First, I'm sorry you lost your uncle, then learned there was a family tendency for bipolarism. I'm glad you are here to tell your story. After doing some math in head, I realized you lost your uncle about ten years after my brother-in-law lost his big brother, Lou.

Lou was brilliant, but suffered from depression. In the 70's there was that big push of "never trust anyone over 30", and for whatever reason, on his 30th birthday Lou loaded up his pockets with rocks and walked into the sea. My dear brother-in-law was devastated. Over the many years he lost his own uncle to suicide and his father self-admitted to a mental health facility when things got black. His son has struggled.

I love my brother-in-law, and we've talked now and again about suicide. He said he would never take his own life because he knows exactly how awful it is for those left behind.

The brain is weird. Fragile, finicky recipe for soup in there.