizophrenic, bipolar, w/ chronic depression, ADHD, alcoholic. I don’t know how much of the diagnosis is accurate.  I do know she tried to kill our son 2 times by the time he was 7 weeks old.
Yes, she had a wretched life.  No, she did nothing to avail herself of any help.  I am not heartless.  I am an adolescent therapist who has given 20 years of my professional life to abused kids;with as many free hours as paid. 
I drew up very strict guidelines for visitation and refused to let her be more than 3 feet away from me with him.  She complained, cried. I documented every visit.  She finally-after what honestly felt like forever-just went away even though she actually lives 20 minutes away.
No one has asked you if you are concerned about the heredity vs. environment factors here in terms of mental health ? Are you? It seems like an obvious question and there are things you can be aware of andpay attention to.  Bio-dad in our case has issues as well-not the laundry list of mother, but enough that we walked in with our eyes wide open.
Your first obligation,far beyond extended family, is to protect the small life you have said you would nurture.  Any adult,birthparent or not, family or not, comes second.

My birthmother has some mental health issues- if you would like to private message me I would speak to you about it.

My natural mother has far less than I do by a long shot. My adoptive mother is bipolar and my adoptive father has huge unresolved issues over his infertility.

I drew my own line. I have no contact whatsoever with the mentally ill people who adopted me and try to spend as much time as possible with my natural mother.

We also went into adoption with our eyes open to the possibility of future mental health issues. We also considered it before getting pregnant with our bio child. Both my husbands sister who is the bio mom to our 2 oldest and my sister have bipolar disorder. Both of whom refuse any treatment for. I dont actually know much about it other than the clinical definition and I am very familiar with their cycles. I think I need to educate myself more on it. Heredity vs. Environment both have a very significant role in anyone I believe. My sons birthfather also is bipolar I recently found out. So I almost feel its inevitable for any of my children to also be bipolar. I would love to know what to be aware of and to pay attention to.

Also our childrens birthmother has done some things lately that I dont want to reach our children. We decided its not healthy for her to be around them for the time being. Unfortunately others in the family dont watch what they talk about in front of their children as we do because thats their birthmother. So they know what is going on with her from their cousins. We are trying to keep an open dialog with them about it, but they are so young and dont fully understand.

popsko, I have a great deal of experience with Bi polar disorder and raising children who have it. My biological daughter was diagnosed at age 9 and is now 21 (the adolecent years were pretty tough) The best thing you can do is educate yourself. My moster is also bi polar as are several of my aunts and uncles so I knew what to look for. My adoped son is related on my side of the family so I am well aware that he may be Bi polar as well (his bio father who is my cousin is as well)

If you would like to PM me I would be glad to discuss raising a child with Bi polar with you, as I said it is tough, but also so rewarding. The relationship I have with her is stronger than I could have ever imagined…. it’s all in how you deal with it.